Ronde van Vlaanderen 2017 *spoilers*

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Comments

  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    Just can't warm to GVA. He crashed out last year and clearly has the form and fire to make amends. Meanwhile, Sagan finally got to grips with the race: I think it'll be in his interests to make it so hard again that team tactics are rendered useless. When he turned the screw on the O.K. and then again on the Paterberg, the combined efforts of Cancellara and Vanmarke couldn't pull him back because they were so battered.
    I think he's even stronger this year. Here's hoping it'll be another batter-fest rather than neutralised and tactical.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    ...Sagan is great and everything but i really hope he doesnt win this year. Its just getting too predictable...

    Great rider, will be a future legend but... yawnsville
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,262
    ddraver wrote:
    ...Sagan is great and everything but i really hope he doesnt win this year. Its just getting too predictable...

    Great rider, will be a future legend but... yawnsville
    But he's won little this year so far. Kuurne and a couple of stages of Tirreno.

    Meanwhile GVA has won Het Nieuwsblad, E3 and G-W. Kwiatkowski has won Strade and MSR


    Don't let the cooing of the love sick media distract you from what is actually happening
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • chadders81
    chadders81 Posts: 744
    ddraver wrote:
    ...Sagan is great and everything but i really hope he doesnt win this year. Its just getting too predictable...

    Great rider, will be a future legend but... yawnsville

    Seriously? Are you even a fan of cycling? What Sagan does in the process of winning (and trying to win) is so entertaining. He lights up races.

    Who do you want to win? Someone from a bunch sprint so it's not too predictable?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,717
    Well you re an unpleasant individual, think I ll ignore you
    RichN95 wrote:
    ddraver wrote:

    Meanwhile GVA has won Het Nieuwsblad, E3 and G-W. Kwiatkowski has won Strade and MSR


    Don't let the cooing of the love sick media distract you from what is actually happening

    True, I find it hard to warm to GVA too (though I was happy for him at the Olympics so....hmmm)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • thegibdog
    thegibdog Posts: 2,106
    Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere, but a great film of last year's edition to whet the appetite: https://youtu.be/2u5sc2utvTY
  • newton98
    newton98 Posts: 35
    Yeah i watched that film and enjoyed it despite not understanding most of the dialogue. If Velon could stop Graham Bartlett's marketing speak and make that happen in realtime that would be awesome.
  • Keukeleire has withdrawn through illness.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • mechanism
    mechanism Posts: 891
  • Who's on co-comms with screamer Kirby?
  • thegibdog wrote:
    Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere, but a great film of last year's edition to whet the appetite: https://youtu.be/2u5sc2utvTY


    Thanks for posting this

    Will enjoy over a couple of mugs of coffee this am
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Sporza will be live with pre race chat and the sign on in a mo.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • chadders81
    chadders81 Posts: 744
    Anybody struggling to access Sporza livestream via VPN?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    TV for me.
    So the forecast for wet cobbles was way out.
    A lovely day in Antwerp. Huge crowds expected for the start.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Wow. What a reception for Tom Boonen coming onto the sign on podium.
    The square is absolutely jam packed with people.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • yourpaceormine
    yourpaceormine Posts: 1,245
    Eurosport on at 9:15 for a couple of hours, then DDP highlights then back to Flanders about midday
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 19,459
    packing up to move house today.
    Coffee and ES until I'm shouted at. Do a bit of packing then back about 3.30? for the finale.
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • chadders81
    chadders81 Posts: 744
    Sod it - bought Eurosport. Current deal is very good.

    Let's hope Predictable Pete doesn't win. Such a boring rider.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    We are on the roll out to the official start.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,730
    Kirby and Kelly. Mmmm half and half then.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Km0 and we have the first attacks
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  • slim_boy_fat
    slim_boy_fat Posts: 1,810
    First in car footage and Kirby talks all over it. What a muppet he is.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    6 riders, none from favourite teams, off the front, two trying to bridge
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Taylor Phinney tried and failed to get across.
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Peleton are tranquilo about the break. Looks like it's settled for the day. I was expecting a bit more of a battle!
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  • bluemoon17
    bluemoon17 Posts: 718
    I love watching races from the start. Hardly ever get to see how the break is formed, I find it fascinating in races like this.

    Cannondale-Drapac not being allowed to get in the break- teams obviously wary of Vanmarcke. AG2R have got a rider in there though- may well provide useful for Naesen later on.

    Topsport and Roompot are trying to get a rider each across to the front group of 6.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Pee break already. That espresso has to go somewhere.
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  • slim_boy_fat
    slim_boy_fat Posts: 1,810
    Well that was easy! Was expecting much more of an effort by more to get into the break.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Break already has 2'37"
    Everyone happy, except the two potato hunting between the break and the peloton.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • bluemoon17
    bluemoon17 Posts: 718
    Gilbert disappointingly in plain black socks today- his matching socks and jersey has been a highlight of the season so far (coupled with his excellent form of course).