Kalach wrote:
What is with Purito? Seems to that age has just caught him up. Or poor early season?
He's been declining for a little while now which really isn't a surprise
Yeah 37 years old is enough. But in Vuelta 2015 he was still really impressive on those punchy climbs I would say that maybe the strongest rider of that field. I am wondering when Valverde is going to start decline
He can still, he had a bad day today. Just as Valverde had a bad day at clip above.
Valverde din't have a bad day that day. There was a big split in the peloton with about 20 kms to go after Astana made an echelon. Valverde closed the 30 second gap between the two pelotons there alone and lost some energy that Purito and Froome didn't spend.
I actually didnt know that. I wondered why he was that bad on Huy when he climbed better than probably ever afterwards, thanks.
The result: Saw that coming from 366 days away, if not more. Very happy and was excited 11 hours ago even though the predictability put a damper on it. Would have prefered Wellens Jungels and Izagirre to stay away, or Cummings chase to last longer, just for a change.
Orica: From what I know Mathews is a bit lazy after his teammate's work and hasn't got the racing spirit, but Gerrans is also wanting the whole team. imo they're both the problem and the management () doesn't have the guts to drop one or tell them they're acting like prima donnas. Hurts to write
Purito: Has class but declining, last year's tour is an example of what he can do but even less than 9 months on he probably can't. Never seems to find the right moment anymore
Wellens: Trademark attack but can't help thinking what might have been if he saved himself for a bit later, not for the sprint where Valv would have toyed with him too but a bit later.
Alba: The true Ardennes man for Orica. Enduringly great especially at Fleche and another top 10 to keep the streak alive.
Sami: Good to see him do well
Schleck: With a season where he could have made something happen for the last time after being rejuvenated (you could see in his attitude especially) at La Vuelta flushed down the drain and another collarbone injured it's hard to see him coming back for even the brief signs of life at the 2014 Tour and Luxembourg champs.
Cummings: Machine, getting better and better. Those few kms were crazy. Hope to see him continue this form.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
Wellens: Trademark attack but can't help thinking what might have been if he saved himself for a bit later, not for the sprint where Valv would have toyed with him too but a bit later.
Yes, he, too, wasn't too pleased with it. But from the team they weren't allowed to let anyone ride away in the finale and he was the only rider there so he had to follow.
He didn't really like it, though, as he had good legs and wanted to test himself on the Mur. But orders are orders
Ollfardh wrote:
I'm actually glad Lotto wants to attack, rather than all those lame teams settling for 6-10th place and some WT points.
There's no value in WT pts anyway since there's hardly a PCT team that has funds to go WT, and each season there's a team disbanding.. UCI can be happy when they have all their WT slots filled.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
I praise the attacking mindset of Lotto, but attacking in FW and AGR is just useless unfortunately. So in this case I don't mind the teams that wait and go for a top 10. With full Katusha and Movistar squads controlling the race its just impossible to get away.
TimoCycling wrote:
I praise the attacking mindset of Lotto, but attacking in FW and AGR is just useless unfortunately. So in this case I don't mind the teams that wait and go for a top 10. With full Katusha and Movistar squads controlling the race its just impossible to get away.
TimoCycling wrote:
@Ian: yeah it works maybe once in 10 years, gotta agree it's most likely to be useless to attack in AGR and FW. FW even more than AGR.
I do think better to roll the dice but...the wider problem is these races aren't as selective as the Flemish Classics before coming into the finale. The most interesting race of the Ardennes is the least prestigious, De Brabantse Pijl.
It means the Ardennes are a little like the digestif after the main course.
Edited by ianrussell on 21-04-2016 14:49
Gasparotto probably won't catch Raas for AGR wins, but i expect him to level Gilbert's tally. That would put him second for most wins in that race. I'm slightly surprised Valv hasn't had succes there!
Valv has enough times to go for the LBL record as well. Two behind Merckx and Piti ain't showing signs of slowing down. Wouldn't that be something!
From what I know Mathews is a bit lazy after his teammate's work and hasn't got the racing spirit, but Gerrans is also wanting the whole team. imo they're both the problem and the management (
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
