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?
No, he's not. Good Guy Shonak defends the honour of the fair maiden Avin Wargunnson. <3
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Meh, i cant withstand Valverde.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
In the past two years, the race has been decided in the climb to Liège. And honestly, I expect the same to happen again. Looking at the route of LBL, two climbs imediatelly spring to us, the cycling fans, minds: the La Redoute, and Saint-Nicolas. The first is one of the hardest climbs of the race, and it's where the real race starts, where the men get separated from the boys. And the second is the last climb of the day before hitting the finish line. The second should provide fireworks for the riders, if they're looking to attack, and to avoid a sprint finish up Liège, like the last two years. Hopefully they'll attack, even if it will only probably be the second-mans from the teams. After two rather boring classics, we're expecting a great one, to salvage the Ardennes, who once again, are beeing overshadowed by the Cobbled classics. So, hopefully, Liège can save us from that, and we can have a true Ardennes classic.
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Alejandro Valverde
Valverde dominated in the Huy and enters as the man to beat in LBL
Alejandro Valverde showed that he still has it, as he dominated, mid-week, in the Mur de Huy. Always riding at the front, indimating the bunch, then he gave the final kick and shadowed everyone to win again on the Huy. And tomorrow, he'll look to win again in Liège. If Valverde has had his lessons learned from last year, he's not going to let everything come to finish line, to avoid getting beaten again on the line. Alejandro is the main favourite, but that can also work against him. He will be marked, and he will have to be not only the strongest, which I think he'll be, but also the smartest to win.
The World Champion won one, and disappointed in the other. But LBL fits him, so can he win a double?
Michal won Amstel, and if that's to live by, he can win LBL too. Why? Well, the Cauberg is a hard climb, so is the climb to Liège. LBL has usually finished in a sprint between the strongest. Amstel finished with a big group sprint, which Michal won. See the similarities? Well, but mid-week, Michal's race wasn't good. He entered with such a poor position in the Mur he disapeared mid-climb, and finish outside the top 30. If he rides like in Amstel, he can certainly win it. If he rides like in Flèche, he won't win it for sure. Luckilly, for Etixx, they have Julian Alaphilippe to trust in case Michal fails.
You might call I'm beeing biased here, but be with me. Costa finished 4th in Amstel, a race that doesn't fit him. He powered up the Huy most of the pack, and dropped a good bunch of people before the more explosive riders came to the front. And then, he's one of the smartest riders out there. If the race provides to him, he can certainly take it. And if guys like Valverde, Gerrans or Kwiatek decide to wait too long to go for it, and if a guy like Costa is in front, it will be hard to catch it.
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow! My 2nd favorite One-day race of the entire season after the U23 Worlds RR.
I have Valverde as the winner here, but I hope Kwiatkowski will take it. I love seeing his aggressive riding in the rainbow-jersey.
Also I really hope Jakob Fuglsang can snatch another top 10 here. Valgreen and Guldhammer should also potentially do well here - 20-30th or so would be good.
It is gonna rain and Nibali says he is gonna attack regardless.
Hope Dumoulin and Kelderman attack as well because waiting for Ans is useless for them. Better make the race and finish 45th then do nothing and finish 17th
Lel, Dan Martin not even an outsider? He won it two years ago and had it won last year before the crash. He'll certainly be there or thereabouts, and definitely has better chances than say Costa.
Dippofix wrote:
Lel, Dan Martin not even an outsider? He won it two years ago and had it won last year before the crash. He'll certainly be there or thereabouts, and definitely has better chances than say Costa.
Martin is not even sure to start, and I doubt he'll do anything with the injuries he has if he starts. Obviously, I can be proven wrong.
Great preview Miguel. I don't think Rui Costa is a complete outside bet but I wouldn't name him as a favourite either.
The race makes or breaks with how Valverde approaches it. If it's the usual big race dullness, than it'll be probably a bit of a snoozefest with Valverde finishing podium. If he and Movistar do some unexpected stuff and treat like a minor race, similiar to Valv's showings in Strade Bianche, Roma Maxima or San Sebastian, it could be a great race.
Why no Purito? Sure he has been surprisingly underperforming so far but I hope he's saving himself for Liege.
Wellens, Gallopin, Rolland and Henao are guys I'd like to see upfront and finish high or at least cause some havoc. Especially Wellens looked solid in (the recap of) Fleche Wallone.
Shonak wrote:
btw I don't think Valv has ever worn the maillot jeune at le Tour? So stage 3 at le Tour should be sorta his final chance to get one of those.
Shonak wrote:
btw I don't think Valv has ever worn the maillot jeune at le Tour? So stage 3 at le Tour should be sorta his final chance to get one of those.
Rookie
Pretty confident that Valverde will be the strongest tomorrow, but I fear that he will somehow fuck uå and play it passive for a podium. Should just do like he did in Catalunya and he will be good
Shonak wrote:
Great preview Miguel. I don't think Rui Costa is a complete outside bet but I wouldn't name him as a favourite either.
The race makes or breaks with how Valverde approaches it. If it's the usual big race dullness, than it'll be probably a bit of a snoozefest with Valverde finishing podium. If he and Movistar do some unexpected stuff and treat like a minor race, similiar to Valv's showings in Strade Bianche, Roma Maxima or San Sebastian, it could be a great race.
Why no Purito? Sure he has been surprisingly underperforming so far but I hope he's saving himself for Liege.
Wellens, Gallopin, Rolland and Henao are guys I'd like to see upfront and finish high or at least cause some havoc. Especially Wellens looked solid in (the recap of) Fleche Wallone.
Couldn't agree with you more here.
Although, I'm actually going with Kreuziger for the win, even if it's pretty unlikely. but I would to see one of the young French or Belgian talents up there.
Shonak wrote:
btw I don't think Valv has ever worn the maillot jeune at le Tour? So stage 3 at le Tour should be sorta his final chance to get one of those.
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Shonak Cycling Noob
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Pierre Rolland and Vincenzo Nibali might have a chance if they decide to work together with their trademark long range energy wasting attacks, unless Nibs is feeling on form finally...
Alejandro Valverde
Michal Kwiatkowski
Rui Costa
Domenico Pozzovivo
Tony Gallopin
Simon Gerrans
Philippe Gilbert
Sergio Henao
Bauke Mollema
KREUZIGER, Roman (TINKOFF-SAXO) 
MARTIN Daniel
IGLINSKIY Maxim
SCHLECK Andy
Not gonna happen
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
