Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/28/2022 11:10 AM |
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Ok, who have you got? Hint it cannot be Sagan as he just withdrew. Looks like van Aert and VDP are both in form (although van Aert hinted he wasn't super at Wevelgem). JV clearly have the numbers to play. The wolfpack is uncharacteristically hamstrung, only Asgreen is hitting form. and then of course there's Pog. Don't think Pidcock will be ready in time with stomach problems. Should be a brilliant race. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 03/28/2022 06:57 PM |
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Too many damn choices!
Sagan wouldn't have even been in my top ten if he rode because he has been a shadow of himself this year.
Given his form and team, Van Aert has to be the odds on fave followed closely by VDP.
Pog could be in the mix, assuming he gets some good team support for the first part of the race.
I don't see any of LeFevre's guys in the mix as the Classics squad has been misfiring repeatedly. He can yell all he wants, but if they don't have legs they have no chance.
I'd love for either GVA or Stuyven to snag the win!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 03/29/2022 12:16 AM |
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Good post, thanks!
In a word, who knows, but it ideally someone worthy.
No apologies for this rant: Outlaw race radios beyond safety warnings, and also power meters during competition. You kids can play on my lawn all you want, but only if you just say no to f'in robots. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 03/29/2022 09:23 AM |
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Posted By Frederick Jones on 03/29/2022 12:16 AM
Good post, thanks!
In a word, who knows, but it ideally someone worthy.
No apologies for this rant: Outlaw race radios beyond safety warnings, and also power meters during competition. You kids can play on my lawn all you want, but only if you just say no to f'in robots.
I think racers should line up at the start with no outside energy source beyond food and drink. You want electricity? Put a generator on your bike powered by your legs. (And fun concept! Listening to your DS will cost you watts. Leading to ... how many watt-hours is your DS worth?)
And on the race - a crap shoot heavily favoring Van Aert followed by VDP. I wish Girmay was here. Alaphilippe. Pogacar could make this very interesting, especially if the race plays out to tire or distance VA's help. (This could help VDP as well.) So for Pog and VDP, somebody send a real threat up the road with a long ways to go!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/29/2022 11:24 AM |
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None of this matters in a classic where first across the line wins.
These old timer rantings should be reserved for the chess match that is grand tours.
You can rant about the stifling effect of teams stacking the deck though. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/29/2022 11:59 AM |
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On Girmay - Eritrean athletes reportedly have to return to their country every 3 months; thinking this has more to do with return than family not adjusting well in Europe; that is probably just a PR excuse. Anyway we'll see him in Giro.
A Belgian film crew wanted to accompany him back to Eritrea to document his welcome. They were not permitted to fly there. Interestingly though a Belgian ex-pat has been filming Girmay since age 16 on behalf of the Eritrean cycling federation. The plan is to keep filming until his first TdF participation.
The Italians introduced cycling in the country during colonial times. So that Giro participation has a bit of background. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/31/2022 09:12 AM |
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| Van Aert most likely out. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 03/31/2022 10:17 AM |
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| Too bad, having him there together with the rest of the favorites makes Flanders a real shootout. Not that it won't be as is but having him in the mix would be even better. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/01/2022 03:15 PM |
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Oof, Corona for Wout, and not of the Mexican fluid variety (it doesn't count as beer).
Meanwhile Bora has 19 riders with various afflictions; they're not even looking at whose competitive anymore, happy if they can get some bodies on the start line. Pretty wild year for illnesses so far. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/02/2022 09:40 AM |
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Its cold in Flanders they had snow Friday.
Mads FTW tomorrow. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/03/2022 09:48 AM |
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| Awesome race. Rare for Pog to taste defeat like that when being so close to winning. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 04/03/2022 09:51 AM |
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What a finish!!!
MVP came so close to cracking on the Paterburg, but gutted through….brilliant game of poker by MVP. Pog was upset, but he only has himself to blame. He botched the finish and the strongest guy in the race finished off the podium. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 04/03/2022 10:00 AM |
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| Dope slap worthy decision to sit up that early. He will remember that sting. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/03/2022 10:01 AM |
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| VDP is racing a lot smarter than he used to. The injury has matured him. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 04/03/2022 10:34 AM |
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| The most exciting finish I think I’ve seem. Pog must be just livid with himself right now. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 04/03/2022 10:47 AM |
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| I went from pulling for MVP to pulling for Maduoas and Van Baarle in seconds…🤣🤣 |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/03/2022 10:55 AM |
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| It took Pog half an hour to get over his disappointment w himself and cracking jokes again. He’ll be back. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/04/2022 02:18 PM |
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LOL...
"Mathieu van der Poel wins Tour of Flanders as Tadej Pogacar finishes fourth in two-horse race" |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 04/04/2022 07:35 PM |
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"Tadej Pogačar impressed me for 270 kilometres at the Tour of Flanders. Mathieu van der Poel impressed me for 300 metres". Cancellara sums it up.
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/05/2022 09:17 AM |
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I’m going to have to disagree w Cancellara. He’s obviously new at this column writing thing so I’ll give him a pass.
VDP was impressive exactly 300 m longer than Pog. |
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