The classics thread

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  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    I'm not sure I can remember a worse classics season.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Omloop, Strade Bianchi (a classic?) and Gent-Wevelgem were very good. The monuments all meh, yeah
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    I think every year we fool ourselves into expecting great racing in the Classics when in reality the great races are few and far between (and often require the help of external influences such as weather).

    How many really great Monuments have we had in the last decade? We quite often have good racing in the last 5-10km and I suspect that by the following season we forget that the previous 250km had nothing happen.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    We missed Tom and Fabs, that's for sure, but I enjoyed today's race.

    I'd give "the Classics season" as a whole (Omloop to la Doyenne) a 6 out of 10.

    Giro won't be as good, I'm afraid
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    The only real classics in recent years are Paris ROubaix 2012 and MSR 2013.


    Hopefully Contador and Porte will give us a stunning Giro.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,599
    i think it's been pretty poor this year. it seemed that everytime a group got away there was someone in the group not willing to work
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    So which was best? I'd go for Roubaix. But I did enjoy E3 as well.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    So which was best? I'd go for Roubaix. But I did enjoy E3 as well.

    Gent Wevelgem in terms of the spectacle. Paris Roubaix in terms of the racing, but it only kicked into life in the last 20k or so.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    From the time Boonen and Canc were ruled out there was always going to be comments along the lines of 'it would have been different if Tom and Fabs had been there'. I'm still not convinced they would have made much difference. If anything the racing with them as favourites would have been more negative and they aren't at their top level anymore where they could have just ridden everyone off their wheels.
  • Ashbeck
    Ashbeck Posts: 235
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    2015: Not a vintage classics season.


    I agree, pretty standard racing, nothing really shone out (except Degenkolb winning MSR and Roubaix).

    I think the Giro will be good.
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    Ashbeck wrote:
    I think the Giro will be good.

    Course it'll be good, it's in La Bella Italia, and it's got the Mortirolo and the Finestre in it, innit :D
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    Guy's ridiculously good and has the best position/pedalling style in the peloton.

    Rides good kit too - endura kit looks smart, canyon is smart, recognisable helmet, and has that eagle like nose and grimace.

    Even does the cliche southern European medallion. Is happy to stick it to riders when they have bad luck and doesn't complain or whine when they return the favour (at least, not in English...). Peloton could do with a bit of needle (pun not intended).

    And his palmares is pretty exceptional. He wins one dayers. He does the Ardenne treble. He rides the cobbled classics. He wins one weekers. He wins stages in GTs. He even wins GTs.

    Sure he was a bit of a doper - who wasn't at his age?

    Consensus seems to be he's fairly clean now (at least, that's my understanding).

    Sunday was a masterclass of control. That last 1.5km was cycling at the highest level.
    _
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    +1 You almost never hear that his main objective is some race you're not currently watching.
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,309
    Funny how Valverde is 35 years young and still winning classics/races and is No.: 1 in the rankings but according to some, Boonen (34) and Cancellara (34), Gilbert (33) are passed it...
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    Guy's ridiculously good and has the best position/pedalling style in the peloton.

    Rides good kit too - endura kit looks smart, canyon is smart, recognisable helmet, and has that eagle like nose and grimace.

    Even does the cliche southern European medallion. Is happy to stick it to riders when they have bad luck and doesn't complain or whine when they return the favour (at least, not in English...). Peloton could do with a bit of needle (pun not intended).

    And his palmares is pretty exceptional. He wins one dayers. He does the Ardenne treble. He rides the cobbled classics. He wins one weekers. He wins stages in GTs. He even wins GTs.

    Sure he was a bit of a doper - who wasn't at his age?

    Consensus seems to be he's fairly clean now (at least, that's my understanding).

    Sunday was a masterclass of control. That last 1.5km was cycling at the highest level.

    I'd say if a rider serves a doping ban and then comes back and still wins regularly at the top level, they are still on the juice.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    sjmclean wrote:
    I'd say if a rider serves a doping ban and then comes back and still wins regularly at the top level, they are still on the juice.
    But he's nowhere near the rider he was when he was doping. Back then he was beating Armstrong and Rasmussen up Corcheval and was fully expected to win the Tour at some stage.

    Now he's winning races using a strong team, his head and the best sprint of the climbers. He also has the luxury of not being too fussed by losing so lets everyone else chase (see last year's Lombardy). No-one's picking him to win stage races unless there's no MTFs and plenty of bonus seconds.

    I see people on twitter and the like saying he's stronger than ever. But he's just not.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    RichN95 wrote:
    I see people on twitter and the like saying he's stronger than ever. But he's just not.

    Agree with this. He looked pretty wasted afterwards. A bit like Cancellara after he won Roubaix in 2013. Both coming to the end of their careers.
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    Exactly how dire was it? Sporza's review
    the Inner Ring ‏@inrng 17m17 minutes ago
    Sporza's hour long spring classics review: Extra Time http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/sp ... /1.2319950 … (Flemish)
    ...a rare 100% loyal Pro Race poster. A poster boy for the community.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Point of order. "Flemish" is not a language.
    _
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    RichN95 wrote:
    sjmclean wrote:
    I'd say if a rider serves a doping ban and then comes back and still wins regularly at the top level, they are still on the juice.
    But he's nowhere near the rider he was when he was doping. Back then he was beating Armstrong and Rasmussen up Corcheval and was fully expected to win the Tour at some stage.

    Now he's winning races using a strong team, his head and the best sprint of the climbers. He also has the luxury of not being too fussed by losing so lets everyone else chase (see last year's Lombardy). No-one's picking him to win stage races unless there's no MTFs and plenty of bonus seconds.

    I see people on twitter and the like saying he's stronger than ever. But he's just not.

    I disagree if you look at his palmares he's winning consistently at the same level he was before he doped, other than the GT. Even then, before the ban he had 3 podiums and after it he has had 3 podiums. He's won 4 hilly classics (including san sebastian) since he came back and 4 before. He has 4 podiums in the races before ban and after the ban he's had 7.

    You only have to look at the first year he came back when his Ardennes results were 22nd, 46th, DNQ, then next season he went 2nd, 7th, 3rd.


    It's clear his level hasn't dropped since the ban, and other than winning a GT he has actually improved since he came back. As dirty as someones face post PR

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_ ... mar.C3.A8s
  • the article don
    the article don Posts: 578
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    Guy's ridiculously good and has the best position/pedalling style in the peloton.

    Rides good kit too - endura kit looks smart, canyon is smart, recognisable helmet, and has that eagle like nose and grimace.

    Even does the cliche southern European medallion. Is happy to stick it to riders when they have bad luck and doesn't complain or whine when they return the favour (at least, not in English...). Peloton could do with a bit of needle (pun not intended).

    And his palmares is pretty exceptional. He wins one dayers. He does the Ardenne treble. He rides the cobbled classics. He wins one weekers. He wins stages in GTs. He even wins GTs.

    Sure he was a bit of a doper - who wasn't at his age?

    Consensus seems to be he's fairly clean now (at least, that's my understanding).

    Sunday was a masterclass of control. That last 1.5km was cycling at the highest level.

    I can just about agree with all that until you remember things like his antics with Pinot in the TDF. Hqaving said that he's beenmore attacking/ less wheelsucking this year which makes him more easy to like.
    Giant Trance X 2010
    Specialized Tricross Sport
    My Dad's old racer
    Trek Marlin 29er 2012
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    pinarello001 wrote:
    Funny how Valverde is 35 years young and still winning classics/races and is No.: 1 in the rankings but according to some, Boonen (34) and Cancellara (34), Gilbert (33) are passed it...

    Age catches up with different people in different ways and I don't think anyone has said the other 3 are past it, just past their best which when you look their records a few years ago I would suggest it is difficult to argue with.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    De Cauwer (Sporza commentator) just mentioned the Gilbert-Matthews duel on the Cauberg 'to the death' as the best of 2015 so far. It was good. Certainly not the best race. But a great 2 or 3 minute spectacle. Best 'moment' of 2015 so far?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    FJS wrote:
    De Cauwer (Sporza commentator) just mentioned the Gilbert-Matthews duel on the Cauberg 'to the death' as the best of 2015 so far. It was good. Certainly not the best race. But a great 2 or 3 minute spectacle. Best 'moment' of 2015 so far?

    Things to remember - de Cauwer LOVES Gilbert more than his own children.
    _
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    FJS wrote:
    De Cauwer (Sporza commentator) just mentioned the Gilbert-Matthews duel on the Cauberg 'to the death' as the best of 2015 so far. It was good. Certainly not the best race. But a great 2 or 3 minute spectacle. Best 'moment' of 2015 so far?

    Things to remember - de Cauwer LOVES Gilbert more than his own children.
    Absolutely. I'm not necessarily disagreeing with him though. It was very good. Trying to think of a better 'moment'
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    FJS wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    FJS wrote:
    De Cauwer (Sporza commentator) just mentioned the Gilbert-Matthews duel on the Cauberg 'to the death' as the best of 2015 so far. It was good. Certainly not the best race. But a great 2 or 3 minute spectacle. Best 'moment' of 2015 so far?

    Things to remember - de Cauwer LOVES Gilbert more than his own children.
    Absolutely. I'm not necessarily disagreeing with him though. It was very good. Trying to think of a better 'moment'

    Degenkolb taking the race by the scruff of the neck and doing it all himself.
    _
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Stannard getting the better of Boonen, Terpstra and Vandenbergh in the Omloop.

    Or Paolini never giving up in a crazy Gent Wevelgem and eventually winning it
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    Guy's ridiculously good and has the best position/pedalling style in the peloton.

    Rides good kit too - endura kit looks smart, canyon is smart, recognisable helmet, and has that eagle like nose and grimace.

    Even does the cliche southern European medallion. Is happy to stick it to riders when they have bad luck and doesn't complain or whine when they return the favour (at least, not in English...). Peloton could do with a bit of needle (pun not intended).

    And his palmares is pretty exceptional. He wins one dayers. He does the Ardenne treble. He rides the cobbled classics. He wins one weekers. He wins stages in GTs. He even wins GTs.

    Sure he was a bit of a doper - who wasn't at his age?

    Consensus seems to be he's fairly clean now (at least, that's my understanding).

    Sunday was a masterclass of control. That last 1.5km was cycling at the highest level.

    Just seen this. Absolutely agree. He is probably the best rider out there for completeness and number of quality wins across a long time period. Total heavyweight and my men since forever.

    valv.jpg
    610x-12.jpg
    Caisse.jpg
    untitled-5-1.jpg
    610x-143.jpg
    250-RTR3536F.jpg
    camembert-BB_09_39001.jpg
    20090219dasdaicic_1.jpg
    13242350665_da3aabeaa1_o_zps1868a35c.jpg
    valvfleche3_zpsb07ebb26.jpg

    My only gripe would be that he wears his shorts too long and his leg-warmer but no arm-warmer look is not great.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Crampeur
    Crampeur Posts: 1,065
    On the upside, his sock length choice has improved over the years.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,309
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Alright, I'm going to start a Valverde appreciation section in this thread.

    Frenchie - feel free to come join.

    Guy's ridiculously good and has the best position/pedalling style in the peloton.

    Rides good kit too - endura kit looks smart, canyon is smart, recognisable helmet, and has that eagle like nose and grimace.

    Even does the cliche southern European medallion. Is happy to stick it to riders when they have bad luck and doesn't complain or whine when they return the favour (at least, not in English...). Peloton could do with a bit of needle (pun not intended).

    And his palmares is pretty exceptional. He wins one dayers. He does the Ardenne treble. He rides the cobbled classics. He wins one weekers. He wins stages in GTs. He even wins GTs.

    Sure he was a bit of a doper - who wasn't at his age?

    Consensus seems to be he's fairly clean now (at least, that's my understanding).

    Sunday was a masterclass of control. That last 1.5km was cycling at the highest level.

    ...and going on 35.

    FTFY.
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!

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