Planet Rugby Forum

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:31 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:20 pm Wow amazing

Asgreen beats MVDP in the sprint

Incredible!

When we thought this year's classics will be played between the "3 tenors"!

Will they all go to Liege now?

DOB wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:36 pm

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:31 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:20 pm Wow amazing

Asgreen beats MVDP in the sprint

Incredible!

When we thought this year's classics will be played between the "3 tenors"!

Will they all go to Liege now?

I don't know.

Paris-Roubaix was on their agenda, and I wonder what was their readiness status at the Ronde. Were these guys planning to peak next week?

Paris-Roubaix is postponed to what date?

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:44 pm Paris-Roubaix is postponed to what date?

October 3rd I think

WVA will have a huge point to prove at PR. Might fancy his chances with MVDP showing just faintest glimmer of fallibility. Can't wait for that, the racing this season is fantastic with the heavy hitters always at the pointy end and a really good supporting cast with several guys capable of springing a surprise.

Oh wait, PR is postponed? Shit, I didn't realise. Bollox

Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

Womack wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:45 pm WVA will have a huge point to prove at PR. Might fancy his chances with MVDP showing just faintest glimmer of fallibility. Can't wait for that, the racing this season is fantastic with the heavy hitters always at the pointy end and a really good supporting cast with several guys capable of springing a surprise.

Three big classic races anyway.

Fleche Wallone
Liege Bastogne Liege
Amstel Gold.

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:48 pm Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

Alaphilippe has been on the podium at Liege, and got DQed sprinting for the win there last year. He’s definitely a favorite for it. The question is who else will be in contention; we haven’t really seen the form of the puncheurs yet this year.

Aye, just a shame to miss the unique challenge of PR to see how things play out with the current group. The other three races are to some extent more of the same in terms of the punchy climbs although I know each have their own flavour.

Mustn't grumble though, and probably a good thing for the well-being of the cyclists that they get a bit of a break.

Anyway, I don't post here any more so you ain't seen me, roight?

Womack wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:55 pm Aye, just a shame to miss the unique challenge of PR to see how things play out with the current group. The other three races are to some extent more of the same in terms of the punchy climbs although I know each have their own flavour.

Mustn't grumble though, and probably a good thing for the well-being of the cyclists that they get a bit of a break.

Anyway, I don't post here any more so you ain't seen me, roight?

You'll be back for the giro and the tour ?

As long as I'm able to follow them properly - likely to be quite busy with work. Just need to stay away from every other topic on here - including Rugby

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:48 pm Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

The Ardennes classics are just about perfect for JA. He'll go into this year's Liege probably as the favourite.

You are right with the Roglic bit though. He will be Jumbo's preferred option (instead of VWA).

DOB wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:54 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:48 pm Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

Alaphilippe has been on the podium at Liege, and got DQed sprinting for the win there last year. He’s definitely a favorite for it. The question is who else will be in contention; we haven’t really seen the form of the puncheurs yet this year.

I'm really excited about what Tom Pidcock can potentially do in these Ardennes races.

Benoit Cosnefroy and Marc Hirschi were also brilliant last year, but I have not seen either of them this season so far.

Beaver_Shark wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:24 pm

DOB wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:54 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:48 pm Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

Alaphilippe has been on the podium at Liege, and got DQed sprinting for the win there last year. He’s definitely a favorite for it. The question is who else will be in contention; we haven’t really seen the form of the puncheurs yet this year.

I'm really excited about what Tom Pidcock can potentially do in these Ardennes races.

Benoit Cosnefroy and Marc Hirschi were also brilliant last year, but I have not seen either of them this season so far.

Yeah, Pidcock looks exciting, but they have him running around like a puppy, knowing that he can win bike races, but not knowing what kind of bike races yet. Is he going to the Ardennes for sure?

The next couple of weeks will be a good form guide for LBL. Could be a cracker. Shame there’s no Roubaix (for now). Hirschi got a late start, between moving teams suddenly, and an illness. Be interesting to see how he does.

that's the end of mvdp road season now. Taking a few weeks off and going back to mtb for Olympic prep

Beaver_Shark wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 4:17 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 3:48 pm Do any of them have the stamina for a race like Liege?

Thinking more like a race for Roglic

The Ardennes classics are just about perfect for JA. He'll go into this year's Liege probably as the favourite.

You are right with the Roglic bit though. He will be Jumbo's preferred option (instead of VWA).

Alaphilippe doesn't seem at his best though, and although you can't write him off, I sense that he won't be in a position to win any of the Ardennes Classics.

After all the pre-season hype about them, it’d be wild if none of the “big 3” were to win a monument. And it’s starting to look that way, tbf.

First win in years for Cav at the Tour of Turkey today. Showed some good speed in the finish too, even if the competition isn't the hottest. Alpecin-Fenix and Israel-Start-up Nation have strong sprint trains though with Philipsen and Greipel respectively

Amazing to see Jakobsen back riding as well

blindcider wrote: ↑Mon Apr 12, 2021 3:01 pm First win in years for Cav at the Tour of Turkey today. Showed some good speed in the finish too, even if the competition isn't the hottest. Alpecin-Fenix and Israel-Start-up Nation have strong sprint trains though with Philipsen and Greipel respectively

Amazing to see Jakobsen back riding as well

Quickstep do miracles with their cyclists!

3 in a row for Cav in Turkey now.

Is he going to get a GT ride this season?

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 12:53 pm 3 in a row for Cav in Turkey now.

Is he going to get a GT ride this season?

It’s the Tour of Turkey, so let’s not get carried away. Even if he is beating Philipsen, who’s pretty quick, for these wins.

It sounds like Lefevere has promised the Giro to Almeida for a GC run, along with Evenepoel, and Hodeg for the sprints;
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefeve ... e-talking/
You have to presume Alaphilippe and Bennett are getting the Tour, and with 8-man squads there isn’t really room for a wildcard selection, which Cav would be.
He could definitely go to the Vuelta, though. But you’d imagine what he’s really after is that Tour stage wins record.

Sure, Tour's clearly a long shot and Turkey isn't the stiffest competition.

Just thinking Lefevere might be looking to throw him on a roster somewhere for the publicity as much as the chance of GT stage wins.

Bennett destroys Cav ten times out of ten on current abilities. Look at the sprinters he has been defeating time and time again this year in UAE and Paris-Nice, the best of the best. Meanwhile Cav has one competent mid tier sprinter to contend with in Turkey.

Bringing Cav to the Tour would be an unnecessary distraction and hinder DQS chances of stage wins and retaining the Green Jersey

Don't think anyone is seriously suggesting he gets Bennett's tour spot

Edit - I was only really referring to Giro/Vuelta when talking about a GT slot

The main takeaway from Turkey is that Greipel is cooked. ISN have put him in a very strong position and he hasnt delivered on multiple occasions

blindcider wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:36 pm The main takeaway from Turkey is that Greipel is cooked. ISN have put him in a very strong position and he hasnt delivered on multiple occasions

Greipel's been cooked for a few years by now (tbf he is 38)

Good win Cav.

Still got it.

Stuart wins Brabantse Pijl.

It’s a big first win for a 21 year old, but I get the feeling it’ll end up a small footnote within a few years...

https://www.velonews.com/news/road/brab ... t-pro-win/

DOB wrote: ↑Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:22 pm Stuart wins Brabantse Pijl.

It’s a big first win for a 21 year old, but I get the feeling it’ll end up a small footnote within a few years...

https://www.velonews.com/news/road/brab ... t-pro-win/

Beating Van Aert in a sprint is no mean feat!!!

Stuart...Little?

Wasn't expecting that, thought he was on course for his usual (on the road and in CX) of looking strong and animating the race before running out of gas and being dropped by the bigger boys. Great to see him win, the parcours was ideal for him, technical and twisty which suits a smaller rider (those frequent accelerations are harder on bigger riders) but it's the first time he's been able to parlay an apparent advantage into a win at this level. Beaver Shark bigging him up for the Ardennes classics looks like it could be a good shout although I've been following him for a while in the CX and he's not the most consistent.

I know it's only the tour of Turkey but has been good to see Cav winning again. In particular the first one was just like the Manx missile of old, floating around and finding the right wheel before launching at the perfect moment.

I saw a comment elsewhere that “if your last name is Pidcock, and your nickname isn’t Stu-art then you probably don’t have any real friends,” or words to that effect.

It is good to see Cav back, but I am a lot more impressed by a kid outsprinting WvA after 4.5 hours in the Ardennes than a veteran winning a few stages in Turkey out of the dining car of the Quickstep leadout train.

Amstel Gold on now.

MVDP not racing this time.

Alaphilippe and Van Aert in the race as is Van Avermat and Kwiatkowski and Trentin.

Irish interest in the race.

Eddie Dunbar riding for Ineos. He's a climber and time trialist. This race may be a bit punchy for him.

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 1:17 pm Amstel Gold on now.

MVDP not racing this time.

Alaphilippe and Van Aert in the race as is Van Avermat and Kwiatkowski and Trentin.

Irish interest in the race.

Eddie Dunbar riding for Ineos. He's a climber and time trialist. This race may be a bit punchy for him.

I will watch Pidcock. That kid is impressive so far.

Curious to see if FDJ can participate actively in the race and Gaudu follow the best.

To the cycling experts here: when the race is on a close circuit like Amstel Gold Race today, what are the rules applying to team mates dropped from the peloton and caught up in the last loops by their leader who is escaped chasing victory? Should they act as if "offside" and therefore not be allowed to support their leader, or are they allowed to ride in support of their leader?

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:30 pm To the cycling experts here: when the race is on a close circuit like Amstel Gold Race today, what are the rules applying to team mates dropped from the peloton and caught up in the last loops by their leader who is escaped chasing victory? Should they act as if "offside" and therefore not be allowed to support their leader, or are they allowed to ride in support of their leader?

in some races like criteriums you can drop laps due to a crash or a mechanical and drop back in but in a race like this I think you can often keep going and even rejoin the peleton but aren't allowed to influence the result. In reality anyone dropped early in these races is likely to pull out to save their legs for the next race unless they need the mileage.

Thanks

First move at the front and Ineos didn't manage to get a rider in the small group that attacked. They now have to ride in the peloton.

Van Aert in sneaky move with a small group at the front