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Didn't see one already started so here we go!
Unfortunately I've not got much to contribute, much as I enjoy watching the races I'm not expert enough to form any worthwhile opinions, other than the following:
1) Excellent finish to K-B-K, loved watching the chasers dicking around amongst themselves while BJ just time trialled away. Starting to understand the dilemma the riders face when trying to chase someone down whilst not being a patsy and being used as a free ride.
2) Bora looking decent, Astana giving it a good go, enjoying see WvA doing his time at the front (equally so doing it on a Bianchi, always had a soft spot for the brand but seems unusual seeing one underneath a Belgian CX superstar) but Quickstep looking dominant again, the Team Sky of the classics?
3) Strade Bianche next week (Sat 9th), think I saw Benoot crashing out in the Omloop, hope he's fit to defend his title!
It was a good start to the season.
SB favourite race of the year.
However as time passes, my interest wains.
Sometimes the last few KMs really confuse me. The Sat race being that more more as you're really think it could and should have gone very differently...
I do love the Spring racing more than any others though as it's just a war of attrition.
Quickstep are just awesome in the classics and go all out with different tactics, attacks and plans.
Was disappointed with team Sky this weekend i must admit.... Just not quite there.
Yes, I'm a Quickstep fan come the Classics - see Omloop Het Nieuwsblad finish. I'll be watching Strade Bianche in Siena next Saturday and riding the route (OK, women's route) on Sunday - can't wait, it's a proper bucket list bike ride for me.
I expect Sky missed Luke Rowe a lot this weekend.
Owain Doull did very well in the last few km of KBK to break from the bunch to try and chase down Jungels and take 2nd. What I find very frustrating is that the others that followed him just sat on his wheel and wouldn't help. What is the point of breaking off the front? That tactic obviously works in some scenarios but pro cyclists seem to use it in EVERY scenario and it is SO negative and often achieves nothing. Too much posing, trying to play it cool and not enough guts.
Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday was a classic example of the smartest and not the strongest riding winning - Stybar timed it perfectly after Van Avermaert's counter and you can see Greg's head drop and turn and he know's he doesn't have the legs to chase him down.
I love Strade Bianchi having ridden L'eroica a few times - it's a pity the TV coverage is so short - the climb up Mte Sante Marie from Asciano is brutal, on L'eroica most riders are pushing. I'm also in favour of a bit of rain in advance, softens up the roads nicely.
I think references to DQS being 'Team Sky' is a bit disingenuous given that LeFevre has been doing this since the 90's with Mapei / Domo / and previous incarnations of his team.
van Avermarts
Good weekend of racing, KBK saw GvanA overdoing it a bit, but he was always going to get leant on and I don’t think anyone was going to tow him to the final sprint. See fdj have had a rider popped on the back of the ski worlds doping raid.
Owain Doull did very well in the last few km of KBK to break from the bunch to try and chase down Jungels and take 2nd. What I find very frustrating is that the others that followed him just sat on his wheel and wouldn’t help. What is the point of breaking off the front? That tactic obviously works in some scenarios but pro cyclists seem to use it in EVERY scenario and it is SO negative and often achieves nothing. Too much posing, trying to play it cool and not enough gut
Sums it up on many times, someone kicks off and they all say "nah, you go, no you go... i'm not going " and next thing they're too far back and have blown it...
Fortune favours the brave.... I wonder how their mindset works with these... Lets take for example Jungles... Would he have said "Right, it's time to go, its either win or 10th" ? Would they rather have that than a safe 3rd >?
I just presume everyone wants to win, but maybe people are happy with a top 5/ top 10 in a Classics race.
I'd love to ask a few of them out of curiosity
I think references to DQS being ‘Team Sky’ is a bit disingenuous given that LeFevre has been doing this since the 90’s with Mapei / Domo / and previous incarnations of his team.
Yeah fair enough, I'm just being lazy/a newbie, since I've started watching pro-road cycling seriously it's only been Sky who I've seen seriously dominating the front of peletons like that.
Sums it up on many times, someone kicks off and they all say “nah, you go, no you go… i’m not going ” and next thing they’re too far back and have blown it…
Therein lies the excitement though, it seems there is a fine line in the road dictated by events on the day, up to which the riders need to work together perfectly, before all reverting to riding for themselves. Guess the chasers on Sunday just got that line wrong or just didn't have the legs and realised it was a competition for 2nd. I was loving watching the body language and seeing them all looking at one another/flicking elbows as the realisation must have been sinking in.
Brilliant couple of races both won by beautifully timed moves. Stybar after van Avermaert had just chased down the previous break and Jungels initiating the break then just riding away with 15k to go.
I'm a relative newcomer to watching the classics. Up until recently only watching the tours, but I love seeing the one day events evolve. I find it staggering that they choose to race two of these things back to back in one weekend!
Don't under-estimate the fact the riders are knackered by the end of any classic. They might bluff but probably have noting left in the tank. It's often 'I can't chase' rather than 'won't' but they don't want to give that message to others in the group. The strongest normally wins out I think.
I don't think Sky will ever do much in the Spring Classics unless they change their training and reliance on riding to power etc. Riders need to think on their feet/wheels and haven't got time to wait for the DS to tell them where to be. The Flemish bergs are generally just a flat out, short burst with some recovery in between and that's not how Sky train. See Matt Hayman's PR workout on Zwift for eg.
QS the team to beat again. I was a bit disappointed with Jumbo Visma. Their sprinter was primed but they couldn't close the gap to the break (in KBK). Woet Van Aert will be an interesting wild card this year though.
I should add that Owain Doull's second yeserday was a cracking result..
Bumping this as the weekend brings Strade Bianche and it looks to be dry and dusty.
Lets count how many riders jump on discs.. and if WvE is riding, seenif he can win it. Last year he was simply awesome.
YOu missed the mid-week race 🙂 more QS carnage !
Why would riders jump on discs for a dry and dusty Strade Bianche? Have been keeping a curious eye on who is using them and who isn't, appears to be 50/50 from what I've seen?
WvA? Was it Strade Bianche last year when he was in third then cramped up on final brutal climb?
Tiesj Benoot back from knee injury, loved his ride last year.
Little recap of the 2018 finish
https://www.cxmagazine.com/wout-van-aert-2018-strade-bianche-road-world-tour-cramps-video-finish
YOu missed the mid-week race
I saw it! Just forgot to post, hoping I've not taken on some RealMan-esque responsibility to be the first to update after every race 😉