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Ardennes Classics
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 14-04-2013 22:33
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Team Leader
Posts: 6036
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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kumazan wrote:
FreitasPCM wrote:
Huh, I want the old route back. This one is crap.
I think it's better than the previous one.
Agreed. ruben has put it nicely into words
ruben wrote:
The favorites waited too long, their old trick of waiting till the last Cauberg clearly fails on this course.
I'm a big fan of FW, but I believe it's more interesting to have AGR being ridden in a LBL fashion, without the hill-top finish. Otherwise the Ardennes week would be a sum of 2 hills (the Cauberg and the Muur) and a proper race (LBL), like it has been in recent years.
And that pretty much sums up what happened in the Netherlands today. A whole bunch setting up a mass uphill sprint, and a smart/lucky guy who foresaw an unique tactical opportunity which smashed everyone else's intents.
Edited by Gustavovskiy on 14-04-2013 22:34
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 15:47
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 14-04-2013 22:46
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
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Maybe I'm not really used to this kind of race, I take time to start liking something new sometimes.  Maybe it'll make the riders have a different read of the race, like what happened today, but I still preferred the emotion on the climb towards the summit of the Cauberg. |
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| wogsrus |
Posted on 15-04-2013 01:44
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1200
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Great performance by Gerrans and Weening. Outstanding ride.
Kreuziger was fantastic. Peleton gave him 10 seconds too much, and the favourties couldnt bring it back on the Cauberg. |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 06:44
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Posts: 7297
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Well Krueziger upsets the favorites so nice job from him.
Oh and I told you the Sagan would not do well. He's too young
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-04-2013 06:55
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World Champion
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Alakagom wrote:
Ollfardh wrote:
Nice win by Kreuziger, but stupid of the peleton to let him get the gap. Gilbert was looking good, maybe he could've won without his fall? Also glad to see Meersman showing he can win this race one day.
What did Meersman do ?
It was Kwiatkowski 
Ah well, change the name and my theory still works 
I think OPQS had some people realy breaking through this year, and that even without a major win (mostly due to Boonen's injuries), they can still be proud and look at the future with Kwiatkowski, Stybar, Vandenbergh, Meersman, etc showing what they can do.
And I still can't believe they gave Kreuziger such a gap.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:02
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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issoisso wrote:
kumazan wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
i agree,this is the biggest day of czech cyling, even more since there were lots of people saying Kreuziger did his best in his early years and now he is only domestique (you certainly met this attitude in czech press and talks).
I have to say i was also starting to loose big confidence in him. Now this was great, nice job Roman, Saxo looks like a good move, Riijs always squeeze it from riders.
I don't hink this is bigger than Suisse, but to each his own I guess. Either way, I think it's pretty clear that Kreuziger has turned out to be more a hilly classics specialist than a stage racer, specially now that he sucks in TTs. So, domestique (or stage hunter) in GTs and leader in this kind of races is ok for him me thinks.
Indeed that's what Riis said when he signed Kreuziger: That he was signed to be team leader in the classics and occasional week long stage race and that "he needs to stop this silly idea that he's a man for GTs"
True that. Finally some DS is able to evaluate the options with him and say him what he needs to hear. Although i think he is still the top5 GT material, he should focus on the classics and one week races now and stage hunting, luxury domestique duties in GTs.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:10
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Guido Mukk wrote:
Avin smoothly reuniting check slovakia.
I am doing that my whole life (and in signature too), being half this and half that.
Now i have 2 WT classic winners coming from my "countries". They are my two favourite riders, because i follow their careers since juniors (it is a long time since i first saw Kreuziger on my own eyes during cyclocross races and 10 years later he wins WT classic, this is not some sort of jumping the succesful bandwagon from me).
Edit: Kreuziger is looking forward to next two classics and says that they will share leadership with Conta and the stronger will lead. They have nice double attacking option in them and success from AGR in their back, so they can do good, especially in L-B-L i suppose. Mur is too much for Kreuziger anyway.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 15-04-2013 07:16
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:14
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Jakstar22 wrote:
Well Krueziger upsets the favorites so nice job from him.
Oh and I told you the Sagan would not do well. He's too young
Yeah, that is the obvious reason. 
This is not so much about age i believe, rather about being in top form since start of March.
Now nice and deserved break for Peter, before California,Suisse and Tour.
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| mowinckel91 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:17
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 995
Joined: 24-02-2007
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Jakstar22 wrote:
Well Krueziger upsets the favorites so nice job from him.
Oh and I told you the Sagan would not do well. He's too young
Yeah, that is the obvious reason.
This is not so much about age i believe, rather about being in top form since start of March.
Now nice and deserved break for Peter, before California,Suisse and Tour.
Agreed. Sagan has shown the whole world of cycling that he can win classics,and as Avin wrote hes been in top shape since March. Its hard to keep it going for such a long time. Looking forward to the tour! Maybe a green jersey for him if he goes for it ? |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 15-04-2013 07:22
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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mowinckel91 wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Jakstar22 wrote:
Well Krueziger upsets the favorites so nice job from him.
Oh and I told you the Sagan would not do well. He's too young
Yeah, that is the obvious reason.
This is not so much about age i believe, rather about being in top form since start of March.
Now nice and deserved break for Peter, before California,Suisse and Tour.
Agreed. Sagan has shown the whole world of cycling that he can win classics,and as Avin wrote hes been in top shape since March. Its hard to keep it going for such a long time. Looking forward to the tour! Maybe a green jersey for him if he goes for it ?
He will go for it for sure to try and repeat the last year points domination. I think somebody would need to win like five,six stages to stop him from doing it, if he will be in top form and will make his long range attacks for points.
Also this year for the first time, team should be built completely around him, so we will see nice battles in July with Cav, Greipel and Goss.
Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 15-04-2013 07:23
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| MartijnVDD |
Posted on 15-04-2013 08:33
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Posts: 801
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ruben wrote:
I was glad Gilbert didn't win. He's turning into this one trick pony with his hillsprint at the end and not doing anything before. Same with Gerrans/Valverde...all the same.
Yeah, like any one is going to let them get away...
Kreuziger won't be able to pull this off again next time. |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 09:53
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Grand Tour Champion
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Gilbert looked the strongest on the Cauberg so I think he'll win the Fleche. |
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| Spilak23 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 10:33
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Gilbert looked the strongest on the Cauberg so I think he'll win the Fleche.
Don't think Gilbert will be close in FW. Purito (Any news on his injury?), Valverde and the Colombians should be better as him on the Mur.
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 14:44
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World Champion
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Purito might miss both Fleche and LBL due to the crash. His arm is injured, and the doctors are unsure how long it'll take for it to heal.
Cannondale meanwhile confirms that Sagan will ride Fleche as well.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-04-2013 15:06
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
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PCM$: 400.00
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Imo, a bad move by Sagan. At least he won't be a favorite there.
Without Purito, I see Gilbert's chances rising! |
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 15:40
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World Champion
Posts: 10121
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Ian Butler wrote:
Without Purito, I see Gilbert's chances rising!
A little, but there's still Henao, Quintana, Valverde and Contador. All of whom the Mur suits better than Phil, imo. Especially considering he is not in 2011 form.
But yeah, it's still good news for him.
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| superider2010 |
Posted on 15-04-2013 15:51
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Posts: 979
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it's my fault
this year i missed just 1 race of my favourite sagan and he didn't ride at his maximum potential.he probably was destroyed inside in his soul that i wasn't there to watch him
i will watch liege and pinch his ass,so he can take a podium again |
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| juszta |
Posted on 15-04-2013 15:54
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Posts: 1175
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superider2010 wrote:
it's my fault
this year i missed just 1 race of my favourite sagan and he didn't ride at his maximum potential.he probably was destroyed inside in his soul that i wasn't there to watch him
i will watch liege and pinch his ass,so he can take a podium again
That would be a massive surprise, since he is not racing L-B-L |
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| fosforgasXIII |
Posted on 15-04-2013 16:25
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Posts: 845
Joined: 28-10-2012
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Rodriguez might still suffer from his crash.
Contador isn' the Contador he once was and he never was really good at FW except for his 3rd place in 2010.
I've no idea if Quintana is already sueted yet to win in worldtop classics, we'll see how far he gets.
Valverde does have a big chance.
Gilbert said more than once that the Mur d'Huy is too steep for him, only Ibarguren can make Gilbert win this race. A podium spot is definitely possible.
Henao might be a candidate as well.
Nibali, Vanendert, Martin, Mollema might do well, but they lack the real punch to win.
Does anyone have an eye on Albasini's form level?
Edited by fosforgasXIII on 15-04-2013 16:26
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-04-2013 16:44
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
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Cauberg suits Gilbert more then Mur. Yes without Rodriguez, I don't see anyone else who has the acceleration Gilbert has. I'm expecting Valverde to follow him and passs him on the line though.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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