Liege nowadays you have to be the most explosive in the world after a 260km brutal race.
I dunno... it's not that long ago, a famously non-explosive rider won it after a rather brutal race.
The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Liege nowadays you have to be the most explosive in the world after a 260km brutal race.
I just want them to make ditch RaF because it's too hard too late and instead put Targnon from like 80km out or wherever it isTo me the new Liege looks like a Fleche with the finish 20 kms after Huy, basically everyone knows that nothing relevant is going to happen before a sprint up the Roche aux Faucons to determine the strongest. Personally i would have liked more to see a finish in Liege but keeping Saint Nicolas and Ans after the Roche, putting the harder climb farther from the finish.
Well he was by far the strongest anywayI dunno... it's not that long ago, a famously non-explosive rider won it after a rather brutal race.
I like to be optimistic (well, sometimes) and think that with the of riders who we could have dueling in future LBLs—Van der Poel, Podgacar, Roglic, Van Aert, Remco—the chances for significant racing before Roche aux Faucons becomes more possible. Its still likely where the decisive move happens, but as long as there’s some hard racing (with some casualties) before that I don’t mind).To me the new Liege looks like a Fleche with the finish 20 kms after Huy, basically everyone knows that nothing relevant is going to happen before a sprint up the Roche aux Faucons to determine the strongest. Personally i would have liked more to see a finish in Liege but keeping Saint Nicolas and Ans after the Roche, putting the harder climb farther from the finish.
Well he was by far the strongest anyway
Didn't Alaphilippe lead out the sprint with cramps and get dead last from those groups?So famously non-explosive that in the buildup to Liege that non-explosive rider could follow Alaphilippe uphill and outsprint him on the flat at Amstel and beat everyone else other than Alaphilippe in the Fleche.
Anyway, in 2.75 GTs that Nibali did in non-GC mode (excluding the 2018 Vuelta which was more about getting back from injury) he has a grand total of 1 stage win.
2019 Tour + 2021 Giro + 2021 Tour (3/4). I guess.2.75... how did you reach that number?
2019 Tour + 2021 Giro + 2021 Tour (3/4). I guess.
If you took a look at Nibali's GT record, what would your best guess be? If you hadn't done that, why would you ask the question before trying to answering it yourself?
2 Tours that were prep for for Olympics - and TdF can be a bit harder than Giro/Vuelta breaks.Anyway, in 2.75 GTs that Nibali did in non-GC mode (excluding the 2018 Vuelta which was more about getting back from injury) he has a grand total of 1 stage win.
Obviously not doing another GT for GC before would be a benefit, but it seems that while it's a viable strategy, stage-hunting may not necessarily be very productive.
This year was different though. We had big accelerations on the Redoute already and favourites caught in a split even before Roche aux Faucons. Also the terrain after RaF is difficult and it allows real racing.To me the new Liege looks like a Fleche with the finish 20 kms after Huy, basically everyone knows that nothing relevant is going to happen before a sprint up the Roche aux Faucons to determine the strongest. Personally i would have liked more to see a finish in Liege but keeping Saint Nicolas and Ans after the Roche, putting the harder climb farther from the finish.
(paywall after a paragraph, italiano)Nibali: Roubaix before the Giro: "I'm going back to Flanders - debut on the cobblestones"
I see a cobblestone spending it's time between Bag and Trophy Cabinet.Seems to be confirmed:
(paywall after a paragraph, italiano)
Nibali, la Roubaix prima del Giro: “Torno al Fiandre e debutto sul pavé”
Dopo quei tratti al Tour, scoprirà l’Inferno del Nord: “Una volta nella vita va fatto”. Ora è all’Astana: “Voglio solo divertirmi, crescere a volte è brutto”. E correrà tutti i Monumentiwww.gazzetta.it
Champions spend all their careers in pursuit of the 5 monuments. The Man woke up on a rainy Tuesday and decided: "That's it. I'm gonna do it." As he went out for a glorious morning ride the rain was already gone of course. The rest is the future that'll become history...Nibali in 2022 will leave the sport in a blaze of glory after achieving the once-thought impossible grand slam of cycling: winning all 5 monuments in a single season.
That will be awesome. And then he can head off to Hobbiton for his peaceful and well-earned retirementNibali in 2022 will leave the sport in a blaze of glory after achieving the once-thought impossible grand slam of cycling: winning all 5 monuments in a single season.
That will be awesome. And then he can head off to Hobbiton for his peaceful and well-earned retirement