KBK live video *spoilers*

FJS

Flecha almost got, it like so many times. Yes he's everyone's favourite rider, well of those that like natural attackers. He used to be punchier at Fassa Bortolo, and actually won stuff, but definitely at a higher level now.
I've read several interviews where he stated he didn't actually mind not winning, just enjoyed getting knackered, attacking, and having a good time in the mud and the wind.

Kléber

I was less excited by Flecha. His move was good but it was a bad play from the Rabo squad who didn't exploit their presence up front as much. The team consistently bungles race finishes, from the days of Boogerd to today, including yesterday's racing.

Still, not as bad as Katusha and Silence-Lotto, two absent teams from the Flemish racing so far. Poor Steegmans put in a big effort at the foot of the Kwaremont but paid for it at the summit, leaving Boonen and others to bridge across, it was almost as if Gert was still a QS domestique.

A top result for Hunt. Apparently Hushovd demanded Hunt join him at Cervélo and he looks to have repaid the faith placed in him already. Chavanel looks very impressive but for all his strength, he looks condemned to being a superdomestique for Boonen.

All in all, it's only one weekend's racing so hard to draw too many lessons but in the hothouse that is Flanders, some teams and riders have already taken the pressure of themselves whilst others will get daily irritation from the media.

blazing_saddles

Not fussed on the KBK, but love the Het..........erm.......Nieuws......Volk.

Agreed, re Rabo.

Tactically brilliant mid both races, (especially yesterday) tactically inept at the finishes.
Not sure what Nuyens was about, this weekend.
Of course, it might have been different were Oscar fit and riding.

Cervelo continue to impress.
Chavanel appears to have sold out to be one of Tom's injuns, with an engine, after being chief at Cofidis.

Winners: Those above and............the French. :shock:
Losers: As Kleber has pointed out Steegmans and Pozzato's lot and Lotto.

On to Paris-Nice, via Murcia and the West of Flanders.........

FJS

Nuyens had the flu a week or so ago, so still recovering, so he says.

teagar

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Tactically brilliant mid both races, (especially yesterday) tactically inept at the finishes.
.

That's the nature of classics. Come the end you're too tired to think straight. Takes a strong man to think clearly at the exciting end of a classics race.

drenkrom

Did anyone see a single Lotto rider in the last 60k's of KBK? Talk about bungling it badly! At least Rabo were visible. I'm very impressed with Cervélo and I hope someone on that team paid a nice, large beer to Haussler, who put in a superb weekend of work. He looked so cooked at the finish of KBK!

FJS

drenkrom wrote:

Did anyone see a single Lotto rider in the last 60k's of KBK? Talk about bungling it badly!

And they're getting the full fury of the Flemish press for it:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza.be/wielr ... nd_silence
http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Sportwereld/ya ... =GR6273TNP

These two races count in Flanders... first Lotto 61st at 8 minutes....

ridgerider

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Agreed, re Rabo. Tactically brilliant mid both races, (especially yesterday) tactically inept at the finishes.
Not sure what Nuyens was about, this weekend.
Of course, it might have been different were Oscar fit and riding.

One step at a time for Rabo...they have never had so many of their team near the front so close to the finish before!

I presume they had a Plan A based around Nuyens, but lost the plot when that didn't come together and didn't have a Plan B.

dave_1

andyp wrote:

For sure. QuickStep and Steegmans want a sprint, but quite why Rabobank are working so hard isn't clear. Surely they'd be better off taking advantage of their numbers and trying to get someone away in a small group without either Boonen or Steegmans?

Good to see Jeremy Hunt up there too.

oh the master tactician speaks