Tour de Wallonie 2020

[BlueRoads]

If you're tired of mountain finishes this race may give you some relief.

4 Stages, flat to hilly. Top contenders, I'd say: Caleb Ewan, Oliver Naesen, Greg van Avermaet, Sam Bennett, Arnaud Démare, Philippe Gilbert, Nacer Bouhanni, Matteo Trentin. Also Nizzolo, Jetse Bol, Tim Merlier and Bryan Coquard. Have fun, don't crash!

Profiles according to PCS:

 

[RedheadDane]

Do you have, like... a route? Or is that a surprise?
Do they have a route? I mean... didn't two of the planned host-towns back out quite recently?

 

[geisterhome]

Finally some real racing!

 

[BlueRoads]

Do you have, like... a route? Or is that a surprise?
Do they have a route? I mean... didn't two of the planned host-towns back out quite recently?

Ehm... Thought nobody seemed to care about this race, so it would not be necessary. I'll add them.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ehm... Thought nobody seemed to care about this race, so it would not be necessary. I'll add them.

I mean, personally I would probably just have posted about it in the Lesser Known Race Results thread.

 

[BlueRoads]

I mean, personally I would probably just have posted about it in the Lesser Known Race Results thread.

Yes... but then the contenders seemed too strong to treat them like that

 

[tobydawq]

Of course we care about this race! It will be good to see some racing that's not all watts per kg.

 

[RedheadDane]

Around 39 Ks to go. Six man group in the break.

 

[Bonimenier]

Ewan takes it.

1. Ewan
2. Bennett
3. Merlier

 

[BlueRoads]

Nice for Caleb!

 

[jaylew]

Two sprinters out - Cav dropped, Nizzolo crashed.

 

[RedheadDane]

Bennett's gone too.

 

[jaylew]

Gilbert and Stybar in the break. CCC chasing for GVA.

 

[Jspear]

Two sprinters out - Cav dropped, Nizzolo crashed.

Out of contention for the stage or out of the race?

 

[jaylew]

stage

 

[FjPavels]

Isn't using the sidewalk/pavement to attack like Gilbert did against the rules ?

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...r-britain-riding-pavement-attack-bunch-349654

 

[RedheadDane]

Demare takes it.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

That looked like a sprint in slowmotion.

 

[jaylew]

Démare
Ewan
McLay (Arkea)
Bouhanni (Arkea)

Bouhanni having to race against a teammate again?

 

[Jspear]

Bouhanni looked a little frustrated. Like I think he thought he was boxed in and couldn’t do his sprint.

 

[Jspear]

Why did Bennet get dropped? At least Viviani managed to win when he was given good support.

 

[jaylew]

Why did Bennet get dropped? At least Viviani managed to win when he was given good support.

Gilbert and Stybar made it hard for some of the sprinters with their attack and Bennett gave the "I'm done" sign.

Bouhanni looked a little frustrated. Like I think he thought he was boxed in and couldn’t do his sprint.

Isn't that part of the point of having a leadout man in the finale? If he's there that deep in the sprint, McLay has got to help Bouhanni get space. They definitely didn't appear to be on the same page.

 

[Sciatic]

Why did Bennet get dropped? At least Viviani managed to win when he was given good support.

I would not be surprised if some of the DQS riders have lost a bit of focus after these last two gruesome crashes of their teammates?

 

[jaylew]

Wow, Nizzolo made it back that late? He finished in top 10 and crashed not too long before Bennett was dropped if the pictures were correct. Weird.

 

[RedheadDane]

Isn't that part of the point of having a leadout man in the finale? If he's there that deep in the sprint, McLay has got to help Bouhanni get space. They definitely didn't appear to be on the same page.

The only way they're on the same page, is on the result-sheets.