Liege - Bastogne - Liege 2015 [Contain spoilers]

MPFG

So I started a thread because there doesn't seem to be one and we have 4 Irish riders in the race tomorrow including (injury permitting) a possible winner

Its 101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 253k


Start List & bib numbers are here
http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=149890&c=3

Written Preview here :
http://www.cyclingbetting.co.uk/betting-tips/betting-previews/379-liege-bastogne-liege-2015

Video Preview here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS4h4B2-6iU&feature=youtu.be

Looks like Alejandro Valverde is top favourite with most experts

Weather forecast is for rain which may be a determining factor

If Dan Martin is not too bad and he doesn't seem to be then he is my favourite ...He is so suited to this race. Doesn't sound in poor spirits https://twitter.com/DanMartin86/status/591949786934169600


Many people are suggesting an outsider like Pierre Rolland or Tim Wellens may take it and some are even backing Vincenzo Nibali if it rains

Nicolas Roche has top bib number at SKY (not sure what that means if anything but he didn't do too bad at La Fleche ) and is ably assisted by Philip Deignan
There are so many climbs that I think these two will feature at some stage

...Matt Brammeier lines out for MTN Qhubeka ...who knows - maybe feature in another breakaway

Pudsy33

Martin had whiplash but he should be ok, he said his legs are perfect so I will dare to dream.

Roche could well be at the head of affair toward the end. It's a tougher race than Wednesday no doubt but I think I'm right in saying the finish isn't as tough as the Mur.

Pudsy33

Stick Bottle reporting Roche as co-leader with Henao

VR46

Couple of euros on each of these guys

Bardet 40/1
Nibali 12/1
Alaphilippe 33/1
Gallopin 33/1
Rui Costa 20/1

Pudsy33

VR46 wrote: »

Couple of euros on each of these guys

Bardet 40/1
Nibali 12/1
Alaphilippe 33/1
Gallopin 33/1
Rui Costa 20/1

I took Gallopin, Martin, Pozzovivo and Nordhaug who finished top 20 two years back.

pelevin

If Dan is fine, then the current odds of 12/1 or so are very generous imo. Those odds can only reflect the idea he's not fully ok. . . . Though - a few minutes later - just reading him talking about the whiplash, it seems realistic to be cautious about what may be in store.

MPFG

pelevin wrote: »

If Dan is fine, then the current odds of 12/1 or so are very generous imo. Those odds can only reflect the idea he's not fully ok.

well the odds don't always reflect the truth ....Dan said today his legs are fine ...has some whiplash only...

happytramp

MPFG wrote: »

well the odds don't always reflect the truth ....Dan said today his legs are fine ...has some whiplash only...

If he hasn't been able to train properly in the last few days I don'y think he'll be 100%

MPFG

Ah...well that is the definition between fine & 100%

I guess I am more in hope than anything else ... as don't know for sure

Swamp3

I'd stick a few Euro on Brammeier....all you'd have to do is tell him the winner gets his weight in beer!

downwiththatsor

On the train to Liege and its pissing down Hope Dan and the rest of the Irish lad's stay upright.
Heading to Mery for the fauchons climb.

MPFG

downwiththatsor wrote: »

On the train to Liege and its pissing down Hope Dan and the rest of the Irish lad's stay upright.
Heading to Mery for the fauchons climb.

Bring back some photo's and have a ball

wanderer 22

Feckin' Eurosport...

AIR-AUSSIE

What's going on with Eurosport. Coverage was scheduled to start at 1230? Still Renault series.

MPFG

I am watching it from a Dutch stream

ThisRegard

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

What's going on with Eurosport. Coverage was scheduled to start at 1230? Still Renault series.

I think that was rain delayed, so pushed everything back.

MPFG

Phiiip Deignan down the back

MPFG

Its kicking off with attacks ...good

Pudsy33

Wellens cooked already!?

MPFG

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Wellens cooked already!?

Think he must have had a mechanical

All kicking off at front ...Roche in front group it seems

bazermc

Who is wiggins new team. Just saw an advert for tour de Yorkshire on Friday with Wiggins new team?

MPFG

bazermc wrote: »

Who is wiggins new team. Just saw an advert for tour de Yorkshire on Friday with Wiggins new team?

Where have you been ?? Mars ???

Its team WIGGINS

bazermc

MPFG wrote: »

Where have you been ?? Mars ???

Its team WIGGINS

Damm. Presume my invite is in the post?

downwiththatsor

Glorious sunshine now. Irish corner of sorts here with a group of Dublin guys on a stag.
Beer €1.50!

fat bloke

Is there a form of tourettes where you over pronounce everything?

MPFG

fat bloke wrote: »

Is there a form of tourettes where you over pronounce everything?

I know it drives me insane

Just saw Dan looking strong near front

AIR-AUSSIE

The ****e with Eurosport continues...

MPFG

Henao, Kiri & Kanstanstin near back for SKY ...

Pudsy33

Both Irish riders down in one crash, that's ****ing sick

funnights74

Crash, Roche and Martin down!!!

griffin100

Jesus that looks bad for Roche. Hope he's ok. Big big group down.

TripleMinor

What the hell happened there - massive crash..!!

Eamonnator

Roche is not getting up

MPFG

SH**T S**T S**T

Both Irish riders down and both had been looking good

Hope Nico is ok

ednwireland

Roche up but a cut on his head

pajor

Disaster for all really. Arashiro looked properly dazed.

Peleton closing fast.

Aaaand Gerrans down for a second time.

Zzippy

Nico looked hurt there but Dan looks ok, lost a lot of time though

Pudsy33

The front group are gunning it, not sure he will get on.

MPFG

Kind of deflated now

Hope its not Astana , Valverde or Kreuziger

Anyone else will do fine ...maybe Purito as he deserves a big win before its too late

Sandwell

Rooting for Astana myself.

Pudsy33

****ing Valverde. I tell you Martin would not have let AV coast to the line.

Edit: Ah I'm being harsh he chased down Moreno. Even still im pissed to see him win

TheBlaaMan

The virtually complete lack of interest on the forum in the win by Valverde is telling, isnt it? He is super strong, but almost universally hated for his doping past, and I fully side with that view. Strange behavoiur by the peloton to see them content to bring him to the line - as David Millar was tweeting, making the race hard plays to AVs strength, and he was advocaing that someone needed to make the jump much earlier - but I guess that required a lot of co-operation, and luck. What a shame it was he who won LBL today (and FW on Wednesday)

MPFG

With Dan & Nico crashing it kinda put a dampener on things especially Dan's never ending crashes...

But yes even on twitter there is a muted response to Valverde's wins on all occasions..What can one do especially as he seems to be in form from January to October ...at least we are not Purito who has to put up with him in every race

dastardly00

Didn't get to see the race live, so I only watched the last 10km there now.

When the lead group went under the flamme rouge it was inevitable that Valverde was going to win. Someone else needed to attack beforehand. Or else someone else other than Moreno because he was just setting up Purito. One of the AG2R lads should have went for it.

Crazy that both Nico and Dan were caught up in the same crash. Dan seems to invite them, but Nico usually manages to avoid them.

Nothing broken for Nico thankfully.

https://twitter.com/nicholasroche/status/592382915729825792

Lusk_Doyle

MPFG wrote: »

What can one do especially as he seems to be in form from January to October ...at least we are not Purito who has to put up with him in every race

He could get up the road like A4 riders are told to do.

MPFG

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

He could get up the road like A4 riders are told to do.

Ha ha ...you tell him

Here is Nicolas Roche's diary on events
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-i-was-catapulted-across-the-road-and-landed-under-a-tree-31173582.html

I am not sure what Garmin can do about Dan Martin & crashes ...he seems to have too many that one wonders is it all about luck. Dreadful spring for him really and Garmin are not winning like they have previously ...Hopefully he can bounce (no bun intended) back with a win somewhere before Le Tour

happytramp

MPFG wrote: »

Ha ha ...you tell him

Here is Nicolas Roche's diary on events
http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-i-was-catapulted-across-the-road-and-landed-under-a-tree-31173582.html

I am not sure what Garmin can do about Dan Martin & crashes ...he seems to have too many that one wonders is it all about luck. Dreadful spring for him really and Garmin are not winning like they have previously ...Hopefully he can bounce (no bun intended) back with a win somewhere before Le Tour

Yeah, I think what started as bad luck may have developed into a more serious problem.

ThisRegard

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

The virtually complete lack of interest on the forum in the win by Valverde is telling, isnt it?

I think it was just a pretty uninteresting race in general, maybe we've been spoiled over the last few weeks.

D9Male

Cannondale are having a really bad season, alright. What is their best result? Bauer showed well in E3 I think, Martin did okay in Catalunya.

Navardauskas won a minor race in France, I think.

Pretty bad when we're through the spring classics campaign.

MPFG

ThisRegard wrote: »

I think it was just a pretty uninteresting race in general, maybe we've been spoiled over the last few weeks.

I don't think the race itself was uninteresting but the finale & result were ...a forgone conclusion

Riders esp Astana & Nibali did try and mix it up

Crashes kind of put paid to some top contenders and that muted the competition.... La Fleche also was at same and the finale was a damp squib

Maybe Valverde wins damp squib races ??
Or he & his team are too good that the tactics are nullified

dastardly00

D9Male wrote: »

Cannondale are having a really bad season, alright. What is their best result? Bauer showed well in E3 I think, Martin did okay in Catalunya.

Navardauskas won a minor race in France, I think.

Pretty bad when we're through the spring classics campaign.

Yeah, they've had a very bad season so far.

Ben King won Stage 1 of the Critérium International, that's probably their biggest win so far.

At least they are not (the old Belkin/Rabbobank team) Team LottoNL-Jumbo (Vanmarcke, Gesink, Hofland, Kelderman, Ten Dam, Tjallingii etc.) who are the only World Tour team yet to win in 2015.