Spring (autumn) classics *spoilers*

redvision

webboo said:

BBC have down graded Flanders monument status as they say that LBL was Lizzie first monument. Makes Carlton look knowledgeable.

I think that's because of Lizzies post race interview when she was thanking for the team for helping her achieve her first big classic and she called it her first big monument win.

takethehighroad

Are the monuments the same in Women's Cycling? I know they had the big race in Italy (Coppa Bernochi I think it's called?)

Also they have (had?) the Ronde van Drenthe, which is a bigger deal in women's cycling than mens

notquite6foot

redvision said:

webboo said:

BBC have down graded Flanders monument status as they say that LBL was Lizzie first monument. Makes Carlton look knowledgeable.

I think that's because of Lizzies post race interview when she was thanking for the team for helping her achieve her first big classic and she called it her first big monument win.

Here's the quote in Cycling Weekly, implying she was referring to her post-pregnancy career. It was also the first women's Monument win for Trek-Segafredo.

“It’s pretty special, we’ve been waiting to win a Classic like this and I think we’ve been almost there so many times,” Deignan explained. “It’s special to win a Classic, it’s the first kind of really big win I’ve had [since coming back] so I’m really happy.”

redvision

I didn't here her say since coming back, only describe it as the first big monument win. Either way, that's obviously what the bbc picked up too.

OMG, talk about starting the week off on the wrong foot, defending a bbc article...I must be ill!

notquite6foot

takethehighroad said:

Are the monuments the same in Women's Cycling? I know they had the big race in Italy (Coppa Bernochi I think it's called?)

The Monuments as traditionally defined were all men-only as recently as 1998. The women's editions of those races have been held as follows...
M-SR: 1999 - 2005
RvV: Since 2004
P-R: Debut this year (COVID situation pending)
L-B-L: Since 2017
GdL: Never

Even the Women's Road World Cup (the precursor to the WWT before 2016) has only been around since 1998. In that respect FW has the longest history, going back to 1999.

takethehighroad said:

Also they have (had?) the Ronde van Drenthe, which is a bigger deal in women's cycling than mens

True. This year's edition (pencilled in for 15 March) was a late cancellation for obvious reasons.

yorkshireraw

Impressive skills from Hershi - got clattered, pulled foot out, managed to keep it upright, got foot back in and crossed the line 3rd on the road - all in about 50m at c. 55 km/h

rick_chasey

Have to say, the lack of a normal calendar has really blunted my excitement for any cobbled one day races.

The lack of star names competing too isn't great.

takethehighroad

Just had a horrible thought. If Rob Hatch is doing the Giro, does that mean we'll be subjected to Kirby for the cobbles?

They usually keep him away from Roubaix, they have had Hatch and Quigley with Sean the last few years

blazing_saddles

takethehighroad said:

Are the monuments the same in Women's Cycling? I know they had the big race in Italy (Coppa Bernochi I think it's called?)

Also they have (had?) the Ronde van Drenthe, which is a bigger deal in women's cycling than mens

It's called the Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Been going since the 1970s. Was a World Cup race before it was part of the WT calendar.

Interesting fact: Nicole Cooke, Emma Pooley and Lizzie Deignan have all won it................twice.

nickice

So Paris-Roubaix will they won't they? It would be strange to cancel it as there are only a few points with anything resembling large crowds and limiting access to the velodrome would be easy.

davidof

blazing_saddles said:

It's called the Trofeo Alfredo Binda. Been going since the 1970s. Was a World Cup race before it was part of the WT calendar.

the Binda, which is near lake Magiorre is a nice early season race and is probably the closest to a "monument" in ladies' racing.

A women's Lombardia would be good, they could start it a bit before Bellagio as a warm up then a nice long climb to the Muro.

orraloon

Had to can our planned long weekender in Westvlaanderen next weekend, because of you know, getting banged up for 14 days just for 4 days in wonderland. The pixxer is that's when Gent Wevelgem is on, and it now starts and hovers around Ieper for large part. Bumm3r.

m.r.m.

rick_chasey said:

Have to say, the lack of a normal calendar has really blunted my excitement for any cobbled one day races.

The lack of star names competing too isn't great.

Aren't WVA, MvdP, Sep Vanmarcke, Degenkolb etc. all competing?

bobmcstuff

Degenkolb, please. And much as I like Vanmarcke he's won basically nothing - one Het Nieuwsblad, 8 years ago.

m.r.m.

All true, but I thought it was just a question of who is competing?

bobmcstuff

m.r.m. said:

All true, but I thought it was just a question of who is competing?

I thought you were suggesting they were star names!

MvdP and WvA would wipe the floor with either of them...

m.r.m.

No argument here. Not sure Pross won't have to step in to defend Sep though.

Pross

m.r.m. said:

No argument here. Not sure Pross won't have to step in to defend Sep though.

Me? He's Rick's man isn't he? There's only so much bad luck a rider can have before you start questioning if there's more to it than luck.

bobmcstuff

Pross said:

m.r.m. said:

No argument here. Not sure Pross won't have to step in to defend Sep though.

Me? He's Rick's man isn't he? There's only so much bad luck a rider can have before you start questioning if there's more to it than luck.

Isn't he just a totally whack sprinter. He's got lots of top 5s in classics but can't finish.

I just remember the 2016 Paris Roubaix that Hayman won, I was hoping for Vanmarcke, expecting Boonen.

bobmcstuff

Would van Aert will piss all over him

RichN95.

bobmcstuff said:

Would van Aert will piss all over him

Surely that's got to be a DQ

david37

RichN95. said:

bobmcstuff said:

Would van Aert will piss all over him

Surely that's got to be a DQ

only if he violently changes his flow in the finale

rick_chasey

Pross said:

m.r.m. said:

No argument here. Not sure Pross won't have to step in to defend Sep though.

Me? He's Rick's man isn't he? There's only so much bad luck a rider can have before you start questioning if there's more to it than luck.

Sep plays a character that seems deeply part of Flanders cycling. The cobbled specialist who is only good on cobbles. Means they usually make the finale and not much else. Perennially a cobbled contender, perennially a failure.

davidof

bobmcstuff said:

Degenkolb, please. And much as I like Vanmarcke he's won basically nothing - one Het Nieuwsblad, 8 years ago.

No but hey hang on he was KoM in the 4 Days of Dunkirk !

Pross

rick_chasey said:

Pross said:

m.r.m. said:

No argument here. Not sure Pross won't have to step in to defend Sep though.

Me? He's Rick's man isn't he? There's only so much bad luck a rider can have before you start questioning if there's more to it than luck.

Sep plays a character that seems deeply part of Flanders cycling. The cobbled specialist who is only good on cobbles. Means they usually make the finale and not much else. Perennially a cobbled contender, perennially a failure.

Yep, has the ability to get there but no the power to ride away alone or the sprint to win from a group.

takethehighroad

He's the new Leif Hoste. How times did he finish 2nd in Flanders? 2? 3?

RichN95.

takethehighroad said:

He's the new Leif Hoste. How times did he finish 2nd in Flanders? 2? 3?

Three times in a four year period (2004,2006,2007). Behind three different riders.

yorkshireraw

Could all be off - today's news (from the Guardian) - note the name of the Health Minister (!)

Belgium tightens social contact rules as coronavirus cases surge
Belgium will tighten coronavirus restrictions at the end of the week, limiting groups to a maximum of four people in a bid to stem a sharp rise of Covid-19 infections.

New prime minister Alexander De Croo, who took office five days ago, told a news conference he was aware Belgians were tired of restrictions, but they had to stick to the rules to avoid a fresh lockdown.

Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said that from Friday Belgians should limit to three the number of people outside their homes for whom they did not observe social distancing.

No more than four people should be invited inside a home, be seated at a single bar table or gather outside. Bars will all have to close at 11pm.

Belgians have been able to see up to five people without social distancing and be in groups of up to 10 people at a table in a bar or restaurant.

“People are tired, we know, but we are going to again ask for an effort for our children, so they can keep going to school, for our businesses, so they can keep functioning and so that people don’t lose their jobs,” Vandenbroucke said.

gweeds

I’d be amazed if either PR or Flanders go ahead now.

mrb123

They've resurrected Frank VdB???