Ronde van Vlaanderen 2015 *SPOILER THREAD*

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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,651
    squired wrote:
    Purely from a team harmony point of view it can't be good for the lesser paid members of Sky to have Wiggins sitting in doing absolutely nothing when he isn't the designated leader, while they turn themselves inside out on the front. Sky should've tried to mix it up by having someone like Stannard go away with 70-80km to go, to force other teams to ride.

    Dull race as far as I'm concerned. No one seemed to be willing to put it on the line. Even 5/10 is generous. I'm hoping for a wet and windy Roubaix to make up for it. Pais Vasco might be interesting in the week too, if only to see how the Yates brothers do.

    Hold on, everyone bar Rowe disappeared at the same time as Wiggins, didn't they? Stannard may have hung in a little longer, but didn't look like being able to do anything.

    Agree re team tactics being a touch defensive and in need of a spice-up.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Why is everyone obsessed with Wiggins?

    I mean I like tjhe guy as an athlete but there's more to life
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    squired wrote:
    Purely from a team harmony point of view it can't be good for the lesser paid members of Sky to have Wiggins sitting in doing absolutely nothing when he isn't the designated leader, while they turn themselves inside out on the front. Sky should've tried to mix it up by having someone like Stannard go away with 70-80km to go, to force other teams to ride.

    Dull race as far as I'm concerned. No one seemed to be willing to put it on the line. Even 5/10 is generous. I'm hoping for a wet and windy Roubaix to make up for it. Pais Vasco might be interesting in the week too, if only to see how the Yates brothers do.

    Hold on, everyone bar Rowe disappeared at the same time as Wiggins, didn't they? Stannard may have hung in a little longer, but didn't look like being able to do anything.

    Agree re team tactics being a touch defensive and in need of a spice-up.

    Team tactics awful. Let's all sit on the front for 150km and see what happens. Rubbish.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    155136_PIC528711830.jpg

    155200_PIC528715568.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Joelsim wrote:
    Anyone get the feeling that we've seen the best of Sep already. He looks way too heavy at the moment.

    Been saying it all year. He'll be the bridesmaid of the classics.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Didnt see J Sergent get taken out by a neutral service vehicle:

    https://youtu.be/9jedlVT2tYE

    Then the neutral vehicle smashes into an DFJ car which smashes into its own rider:

    http://www.steephill.tv/players/720/fra ... 74&yr=2015

    SORT IT OUT

    13278_10155339316095562_7504689363573084603_n.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Tiesj:
    “I’m really happy with this result, it’s a surprise. In Dwars door Vlaanderen and E3 Harelbeke I already surprised myself, but I hadn’t expected this at all. The team gave me the task to respond to moves of the second-line favourites from the Taaienberg on. I already thought that was ambitious, but I felt really strong. On the Kruisberg I even accelerated. Kristoff and Terpstra attacked afterwards, it was impossible to bridge to them," Benoot said.

    “At the end I jumped away and only Lars Boom joined me. He took over and together we rode to the finish where I beat him for the fifth place. This race is a monument and close to my home. Of course I dream about it. That I am fifth at my debut is really special. Next Sunday I’ll start in Paris-Roubaix and then I’ll take some rest. Afterwards the team and I will decide about my race programme for the rest of this season.”

    Geraint:
    "It's Flanders and it's obviously a hard race. I just lacked that punch which I had last week on the Kwaremont," Thomas admitted after the race.

    "I had to have a go as the boys road so well all day for me. I just didn't quite have the legs at the end. When you're feeling a bit average it feels like everyone is following you. Once I was in that group behind nobody would work together. Everyone was a leader in there and it was just attack after attack.

    "Everyone in the team committed. We were in a good position all the time and stayed out of trouble. I couldn't have asked for me. It's just a shame I couldn't get a result for them but that's the way bike racing goes I guess."

    Rowe:

    He said: "Whenever you speak about the classics it's always about unpredictability. Chatting to G on the bus he openly admitted he didn't have the best day. Physically sometimes your legs aren't there and today was one of those days. But I think we can hold our heads high. We went out there, we had a plan, we executed it but it didn't quite come off. That's life.

    "I was happy with how I rode. I was there until pretty much the end. That was the plan, to try and take it onto the Kwaremont for the last time. There were only 20-25 guys left, so to be in an elite group like that is quite satisfying on a personal note - but I was just doing my job."

    GVA:
    "In the end, I am happy I am on the podium," Van Avermaet said. "I had the legs to win, I think. I was feeling really good the whole day. I tried to make the race hard and when they went, there were were still some teams to control the race, so I didn't have to go. In the end, we didn't see them back anymore."
    Contador is the Greatest
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Benoot is a Gentenaar, so I'm claiming him.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • cal_stewart
    cal_stewart Posts: 1,840
    5/10 for me.

    Greipel worked hard.
    eating parmos since 1981

    Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
    Cervelo P5 EPS
    www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13038799
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Interesting background Tiesj Benoot from the Espoirs Central blog:
    Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Belisol U23 - Belgium - 1994)

    If we were looking at the most consistent rider of the season, Tiesj Benoot might be at the top of that list. The only thing missing from his season was a win, which ranks him lower on this list.

    His season started off electric with two stage podiums and a 2nd place overall in the Triptyque Monts et Chateaux followed by two top 5 one day performances with 3rd place in the Ronde van Vlaanderen U23 and 5th in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege U23, where he won the group sprint that caught the breakaway on the line. So he was close but no worries, a win should be just around the corner.

    Well Benoot came with his Lotto-Belisol U23 team to the Ronde de l'Isard and was the right hand man for teammate Louis Vervaeke, who was gunning for the overall win. Benoot rode one of the best performances on stage 2 when on Bagneres de Luchon, he rode Vervaeke across a nearly 2 minute gap to get Vervaeke into the overall lead, which he would keep to the end. Benoot held on for 3rd overall and his took his only "win" of the season, the youth classification. Benoot showed more versatility with a 15th place overall in the Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, 5th in the Fleche Ardennaise (won the group sprint) and 6th in the European U23 Championships (3rd in the bunch sprint).

    Benoot got a stagiaire ride with Lotto-Belisol and rode the Tour of Denmark in August. Benoot made a huge impression on the 3rd stage when he got 3rd place, which was just behind Matti Breschel, and moved up to 2nd overall. He held that spot until the time trial where he put in a good ride in 17th but he slid down to 10th overall. Benoot kept up the good impression with the pro team by going 4th in the GP Stad Zottegem.

    He dropped out of l'Avenir after becoming ill. He again showed himself in the sprint in the World U23 RR Championship with 4th place, which was 3rd in the bunch sprint behind a solo Sven Erik Bystrøm. He put an exclamation point on his season by getting 8th place in Binche-Tournai-Binche, a 1.1 race, and 16th in Paris-Tours, which is a 1.HC.

    I've been throwing out all of these results and many of you will begin to skim and get a glazed over look in your eyes. The point being about Benoot is that he isn't the first rider to be this consistent. There have been many riders get a string of steady results but don't breakthrough for wins. What do pro teams want? A rider that gets 5 top-5 finishes or a rider that gets 1 win? Benoot goes on to Lotto-Soudal for 2015 & 2016 and I think he is going to be a good pro but a winner? That remains to be seen.

    http://espoirscentral.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... -2014.html
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Thanks. Sounds like a real talent. Will look out for him.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    A Dutch journalist asked Terpstra about a tactical suggestion from Michael Boogerd that said if he wanted to have a chance, he had to attack before the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Terpstra was quick to reply with a wink. “I read the headline and that was enough. It wasn’t a planned attack. I followed his advice and it’s proven once more that Michael knows exactly how someone can finish as runner-up,” Terpstra said.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • argyllflyer
    argyllflyer Posts: 893
    Looking at his results this year, that's Benoot's 6th top ten in a one day race, but obviously the most impressive as well.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    frenchfighter wrote:
    A Dutch journalist asked Terpstra about a tactical suggestion from Michael Boogerd that said if he wanted to have a chance, he had to attack before the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Terpstra was quick to reply with a wink. “I read the headline and that was enough. It wasn’t a planned attack. I followed his advice and it’s proven once more that Michael knows exactly how someone can finish as runner-up,” Terpstra said.

    Miaow!
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Kristoff's son on the podium is hilarious:

    https://vine.co/v/OlxAFLWxjVh
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    frenchfighter wrote:
    A Dutch journalist asked Terpstra about a tactical suggestion from Michael Boogerd that said if he wanted to have a chance, he had to attack before the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Terpstra was quick to reply with a wink. “I read the headline and that was enough. It wasn’t a planned attack. I followed his advice and it’s proven once more that Michael knows exactly how someone can finish as runner-up,” Terpstra said.

    Miaow!

    Classic Terpstra.
    _
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    Benoot is a Gentenaar, so I'm claiming him.

    He's not going to set the world alight with his scintillating interviews however.
    _
  • slimreaper
    slimreaper Posts: 738
    RichN95 wrote:
    Kristoff's son on the podium is hilarious:

    https://vine.co/v/OlxAFLWxjVh
    That's great. Bless him
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,434
    slimreaper wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    Kristoff's son on the podium is hilarious:

    https://vine.co/v/OlxAFLWxjVh
    That's great. Bless him

    Judging by the reaction of the podium girls, cute offspring is a much better play than an ass grab
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,434
    That race really did come down to what selection could do rather than what they should do.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,434
    CB2XCoOW0AAp62G.jpg:large
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Stybar lost his teeth by the looks of it.
    _
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Stybar lost his teeth by the looks of it.

    Fell out at 70km he says
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    TailWindHome wrote:
    CB2XCoOW0AAp62G.jpg:large

    Does Stybar not have any teeth?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Lost them during last year's ENECO Tour.
    http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/ ... ash_341097
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    RichN95 wrote:
    Kristoff's son on the podium is hilarious:

    https://vine.co/v/OlxAFLWxjVh

    Awww
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,434
    Was idling wondering today what Dan Martin would do over the bergs of Flanders.
    On checking he is give or take 20kg lighter than today's winner.
    He'd need a seat belt.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • smithy21
    smithy21 Posts: 2,204
    Can't help thinking it was all a bit bland today.

    Break went, others didn't take it seriously, then realised it was serious but didn't really work together. Then Terpstra just didn't do anything to even make Kristoff work for it.

    I know this is all a but simplistic, as they were knackered by the end but as a spectacle it was just a bit dull.
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Just caught up with this, pretty poor race. Anyone worked out what Terpstra was thinking yet? Surely it can't have been "I'll just sit in for the last couple of km and then I'll be able to outsprint Kristoff"?
    https://gibworth.mypixieset.com
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    thegibdog wrote:
    Just caught up with this, pretty poor race. Anyone worked out what Terpstra was thinking yet? Surely it can't have been "I'll just sit in for the last couple of km and then I'll be able to outsprint Kristoff"?

    He was hammered on Paterberg, the only place he could make a move.

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