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Ardennes classics 2017
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| Shonak |
Posted on 17-04-2017 10:23
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Hope he will get well soon. It makes his win really all the more impressive, however now he was taken off the chance of making incredible history, winning RVV and LBL. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 16:55
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This blows. Blows, blows, blows.. Gilbert was the only chance of something important happening before Huy, I think. But he will be missed the most in Liege, he would definitely have went on La Redoute and make the race as he has been doing ALL of 2017 without exception.
I think Amstel goes to show just how much route making really means. It doesn't take that much to give the riders the opportunity to make a great spectacle and so the organisers finally did - the rest was up to the riders and Gilbert, Kwito etc. delivered as has been tradition in 2017. Im pleased to see Liege has taken Rue Naniot of the route, but I think they should go more radical and take Roche aux Faucons and/or St. Nicholas out as well and follow the Amstel concept of placing the most important climbs relatively far out. Liege will still be a waiting game as it is now, I think (especially with Gilbert out), but one can really hope this great racing just continues.
2017 as without a doubt been the best cycling I've seen. Just great racing all along - only Pais Vasco has been disappointing (and that very much so) despite my favourite rider winning. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 16:59
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ruben wrote:
Finally an Amstel Gold Race like in the Boogerd days. Small groups. Action from 35/40km. Better.
Hope FW and LBL won't be a snoozefest
Indeed, great racing, but the only reason that was necessary was due to the fact the organisers moved Cauberg far out and forced the best riders to make the selection much earlier if they weren't to be beaten by Colbrelli/Matthews.
Gilbert was the winner, but so was the organisers and most importantly.. the fans.  For finally getting to see a (really) good Amstel again. |
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| Kalach |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:06
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Shonak wrote:
Hope he will get well soon. It makes his win really all the more impressive, however now he was taken off the chance of making incredible history, winning RVV and LBL.
Or even again that famous triple which he did in 2011 :/
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
_____________________________________________
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:11
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Kalach wrote:
Shonak wrote:
Hope he will get well soon. It makes his win really all the more impressive, however now he was taken off the chance of making incredible history, winning RVV and LBL.
Or even again that famous triple which he did in 2011 :/
Yeah, Fléche would have been quite impossible me thinks. He is a more bulky rider now, but Liege.. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:20
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Either way, Gilbert's palmarés has already eclipsed Cancellara's one day palmarés at this point and is seriously threatening Boonen's. In my opinion, its better due to the many different races he has won while Boonen 'only' excelled at the cobbles. If you take a look at these races, its actually pretty astonishing:
2x Lombardia
1x WC
1x LÃege
1x Flanders
4x Amstel
2x Het Volk
2x Paris-Tours
2x Brabantse Pijl
2x Giro del Piemonte
1x San Sebastian
1x Fléche Wallone
1x Strade Bianche
1x GP de Quebec
What a classics rider. |
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
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somehow I can not be fanboy for that Gilbert 2.0..sry |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:30
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Its definitely not super believable, but on the other hand, not much is when you are winning the biggest races on the calendar. At least he is doing it in style. |
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:39
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Anyways, yay/nay for potentially not finishing on Huy but have it, say, 10 kilometres from the line proceeded by an easier climb in the finale - something along with lines of the Muur/Bosberg-combo? It will inevitably make for a better race, but isn't FW good enough as it is.. the annual, unofficial puncheur Worlds? |
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| Kalach |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:42
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Riis123 wrote:
Kalach wrote:
Shonak wrote:
Hope he will get well soon. It makes his win really all the more impressive, however now he was taken off the chance of making incredible history, winning RVV and LBL.
Or even again that famous triple which he did in 2011 :/
Yeah, Fléche would have been quite impossible me thinks. He is a more bulky rider now, but Liege..
Yeah but he could at least try ...
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
_____________________________________________
PCM Velogames Championship - Top Results
* 1st Tour de Suisse ('23)
* 1st Tour de Romandie ('19, '18)
* 1st Tour de Pologne ('20, '19)
* 2nd Tour of California ('19)
* 2nd Tour de Suisse ('18)
* 3rd Tour de France ('23, '21)
* 3rd Giro d’Italia ('22)
* 3rd Vuelta Espana ('23)
* 3rd Autumn Classics ('19, '18)
* 9th Spring Classics ('18)
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 20:53
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Kalach wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Kalach wrote:
Shonak wrote:
Hope he will get well soon. It makes his win really all the more impressive, however now he was taken off the chance of making incredible history, winning RVV and LBL.
Or even again that famous triple which he did in 2011 :/
Yeah, Fléche would have been quite impossible me thinks. He is a more bulky rider now, but Liege..
Yeah but he could at least try ...
He would try, most likely before Huy since he can't win on the climb itself, but its a whole other race than he has won so far. Henao and Valverde will eat him on Huy under normal circumstances |
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| purepasd |
Posted on 17-04-2017 22:39
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Domestique
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I'm excited to see if any of the other big favourites will challenge Valverde and Movistar from further out in FW. Especially Quick-Step, Orica and Sky do have multiple great cards to play, and Valverde is THE guy to beat ofc. Valverde does have some good helpers though, so it will be hard. But it does seem to be the tendency this season, and boy do I like it. Well, who doesn't? |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 17-04-2017 23:26
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Quick Step only has Dan Martin, now that Gilbert and Alaphilippe are out of the Ardennes
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| canojuancho |
Posted on 18-04-2017 00:49
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purepasd wrote:
I'm excited to see if any of the other big favourites will challenge Valverde and Movistar from further out in FW. Especially Quick-Step, Orica and Sky do have multiple great cards to play, and Valverde is THE guy to beat ofc. Valverde does have some good helpers though, so it will be hard. But it does seem to be the tendency this season, and boy do I like it. Well, who doesn't?
Well, challenge Movistar as team isn't difficult, Valverde don't need his team to beat everybody in Huy.
If Wednesday, Kwiatkowski will be in "God Mode" maybe he could beat Valverde, but i think that Valverde will win his 5th Huy-Sprint, sorry, Fleche Wallone.
Liege is more unpredictable and everybody non-favourite could win. |
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| Strydz |
Posted on 18-04-2017 06:21
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Riis123 wrote:
Its definitely not super believable, but on the other hand, not much is when you are winning the biggest races on the calendar. At least he is doing it in style.
Yeah nothing believable about Gilbert but the same can be said about Sagan, Froome, Boonen, Valverde but for entertainments sake alone it's fun to see Gilbert back up and riding like its 2011.
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 18-04-2017 08:32
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Riis123 wrote:
Either way, Gilbert's palmarés has already eclipsed Cancellara's one day palmarés at this point and is seriously threatening Boonen's. In my opinion, its better due to the many different races he has won while Boonen 'only' excelled at the cobbles. If you take a look at these races, its actually pretty astonishing:
2x Lombardia
1x WC
1x LÃege
1x Flanders
4x Amstel
2x Het Volk
2x Paris-Tours
2x Brabantse Pijl
2x Giro del Piemonte
1x San Sebastian
1x Fléche Wallone
1x Strade Bianche
1x GP de Quebec
What a classics rider.
Its not only the wins its the style he wins races in. Such swag and panache. <3 Phil |
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| purepasd |
Posted on 18-04-2017 09:12
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Domestique
Posts: 541
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Aquarius97 wrote:
Quick Step only has Dan Martin, now that Gilbert and Alaphilippe are out of the Ardennes
Brambilla and Vakoc are not bad options either imo. But if Movistar is the only team interested in a sprint finish, it could be a far more interesting race. |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 18-04-2017 09:43
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Posts: 7702
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purepasd wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
Quick Step only has Dan Martin, now that Gilbert and Alaphilippe are out of the Ardennes
Brambilla and Vakoc are not bad options either imo. But if Movistar is the only team interested in a sprint finish, it could be a far more interesting race.
I hope for a Bob Jungels wattage bazooka but its all my fanboy bias  |
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| Kalach |
Posted on 18-04-2017 10:12
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Either way, Gilbert's palmarés has already eclipsed Cancellara's one day palmarés at this point and is seriously threatening Boonen's. In my opinion, its better due to the many different races he has won while Boonen 'only' excelled at the cobbles. If you take a look at these races, its actually pretty astonishing:
2x Lombardia
1x WC
1x LÃege
1x Flanders
4x Amstel
2x Het Volk
2x Paris-Tours
2x Brabantse Pijl
2x Giro del Piemonte
1x San Sebastian
1x Fléche Wallone
1x Strade Bianche
1x GP de Quebec
What a classics rider.
Its not only the wins its the style he wins races in. Such swag and panache. <3 Phil
Agree. Maybe better palmares than boonen's
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
_____________________________________________
PCM Velogames Championship - Top Results
* 1st Tour de Suisse ('23)
* 1st Tour de Romandie ('19, '18)
* 1st Tour de Pologne ('20, '19)
* 2nd Tour of California ('19)
* 2nd Tour de Suisse ('18)
* 3rd Tour de France ('23, '21)
* 3rd Giro d’Italia ('22)
* 3rd Vuelta Espana ('23)
* 3rd Autumn Classics ('19, '18)
* 9th Spring Classics ('18)
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| Strydz |
Posted on 18-04-2017 13:23
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
Joined: 02-08-2011
PCM$: 1625.00
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Kalach wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Either way, Gilbert's palmarés has already eclipsed Cancellara's one day palmarés at this point and is seriously threatening Boonen's. In my opinion, its better due to the many different races he has won while Boonen 'only' excelled at the cobbles. If you take a look at these races, its actually pretty astonishing:
2x Lombardia
1x WC
1x LÃege
1x Flanders
4x Amstel
2x Het Volk
2x Paris-Tours
2x Brabantse Pijl
2x Giro del Piemonte
1x San Sebastian
1x Fléche Wallone
1x Strade Bianche
1x GP de Quebec
What a classics rider.
Its not only the wins its the style he wins races in. Such swag and panache. <3 Phil
Agree. Maybe better palmares than boonen's
4x Roubaix
3x De Ronde
5x E3
3x GW
1x WC
6x TDF Stage wins
I personally think it makes no sense to compare Boonen and Gilbert, they are different type of riders and outside of a couple of races they just don't match up.
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/ |
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