|
Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Discussion Thread
|
| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 25-04-2013 16:32
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 9885
Joined: 01-05-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
With Strada Appia Antica taking place in June, the transition from classics to stage races isn't as distinct as it used to be anymore, but LBL remains a marker for the end of the spring classics season.
In total, the race measures almost 250 km - of which practically all are up and down. Apart from relatively easy section roughly halfway into the race, the hills never really go away. That makes it sound more difficult than it really is though, as it's mainly about the ten final hills located in the race's second half.
Côte de Wanne, Col de la Haut-Levée, Col du Rosier, Côte du Maquisard and Mont Theux will shed the weaker riders, before the favourites will fight each other in the final 50 km of racing, starting with la Redoute.
That is followed by the ridiculously steep Roche-aux-Faucons, which is usually the first place we see some big attacks. Finally we reach Saint-Nicolas, where Stefan Schumacher almost won last year's race with a big attack. This is the last chance for riders to prevent a sprint finish.
Ultimately, odds are that the race will be decided in a sprint however. Every edition of LBL so far has come down to that, regardless of a changing route. Will this be the case this year as well, or is it time to break the tradition?
Moving on to the participants.
Having won both Amstel and Flèche earlier this week,  Edvald Boasson Hagen is wearing bib #1 as he looks to complete the legendary triple - something that has never been done before. LBL has proved tricky for him in the past though, with a 2nd place from three years ago as best result.
Looking to challenge the so far unbeatable Norwegian is  Frank Schleck - winner of the last three editions of this race. After a decent 6th place in Amstel and a massively disappointing 19th from Flèche, he must be really keen on improving in what surely appears to be his favourite race on the calendar.
One who, unlike Schleck, seems to have taken a big step this year is  Tejay Van Garderen. Apart from the dominant Hagen, the American has actually been the best rider in the previous two Ardennes classics with places 4th and 2nd. If that trend continues, the former world champion could be on track for gold.
Not to be forgotten is reigning Tour de France winner  Damiano Cunego. Even though the 2011 Flèche Wallonne is his only Ardennes classic victory so far, he is certainly looking like a dangerous contender with FW's 3rd Dimitri Claeys and Maxime Monfort in his impressively strong squad of helpers.
Cunego isn't the only reigning Grand Tour champion participating however, as  Riccardo Ricco is starting for a Bacardi team badly needing points to save themselves from relegation. The Cobra might well be the man to redeem them, as he knows how to win this race. Albeit almost four years ago, back in 2009.
Although not a GT-winner,  Yuri Trofimov still goes in somewhat the same category as the previous two due to his insane dominance in Paris-Nice, where he won four stages. 3rd place in Amstel also shows that he is one of the best in these races as well. His best result in LBL is 5th, which he'll try to improve.
Completing the list of absolute top favourites are a so far almost invisible  Jan Bakelants and Amstel's 2nd place  Stefan Schumacher. Both have been solid so far, but need to improve their timing to climb the ladder to victory.
Others to look out for are former MSR winner  Diego Ulissi, the ever consistent  Philippe Gilbert, an improving  Simone Ponzi, recent Pais Vasco winner  Robert Gesink and last year's CT star  Cesare Di Maggio. Also worth mentioning is one of this season's surprises:  Filippo Pozzato.
Both wildcard teams also look dangerous, as  Nicolas Roche and  Francesco Ginanni are both serious contenders for a top 10 finish today.
In the meantime,  Team B&O,  Milka,  Pokerstars,  Simply Red Bull,  Puma and especially the ranking's distant bottom team  Santander will have a tough day in the saddle on the hilly parcours.
The stage used is a special version, created by roturn. The reason for this being that Cyanide's original race included several narrow sections, including some important climbs like la Redoute.
Edited by Pellizotti2 on 29-04-2013 12:20
|
| |
|
|
| Kami |
Posted on 25-04-2013 16:46
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ricco's first race, and i hope he can redeem Bacardi. Really need every points i can get atm.
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 25-04-2013 16:47
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Let's hope for an action packed race. I'm hoping for some EBH treble. |
| |
|
|
| Spilak23 |
Posted on 25-04-2013 17:11
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7217
Joined: 22-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
The top of the Italian puncher crop has joined aswell for Liegi.
Hagen has been really strong but I feel like Bakelandts will finally show his top talent here.
|
| |
|
|
| Levi4life |
Posted on 25-04-2013 17:42
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4469
Joined: 16-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
My expectations for Pozzato are low.
|
| |
|
|
| ember |
Posted on 25-04-2013 17:43
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7059
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
|
Hoping having both Boasson Hagen and Spilak will prove valuable, as this should be a much more open race than Fléche, where it'll be important to be alert to attacks. Spilak should be able to follow most of the best puncheurs, and I'm just crossing fingers Boasson Hagen can challenge for a podium here, in addition to his two earlier wins.
It would obviously be amazing if Boasson Hagen can complete the Ardennes Treble, but the competition is really tough here. Bakelants and Cunego are the two biggest favourites in my eyes. Cunego was brilliant in Tirreno-Adriatico, and he definitely has the potential to deny a "pure" puncheur a monumental win.
And it must soon be time for Bakelants to stop his run of poor performances, thinking of his abilities?
I'm sure it'll be a brilliant race, probably similar to Amstel Gold Race, and I do actually believe a rider will win the race solo, as a first in Liége-Bastogne-Liége. |
| |
|
|
| Rin |
Posted on 25-04-2013 18:41
|
Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2582
Joined: 14-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
I really wonder if anyone can stop Hagens possible ardennes triple, seems almost impossible.
 Team Bianchi - 2012 Man-Game ProContinental Tour Champions
 |
| |
|
|
| cio93 |
Posted on 25-04-2013 19:48
|
World Champion
Posts: 10616
Joined: 29-10-2007
PCM$: 500.00
|
Just let this be over soon...
|
| |
|
|
| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 25-04-2013 19:52
|
Team Manager
Posts: 31706
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Let's hope for an actual race after the joke that was Fleche Wallone
|
| |
|
|
| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 26-04-2013 06:08
|
World Champion
Posts: 13662
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
SportingNonsense wrote:
Let's hope for an actual race after the joke that was Fleche Wallone
It is a joke race in real life too, so it is hard to have it otherwise in the game.
I hope L-B-L will be much more interesting and selective, but i cant see anyone stopping Eddie, with the way how he rides this classics.
|
| |
|
|
| SotD |
Posted on 26-04-2013 07:50
|
World Champion
Posts: 12631
Joined: 29-11-2006
PCM$: 2980.00
|
11th and 12th from the past races hasn't been good or bad. I hope for a top 10 soon.
|
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 01:54
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| ANFreeman |
Posted on 26-04-2013 10:32
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1018
Joined: 11-05-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
I think deep down, we're all hoping EBH pulls off the triple and makes MG history 
[url=https://pcmdaily.com/messages.php?msg_send=19438]-Requests for Man-Game 2014 jerseys are OPEN!
Click to request!-[/url] |
| |
|
|
| Kami |
Posted on 29-04-2013 12:12
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3386
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Well. Atleast i enjoyed the report. I have no idea though, how a rider like Ricco starts the sprint in 5th position, and falls back to 22th. Any chance he was attacking just before the sprint, but the pace was to high?
|
| |
|
|
| Spilak23 |
Posted on 29-04-2013 12:19
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7217
Joined: 22-08-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Kami wrote:
Well. Atleast i enjoyed the report. I have no idea though, how a rider like Ricco starts the sprint in 5th position, and falls back to 22th. Any chance he was attacking just before the sprint, but the pace was to high?
It seems like he was.
Bakelants finally with a good race but only third in the end. Training clearly payed off for both Trofimov and Hagen.
Schleck really disapointing once again.
|
| |
|
|
| rycadinho |
Posted on 29-04-2013 12:27
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1042
Joined: 28-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
It's been a great week for ING and for Roche in particular.
Nice win for Trofimov, though it would had been amazing if Hagen had taken yet another win 
|
| |
|
|
| niconico |
Posted on 29-04-2013 13:42
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
|
Pluchkin going to the Ardennes - no do that again 
|
| |
|
|
| Bushwackers |
Posted on 29-04-2013 14:09
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1982
Joined: 07-02-2009
PCM$: 300.00
|
Wow, Trofimov is having a great year. I can't help but think that Schumacher would have been at least 2nd if he positioned himself a little better, he made up a ton of ground in that sprint 
|
| |
|
|
| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-04-2013 16:31
|
World Champion
Posts: 13561
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 400.00
|
Great sprint by Gesink there. Too bad the team didn't use the advantage of having 4 riders in the leading group.
|
| |
|
|
| ember |
Posted on 29-04-2013 17:39
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7059
Joined: 27-03-2008
PCM$: 900.00
|
That was quite a race from Boasson Hagen, covering pretty much everything. A pity he couldn't win it, but 2nd is brilliant, and it also ends an amazing Ardennes week.
Nice to see Spilak sprint home for 9th as well. We brought a strong team to the race, and it was good to see us have three riders in the decisive group of 39 riders.
Congratulations to mattiasgt! Huge win by Trofimov, timing his attack/sprint to perfection.
And thanks for the report, Pellizotti2. I enjoyed the action from the point the favourites started attacking. |
| |
|
|
| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 29-04-2013 17:51
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6178
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Yeah brilliant week for EBH! 2nd at LBL "isn't all that bad" is it?
And a magnificent race this was, great report and great winner. It looks like this season is going to be legendary for Mother Russia!
Edited by Gustavovskiy on 29-04-2013 17:51
|
| |
|
