Ardennes Classics 2019 *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 21,699
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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Comments

  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,699
    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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,699
    Well, well, MvdP wins the sprint. Alaphillipe 2nd, Wellens 3rd.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens 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
  • indyp
    indyp Posts: 735
    Wow, very impressive by VdP
  • alanparsons
    alanparsons Posts: 529
    Mathews getting stuck in the gutter seemed to stall him.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,028
    WvdP with absolutely no tactical nous whatsoever.

    He’s like a skinny Sagan at 25.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    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.
  • poptart242
    poptart242 Posts: 531
    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_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,028
    Poptart242 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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,699
    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.
  • ridgerider
    ridgerider Posts: 2,851
    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
  • ridgerider
    ridgerider 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
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    Well to be fair, 4 sundays in April.. 3 monuments and Amstel gold. Tough company!
  • ridgerider
    ridgerider Posts: 2,851
    Yeah, but apart from that minor technicality...
    Half man, Half bike
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens 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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,699
    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.
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens Posts: 1,373
    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
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    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!
  • ShutupJens
    ShutupJens 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!
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    Niewiadoma takes the win in the womens AGR
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    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.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    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.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Sagan looked to have cracked and spat out the back a while ago.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Front two have 16" on the chasing 3 and 43" on the peloton.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Lead now 21" to chasers (minus Woods now) and 1' to peloton. Still 22km to go
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Trentin and Kwia are reeling Alaphilippe and Fuglsang in, just 8" behind now.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    EF have numbers in the reduced peloton and bring them to the front.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Kwia drops Trentin, has 12" up to the front two with 10km left. Peloton at 47"
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,543
    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_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,144
    Trentin got back to Kwia.

    5km and one of Alaphilippe and Fuglsang has this (Alaphilippe).
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format