Just watched a highlight from 120km out and think I saw Vandenbergh give Cavendish his wheel just as all the echelons were forming? If so extra kudos to him for getting back in and making the race winning move!
Other than that wonderful win for Paolini. I was out all day but this is one I intend to watch the full recorded Eurosport broadcast for asap.
Obviously a necessity for such an experience that was Gent-Wevelgem this year: How The Race Was Won - Gent - Wevelgem
Very good analysis as usual.
@ianrussell: Yeah, Vandenbergh was pretty beast that day. May explain some of the strange decisions he made throughout this race, that maybe he felt he could win too. But schemantics really, it was an unbelieveable race by everybody in that front group. Especially Roelandts though.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@ianrussell: Yeah, Vandenbergh was pretty beast that day. May explain some of the strange decisions he made throughout this race, that maybe he felt he could win too. But schemantics really, it was an unbelieveable race by everybody in that front group. Especially Roelandts though.
Yes, topped off with both Etixx riders looking at everyone else and each other when Paolini got the gap. Thomas chased down plenty (as demonstrated when Terpstra held him off easily for 2nd) and you can see them all thinking "seriously EQS you're not going to chase this down...".
Paolini looked opportunistic to me. Group had split around the traffic island, and the moment he attacked was when the two riders behind him went back to join the three riders on the right. There was a moments inattention and he was gone, then you can see that G2 riders all wanted someone else to chase.
Angus Osborne wrote:
Paolini looked opportunistic to me. Group had split around the traffic island, and the moment he attacked was when the two riders behind him went back to join the three riders on the right. There was a moments inattention and he was gone, then you can see that G2 riders all wanted someone else to chase.
Well what would have you preferred then? I prefer calling it a smart move, rather than an opportunistic one. No one followed him means that if he attacked in any other moment they 99% wouldn't have followed him anyway.
Angus Osborne wrote:
Paolini looked opportunistic to me. Group had split around the traffic island, and the moment he attacked was when the two riders behind him went back to join the three riders on the right. There was a moments inattention and he was gone, then you can see that G2 riders all wanted someone else to chase.
So, Terpstra´s win in last year´s Paris - Roubaix was also opportunistic?
Angus Osborne wrote:
Paolini looked opportunistic to me. Group had split around the traffic island, and the moment he attacked was when the two riders behind him went back to join the three riders on the right. There was a moments inattention and he was gone, then you can see that G2 riders all wanted someone else to chase.
They are all opportunistic wins. Paolini sensed when they others wern't paying attention and went for it instead of waiting for the sprint, if the others had the strength to catch him then they would have as they all saw him take off but no one else had what it took to win.
Edited by Strydz on 31-03-2015 15:12
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