Flanders *spoiler*
Comments
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smithy21 wrote:I've gained more respect for the guts Cancellara showed yesterday than I did watching him destroy the field last year. The way he kept going and trying to make breaks was a mark of class and desire.
Thought it was poor form that he was getting boo'ed on Bosberg.
+1
I can't wait for P-R. It's racing like this that produces real heroes. It was like the "Rumble in the Jungle" on a bike.0 -
Contador is the Greatest0 -
csp wrote:TheYorkshireMan wrote:What a great race! Chavanel was surely the man of the race, closely followed by Cancellara, whose handshake with Chavanel towards the end said it all.
Not sure if it was a handshake, rather a Madison-like pull to help with taking turns at the front.After his late attack was neutralized, Cancellara and Chavanel shook hands. Asked about it, Cancellara called it “fair play,” and also took a jab at Nuyens.
“(Chavanel) has done what he had to do. He has done his race, like we have done our race. I think Nick, he has done this one move.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/ ... %9D_1668660 -
I think we also need to give thanks to Gerraint Thomas who seemed massively intent on keeping everyone in the mix for as long as possible, and did a bloody good job doing it. Kept it exciting.
Chapeau.0 -
Last 40km are on Pez with some in-car shots as wellM.Rushton0
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Rick Chasey wrote:I think we also need to give thanks to Gerraint Thomas who seemed massively intent on keeping everyone in the mix for as long as possible, and did a bloody good job doing it. Kept it exciting.
Chapeau.
Agreed big time.
I admit to thinking that Peter Kennaugh had backed off in the National Road Race Champs last year to ensure that GT got the national champs jersey. However, seeing the way Thomas has ridden so far this season I don't think Kennaugh has the calibre to match GT yet and it has been great seeing that shirt towards the front in these big races so far.0 -
He did a huge service to Flecha in the post-Bosberg melee. Yes he towed a few peeps back up to Gilbert with him and again he helped try to close up to Cancellara, but what was impressive was how fresh he seemed in comparison, even tho a lot of the guys were really saving it.Rick Chasey wrote:I think we also need to give thanks to Gerraint Thomas who seemed massively intent on keeping everyone in the mix for as long as possible, and did a bloody good job doing it. Kept it exciting.
Chapeau.
Hincapie/Ballan/ Shierlinckx et al blew it a bit by not reacting faster when Cancellara did his 4km from the end break.
I was hoping that Voeckler would be in the finale, imagine what kind of win what would have been...When a cyclist has a disagreement with a car; it's not who's right, it's who's left.0 -
Ballan and Hincappie both rode well. Not sure whether Boonen didn't get on Cancellara's wheel because he was too far back or hoping they would tow him given Chavanel was up there. His sprint was excellent and he would def have won.
Sirotti
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Haha just re-watching that last few kms. Those two trying to reach for Cancellara's wheel. He slowed for a short while which let them back on - I wonder if Nuyens would have made up the last few metres if Fabu hadn't stopped.Contador is the Greatest0
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Cancellara's move in the last few km was just after another move had been brought back - brilliant timing and great awareness shown by Nuyens and Chavanel to get on his wheel. For that alone I think Nuyens deserved the win, he knew that would be the decisive move and still had the legs to go with it.0
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Definitely. Looks like his training on Swiss Hill paid off!Rick Chasey wrote:I think we also need to give thanks to Gerraint Thomas who seemed massively intent on keeping everyone in the mix for as long as possible, and did a bloody good job doing it. Kept it exciting.
Chapeau.0 -
TheYorkshireMan wrote:After his late attack was neutralized, Cancellara and Chavanel shook hands. Asked about it, Cancellara called it “fair play,” and also took a jab at Nuyens.
“(Chavanel) has done what he had to do. He has done his race, like we have done our race. I think Nick, he has done this one move.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/ ... %9D_166866
It was the right move though.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Think Nuyens should have told his DS "I can just about stay with these 2 other guys but I won't sprint for the win when it comes to it" - Yeah right !
IMHO Cancellara thought he was so strong he could ride away from his main rivals, ride up to Chavanel and then get away from him - more fool him, looked impressive at the time but net result was not a win, only 1 man crossed the line with that award bestowed upon him and whilst he could have won it he didn't.
The Ronde is not an ITT - which he sometimes can treat the last section of a race as and succeed - but this time he failed.
To me Gilbert's race was equally impressive - pressure on him may have been greater as Cancellara has a Ronde win under his belt so further ones are additions whilst Gilbert wants to get his first although, and he took the (untimately doomed) risk of expending a huge amount of energy on the last climb to then be followed with a TT-type effort for 15Kms or so, with Cancellara and co likely to give chase.
Race was exciting for sure.0 -
My admiration for Cancellara, Gilbert and Chavannel has increased. They really entertained me and made the race exciting.
Nuyens getting the win left me a bit disappointed. I wouldn't say it was undeserved, but I prefer to see that exciting attacking riders having their efforts rewarded, encouraging them to attack more often. I'll still regard him as a workmanlike pragmatic rider, rather than an agressive exciting star.
How often do we read riders' interviews where they say something like "as a junior I was always attacking but had to curb that instinct as a pro and learn to ride more tactically"? I always like to see mad crazy attacks from strong riders and love it when they hold off a chasing pack.
I thought Vaughters' comment on the radio won't have won over many spectator in the radio debate: - "don't ride, even if it means we sprint for third, DON'T RIDE"0 -
My admiration for Cancellara, Gilbert and Chavannel has increased. They really entertained me and made the race exciting.
Nuyens getting the win left me a bit disappointed. I wouldn't say it was undeserved, but I prefer to see that exciting attacking riders having their efforts rewarded, encouraging them to attack more often. I'll still regard him as a workmanlike pragmatic rider, rather than an agressive exciting star.
+1
It was a great race, really exciting, and I was screaming silently at my laptop when Gilbert went on the Bosberg (silently because of 2-year-old son slumbering upstairs).
Disappointed too with Garmin's decision, but they got what they gave. A pity the same couldn't ultimately be said about Cancellara and Chavanel...
Did anyone see the post-race coverage on the Het Nieuwsblad website? jeez, you'd think it was a big deal or something
kop van de wedstrijd0 -
"Nuyens getting the win left me a bit disappointed. I wouldn't say it was undeserved, but I prefer to see that exciting attacking riders having their efforts rewarded, encouraging them to attack more often. I'll still regard him as a workmanlike pragmatic rider, rather than an agressive exciting star."
I knowwhat you are saying but its the variety that keeps it interesting. If attacks won all the time Tommy V would be the best rider in the world.0 -
just watched it again that was an absolutely top race, leaves you grinning while watching.
not going to slag anyone off for riding smart and winning.
really fantastic to see one g.thomas up there with all the big boys -great ride-and still pretty young too.
easily the greatest sport in the world- and probably hardest (mainstream)
looking forward to sunday(rubs hands together)Death or Glory- Just another Story0 -
After the Dwars:frenchfighter wrote:Sprinters can suck on that. Woooooooooooo. Two Saxo wins today, big guns. Loving that those two held out. Nuyens new team and gets a win, Riis is the man.
After Flanders:frenchfighter wrote:BULLSHIT WIN
Heh.0 -
Contador is the Greatest0
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frenchfighter wrote:
Yea so so different.......... in the Dwars Nuyens crossed the line in first place after riding an excellent tactical race and in the Ronde Nuyens crossed the line first place after riding an excellent tactical race.Gasping - but somehow still alive !0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:C'mon guys. Nuyens made it to the final group 16 or whatever it was, and from that he made it into the winning break of 3 (where he did take turns!) and of that three he won in the sprint!
What more do you need?
Pfft.
I'm surprised you guys can stand watching most stage race stages if you think that's not worthy!
+ 1Gasping - but somehow still alive !0 -
iainf72 wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:C'mon guys. Nuyens made it to the final group 16 or whatever it was, and from that he made it into the winning break of 3 (where he did take turns!) and of that three he won in the sprint!
The dude has won Het Volk and KBK, as well as top 10 rides in Flanders before. He's a worthy winner and did an excellent ride. Anyone who can't see that is an eejit.
Anyone with a modicum of racing knowledge and know how could not disagree with that, this dissing of NNs win is quite frankly bordering on the ridiculous.Gasping - but somehow still alive !0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:smithy21 wrote:Thought it was poor form that he was getting boo'ed on Bosberg.
Chase a Belgian in Belgium and it doesn't go down well....
Wasn't so much a chase at that point he was more like hanging on in there.Gasping - but somehow still alive !0 -
Nuyens deserved to win on the day. You know how you can tell? Because he crossed the finish line before anybody else. It's a race, that's how it works.0
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Chavanel is amazing. Has always been amazing.
Pissed over Boonen. No one has mentioned Boonen's attacking and its effect on Chavanel.
"I have not seen the pictures. There are journalists who have told me that Tom attacked, and then put Cancellara into orbit. I am a little lost, even a little surprised when I hear that. If it's true, we will talk with the team early next week."
Pissed at his team. Right here I see him saying I would have loved to have ridden like a Champion with Cancellara.
"When Fabian Cancellara bridged up to me, I found it very sad that I could not participate. I defended the team tactics, as Tom Boonen was behind me, and he could possibly win in the sprint,"
Not a defensive, riding in the wheels rider.
"I had legs of fire," said Chavanel to L'Eqipe. "I wanted to anticipate the race, so I initiated the fight early. I'm a notch below Cancellara, Boonen, and Gilbert on the bergs. Since the beginning of this season, the riders that anticipate the race have been rewarded."
Did Nuyens 2nd check cost Chavanel the deserved title.
"I'll rethink the scenario, especially in a sprint when I was forced to cut my effort twice."
Next time Chavanel.Contador is the Greatest0 -
frenchfighter wrote:
Pissed over Boonen. No one has mentioned Boonen's attacking and its effect on Chavanel.
I thought Boonen's move was smooth. He forced Cancellera to do something too far out and wore himself out. If he's gone off on his own 10km later it would've been game over.
I sometimes think I'm watching a different sports in a parallel universe.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
iainf72 wrote:frenchfighter wrote:
Pissed over Boonen. No one has mentioned Boonen's attacking and its effect on Chavanel.
I thought Boonen's move was smooth. He forced Cancellera to do something too far out and wore himself out. If he's gone off on his own 10km later it would've been game over.
I sometimes think I'm watching a different sports in a parallel universe.
A different universe to Chavanel. I'd take his or any pro in a race over yours or anyone else's on this forum.
Sure you could look at it they way you are but Cancellara is an A-Grade pro, if he didn't want to attack he would have stayed on Boonen's wheel.Contador is the Greatest0 -
frenchfighter wrote:Sure you could look at it they way you are but Cancellara is an A-Grade pro, if he didn't want to attack he would have stayed on Boonen's wheel.
I've spoken to a few people who watched the race who thought Fabian didn't use his head.
Anyway, if Canc had got away and stayed away it would've been a crap Flanders. FACT.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
When he was bridging across to Chavanel, eating up the seconds between them, I was thinking that if Cancellara simply TTed again to another solo victory it would be the final nail in the coffin for Ninove and Geraadsbergen as the finale of this race.
As it is we actually got a classic edition in the last 20kms with more protagonists in the run in than I remmber seeing before, so maybe there's hope that the finish won't switch to Oudenaarde (which is nearer many of the bigger bergs of the race).0
