Tour of Belgium, 25th -29th of May - 2.HC

[MartinGT]

Is there anywhere I can watch this?

Steephill doesnt seem to have it

 

[Moondance]

I have to say, looking at the profiles of the stages (you can see an overview of them here) one is struck by how much of a sprint fest this is. They want Tommeke to win the GC this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

I have to say, looking at the profiles of the stages (you can see an overview of them here) one is struck by how much of a sprint fest this is. They want Tommeke to win the GC this year.

2 stages that won't end in a mass sprint and a prologue.

It's ok. Besides, Tommeke can do a lot more than sprinting.

 

[will10]

I have to say, looking at the profiles of the stages (you can see an overview of them here) one is struck by how much of a sprint fest this is. They want Tommeke to win the GC this year.

flat ≠ sprint, least of all in Belgium

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Is there anywhere I can watch this?

Steephill doesnt seem to have it

You could try the livestream on sporza.be (starts over 1h10), but big chance it's geo-restricted...

 

[Moondance]

2 stages that won't end in a mass sprint and a prologue.

It's ok. Besides, Tommeke can do a lot more than sprinting.

Stage 2: The Kemmelberg is a nasty piece of work, of course, and one hopes that someone like Gilbert will try to make use of it to launch himself on the offensive. But it's also a good 20 kms from the finish. Stage two could very easily still finish in a 60-80 ma group sprint, if there isn't a motivated (group of)rider(s) ahead, or if there is a very motivated team leading the peloton.


Stage 3: Will be a disappointment. Obviously the 600m uphill finish will mean we get a different group of people sprinting FTW, but looking at how the stage develops, this could also be a serious dud of a stage. Certainly if they're hoping for the ferocious Col du Mont Rigi to do some serious peloton rupturing, they've got another thing coming. The stage goes over the Mur de Huy... So why don't they finish there and do the third-rate climbs earlier?

I've followed the Tour of Belgium for many years, and this could very easily be the worst parcours I've ever seen from them.

That's not to say that the direction of the Tour of Belgium is the organisation that sacrifices difficulty of route, presumably expecting them to get more and bigger names at the start, but I certainly think they're the most glaring ones. There are so many fantastic stages you could construct, snaking through and across the most legendary places, and climbs, and cities in cycling.... And yet this year we'll have to content ourselves with watching the 'spectacle' on the Col du Mont Rigi.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

You're absolutely right.

A proposal from me:

Stage 1) Echelon/sprint stage. Start in Bruges, end somewhere at the coast
Stage 2) Start in Kortrijk or so, first Rodeberg etc. in 'Het heuvelland', small trip to France, go arounde Lille, include Pavés de Cysoing à Bourghelles, Bourghelles à Wannehain, Camphin-en-Pévèle & le Carrefour de l'Arbre. Back to Belgium, and end in Ronse (include a hill nearby the finish)
Stage 3) Time Trial: Oudenaarde-Zottegem, with Wolvenberg, Kergate(Mater), Haaghoek, Leberg & Berendries.
Stage 4) Ardennes stage. Do some famous hills of LBL and FW + some unknown.
Stage 5) Stage in Brabant, some hills, end on a avenue in Brussels -> majestic sprint.

 

[Nyssinator]

Graeme Brown is attending this race, but isn't there a rule that you can't quit one race (Giro d'Italia) and start in another race (Tour of Belgium) as long as the first race(Giro) is still being ridden?

Have they changed this? I'm pretty sure i've heard of this rule before.

 

[The Sheep]

Graeme Brown is attending this race, but isn't there a rule that you can't quit one race (Giro d'Italia) and start in another race (Tour of Belgium) as long as the first race(Giro) is still being ridden?

Have they changed this? I'm pretty sure i've heard of this rule before.

He didn't quit the race

 

[minessa]

livestream http://www.smotrisport.com/v-2/6/192/v-279221.html

 

[Nyssinator]

He didn't quit the race

Ok, so the difference is in that he didn't make the time cut and was kicked out of the race? If he had quit he wouldn't been allowed to start Tour of Belgium?

 

[craig1985]

livestream http://www.smotrisport.com/v-2/6/192/v-279221.html

Thanks.

Jens Debusschere with the best time at 6:44.

 

[Lanark]

Ok, so the difference is in that he didn't make the time cut and was kicked out of the race? If he had quit he wouldn't been allowed to start Tour of Belgium?

I believe the rule is that you need permission from the organisers of the race you abandoned to start in a new race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I just noticed TGM is at the starting line. I wonder why this race?

 

[Moondance]

I just noticed TGM is at the starting line. I wonder why this race?

I guess Rabo wants him to be ready to compete for the GC in the Tour of Switzerland, and they want him to get some extra training kms?

Perhaps.

 

[Moondance]

C'mon Niki.. Get me some CQ points.

you disappointed me during the classics.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Maybe Mollema needs more races to be in shape, and that's why they chose a different route.
Gesink always rides very little races and has a lot of training blocks. Mollema seems to be doing the opposite.

 

[Moondance]

Been watching for 45 mins now or so, and not a single person has broken into the Top-10 since.... A little unusual.

Are there wind issues or something?

EDIT: Ask and ye shall receive... Roelandts finishes 8th so far. Still..

 

[Moondance]

Okay, times are improving. Both Lemoine and Keukeleire go really close to the provisional lead.

 

[will10]

Langeveld best time

 

[Moondance]

Langeveld crushes.

Tour selection beacons for him

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nice bit of chauvinism from the Sporza-commentators.

Langeveld takes the best time of a Belgian. Their reply? "The wind must have come down"

Because yes, it's impossible Langeveld would take the best time from Debuscherre under normal conditions??

 

[will10]

Westra fastest

 

[Moondance]

Westra with a superb time.

The Dutch Ivasion has begun.

 

[Flamin]

Lieuwe Westra new best time.

I think we have a winner here.