Ardenne Extravaganza!
Comments
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So what have we learnt from yesterday's racing and how will this affect Fleche and Liege?
Gilbert looked so much better than he has so far this year, but good enough to win Fleche or Liege? Maybe not.
Sagan also looked strong, but will the next two races suit him? Not sure they will. Is he even riding?
Sanchez also was looking good, until his chain broke. 7th is pretty impressive despite that. Good enough to win either of the next two races, maybe?
And what happened to Valverde and J-Rod? Maybe they were saving themselves for next weekend?0 -
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afx237vi wrote:
I saw that...!0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:
I saw that...!
It's one thing when Cancellara says "I was strongest in MSR", but that is crazy. I didn't even know he was in the race, tbh.0 -
greasedscotsman wrote:So what have we learnt from yesterday's racing and how will this affect Fleche and Liege?
Gilbert looked so much better than he has so far this year, but good enough to win Fleche or Liege? Maybe not.
Sagan also looked strong, but will the next two races suit him? Not sure they will. Is he even riding?
Sanchez also was looking good, until his chain broke. 7th is pretty impressive despite that. Good enough to win either of the next two races, maybe?
And what happened to Valverde and J-Rod? Maybe they were saving themselves for next weekend?
Not much.
Gilbert won't win before June.
I get the impression J Rod was just badly positioned and got caught out behind the Cunego crash - same for Valvarde.
Other than that, in terms of winners anyway, it's sill a question mark.
Lotto will actually be visible in a few Belgian one-dayers. That's news I guess.0 -
Is Fleche a chipper? It's short enough, and it's mid-week position also works against it.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0
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I'd rather win Fleche than AGR. Huy is more of an iconic finish than the Cauberg.0
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Rick Chasey wrote:
Eerr, free beer?
Free beer is not even the best prize of the day, never mind the season. Tro Bro Leon winners get a piglet!0 -
Amstel is a chipper too. Perhaps more of a curly fries and outright chipper, but still....Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0
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iainf72 wrote:Amstel is a chipper too. Perhaps more of a curly fries and outright chipper, but still....
Do you not like chips then?0 -
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afx237vi wrote:
Free beer is not even the best prize of the day, never mind the season. Tro Bro Leon winners get a piglet!
Have any of the winners of the piglet kept the prize? perhaps fattening it up for a few years and then enjoying an array of high quality pork products?0 -
afx237vi wrote:I'd rather win Fleche than AGR. Huy is more of an iconic finish than the Cauberg.
Agree.
I dont like these long races much. Basically in most cases they just ride and ride and ride before launching the hostilities in the same places as if they race was 50km shorter and in many cases the hostilities are unleashed nearer to the finish as the riders are smoked.
So yes, it is a testament to your talent and endurance that you can win at the end of 250km but it isnt much good for the fans.
I like the final climb of Huy.
Contador is the Greatest0 -
Hasn't someone, somewhere, at some point, said that every race on the calendar is a chipper? - with possible exception of Ronde, Roubaix and the World's (provided it's not on a chipper route like last year).0
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OCDuPalais wrote:Hasn't someone, somewhere, at some point, said that every race on the calendar is a chipper? - with possible exception of Ronde, Roubaix and the World's (provided it's not on a chipper route like last year).
Hence Iain's keen interest in making sure the list is up-to-date.0 -
OCDuPalais wrote:Hasn't someone, somewhere, at some point, said that every race on the calendar is a chipper? - with possible exception of Ronde, Roubaix and the World's (provided it's not on a chipper route like last year).
Someone? Don't you just mean Iain?0 -
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Rick Chasey wrote:Sagan's not riding any more Ardenne classics.
off to California.
Has he just been made aware that they are chippers?0 -
smithy21 wrote:
Has he just been made aware that they are chippers?
LBL isn't a chipper.
I think I need to make some kind of diagram to explain the pecking order.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
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iainf72 wrote:
LBL isn't a chipper.
I think I need to make some kind of diagram to explain the pecking order.
Do I suspect that that might be a bit like Frenchie's Panache chart - as in made up on the spot according to the creators wishes..?We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
ddraver wrote:
Do I suspect that that might be a bit like Frenchie's Panache chart - as in made up on the spot according to the creators wishes..?
I have a quarter of a century worth of experience grading races. I can remember the Wincanton Classic (chipper) and the Gran Prix des Nations (not chipper) and the Eindhoven TTT (unprocessed potato, not even a chipper)Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
RichN95 wrote:What happens if a True Champion wins a Chipper with panche? Is there a shake up in the various rankings?
No. I was going to be flippant and say "Has EBH or Voeckler won the race?" and proclaim them chippers. But I'll try be a but more mature.Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0 -
I've just found my extremely rare copy of the 2009 compendium of cycling legends and folklore, 'Alkotják Kerékpározás Nonsense és baromság', by the obscure Hungarian cycling historian Professor Blajtant Cák, in which he claims that there are unconfirmed reports of a secret UCI select committee that meets every 10 years to decide what races are to be deemed 'déchiqueteur' - a crude French translation of 'chipper'.
Apparently, it used to be the case that any race won by Rob Hayles or Tony Gibb in the UK was instantly 'un vrai pièce dechiquetuer'.0 -
iainf72 wrote:
Looks about right to me, I'd have just put Roubaix ahead of the Tour...0
