Liege-Bastogne-Liege Notes
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 3:32 PM EDT
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Quick roundup of news for the fourth Monument:
* Over at Sporza Phillippe Gilbert's manager Marc Sergeant is busily explaining his star's strategy for Sunday: don't try to drive off from the field, wait for the separation at La Redoute and see what happens. Of course, he's not a fool, he wouldn't openly tip their hand, so don't buy into this too terribly much. But Sergeant seems to be hinting at the possibility of a sprint, where Gilbert would be among the favorites. Incidentally, how much does sprinting matter? Of the last eight editions, three were won solo (Vino, Hamilton and Andy Schleck last year) while the other five were won by Valverde (x2), Bettini, Rebellin and DiLuca -- all guys who can finish off a charge to the line.
* By the way, Sergeant said the parcours looked like an easier edition of La Doyenne. Opinions?? Steven Farrand at CN runs through the course. Steephill says it's the same as last year. The Cotes:
- Km 69.0 - Côte de la Roche-en-Ardenne - 2.8 km de montée à 4.9 %
- Km 116.0 - Côte de Saint Roch - 0.8 km de montée à 12 %
- Km 159.0 - Côte de Wanne - 2.7 km de montée à 7 %
- Km 166.0 - Côte de Stockeu (Stèle Eddy Merckx) - 1.1 km de montée à 10.5 %
- Km 186.0 - Col du Rosier - 6.4 km de montée à 4 %
- Km 198.0 - Col du Maquisard - 2.8 km de montée à 4.5 %
- Km 209.0 - Mont-Theux - 2.7 km de montée à 5.2 %
- Km 223.0 - Côte de la Redoute - 2.1 km de montée à 8.4 %
- Km 238.0 - Côte de la Roche aux Faucons - 1.5 km de montée à 9.9 %
- Km 252.0 - Côte de Saint-Nicolas - 1.0 km de montée à 11.1 %
* Weather for Sunday in the Ardennes: 68 and sunny. You can almost feel the disgust emanating from wherever Bernard Hinault is right now. IMHO that helps Valverde. If nothing else, Gilbert has more experience in the slop.
* I know nothing of sports books, so I'll check in on BWIN for the latest (they advertise on everyone's shirt, so what the hey). Favorites: 1. Gilbert; 2. Valverde; 3. J-Rod; 4. (tie) Andy Schleck/Evans/Contador
* Twit of the day goes to Bradley Wiggins: "After a few days in the city and its environs, as I watched my friend was almost attacked, I can officially say Liege is a dump!" And by twit, I intend multiple meanings.
* Sporza is rife with various rider prerace nonsense, so I'll skip it and only add this: Frank Schleck has professed his desire to go for the Tour of Flanders eventually. Well played Frankie!
* Over at de Telegraaf, Karsten Kroon says his injuries are superficial and he'll be back for the Tour of California. Cool!
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"as i watched"
maybe you should have helped out. and what’s “almost attacked”? walking by a mafioso? getting into a drunken shouting match?
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
hehe
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 23, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Parcours
Out:
- Km 57.5 – Côte de Ny – 1.8 km de montée à 5.7 %
- Km 184.0 – Côte de la Haute-Levée – 3.4 km de montée à 6 %
- Km 209.0 – Côte de la Vecquée – 3.1 km de montée à 5.9 %
In
- Km 198.0 – Col du Maquisard – 2.8 km de montée à 4.5 %
- Km 209.0 – Mont-Theux – 2.7 km de montée à 5.2 %
Quick addition
Out:
- Km 196.5 – Côte du Rosier – 4.0 km de montée à 5.9 %
In:
- Km 186.0 – Col du Rosier – 6.4 km de montée à 4 %
Evans also apparently tweeted something about Ph. Gilbert designing the finish of the course ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
now can’t find it on his twitter page, saw it quoted here, weird
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 23, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Hm
IIRC it’s a slight uphill power sprint, after a corner?
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
He did sign Gilbert
some credit where due
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
There might be more than one blind pig ;)
(Or is it a blind hen in this case, as in Sweden)
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 23, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure but
will Cadel win more big races than Gilbert? I think so and of course he would have won more over the last years if Silence gave him some support.
Proud member of Thuggetz nation.
Interesting....to the records!
Comparing riders like Cadel and Philippe is difficult but possible. Below I have what I think of are their major wins, plus Cadel’s two Tour podiums. The one’s in boldface would be counted by the Virtual Musette’s rankings.
Cadel Evans- born 1977
2001 and 2004-1st GC Tour of Austria
2006 1st GC Tour of Romandie
2007 UCI Pro Tour Champion
2007- 2nd in Tour,
2007 Tour 1st stage 13
2008- 1st GC Coppi and bartali
2008 2nd GC Tour
2009- 1st Worlds RR
2010- 1st La Fleche
Philippe Gilbert- born 1982
2005- 1st Trophée des Grimpeurs
2005- 1st Tour of Haut Var
2005 1st Coupe de France
2006 1st Het Volk
2006 1st GP de Wallonie
2006 1st GP de Fourmies
2008- 1st GC Mallorca
2008 1st Het Volk
2008 1st Le Samyn
2008 1st Paris-Tours
2009 1st stage 20 Giro
2009- 1st GC Ster Electrotoer
2009 1st Paris-Tours
2009 1st Giro de Piemonte
2009 1st Coppa sabatini
2009 1st Giro de Lombardia
2010 1st Amstel Gold
So.
If you tally up the Virtual Musette points, it’s Cadel 22 points to Philippe 12.5. At this point, Cadel’s career has clearly been greater than Philippe’s.
But then you have to take into consideration that Philippe is 5 years younger. Since right now Evans is 33 and Gilbert not quite 28, we are talking about the five most productive years of most professional cyclists’ careers that Philippe has yet to see. In this case for Evans if you take away his 28-33 years and all you have left on the list is his two Tour of Austria wins.
So who will be thought of as having the better career when all is said and done? Before last year, I’d have said Cadel, but even with his World Championship, I have to now say that Gilbert is most likely to have a better career, either by just a hair or possibly substantially better. Evans still has a couple of good years left and probably will add to his career. But that’s nothing compared to what Gilbert will do.
But what about if Cadel had been on a better team? Basically sour grapes. Riders’ careers are what they are and until someone can devise a method of comparing them in some optimal situation where everybody has the same great coaching and has no injuries and there are no wars to stop races and no doping then it’s kinda desperate to say that some rider could be better if only..
Gilbert just getting started.
By the end of his career I’d have to agree that Gilbert will have the greater palmares. That said, if Evans keeps winning the big ones, and manages to pull of a Giro win, he will be tough to catch; he could even make a run for Top 50.
Twitter username: FitTechEric
by The Team Chef on Apr 24, 2010 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Laatste 75km van Luik gereden. Nieuwe finale gaat een hele andere koers opleveren. Super fietsweertje in de Ardennen!
Rode the last 75km of Liège. The new final will make for a totally different race. Super cycling weather in the Ardennes!
http://twitter.com/RGUpdate/status/12700486801
I wonder if Oscar Freire wants a piece of this one...
Also Vino needs a (BIG) mention. Could do with a gradient for the finish.
Hm
dernier km. Did they add more of an incline?
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
here's
2009. Looks the same from that angle.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah I can’t figure this out either, maybe they’re using “finale” in a liberal way, i.e. last 75km as in quotation above, which does seem quite different, see William H’s post above?
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Apr 23, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Looking at the Itiniraire Horaire the race is unchanged in the 34km from La Redoute to the finish
So he must be referring to the section between Stockeu and La Redoute, which appears easier in 2010, with climbs that look easier, going by the percentages and lengths, and also have more kms between them.
Wiggins on CN says
“Some of the guys are saying it’s a lot easier before the La Redoute this year. They’ve changed quite a lot of the course and there’s a lot of downhill sections and a lot of flat for moves to come back, so this year we could get to the foot of the La Redoute with a lot more riders, which would make it harder still.”
No idea if he’s right though.
Stefano Garzelli was losing big time in the Giro del Trentino
and then DNF. Seems likely now (to me, at least) that he was saving himself for this race.
now that
would be something i’d like to see.
"I was watching the Tour de France in 2005, just being a fan again. I thought, ‘you're a fucking idiot. You're a bike fan who gets to ride the Tour de France.'"
- david millar
Meh I may just be spamming nonsense.
he did lose time and then drop out, and he is meant to be riding. The Giro’s still a wee while away. That was my thinking. They’ve also got Luca Paolini (apparently) so maybe they’ll be looking to him instead. Any other opinions?
Just checked to see if he ever placed in the Ardennes before, and he was second in LBL in 2002. The year he got popped at the Giro, right? Seems plausible that the Danish champion may appear in the final.
Same tactics for Katusha, I would guess:
maybe put someone in the early break, get Ivanov and Kolobnev to wreak havoc in the middle stages, and keep Rodriguez for the finale. If it ain’t broke…
Bam!
Oh, I do love to swing the hammer.
[Hammer 1, spammer 0]
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 8:13 PM EDT reply actions
Interesting
The last two-three weeks (like when you were gone) I was swinging the hammer like John Henry everyday around this time. No other times though.
Let's see
people are awake and enjoying their morning tea in Hong Kong. I would also note that our Australian friends seem to be up.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Any clues point to an Aussie?
Is it a lot of spam about beer or sport?…. Probably not us then.
"To therefore answer your basic question what color socks should I wear, I issue the bold statement wear white shoes." - King of Style
by omnevelnihil on Apr 24, 2010 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh sure
like you’d out yourselves like that. There was a reference to meeting Russian Sheilas though.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 24, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Right, so a Finn (or possibly a Swede)
Who has hung out with Aussies enough to pick up some of the vernacular…. I think it’s pretty clear who was behind this.
"To therefore answer your basic question what color socks should I wear, I issue the bold statement wear white shoes." - King of Style
by omnevelnihil on Apr 24, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Quite a group here:
“…(Vino, Hamilton and Andy Schleck last year) while the other five were won by Valverde (x2), Bettini, Rebellin and DiLuca…”
yeah yeah
We’re working on it.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 23, 2010 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
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