The classics thread

rick_chasey

Lefevre is probably waiting to see if Terpstra's value drops.

The_Boy

Rick Chasey wrote:

Lefevre is probably waiting to see if Terpstra's value drops.

On the off-chance that the market is flooded with out-of-contract PT riders? Looks like he played a blinder.

EKIMIKE

I've always got the impression that Lefevre likes to keep his riders on their toes and his options for signings/departures open.

The Quick Step team really is looking especially strong. Boonen, Terpstra, Vandenbergh and Stybar (with Eneco form) can all be there in the finale of the cobbled races.

I reckon that Lefevre doesn't actually have the confidence to back anyone but Boonen for outright leadership. I got the impression last year, when it was clear Boonen wasn't on it for RVV & P-R, that it was a case of 'ride for yourselves boys'.

ddraver

The_Boy wrote:

ddraver wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

At least we're back to talking about the cycling.

There's been a lot of talk about the "real" start to the season, but we all know this comes when Boonen attacks on the Taainberg on Saturday

Got to expect Terpstra to do well surely.

Looking for a contract now....

That surprises me. I'd have thought E-QS would have given him a fat contract after last season.

Wrong Dutchman...was thinking of Mollema, but even he was wrong!

I don't know which way is up and which down today

ridgerider

or even Boom...?

ddraver

him too, but he wasnt who I was thinking of neither...

ridgerider

Of all the people who ran away from Belkin last year, his was the destination that most surprised me in a sporting and career sense (but not financially...)

graeme_s-2

I've just been invited to my Mum's for a meal on Easter Sunday. She knows me well enough that she's allowed me to set the time, so roughly when can I anticipate the Tour of Flanders finishing (in BST)?

RichN95.

Graeme_S wrote:

I've just been invited to my Mum's for a meal on Easter Sunday. She knows me well enough that she's allowed me to set the time, so roughly when can I anticipate the Tour of Flanders finishing (in BST)?

About 4 o'clock UK time

disquieting_museeuws

ddraver wrote:

The_Boy wrote:

ddraver wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

At least we're back to talking about the cycling.

There's been a lot of talk about the "real" start to the season, but we all know this comes when Boonen attacks on the Taainberg on Saturday

Got to expect Terpstra to do well surely.

Looking for a contract now....

That surprises me. I'd have thought E-QS would have given him a fat contract after last season.

Wrong Dutchman...was thinking of Mollema, but even he was wrong!

I don't know which way is up and which down today

That's nothing - I've been convinced today was Saturday all day and was wondering where the Het Volk coverage was! Seriously a bit scary for a while; my excuse is my girlfriend is away and I'd miscounted the days til she's back.

The_Boy

ddraver wrote:

him too, but he wasnt who I was thinking of neither...

Had to be a dutch cyclist you were thinking of, didn't it? We'll still be trying to guess in the TdF thread at this rate....

graeme_s-2

RichN95 wrote:

Graeme_S wrote:

I've just been invited to my Mum's for a meal on Easter Sunday. She knows me well enough that she's allowed me to set the time, so roughly when can I anticipate the Tour of Flanders finishing (in BST)?

About 4 o'clock UK time

Thanks Rich

Argh! I've been given a limit of 4:30 due to the arrival of my niece in the last 12 months. My Mum's is about a 45 minute drive. Could make for a tense end to the race for me

EKIMIKE

Will be interested to see how Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) goes. Very aggressive in Binche-Chimay-Binche last year finishing 8th and possible signs of form this year - a top 10 in Mallorca, 3rd in the youth classification at Algarve behind Formolo and Soler.

Says he likes the cobbles and RVV but a bit young for a classics man at 20 years of age.

rick_chasey

Sep is THE cobbled rider of the new generation.

Easily up there with grandad Cancellara and Boonen with ease and speed on cobbles. Needs better luck with punctures.

Once they age/retire he'll eat the rest for breakfast on cobbles.

Just needs to calm down a bit and get some better luck.

disgruntledgoat

Rick Chasey wrote:

Sep is THE cobbled rider of the new generation.

Easily up there with grandad Cancellara and Boonen with ease and speed on cobbles. Needs better luck with punctures.

Once they age/retire he'll eat the rest for breakfast on cobbles.

Just needs to calm down a bit and get some better luck.

And quit the blubbing.

gweeds

Some quality idiocy from Lefevre:

“Stannard did what he had to do. Then again, I think that a rider from his calibre from that team should share the work until the gap was 40 seconds. He played it hard but tomorrow or next week it’s another race, then we can play that game. Stannard was team leader today. A team leader that was on the wheels for 40 kilometres. A rider of his level, a team leader, doesn’t stay on the wheels for 40 kilometres,” Lefevere said

Yes Patrick, I can't wait for you to tell a rider of yours to work when he's in a break with 3 from one team.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefever ... nieuwsblad

rick_chasey

Gweeds wrote:

Some quality idiocy from Lefevre:

“Stannard did what he had to do. Then again, I think that a rider from his calibre from that team should share the work until the gap was 40 seconds. He played it hard but tomorrow or next week it’s another race, then we can play that game. Stannard was team leader today. A team leader that was on the wheels for 40 kilometres. A rider of his level, a team leader, doesn’t stay on the wheels for 40 kilometres,” Lefevere said

Yes Patrick, I can't wait for you to tell a rider of yours to work when he's in a break with 3 from one team.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefever ... nieuwsblad

viewtopic.php?f=40002&t=13018412&start=380#p19467142

gweeds

Too many threads. Sorry.

rick_chasey

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Sep is THE cobbled rider of the new generation.

Easily up there with grandad Cancellara and Boonen with ease and speed on cobbles. Needs better luck with punctures.

Once they age/retire he'll eat the rest for breakfast on cobbles.

Just needs to calm down a bit and get some better luck.

And quit the blubbing.

The old women who mainly watch cycling would disagree .

The_Boy

As everyone knows, all the true classics have the word 'classic' in their names. In that spirit, my man Sepulveda won the classic sud ardeche today.

Crampeur

The_Boy wrote:

As everyone knows, all the true classics have the word 'classic' in their names. In that spirit, my man Sepulveda won the classic sud ardeche today.

In fine style too. Here's the last 8km or so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njsKcG9MQ_U

The_Boy

Crampeur wrote:

The_Boy wrote:

As everyone knows, all the true classics have the word 'classic' in their names. In that spirit, my man Sepulveda won the classic sud ardeche today.

In fine style too. Here's the last 8km or so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njsKcG9MQ_U

Good find, cheers. Good showing by my man reza too.

have to say though that the BSE kit looks better in the team photos than on the bike. At least they have the Looks though. That gets them points of some sort.

ridgerider

Rick Chasey wrote:

Sep is THE cobbled rider of the new generation.

Easily up there with grandad Cancellara and Boonen with ease and speed on cobbles. Needs better luck with punctures.

Once they age/retire he'll eat the rest for breakfast on cobbles.

Just needs to calm down a bit and get some better luck.

Is it bad luck to get two punctures when those around get none. Surely that has something to do with reading the road/gutter/pavement conditions better...?

No prizes for strongest legs.

mm1

Ridgerider wrote:

.

Is it bad luck to get two punctures when those around get none. Surely that has something to do with reading the road/gutter/pavement conditions better...?

No prizes for strongest legs.[/quote]

Barry Hoban used to say that riders on form don't crash or puncture.

milton50

I'd say Vanmarcke has now definitely usurped Boonen as the best cobbled classics rider in Belgium.

We'll have to see what kind of legs Cancellara has over the next few weeks to see who will be favourite going into Flanders and PR. E3 could be massive psychologically.

I've said before that my instinct is that Cancellara has the slight edge in Flanders but that Vanmarcke is the man to beat in Paris Roubaix.

takethehighroad

It's not down to luck that Boonen and Canc seem to avoid punctures on the cobbles.

Sure, luck plays a part, but more important is reading of the road in my book

milton50

By the way, kind of related to the talk of punctures, cosmo catalano made the point last year that some of the 5 star pave sections actually have easy run-offs that riders can use.

go to 3:50 in this video

Does anyone know if the organisers have tried to do anything about it?

gsk82

Does anyone know when VanMarke's contract it's up?

If he was at sky for example he'd be in a far better position and it was rumoured they wanted him a couple of years ago. Could he go to trek once Cancellara retires?

ridgerider

I think belkin booked him for a few years last year, not that that means anything if the team are a bit short of money...

I have just been on the rollers for an hour mulling things over and wondered if Jumbo were using old tyres yesterday. Cant quite work out if their limited race programme this spring has been budget driven as well?

okgo

Anyone seen start-list for Strade Bianchi on Sunday? All I can see on Steephill is last years one, its often a cracking race over amazing terrain. I've stayed in San Gimignano before, its lovely.