Liege - Bastogne - Liege 2011 [May contain spoilers]

Chips Lovell

So, who do we think is going to win tomorrow. Can Gilbert make it four from four? Or will someone else spoil his party?

Zorba

Joaquim Rodriguez

Can't see anyone beating Gilbert at the moment with the form he's on.

Everyone was watching him in Fleche and he just rode away from them all on the final climb.

Rodriguez i think might spoil his party but i doubt it.

Anyway would love to see Gilbert win again, would be a nice hat trick .

corkchef

gilbert is on form, but three in a row will be tough. i am looking at a dark horse like brajkovic whom at this time last year started to peak or kirylenka who has been quietly been getting quicker and stronger. doubt vino will be able to repeat. would be fun to watch him go for a long one way too early as is his style. in the end it comes down to crashes and the luck of where you are when they happen. looking forward to it

_DMac_

Joaquim Rodriguez

is thiis on euro sport or sky sports??

if not i would be obliged if some one could post a link if they know where its being streamed tomor

ROK ON

Andy Schleck

I hope Gilbert but I think he will be sat on. He surprised many people at the Mur de Huy. I think he was allowed get a bike length or two as folks assumed he wouldn't be able to sustain it for the last 500m. But then he just blew the field assunder.
If there is any justice he will win

However I think Rodriguez will prevail.

bcmf

If Boonen or Chavenel are riding then one of them. So in poll terms....
some other dude!

bcmf

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-his/start-list


Chavanel so.

Zorba

Joaquim Rodriguez

opcowner2007 wrote: »

is thiis on euro sport or sky sports??

if not i would be obliged if some one could post a link if they know where its being streamed tomor

Yes live on Eurosport

sy

Frank Schleck

Only saw thread now! Gilbert looks invincible at the moment, but the Schlecks might just upset the balance with Andy sneaking away before the end.

NickDrake

That break looks good. Can't believe the peleton is letting them get away

Hail 2 Da Thief

Joaquim Rodriguez

This looks like Gilberts for the taking!

goldencleric

Joaquim Rodriguez

I laughed a bit watching Phil destroy the Schlecks after they brought him to the line, what a class act!

Chips Lovell

Joaquim Rodriguez

The only hope the Schlecks had was to take turns attacking him. They either didn't have the legs or were too afraid. The only time they looked like going for it, on the Saint-Nicolas, Gilbert just upped the pace and they backed off.

JacksonHeightsOwn

el tonto wrote: »

The only hope the Schlecks had was to take turns attacking him. They either didn't have the legs or were too afraid. The only time they looked like going for it, on the Saint-Nicolas, Gilbert just upped the pace and they backed off.

in laymans terms, he bummed them

The tax man

A certain Texan has more balls than the Schlecks put together.
Superb result.

dastardly00

A simple win for Gilbert in the end. The Schlecks didn't have a chance, and they knew they didn't too....

ROK ON

Andy Schleck

He is an amazing talent. More so than any other rider of this generation. He may never win a tour but I dont care. He is IMHO the best there is currently. To think how close he came in Milan San Remo & Flanders while still only building form is quite simply breathtaking.
A great champion.

ednwireland

Joaquim Rodriguez

classic ride from gilbert, just class (just caught up ith the highlights after rcoking lunch for 9 !)
schlecks should have attacked and attacked at leats die trying

does this mean canyons are twice as good as treks:P

Hail 2 Da Thief

Joaquim Rodriguez

ednwireland wrote: »

schlecks should have attacked and attacked at leats die trying

It`s easy to say that but they were both obviously on the limit. Gilbert even dropped Andy when he made a little kick about 5km (?) from the finish. It was game over at that point really!

ROK ON

Andy Schleck

As a postscript to Classics season I think that Sky have had a pretty good innings. With no truly big names, they have done pretty well. Finishing with many top 10 placings. Thomas is a man to watch going forward whilst Gerrans and Uran had a decent Ardennes week.
They have learned from last year. I would not be surprised to see them have a good Grand tour season.
Garmins big names underachieved spectacularly, with their footsoldier stealing the show. The thing with Garmin is that someone always bags a fair few wins for them, just not the riders one would expect.
The Schlecks may have been dead on their feet today but I expected more. I thought that Andys attack in Amstel gold showed bottle - I guess one swallow doesn't make a Spring. Disappointing year for them despite the talent at their disposal.
Chavanel and Van Avermet can also hold heads high going into the Summer.
Blel Kadri and Mitchel Docker also spent a fair few kms up the road in breaks during Ardennes week and the cobbled classics respectively.
A very enjoyable Classics season.

Lemag

Joaquim Rodriguez

ednwireland wrote: »

does this mean canyons are twice as good as treks:P

Have a few suspicious votes been cast for Gilbert since the race end?

Hail 2 Da Thief

Joaquim Rodriguez

Lemag wrote: »

Have a few suspicious votes been cast for Gilbert since the race end?

Yeah own up folks :rolleyes:

sy

Frank Schleck

The Schlecks attack on the Côte de Roche aux Faucons was really impressive and in any other classic would have been the decisive move but Gilbert made it look easy. They knew it was over at that stage. The vicious acceleration near the top of the Saint-Nicholas was the final blow and at that stage they were just glad to settle for places on the podium.
Gilbert has really come of age and looks set to dominate the classics for the next few years. I thought Greg Van Avermaet was impressive again today but BMC will be disappointed with their season so far. I have to say that Gilbert has impressed with his post race interviews this week and he was very gracious with his comments on the Schlecks today.

Philip Deignan finished 69th while Dan Martin and Nicholas Roche DNF


A great start to the season and I agree in general with ROK ON's comments. I would add that Rabobank, Katusha and Quickstep will be very disappointed. Team Leopard Trek who should have bagged 2 of the major classics if they had a stronger team have little to show. Haussler was disappointing as was Gesink and the rest of the Rabobank team. Chavanel was great and I reallly hope he gets his much deserved win at some stage next year. Great coverage by Eurosport.

JacksonHeightsOwn

ROK ON wrote: »

He is an amazing talent. More so than any other rider of this generation. He may never win a tour but I dont care. He is IMHO the best there is currently. To think how close he came in Milan San Remo & Flanders while still only building form is quite simply breathtaking.
A great champion.

just as a matter of interest, what is exactly stopping him from going for Grand tours in the future? he seems like he can climb with the best on the shorter climbs, drop a few kgs, rejig his training, surely the Grand tours are possible,

id like to think so anyway

Chips Lovell

Joaquim Rodriguez

chrisbonnie wrote: »

just as a matter of interest, what is exactly stopping him from going for Grand tours in the future? he seems like he can climb with the best on the shorter climbs, drop a few kgs, rejig his training, surely the Grand tours are possible,

Because he's devastating on a 1km climb, but not so much on a 20km one. And while he isn't a bad time trialler, he isn't in the big league either.

He's 28 and if he continues like this he could become one of the best riders of all time over the next five years. More so than Cancellara, he's the rider in the current peloton who I think has the best chance of winning all five monuments and some of them multiples of times (Paris - Roubaix would be the only one that would give him trouble).

Why throw all of that away for a long shot at the Tour?

manafana

chrisbonnie wrote: »

just as a matter of interest, what is exactly stopping him from going for Grand tours in the future? he seems like he can climb with the best on the shorter climbs, drop a few kgs, rejig his training, surely the Grand tours are possible,

id like to think so anyway

think its a mental thing as well, doesnt want to train to change his style that pays the bills. He'll get probably biggest salary for a non GC rider next year if he moves. Also dont know if hes one those who has mental for 3weeks of grand tour riding

corkchef

Lemag wrote: »

Have a few suspicious votes been cast for Gilbert since the race end?

i think i counted 11 at race end.

the trouble with leopard trek may be the directeur sportif. they seem mismanaged or out managed by other teams. two lads against one and no attacking? at all? they should have at least sent one of the brothers on an attack. if gilbert followed, throw it all out and let the other stay fresher and swoop for victory. if gilbert stayed with the other let the one up the road go for it and the one with gilbert do no work and drag him. what did they do? led him out all the way to the line like they were on the same team.

whoever is running that squad couldn't deal with it when they sat on cancellara twice earlier.

they are nice limbs without a head

Chips Lovell

Joaquim Rodriguez

ROK ON wrote: »

As a postscript to Classics season I think that Sky have had a pretty good innings. With no truly big names, they have done pretty well. Finishing with many top 10 placings. Thomas is a man to watch going forward whilst Gerrans and Uran had a decent Ardennes week.
They have learned from last year. I would not be surprised to see them have a good Grand tour season.
Garmins big names underachieved spectacularly, with their footsoldier stealing the show. The thing with Garmin is that someone always bags a fair few wins for them, just not the riders one would expect.
The Schlecks may have been dead on their feet today but I expected more. I thought that Andys attack in Amstel gold showed bottle - I guess one swallow doesn't make a Spring. Disappointing year for them despite the talent at their disposal.
Chavanel and Van Avermet can also hold heads high going into the Summer.
Blel Kadri and Mitchel Docker also spent a fair few kms up the road in breaks during Ardennes week and the cobbled classics respectively.
A very enjoyable Classics season.

Some interesting commentary there.

Thomas is definitely one to watch. Hard to believe he's still only 24, especially considering he was riding the Tour in 2007. Once Boasson Hagen gets back to his best, Sky will be real contenders in the Spring.

I wouldn't be as hard on Garmin. To walk away with Paris - Roubaix is still a good innings, especially considering one of their stars is still clearly off his best, i.e. Haussler. I do think they've too many chiefs though. I won't be surprised if one of them leaves in the winter.

Been admiring Kadri for a while too. The guy is always willing to have a go and I think he epitomises the renaissance in French cycling we're seeing. There's a post over the the Pave blog you might be interested in.

Hail 2 Da Thief

Joaquim Rodriguez

Frank answers some probing questions about their race tactics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JZW7xIq-0I

sy

Frank Schleck

el tonto wrote: »

...... There's a post over the the Pave blog you might be interested in.

Love the intro to that article

If you started to follow professional cycling in the post-Festina era, there are a few truthisms that are universally-accepted:

1. Cipo is the manliest man alive. His caveman-like exterior hides only a caveman-like mind and intelligence.
2. Ullrich shall always be out of shape up to and including the first lumpy stage of le Tour.
3. French cyclists can only win either regional French races or following a suicidal solo break (see Jackie Durand, Richard Virenque, et al.).

I'm sure Cipollini would be impressed

Chips Lovell

Joaquim Rodriguez

Just did a bit of adding up there to see who's the best classics rider in terms of results in the current peloton. If you go by the ten races that are currently billed as classics (Milan - Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, Paris - Roubaix, Gent - Wevelgem, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, Liege - Bastogne - Liege, Classica San Sebastian, Paris - Tours, and Giro di Lombardia), it works out as follows for riders than have won more than one:

Gilbert - 8 wins
Boonen - 7
Freire - 5
Cancellara, Di Luca, Valverde, Cunego - 4
Vinokourov - 3
Devolder, Petacchi - 2

*I left Rebellin out and Valverde in. While Rebellin's suspension is finished, I doubt if he'll be back racing classics, whereas I think Valverde will.


If you break it down to just the five monuments, the standings are:

Boonen - 5 wins
Cancellara - 4
Gilbert, Freire, Cunego - 3
Di Luca, Valverde, Vinokourov, Devolder - 2

sy

Frank Schleck

It takes a very special rider to win the 5 Monuments(3 riders have done it De Vlaeminck Van Looy and Merckx all Belgians) and I agree that Gilbert has the potential to do this with maybe Paris Roubaix, as mentioned previously by el tonto, being the one he may find most difficult to win. Even the great Kelly could only manage 4 (he did finish 2nd 3 times at Flanders)
One factor which is sometimes overlooked is luck. Managing not to crash, have a mechanical at wrong moment, injury etc does play a role and yes it usually balances out in the end. However breaking a collar bone early in the season (as Kelly did in Flanders and Roubaix) usually means no results for that Spring campaign. The weather has been very kind to the Spring classics in the last few years but a wet and muddy Flanders or Roubaix can be a nightmare for these specialists. Gilbert has the talent to be one of the all time greats so lets hope lady luck is kind to him over the next few years.

Regarding the Worlds which is not regarded as a classic but definitely as prestigious if not more so in some cases , Freire would arguably be up there with Gilberts 8 wins if you include his 3 world titles and so would Boonen with his victory in 2005.