2017 Flat Classics thread - will probs have spoilers

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  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    edited March 2017
    Phil's riding DDDP.

    Good lad.
    _
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,262
    OCDuPalais wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    OCDuPalais wrote:
    As 'wang' seems to be my word of the day: what chance the management at BMC are wanging on to Van Avermaet to challenge Sagan for the green jersey properly this year? It'd been sound insurance against the inevitable TjVG/Porte capitulation, no?
    Little chance unless they've changed the rules significantly. Van Avermaet isn't going to get top 5 placements in bunch sprints.
    Mmm, maybe - but perhaps that's because he hasn't tried?
    Now he's pulled his finger out... what, BMC are just going to let the Olympic Champion and biggest winner of the spring just waft around France in the hope of a stage?
    Admittedly, his team probably won't offer much support because of the distraction of the GC...
    He has tried bunch sprinting early in his career. He wasn't much good at it. Although he did win the points jersey at the 2008 Vuelta he was coming 5th or 6th in sprints with barely any sprinters - Nico Roche was also coming 5th/6th in the same sprints.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    DDDP: The race is in bits. Phil Gil turns back the clock on the Muur and bridges to the front group.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,613
    They're all over the road today - apart from the ones nearly running down people on the pavement
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    DDDP: The race is in bits. Phil Gil turns back the clock on the Muur and bridges to the front group.

    Laarvley.

    Laarvley.
    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Second ascent and Phil romps away solo, leaving Durbridge chasing in his wake.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Eurosport player working for anyone else? I'm getting an incredibly slow silent slideshow containing photos of cyclists
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,613
    TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO

    SHUT UP KIRBY
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    Phi-lip, Philip Gilbert
    everyone sing his name
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    That was impressive

    Marv watching him stomp up the Muur
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    That was impressive

    Marv watching him stomp up the Muur

    Gilbert stomping up a steep but-not-too-step climb?

    'cor.
    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    So, is the Ronde now a 3 horse race, I wonder?
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    So, is the Ronde now a 3 horse race, I wonder?

    Who, Phil, GvA, Sagan?
    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    So, is the Ronde now a 3 horse race, I wonder?

    Who, Phil, GvA, Sagan?

    Yer.
    Phil: nice interview in English saying no one leader for QS.
    I tend to think he should be leader for the Ronde.
    Boonen for P-R.
    Tersptra to be water boy for both. :P
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    So, is the Ronde now a 3 horse race, I wonder?

    Who, Phil, GvA, Sagan?

    Yer.
    Phil: nice interview in English saying no one leader for QS.
    I tend to think he should be leader for the Ronde.
    Boonen for P-R.
    Tersptra to be water boy for both. :P

    Phil's problem is Gva And Sagan will beat him in the sprint every time, and they'll work together to chase him down if he goes solo.
    _
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    I guess Turbo-lag Durbo would be a more appropriate name.

    I bet he rues not training up his explosivity more.

    Seems to spend each classic at the sharp end endlessly chasing guys with a bigger jump.
    _
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518
    Gweeds wrote:
    TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO

    SHUT UP KIRBY
    I can't watch it for this reason alone. Even my missus was swearing at the telly last week every time he piped up turbo durbo. He is an absolute frube of a man - how Eurosport employ him over Hatch and Quigley I'll never know
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • Carlton Kirby
    Carlton Kirby Posts: 21
    Cruff wrote:
    Gweeds wrote:
    TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO

    SHUT UP KIRBY
    I can't watch it for this reason alone. Even my missus was swearing at the telly last week every time he piped up turbo durbo. He is an absolute frube of a man - how Eurosport employ him over Hatch and Quigley I'll never know

    I'm cheap.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Carlton Kirby wrote:
    Cruff wrote:
    Gweeds wrote:
    TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO

    SHUT UP KIRBY
    I can't watch it for this reason alone. Even my missus was swearing at the telly last week every time he piped up turbo durbo. He is an absolute frube of a man - how Eurosport employ him over Hatch and Quigley I'll never know

    I'm cheap.
    And, fortunately for me, avoidable. :D
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Crozza
    Crozza Posts: 991
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Phil's problem is Gva And Sagan will beat him in the sprint every time, and they'll work together to chase him down if he goes solo.

    hmmm
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Don't agree?
    _
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,444
    Cruff wrote:
    Gweeds wrote:
    TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO TURBO DURBO

    SHUT UP KIRBY
    I can't watch it for this reason alone. Even my missus was swearing at the telly last week every time he piped up turbo durbo. He is an absolute frube of a man - how Eurosport employ him over Hatch and Quigley I'll never know

    maxresdefault.jpg

    A fantastic insult - I shall use it more often.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Gilbert is a classy rider when he's near his best.

    Can't see him winning Flanders though.
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    He doesn't have much pedigree there does he?

    He rode it from 2007 to 2012, finishing 25th, 15th, 3rd, 3rd, 9th, 75th but then he hasn't even started the race since 2012.

    Wouldn't be surprised to see him at the sharp end at some point, but I won't be putting any money on him.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    He's got the right physiology for it, save for the sprint.
    _
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,576
    Graeme_S wrote:
    He doesn't have much pedigree there does he?

    He rode it from 2007 to 2012, finishing 25th, 15th, 3rd, 3rd, 9th, 75th but then he hasn't even started the race since 2012.
    That's because BMC wanted him to focus on the Ardennes, and give Van Avermaet a leadership role in Flanders.

    You don't win Het Volk/Nieuwsblad twice and finish on the podium at Flanders twice, without having the pedigree. The new course suits him too, with a short, explosive climb as the final obstacle. His form is clearly there, and he gives QS a card to play if the front group arrives at the Paterberg together.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    Even if he could drop the likes of Sagan, GvA, Vanmarcke and others on the Paterberg, which I think is unlikely, I don't see him as strong enough to solo to victory. And obviously the chances of winning from a sprint are basically zero.

    By the way the Quick Step team for Flanders is ridiculously good. As per I guess.

    I'd quite like Devolder to be in the mix now he's been set free.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,576
    Milton50 wrote:
    Even if he could drop the likes of Sagan, GvA, Vanmarcke and others on the Paterberg, which I think is unlikely, I don't see him as strong enough to solo to victory. And obviously the chances of winning from a sprint are basically zero.

    Have you ever seen Gilbert race? He's got a decent sprint, and knows how to use it against good sprinters (as his 2009 win at Paris-Tours where he mugged Boonen shows). He's also one of the best explosive climbers in the peloton.

    I don't know if he'll win on Sunday, but he's got a good chance, a 4 star favourite to Van Avermaet and Sagan's 5 stars.
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    andyp wrote:
    I don't know if he'll win on Sunday, but he's got a good chance, a 4 star favourite to Van Avermaet and Sagan's 5 stars.
    Yeah, that seems a reasonably fair assessment.

    Good point about BMC not putting him up for Flanders too.
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    andyp wrote:
    Milton50 wrote:
    Even if he could drop the likes of Sagan, GvA, Vanmarcke and others on the Paterberg, which I think is unlikely, I don't see him as strong enough to solo to victory. And obviously the chances of winning from a sprint are basically zero.

    Have you ever seen Gilbert race? He's got a decent sprint, and knows how to use it against good sprinters (as his 2009 win at Paris-Tours where he mugged Boonen shows). He's also one of the best explosive climbers in the peloton.

    I don't know if he'll win on Sunday, but he's got a good chance, a 4 star favourite to Van Avermaet and Sagan's 5 stars.

    :?

    Calm down. We're just having a light-hearted discussion about cycling.

    I can definitely see him being top 5 depending on how Quick Step play it tactically, but I'd be surprised if he pulled off the victory.

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