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The Hilly Classics 2015 - Liège - Bastogne - Liège
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| Tafiolmo |
Posted on 22-04-2015 23:06
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Sprinter
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
If you dont like the race, dont watch it. Nobody forces you to watch it.
Never said I didn't like the race???
It wasn't aimed solely at you, to all those who are moaning above. Ardennes classics will rarely be thrilling races. You just gotta accept it.
In the 90s they were usually the most exciting of all the spring classics, with usually one or two just fighting for victory at the end or a small group of about six riders fighting it out. The peloton was usually long dropped as the favourites had normally got into the winning move. |
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| Movistar |
Posted on 23-04-2015 02:14
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Domestique
Posts: 424
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Did the addition of the climb before the Huy make the race worse this year? Seemed that guys were just completely dead.
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| Strydz |
Posted on 23-04-2015 04:58
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
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Tafiolmo wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
baseballlover312 wrote:
Kirchen_75 wrote:
If you dont like the race, dont watch it. Nobody forces you to watch it.
Never said I didn't like the race???
It wasn't aimed solely at you, to all those who are moaning above. Ardennes classics will rarely be thrilling races. You just gotta accept it.
In the 90s they were usually the most exciting of all the spring classics, with usually one or two just fighting for victory at the end or a small group of about six riders fighting it out. The peloton was usually long dropped as the favourites had normally got into the winning move.
Well there was a big reason why the 90's were like that so I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for that to happen again.
I agree with Kirchen, these races are meant to be tactical, tight races and Flèche is always going to be about the final climb so I really can't see what people are complaining about, seems like after almost every race on the forum people complain it was boring, i think fan romanticise the past and in a few years will do so with the current races and bemoan how boring the races on at a time.
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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| Strydz |
Posted on 23-04-2015 05:01
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Team Leader
Posts: 5894
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Movistar wrote:
Did the addition of the climb before the Huy make the race worse this year? Seemed that guys were just completely dead.
I don't think it made much of a difference, I think once the other riders realised they couldn't drop Valverde and he was just marking time that it stopped them going earlier.
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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| Movistar |
Posted on 23-04-2015 05:41
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Domestique
Posts: 424
Joined: 05-06-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Strydz wrote:
Movistar wrote:
Did the addition of the climb before the Huy make the race worse this year? Seemed that guys were just completely dead.
I don't think it made much of a difference, I think once the other riders realised they couldn't drop Valverde and he was just marking time that it stopped them going earlier.
Probably correct, I honestly love this race because since I am not able to watch it live, I can catch the last 10km when I get home and the Huy is usually awesome but damn was it just a procession this year.
Be curious to hear what some the riders have to say, though I doubt we will get much honesty. |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 23-04-2015 07:22
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
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Meh, i cant withstand Valverde. Allaphilippe though! Extreme talent
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 23-04-2015 07:28
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| Guido Mukk |
Posted on 23-04-2015 08:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15830
Joined: 08-02-2007
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Still dont understand a moaning about how boring races have these days.
I think think you all now why races at 90's and until 2009 was different.
Today riders do not have energy to attack several times..and go after hopeless long solo ride.
It was about 15 years ago when they decided that football is boring..lets make goals bigger to get more goals.
Same here ..banning a race radios etc. wont help a thing. It is top game team sport..and this is the reason I like it. If you dont like race winner..it is not cycling fault. Enjoy. Damn it. |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 23-04-2015 08:38
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
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I enjoy races Guido, just not Valverde winning. But i disagree with the race radios thing, i would bet that banning them would make racing much more unpredictable and more out of control for strong teams...
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 23-04-2015 09:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5075
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How hypocritical are you allowed to be, sutty? Believing in marginal gains and basically sucking Sky's ass while hating Valverde because he doped...
Just the best rider in the peloton for these races. Doing it for 10 years and being better than evaaah. Loving it |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-11-2024 03:23
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Riis123 wrote:
How hypocritical are you allowed to be, sutty? Believing in marginal gains and basically sucking Sky's ass while hating Valverde because he doped...
Just the best rider in the peloton for these races. Doing it for 10 years and being better than evaaah. Loving it
Innocent until proven guilty i think is the saying and until Team Sky are found guilty in anything its all just gossip, but if they were to be found doing something wrong then i will hold my hands up and say i was wrong but until then they are clean in my eyes !! |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:11
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Team Leader
Posts: 6479
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Valverde really did own that climb - no-one was really that close to him. The closest was young Aliphillipe, really interesting to see a youngster mixing it up with the usual grizzled veterens.
I guess when you have such a wall at end, it is difficult to see any other way Fleche goes. I have many doubts that LBL will be any better really - i wish some more teams who didn't have out and out favourites would try something different as Lotto and guys like Nibali do.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:20
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World Champion
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Riis123 wrote:
Just the best rider in the peloton for these races.
I don't think I can agree with that. Looking at the 3 big Ardennes races here, Valverde only has 5 wins. Gilbert also has 5 wins, but can add 2x Lombardia and a rainbow jersey.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:32
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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But Valverde is closer to wins almost anytime and more consistent than Gilbert. He's the best puncheur around, easy.
Actually, a bit of a shame that he lost to Kwiatek on the Cauberg, we could talk about another ardennes triple, which would be like the only thing that would make me excited for La Snooze Doyenne right now.
Edited by Shonak on 23-04-2015 13:33
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:35
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
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Ollfardh wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Just the best rider in the peloton for these races.
I don't think I can agree with that. Looking at the 3 big Ardennes races here, Valverde only has 5 wins. Gilbert also has 5 wins, but can add 2x Lombardia and a rainbow jersey.
It is fair to say, that from those 5 wins, three are part of the thing known as "Ibarguren triple". 
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 23-04-2015 13:36
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:37
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World Champion
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I can agree Valverde is more consistent, but in 50 years people will only remember who won, and then it goes to Gilbert (as it stand now).
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:47
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Team Leader
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You should also count the Clasica San Sebastian and Valverde has more wins there.
Also worth noting that Gilbert's incredible 2011 when he couldn't be beaten happened exactly the year Valverde didn't race.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-04-2015 13:51
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
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Agree, but Valverde has 2 San Sebastian wins, Gilbert 1. So it still goes to Gilbert.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 23-04-2015 14:02
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
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It's a tough call.
I'd say, people will remember Gilbert 2011 season as legendary. But Valverde will hold a bigger name overall, I think.
Though a World Title eludes him, and Gilbert has got that. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2015 19:38
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Yeah, pretty much. People will remember 2011 of Gilbert for sure, and also that he never reached the same level afterwards. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| jsh312mufc |
Posted on 24-04-2015 19:52
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 794
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Ollfardh wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Just the best rider in the peloton for these races.
I don't think I can agree with that. Looking at the 3 big Ardennes races here, Valverde only has 5 wins. Gilbert also has 5 wins, but can add 2x Lombardia and a rainbow jersey.
It is fair to say, that from those 5 wins, three are part of the thing known as "Ibarguren triple".
Are you suggesting Valverde was clean 2006-2009? |
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