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Fleche Wallone - Discussion
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 29-01-2022 13:35
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 Fleche Wallone - Preview
The Hilly Classics continue here as we head to Belgium for Fleche - Wallone. It's a race that the Top Puncheurs in World Cycling eye up and they will all be targeting a good result on Monday as they continue their build-up into Liege - Bastogne - Liege on Friday.
The first few kilometers always look fairly inviting and should allow for a breakaway to settle but, from just before the halfway mark, it starts to get nasty. You would expect the leaders to bide their time as much as possible and conserve their energy before launching their attacks in the final 10-15 kilometers but we shall find out tomorrow what strategies are implemented.
Fleche Wallone has been a mainstay on the PT Calendar since the MGUCI was formed. You don't win this race unless you have some pedigree to you. Frank Schleck, Alejandro Valverde, Riccardo Ricco, Damiano Cunego, Francesco Ginnani, Simone Ponzi. The next generation of Puncheurs will have grown up with these guys as their idols.
In more recent years, we have seen some variation at the top which suggests that we could be in for a new winner and potentially a new podium. In all of the last 3 editions, the leading group has been whittled down to the best 10-15 riders who have fought it out on the final hill up to the line so it seems unlikely that this will change in 2021.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | | 2020 | Kinoshita | Koretzky | Skujins | Lutsenko | Boasson Hagen | | 2019 | Bakelants | Ponzi | Mohoric | Sagan | Boasson Hagen | | 2018 | Ponzi | Boasson Hagen | Sagan | Bakelants | De Bie |
Definitely tough to say who is going to win this one. Last year's winner isn't present so that rules him out.
 De Bie was our winner in the recent Amstel Gold Race so he comes into this one on the back of some strong form.
 MAL was 3rd in AGR and will be hoping to be further up the podium here.
 Lutsenko will definitely be one to watch. He took the win in GP Wallonie and finished 2nd in AGR so he's the man to beat at the moment.
 Mahoric and  Sagan were the other 2 in the Top 5 in AGR and they're both capable of breaking onto the podium.
Further down the list, a rider to watch will be  Simon Yates. The top favourites will want to see the back of him before the final kilometer as he one hell of a kick.
And finally, we won't leave out  Koretzky who was 2nd last year and will be hoping to go one better this time around. This won't be an easy feat though!
| | | HIL | STA | SPR | ACC | FTR | | Sean | De Bie | 84 | 77 | 72 | 75 | 74 | | Miguel Angel | Lopez | 84 | 76 | 66 | 78 | 80 | | Alexey | Lutsenko | 83 | 76 | 72 | 81 | 69 | | Matej | Mohoric | 83 | 78 | 67 | 77 | 71 | | Peter | Sagan | 83 | 78 | 73 | 76 | 71 |  | Jack | Bobridge | 83 | 74 | 69 | 80 | 66 | | Clement | Koretzky | 81 | 77 | 71 | 79 | 73 |  | Petr | Vakoc | 81 | 75 | 71 | 74 | 61 |  | Emanuel | Buchmann | 81 | 73 | 65 | 73 | 67 | | Simon | Yates | 81 | 77 | 77 | 80 | 74 |  | Davide | Formolo | 80 | 76 | 69 | 71 | 66 |  | Zico | Waeytens | 80 | 72 | 66 | 73 | 76 |  | Diego | Ulissi | 79 | 82 | 73 | 74 | 74 |  | Dmitry | Trakhov | 79 | 78 | 69 | 75 | 70 |  | Joseph | Areruya | 79 | 76 | 68 | 76 | 75 |
We shall see you all tomorrow for what is bound to be an exciting race! |
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| roturn |
Posted on 29-01-2022 13:43
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A podium is the minimum here. I admit that the Amstel Gold Race is the most suited with shorter climbs, but he hopefully can again play out his 84 hill plus great team support.
MAL probably best in the remaining two Ardennes classics.
Looking forward to the report. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 29-01-2022 14:02
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World Champion
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Nothing to look forward to for this race with both Gerts and Benoot in Cheshire.
I figured Gerts might have a good chance at winning that race and for that he would need all the help he could get, with Benoot potentially riding a good GC for himself as well. In hindsight, it wasn't my best decision.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 29-01-2022 15:22
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Directeur Sportif
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Come on Lutsenko, your time to shine! Nice preview, we are surely going for a podium here. Please no big attacks to day but wait for the last ramp and work that acceleration!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 13:48
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| knockout |
Posted on 29-01-2022 15:23
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This is where i expect to continue our way from the Amstel Gold Race. Hoping for a podium but at least i want to see Lopez race in a way where he competes for the victory/top3 and not just settles for a low top ten like he did in wallonie.
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| SotD |
Posted on 29-01-2022 16:46
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After the very bad Amstel we need Koretzky to step up for this one. We saw last season that he can fight for the top spots if he has a good day. Let’s see what happens. It would be cool to see him actually win a one day race at one point in his career.
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| Bikex |
Posted on 29-01-2022 17:45
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The only ardennes classic I didn't get a podium so far. Mohoric was there before, so let's hope he can do it again!
Good job on the report, LLS. Thanks for all the work recently! |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 30-01-2022 08:41
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Missed the preview, but truly a nothing race for us. Got of to a good start with Vingegaard in the break, but he was unlucky to get a puncture. After that it all went downhill.
Congrats to roturn yet again. Can we get a triple?
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| roturn |
Posted on 30-01-2022 08:50
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Wow. Stunning performance. PCM20 might have quite a bit of struggle but it finally is a version, where De Bie can perform. 
Pure puncheurs can still win big races, which is very nice to see. MAL must have been on a bad day though as this was still far below expectations.
Vakoc was incredible, really could/should have won in the end with that comeback but I am obviously more than happy to have kept him behind by a tiny margin.
First of I was very afraid that the attack by De Bie came too early, in especially as Carboni was still with him and really powering a lot still on good energy. In the end though the attack was nicely timed and delivered the gaps behind.
Carboni as 18th on a strong ride today. Schlegel in 27th with his first real proper race for me! The others a bit lower but probably working hard early on.
As LBL was so far the best race in previous seasons for De Bie, I obviously have high hopes now for the triple performance. Not necessarily the win but a triple podium would already be cool as well.
Thanks for the report! |
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 30-01-2022 08:55
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Wow, De Bie! Have we ever had a triple winner before?
Also, what the heck is Trakhov on?  Happy for Oleg and Tinkoff to have some positive results after the mostly terrible cobbles season they had.
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| roturn |
Posted on 30-01-2022 09:09
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cunego59 wrote:
Wow, De Bie! Have we ever had a triple winner before?
Also, what the heck is Trakhov on? Happy for Oleg and Tinkoff to have some positive results after the mostly terrible cobbles season they had.
2015 saw the triple by Ponzi, who with 8 wins in total was one of the best of course.
2019 Bakelants was FW/LBL +6th.
2018 Ponzi AGR/FW +5th.
2013 Hagen AGR/FW +2nd.
2010 F. Schleck AGT/LBL +2nd.
2009 Boogerd AGR/FW +7th.
2008 Valverde FW/LBL +7th.
Some doubles with very close to triple as well. |
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| ember |
Posted on 30-01-2022 09:26
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Wow, big performance from De Bie. Congratulations on two great wins, roturn!
MAL on the other hand with a weird underperformance. Seeing how the race unfolded, it looked to be perfect for him, but somehow he was completely out of gas on the Mur.
Vakoc and Trakhov with senastional climbs to the finish line as well, congratulations on the surprise results! |
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| knockout |
Posted on 30-01-2022 09:48
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Shit |
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 30-01-2022 09:56
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Good race by Lutsenko, attentive and strong. Not strong enough to win it all, but another podium which is nice. I also enjoyed Mohoric doing well for 4th here. Congrats to roturn, de Bie now with two rather strong wins.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 30-01-2022 10:16
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Absolutely here for the De Bie hype, always a rider I’ve liked and love to see him have his moment as a rider who while very good doesn’t really have these great victories or moments as much.
Areruya in 13th is fine - worth the one day trip I reckon, hope his other three are also at this kind of standard. Since it looks like the tank is full steam ahead I can enjoy these solid but not spectacular moments which bode well for his future even more since they won’t inflate his wage even if they don’t fit the making memories and getting TV time goals I stated for this year!
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
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 30-01-2022 11:40
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Oh yeah De Bie! So good to see him perform the way you’d expect. Hope he can land the triple in LBL for you roturn! I had Bakelandts just miss out on it a couple of years back, so hopefully De Bie can finish it off.
Indosat - ANZ HQ
"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 30-01-2022 11:44
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Had forgotten that I had only sent Turgis to one hill classic this season. Given he won that I look like a total idiot at this point having avoided the Ardennes with him, unless I've misremembered
Congrats roturn and thanks for the report! |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 30-01-2022 12:03
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Congrats roturn! De Bie in great form.
Formolo more or less delivered what we can expect from him in this race. He was well positioned when the fireworks started and I can't really blame him for running out of steam on the final climb after having followed the 84/83 HI guys for so long.
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| Luis Leon Sanchez |
Posted on 30-01-2022 12:08
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Absolute pleasure at the moment reporting these classics and seeing De Bie and Lutsenko battle it out. Vacok got the blood pumping too!!
Real unfortunate to see Lopez out of position or just simply struggling to hang on when he should be quite comfortable 
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| SotD |
Posted on 30-01-2022 12:14
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Ouch
Another ardennes race outside the top 10 for us. Really not what we expected nor hoped for here. Unless we podium in Liege we will have an all out very dissapointing ardennes campaign.
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