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

[goggalor]

Was it close...was van Hummel competitive?

Greipel won by two bikelengths. Van Hummel about the same for second. The final 100 m was probably 5-10% incline.

 

[TRDean]

Thanks I appreciate it!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Van Hummel was leading until 100m to go, but than Greipel used his power on the finish to accelerate away.

Boonen was going backwards from 3rd position

 

[El Pistolero]

He already said yesterday he was missing the speed. So no surprise. He did say he was going to fight to be in every finale of this Tour of Belgium.

Anyway brilliant stage. Flat stages might be boring in France, but they're not in Belgium Well, most of the time at least.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I did kinda laugh at Wuyts again though. Commentating on how many Belgians were doing well.

Well duh, has Wuyts taken a look at the startlist? The large majority is Belgian

 

[El Pistolero]

I did kinda laugh at Wuyts again though. Commentating on how many Belgians were doing well.

Well duh, has Wuyts taken a look at the startlist? The large majority is Belgian

That still doesn't take anything away of how Gilbert and van Avermaet rode today. They'd have done the same even if the peloton was more varied. Echelon riding is something the Belgians are probably the best at together with the Dutchies.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

That still doesn't take anything away of how Gilbert and van Avermaet rode today. They'd have done the same even if the peloton was more varied. Echelon riding is something the Belgians are probably the best at together with the Dutchies.

That's because the wind is blowing here like hell 250/365 days a year

 

[El Pistolero]

That's because the wind is blowing here like hell 250/365 days a year

Obviously. You're not going to become the best climber in the world if you live in Amsterdam and stay there.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Or live somewhere in Belgian brabant and stay there (Seeldraeyers)

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Obviously. You're not going to become the best climber in the world if you live in Amsterdam and stay there.

Or live somewhere in Belgian brabant and stay there (Seeldraeyers)

Wat je zegt Hendrik

 

[jens_attacks]

well done to the gorilla.

 

[Andre.J]

Or live somewhere in Belgian brabant and stay there (Seeldraeyers)

People who don't know too much about cycling would say something like that.
Seeldraeyers climbing problems are not from living in Belgium.

 

[Sylvester]

I hope Seeldraeyers does not end up like Van Goolen, to be honest. I still think he is a talented rider, but just like Steegmans / Devolder* / a couple of other Belgian cyclists, he does not seem to have the luck and (more importantly) the mental strength to make it to the absolute top. Steegmans, for instance, is the best example. He's a true great athlete. But we would need Boonen's head on Steegmans' body to see what he's really capable of.

* (Yes, I know Devolder won de Ronde twice and thus must be seen as a "top rider" whose career is remarkable etc etc, but he's capable of far more than that, and he has been struggling for the last two years)

 

[auscyclefan94]

I might watch the highlights, this looks interesting.

 

[Moondance]

Jens Mouris, Koen Barbé, Luca Paolini, Niko Eeckhout, and Marcus Burghardt are on the offensive for today's stage.

Surprised a bit at Burghardt's decision to try to win from the break today, although one imagines he doesn't much fancy dueling with Gilbert on the Rodeberg and Kemmelberg.

 

[TeoSheva]

Jens Mouris, Koen Barbé, Luca Paolini, Niko Eeckhout, and Marcus Burghardt are on the offensive for today's stage.

Surprised a bit at Burghardt's decision to try to win from the break today, although one imagines he doesn't much fancy dueling with Gilbert on the Rodeberg and Kemmelberg.

what kind of climbs are these? steep? can Greipel or Van Hummel survive?

 

[El Pistolero]

I might watch the highlights, this looks interesting.

It is, Avermaet en Gilbert put up a nice show yesterday.

 

[El Pistolero]

what kind of climbs are these? steep? can Greipel or Van Hummel survive?

Kemmelberg is in G-W. So if you watched it you have a good idea how it is.

 

[Moondance]

what kind of climbs are these? steep? can Greipel or Van Hummel survive?

Van Hummel has no chance... Greipel might, but I imagine Lotto will place more effort into getting Gilbert the win here.

They're both short, nasty Flemish style climbs. The Kemmelberg has cobbles and gets brutally steep. It'll definitely shake things up, but I doubt it will separate the favorites by much.

 

[El Pistolero]

Van Hummel has no chance... Greipel might, but I imagine Lotto will place more effort into getting Gilbert the win here.

They're both short, nasty Flemish style climbs. The Kemmelberg has cobbles and gets brutally steep. It'll definitely shake things up, but I doubt it will separate the favorites by much.

Depends, not very good weather here at the moment. Just rained, everything is wet. The wind is okish.

 

[Anonymous]

tv coverage clash with the Giro, no??

 

[TeoSheva]

Van Hummel has no chance... Greipel might, but I imagine Lotto will place more effort into getting Gilbert the win here.

They're both short, nasty Flemish style climbs. The Kemmelberg has cobbles and gets brutally steep. It'll definitely shake things up, but I doubt it will separate the favorites by much.

ok thank you!

 

[TeoSheva]

Kemmelberg is in G-W. So if you watched it you have a good idea how it is.

it's difficult for me to remember all these strange names of "berg"

 

[TRDean]

Is there a ticker for this race??? I can't view streams at work...

 

[roundabout]

Is there a ticker for this race??? I can't view streams at work...

http://sport.be.msn.com/live/nl/wielrennen/rondevanbelgie/?Stage_ID=898&Competition_ID=1369