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Ardennes Classics 2019 *Spoilers*

blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
edited May 2019 in Pro race
Use it for the two lesser races, or all four, but it's time a thread.
Starting with, for logistical reasons, the race that doesn't take place in the Ardennes: De Brabantse Pijl or La Flèche Brabançonne.

brabantse-pijl-2019-map-b5ecf4556f.jpg

brabantse-pijl-2019-profile-5163cc6b6c.jpg
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    A tasty group has gone clear in BP: Alaphillipe, Wellens, Van der Poel, Matthews and Impey.
    Bahrain doing all the chasing.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    Well, well, MvdP wins the sprint. Alaphillipe 2nd, Wellens 3rd.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ShutupJensShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    Mathieu made that look so easy. Absolutely no trouble closing any of the gaps, took it up from the front and no one even tried to get round him
  • indypindyp Posts: 735
    Wow, very impressive by VdP
  • alanparsonsalanparsons Posts: 529
    Mathews getting stuck in the gutter seemed to stall him.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,618 Lives Here
    WvdP with absolutely no tactical nous whatsoever.

    He’s like a skinny Sagan at 25.
    _
  • webboowebboo Posts: 6,046
    alanparsons wrote:
    Mathews getting stuck in the gutter seemed to stall him.
    The over head camera shot shows Alaphilippe accidentally switching him almost into the barriers. He raises his hand in half hearted protest as he crosses the line.
  • poptart242poptart242 Posts: 531
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    WvdP with absolutely no tactical nous whatsoever.

    He’s like a skinny Sagan at 25.

    Dan Lloyd's timeline had a bit about this (either him or Inrng) - said that his dad tried to teach him some racecraft but he's just not interested and sees it as a game.

    Although when you're that good, fair enough!

    That last 25km or so was right up there for the best racing I've watched all season, brilliant finale.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 70,618 Lives Here
    Poptart242 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    WvdP with absolutely no tactical nous whatsoever.

    He’s like a skinny Sagan at 25.

    Dan Lloyd's timeline had a bit about this (either him or Inrng) - said that his dad tried to teach him some racecraft but he's just not interested and sees it as a game.

    Although when you're that good, fair enough!

    That last 25km or so was right up there for the best racing I've watched all season, brilliant finale.

    Yes the elite selection is always exciting.

    I think Matthews was badly placed mainly because his legs couldn’t get him out of there sooner.
    _
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    Time for the least prestigious of the Sunday in April Classics: The Amstel Gold Race.

    amstel-gold-race-2019-map-fc57d65ffb.jpg

    amstel-gold-race-2019.png
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ridgeriderridgerider Posts: 2,851
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Time for the least prestigious of the Sunday in April Classics: The Amstel Gold Race.

    Ok, I'll rise to the bait...Least prestigious because?

    It only suits a particular type of un-prestigious rider? The list of winners isn't too shabby.

    The same rider wins every year? I think this year's race looks to be quite competitive.

    L-B-L is more of a challenge? Both are 256km long, AGR has 36 hills, L-B-L has 11.

    It's not as old as L-B-L? Can't deny that.
    Half man, Half bike
  • ridgeriderridgerider Posts: 2,851
    And surely is wins some sort of prize for fitting the most number of race miles inside the smallest rectangle?
    Half man, Half bike
  • ShutupJensShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    Well to be fair, 4 sundays in April.. 3 monuments and Amstel gold. Tough company!
  • ridgeriderridgerider Posts: 2,851
    Yeah, but apart from that minor technicality...
    Half man, Half bike
  • ShutupJensShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    It also occupies the spot after the best two weeks of the year meaning that any race on this sunday will be dull and boring in comparison. Looking forward to it!
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 21,604
    ShutupJens wrote:
    Well to be fair, 4 sundays in April.. 3 monuments and Amstel gold. Tough company!

    Yeah, that is the minor technicality to wit I was referring.
    Plus, "The Race of a Thousand Corners" is barely 50 years old, or 50 years younger than the Ronde, 70 years younger than the other two.
    A bit like an afterthought sibling.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ShutupJensShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    ShutupJens wrote:
    Well to be fair, 4 sundays in April.. 3 monuments and Amstel gold. Tough company!

    Yeah, that is the minor technicality to wit I was referring.
    Plus, "The Race of a Thousand Corners" is barely 50 years old, or 50 years younger than the Ronde, 70 years younger than the other two.
    A bit like an afterthought sibling.

    That is some name for it. Definitely the race that I think I would least enjoy, especially when every bit of road seems to have road furniture littered about on it as well!

    Feel a bit sad that I'm still really looking forward to watching it and will probably watch an awful lot too
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 11,177
    AGR has been a decent race a few times recently, could be a good watch. I don't really get the hate. More excited about Tro Bro though!
  • ShutupJensShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    AGR has been a decent race a few times recently, could be a good watch. I don't really get the hate. More excited about Tro Bro though!

    Think it's just the comedown from Roubaix too - Last year was dece and there's a bit of a route change this year too, hopefully the selection will have to be made earlier and that will lead to a decent finale ala Brabanste this week. Yes Tro Bro is the one, looking forward to that!
  • awaveyawavey Posts: 2,368
    Niewiadoma takes the win in the womens AGR
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    awavey wrote:
    Niewiadoma takes the win in the womens AGR

    Good race, fantastic attack from Niewiadoma on the Cauberg. Rode Vos off her wheel, then held of van Vleuten (double world's TT champ) for the nearly 2km false flat at the top.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Kicking off nicely in the men's edition now.

    Alaphilippe and Fuglsang out in front of a chase group of 3, with Kwia, TRentin and Woods in it.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Sagan looked to have cracked and spat out the back a while ago.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Front two have 16" on the chasing 3 and 43" on the peloton.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Lead now 21" to chasers (minus Woods now) and 1' to peloton. Still 22km to go
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Trentin and Kwia are reeling Alaphilippe and Fuglsang in, just 8" behind now.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    EF have numbers in the reduced peloton and bring them to the front.
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Kwia drops Trentin, has 12" up to the front two with 10km left. Peloton at 47"
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • gweedsgweeds Posts: 2,527
    Sagan abandons.
    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.
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,030
    Trentin got back to Kwia.

    5km and one of Alaphilippe and Fuglsang has this (Alaphilippe).
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
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