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Womens Cycling 2017
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 30-01-2017 09:36
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Tour de France Champion
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End of the Aussie Summer, and Loren Rowney confirms her retirement. Well worth reading her piece on Ella Cycling Tips, it's just really well written and very interesting.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 17-02-2017 11:30
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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A provisional startlist for Omloop, on the 25th, looks good. Four Druyts for Vlaanderen is a fun quirk. Overall it's an expected list of riders and teams for the 1.1 race. Rainbow bands will be shown off by Dideriksen on a predictably strong Boels team. A lot of strong riders attending with good support, hopefully making a good edition of the race. The only stand out odd bit is the German National team when you might have expected a more "local" team or national team, however there's a couple of interesting riders there like Brausse and Riffel who are worth looking up in the results.
Will do a slightly better preview a day or two before the race when the startlist is more finalised and we see who'll be in action just ahead of Strade opening the WWT a week later.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 24-02-2017 10:36
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Tour de France Champion
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It's the opening weekend of the European season! Celebrate! The double header of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (look, i spelt it properly for once) and Omloop van het Hageland kicks the season up a gear.
Nieowsladgs (given up on spelling it now) is tomorrow. 122k on a course not too different from the Mens race. Plenty of bergs and cobbles to break the race up. Last years winner Lizzie Deignan won't be there for Boels, so who's gonna take the crown?
Boels bring an expectedly strong squad. Blaak has to be the favorite here, but watch Pieters closely as well. And we get to see the Rainbow jersey of Dideriksen in action!
Wiggle also have a powerful squad. D'Hoore cannot be ignored on her full-time return to Road Racing after last year. Longo-Boghini can also never be overlooked either.
Canyon will look to Cromwell for a good start, and she seems up for the challenge. Also keep an eye on Ryan over a tough course, we're still lerning exactly how she'll stack up in these major races.
FDJ make a first real appearance in Europe, the new team though lacks a major threat here. Knetemann and Gillow will have to show the Frenchies how it's done.
Orica have been the dominant team so far, and with Van Vleuten still will be in contention. And look out for Roy who's often in the Top10 in such races.
Sunweb hope to make a statement. Kirchmann will want a quick start to replicate last seasons brilliant results, and Brand is always dangerous in the classics.
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Then on Sunday we have the Omloop van het Hageland. 126k that arguably are a tougher challenge, but the race isn't as prestigious or well attended. Flatter course leads to more of a group sprint than attritional cobbled courses.
Ale power sprint train has last years winner Bastianelli again, but now with Hosking and better support they really can do well here.
Canyon bring Zwift Academy winner Leah Thorvilson to her first ever race. I will be watching her closely as she's got a lot to prove.
Teams change their squads around quite a bit from the day before, more flat race oriented to match the course. Also a lot more CT teams taking part with a few former "WT" riders floating around. I'm not so hot on these teams and riders so can't offer much insight. Although in both races keep an eye on the German National team, some good looking (talent! you dirty minded people) youngsters there.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-02-2017 17:11
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Tour de France Champion
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Brand powered strong on Saturday to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Long ranging attacks from various riders kept the race open and interesting right up to the finish. Blaak showing why she the pre-race pick with 2nd of a Dutch Top4.
The more expected sprint style finish to Hageland taken out by D'Hoore who has shown she's well back after the Olympic year. Hosking a good second showing Ale have taken a step forwards, although she can't carry them all year. Roy on the podium after a let down Nieuwsblad.
Next up: Strade Bianche and the opening of the WWT, will put up a preview in a few days.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 01-03-2017 18:51
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Tour de France Champion
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Awesome result for Gutierrez today! She's devloping slowly but really nicely over the last couple of years and Cylance have given her a touch more freedom. Another year or two and she should be a regular name in a variety of races. If you needed more proof, it's no small feat to outsprint Pieters and Cromwell, escpecially after a breakaway.
Strade Preview is waiting for a more complete/confirmed startlist.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 02-03-2017 10:34
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Tour de France Champion
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 Strade Bianche
The course has changed slightly for this year. Now starting and ending in Sienna it's up to 127km in length. The challenge however is in the constant up and down nature, with virtually no flat road at all. Plus with 30km of gravel it promises to be a sapping race before we include attacks.
Notably Lotto-Soudal and Lares-Waowdeals turn down their automatic invitations. Lotto struggling with fitness issues and Lares constrained by budget opted for other events. The biggest loss rider wise is CX WC Thalita de Jong, who would have been a contender on such a course.
Boels Dolmans have to win this. Victorious in both the 2015 and 2016 editions both previous winners Guarnier and Deignan are attending, as well as perrenial contender Van der Breggen and new WC Dideriksen. Anything but a win for the team is a failure.
Canyon SRAM send out their big debutant, Ferrand-Prevot to contest. But both Amialiusik and Cromwell look in good form and can handle the course if plan A comes up short.
Cervelo could mix it up as they often did recently. Moolman is their leader, and the South African is always close on hillier courses and must be considered a real contender for victory. Also watch Ludwig's performance as one for the future.
Cylance have a few options to chose from. Ratto should be the bigger option but hasn't had the best recent form. So watch instead for Gutierrez who's in great shape, and for Jasinska who could factor with clever riding.
Orica can lok to Van Vleuten to lead them well, but Spratt or the other Aussies can mix it up if they ride as a team and go after a more numerical advantage as they have done a few times already.
Sunweb have strong riders in Brand and Kirchmann, and it's Leah i'd expect to be more competitive on this course. But it could be a touch to upwards for either of them to go for the win.
Tibco SVB are not a name you'll normally hear at a WWT level when discussing favorites. But in Stephens and Walle there are two surprising outsiders who had great 2016's that must be watched by the bigger teams.
Wiggle will look to Longo-Borghini to deliver the result, and she certainly can do it on this course that does suit her very nicely. Lichtenberg can also be a threat for the team as a foil to the Italian.
WM3 is not just Vos, but it's mostly Vos, and Vos can do a real Vos and take the win... did i say Vos too much? But don't focus on her, as Niewiadoma is my pick on this team to deliver a result here. And if those options fail Kitchen is able to pick up a result as well.
Not much hope for the Italian teams i'm afraid. Ale can look at Ensing and Taylor but a Top10 would be a good result for them. Aromitalia i don't see with any chance at all. Giusfredi even less chance again. And similar story for Michela Fanini, Servetto, Fassa Bortolo and Valcar.
And that's my preview of Stade Bianche. Similar course and similar favorites. Will be a cracking race.
Coverage wise... apparently the final hour will be available on Eurosport according to the UCI but Eurosport (last i checked) didn't have it scheduled. So we'll probably be limited to short highlights on Youtube after the event. Which is such a let down and really is a failure that a WWT event can't guarantee any live coverage at all.
UPDATE: Eurosport are going to do a 30minute highlight package that will air immidately after the Mens race coverage is done. Still not good enough that there's no live coverage at all.
Edited by TheManxMissile on 02-03-2017 11:27
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-03-2017 13:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Who doesn't love Strade? Another brilliant race to mark in the books and an excellent opening to the WWT. Plenty of hard working and attacking riders. Elisa Longo-Borghini coming away victorious, hauling in the late attacks and powering away from Newiadoma in the final meters. Another great ride from Newiadoma, she will win this race in the future guaranteed. Lizzie Deignan just lacking at the end, probably missing a touch of race form the others gained in Belgium.
Brand out doing my expectation for 4th off the late moves. Orica using their numbers to effect yet again, as i said they would try to do. Gillow a strong ride for FDJ in their WWT debut. Also called out Ludwig pre-race to watch and the 21yo really strong for 9th. Canyon will be dissapointed with only 10th, and PFP struggled on her return but will only get better as the season goes on.
Fantastic race. Absolutely worth tracking down the highlights as they come, and i'll try and post one or two from youtube in the coming day or two.
Drenthe next Saturday as round 2 of the WWT, always a good one. Flatter with some cobbles, worth watching especially if they stream as well as last year. Semana Ciclista Valenciana filling the week as well. Season's well and truly underway now.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 09-03-2017 12:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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 Ronde van Drenthe
The course is slightly different this year, longer by 14km taking it up to a punishing 152km and establishing it as one of the longest WWT races. Seven sections of cobbles make up 13km, which might not sound like a lot but we all know any cobbles can make or break a race. Sprinkle in some short but brutally sharp climbs and this is anything but a "sprinters race".
Interestingly WWT Leader, Elisa Lono Borghini, won't be riding as she's in Spain. Plus neither Niewiadoma nor Deignan will be at Drenthe either, leaving the WWT leaders jersey up for grabs! Don't be fooled though, it's still a strong startlist with many stars.
Boels-Dolmans doing the Boels thing of just being a stacked team. Blaak has to be right up there amongst the favorites. But if she's struggling then Pieters and van der Breggen have enough to compete as well. Plus the World Champion and WWT Champion. Just to be greedy.
Ale Cipollini will have their hopes on Hosking, and that's not a bad bet. If there's a group sprint the Aussie will be hard to beat. Ensing could go longer in an attack but would need some luck.
Canyon have some options. Hannah Barnes will be hoping for a sprint finish whilst Worrack, Brennauer and Cecchini can go for a tougher race and smaller group dash. Options, but so far Canyon havn't quite made them work.
FDJ have impressed so far this year. Gillow looked really good in Strade and could feature again. But also watch to see what Knetemann manages on some home roads. The team could really get up amongst it.
Orica will surely do the Orica thing of numbers at the head. Garfoot and van Vleuten must be the two clearer leaders, but it's a good team that can stick it out and provide some fireworks towards the end.
Sunweb look very strong here. Hard race? Brand and van Dijk can cope with most things and will be powerhouses. Sprint? Kirchmann and Rivera both can deliver in a fast finish.
Outside of the above there's still plenty of riders who can contest. Lepisto will want a sprint and needs her Cervelo team to work to that end. Gutierrez went ok at Strade but this might suit her better for Cylance, and Wild will be hard to shift as well. Vos looks like WM3's best bet, this isn't the dominant Rabobank team of old. D'Hoore has won this race before for Wiggle and the duo of Garners will be invaluable help.
Last year this race had an excellent livestream available. Hopefully they're doing the same again, but can't confirm just yet.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 11-03-2017 15:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
Joined: 12-05-2012
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Another really interesting WWT race. Very quiet start, going over an hour without anyone trying to make a breakaway. It did eventually start splitting apart on the long cobble sections. Shifting a lot of riders off the back as the pace rose at the front of the pack. Sunweb were the ones to open the racing with Ellen Van Dijk over the VAMberg. Then it was Brand who went away taking Cecchini, Dideriksen and Longo Borghini with her. The chase never quite got themselves fully organised, too many not wanting to contribute. Elisa went first to try and shake the others, but Dideriksen played it excelently again. Coming around Brand to take a big victory in the Rainbow!
Big shoutout to Alice Barnes from Drops. Made the right move and was competitive in the chase to finish in the Top10, a brilliant result.
And if you doubted how hard this race actually is, note only 37 riders are classified as finishers. Hard and Fast. Just as racing should be.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 13-03-2017 10:48
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Tour de France Champion
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Hosking made up, a little, for the dissapointment of Saturday winning the sprint finish of Drentse Acht van Westerveld. It's a race that uses much of the same roads, just in different configurations reducing some of the difficulty and rewarding the sprinters. Kopecky a very good second, whilst Dideriksen continues growing her stature as a fast finisher with 3rd.
Meanwhile over in Spain the debut Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. A 4-day race around Valencia, decent startlist but hardly as strong as was predicted.
Bepink won the opening TTT, wasn't a good start for the Spanish teams.
Duyck and Ludwig brokeaway to win Stage 2. The belgian seems to be enjoying life at Drops, whilst Ludwig having a good early season.
Arlenis Sierra, of Astana, took a surprise win on Stage 3 ahead of Bronzini and Archibald. No issues for GC Leader Ludwig.
Lydia Boylan, of WNT, held on to win Stage 4 just ahead of the pack. Easy day for Ludwig.
And it was the 21yo Dane claimed the GC. Sierra 2nd and Ashleigh Moolman 3rd. Cervelo capitalising on their strong TTT start as Astana faded away over the race. Interesting race, could become a decent one with a slightly more ambitious route and slightly better startlist the latter being hurt by the WWT clash.
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Posted on 24-11-2024 19:04
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 17-03-2017 10:37
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Tour de France Champion
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Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Commune di Cittiglo
This is one the older womens races, being run consistently (minus 98+99) for over 40 years. New start location, moving to Taino from Gavirate, but the 131km are very similar to the past. Covering good ground in the Varese province the race is most certainly a bumpy one. Not a pure climbers course only, although the better climbers have an advantage, it's a relentless series of tests. Splits will happen and anyone who wants to win will need to be forwards early in the day.
Boels as always head the list of favorites. Previous winner Lizzie Deignan will start, but no Guarnier. Van der Breggen can threaten on this course, but overall the team isn't as strong as previous races.
Wiggle host WWT Leader Elisa Longo Borghini, and the 2013 winner will look to defend that jersey. Although there's not great alternatives for the team, Lichtenberg might be their best backup option.
WM3 line up strongly. Niewiadoma will be a big contender on such an uphill course, and she's stronger than ever. Kitchen and Vos can both feature as well but may be best served as support.
Sunweb were visible at Drenth but fell short. Both Van Dijk and Kirchmann have strength and can climb well on their day. Should be visible again and a big result won't be far off.
Canyon can relish this race. PFP isn't her old self yet but if she turns up she'll be a threat. Amialiusik could be the better bet, good history in this race and she can climb with the best.
Orica have played a role in every race this season. Van Vleuten will be their winning option, but again Garfoot and Spratt can hang in and create a numerical dilema for other teams.
Cervelo don't often get mentioned as threatening. But Moolman can't ever be forgotten and then there's Ludwig who's stepped up this season and comes of a win in Spain. Watch this team closely.
As usual there's more riders to watch. Ratto would have been a threat in the past for Cylance but Jasinska could be their option. Gillow is relishing new freedom at FDJ and can go well. Drops surprised at Drenthe, but this might be too hard for Duyck or Zorzi to contest. The Italian teams don't have many hopes either, but expect to see them attacking early on for sure.
Best race coverage will probably come on twitter on the day, with highlights popping up a day or so after the event. Always a good race though.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 17-03-2017 11:38
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Team Leader
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Go Cecilie - Go - you can do it !
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 17-03-2017 12:59
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World Champion
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To make TMM happy: Sporza will again show the key moments of the women's Ronde Van Vlaanderen during the live broadcast of the men's race.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-03-2017 11:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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I have to give a HUGE shoutout to the guys at Trofeo Binda. This is how youget your race seen. Youtube Stream embeded direct into their website. And it's more than just the race. You can watch the team Presentation and Race Start. Then a 15minute history piece on the race, and being one of the more historical womens races it'll be worth it. Cut back to Live coverage of the race over the first climbs. The Junior race highlights before coming back to the Elite race for about 70km to the finish.
Awesomely done. Huge amount of content. Seriously, well worth checking out. Streams start in about 15minutes and will run throughout the afternoon.
Never watched a womens race before? Watch this one, it'll be worth it
https://cyclingsportpromotion.com/vide...u-c-i-wwt/
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 19-03-2017 13:59
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Team Leader
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Even a girl translating to ENG, nice link, thanks
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 19-03-2017 19:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Another exciting WWT race, hope some of you watched it (even if the quality of the stream was questionable, at least there was one).
Coryn Rivera was one of my pre-season riders to watch, and that's a big result for her. Showing the sprinting speed we knew, but a great durability to be not only in the front group but driving onwards and putting herself into the wind. She will have more big wins this season for sure.
Sierra and Ludiwg coming off Valenciana, and wow! Ludiwg continuing her great season really showing she is a talent and one to watch. Could a WWT win come this year? I wouldn't bet against it. Sierra is one of those riders even i tend to overlook but this was a big result for her, but she's got to back it up and keep delivering the results now.
Usually a tougher race that breaks up a lap or two earlier, but this also shows the growing profesionalism and depth in the peloton that such a pack stayed together.
Next up, Dwars door Vlaanderen on wednesday. Will bring out the classics riders and sprinters in preperation for the WWT E3 next weekend.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 22-03-2017 12:46
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Team Leader
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Hope to se a good race from Team VéloCONCEPT Women today in Dwars Door Vlaanderen
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 22-03-2017 17:56
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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19th isn't that impressive, hardly out of reach for rider like Mustonen-Lichan or Koster or Sigaard. Had hoped Sigaard could go slightly better after a good start in Omloop and Samyn, she's got some talent to develop.
Anyway, Lepisto opens her season account winning the group sprint. Good result for Elvin who could be an outside bet for the weekend. Brennauer benefiting from the sprint, but she's still got serious strenght in those legs.
Niewiadoma is having a great start to the year, she's been up there in all races so far. Not normally someone i'd pick for a more belgian classic style race, and i would rather see her focus on the hills and mountains with WM3 giving riders like Koster or Kitchen more chances to lead.
And Leah Thorvilson, the Zwift Academy winner, fails to finish and so far is living up to my expectations of nothing. Still, she's got time... oh wait, she doesn't cause she's old.
Gent-Wevelgem at the weekend, will put together a preview tomorrow or friday
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| RadInconsistent |
Posted on 23-03-2017 17:13
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Another exciting WWT race, hope some of you watched it (even if the quality of the stream was questionable, at least there was one).
Coryn Rivera was one of my pre-season riders to watch, and that's a big result for her. Showing the sprinting speed we knew, but a great durability to be not only in the front group but driving onwards and putting herself into the wind. She will have more big wins this season for sure.
Sierra and Ludiwg coming off Valenciana, and wow! Ludiwg continuing her great season really showing she is a talent and one to watch. Could a WWT win come this year? I wouldn't bet against it. Sierra is one of those riders even i tend to overlook but this was a big result for her, but she's got to back it up and keep delivering the results now.
Usually a tougher race that breaks up a lap or two earlier, but this also shows the growing profesionalism and depth in the peloton that such a pack stayed together.
Next up, Dwars door Vlaanderen on wednesday. Will bring out the classics riders and sprinters in preperation for the WWT E3 next weekend.
I loved the happiness of Sierra. With Ludwig taking the U23 classification jersey, this really was a podium with three winners.
Also very happy with Gracie's result yesterday. I like the aggressive way Orica is riding, one of these days one of them will get a win. |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 26-03-2017 19:07
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Tour de France Champion
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Lotta Lepisto wins Gent-Wevelgem. She beat D'Hoore and Rivera in a reduced sprint finish in Wevelgem. The day was cautiously ridden at the start, splitting over the mid-race bergs. Attacks came in the final third but there was overall a lack of work rate and cohesiveness in the moves. Whilst the peloton remaind sizable and was able to control things for the sprinters.
Pajot Hills and Joe Martin in the week, with the Ronde next weekend.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
