Intresting tactics by sky there. Throwing one of their men down in front of the bunch.
To be fair they were practising quite a lot at Paris Nice
That descent looked lethal, a horrible "not-quite-dry" greasy dampness. Still surprised at 4th man in line going down, was that Andy Fenn? Interesting result anyway, let's see if Sky can do a 3-up TTT to the finish...
Drying up nicely now.
Go G!
Doubt it'll stay away but G has been amazing so far in this race.
Go indeed!
He's got to drop like Kelly now!
Oh this is a good one, can G hold it on the descent? Should be easier for a lone rider. Peloton being blown to shreds now. Cav is a great descender too, let's see what he can do. Nail biting!
I'm amazed that G has anything left at all!
Sagan's still in that lead group.
ooh nasty
Is G looking for Swift?
Kristoff there too. Hard to see past him.
Wow! Kristoff went too soon. Paulini and G both seriously impressive.
wow didn't have that one called at all.
pretty close on the winners time though
Erm... well that didn't go to my Plan at all did it 😆
Hats off to Thomas for sticking it to them all and I'm still scratching my head as to why Van Avemart back peddled with 2 to go..
😕
Poalinin was excellent. But Kristof was too near the front too early. A bit much to ask of Poalini at the end of all that. Good race and I'm happy enough it was Degenkolb.
Great racing that. I was one second off the winner's time for the Rapha comp. No email...yet 😕
What a team mate to have, G was outstanding
I enjoyed the Strade Bianche the other week - is that not counted as a spring classic? Just asking as I dont know what counts.
Strada Bianche is a relatively new race, all be it a bloody good one. The true classics are also referred to as the 5 monuments, four of which occur in the spring. The other one day races fight for getting described as semi classics, (of which there is no consensus).
There has been attempts by the UCI to group them into a season long series, but this concept has failed a few times.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_cycle_races
Calling your race a classic in the title does not count as it being one.
gutted that nothing stuck today and that it came down to the sprinters at the end - seemed like all the drama that had gone before was pretty pointless... but glad Kristoff got pipped by Degenkolb.
Sky look formidable, even on shonky tyres - shame that they got nothing out of it and I think Swift's excuse of having no room at the end was a bit lame.
Quickstep lost another semi classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen, yesterday to the Pro Conti team Topsport Vlaanderen.
E3 on Friday, good race, despite the somewhat dodgy poster department
Looking forward to E3, its on Eurosport too.. Although Gent-Wevelgem isn't ...
Yes read about that. Can't really complain about the Cannondale rider's tactics if you're in the strongest team, under the most pressure to win, and in the rainbow stripes! Nice to see Kwiatkowski get stuck in though.
Kwiatkowski's showing a lot of respect for those stripes, really good to see.
Wonder if he'll end up at Sky next year as the rumor mill suggests?
And no Sir Brad at E3, interesting.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-out-of-e3-harelbeke-but-may-race-gent-wevelgem
Interesting indeed. I'd love to be wrong on this but I really can't see how Wiggins could win Paris Roubaix.
it's either a massively tactical ploy to make the other teams think that he's got no form and isn't a threat so he isn't a marked man, or he actually isn't a threat...
Currently he'd be, at best, the third protected rider behind Stannard and Thomas, so he needs to prove himself to get even that status.
The tin hat brigade must be doing their nut now!
Yes, I'd put him behind Stannard and Thomas, and even they are an outside bet.
Can't see him winning if a small group makes it to the velodrome, just hasn't got the sprint. Can't really see him going long either, he's got a great TT but I don't think he's got the raw power to crack a small bunch and get away like Cancellara could. Can't see him having the kick to do a Terpstra either. I reckon he lacks the tactical classics know how too.
And that's if its dry.....
And they're off at E3 Harelbeke ([url= http://live.cyclingnews.com ]live coverage here[/url]).
Busy afternoon planned then blobby? 😀
Unfortunately yes! Good job it's not live on the telly.
Some of the favourites down in a crash, sounds like it could be a bad one.
Arhh Cancellara's out with a sore wrist after the crash.
It can't all be falling into Brads lap can it?.....
Two fractured vertebrae for Cancellara, end of his spring campaign 🙁
Getting juicy at the E3 today.
Some possible British/ Welsh interest.
My money would be on Sagan, rather than GT, but you never know
Wow, I was wrong!
Indeed......
Great result that 🙂
Shame about Cancellara though, Flanders and Roubaix won't be the same without him.
My money would be on Sagan, rather than GT, but you never know
Sagan was in the 3 man break, but then didn't even make the top 10. Did he just sit up, or take a side road near the finish to avoid the welcome committee ?
Wow, that was bloody great. So so glad I skipped the Internet and watched the reply race on Eurosport.
No wonder they pulled Brad if Thomas is on this form, also great to see Stannard in trouble but pull it back again.
No wonder they pulled Brad if Thomas is on this form, also great to see Stannard in trouble but pull it back again.
G and Ian together are probably the best Classics double act going at the moment although if Etixx - QS were up to scratch and hadn't lost Boonen so early in the season it'd be a harder call.
Wiggins is just filling the role of media luvvie now; everything he does is reported with breathless "wow" by the media who seem to expect him to win just by having his name on the start sheet.
Pulled out of Paris Nice, DNS (or "replaced" for E3H)... Can't help but think that Sky are just digging themselves a massive hole banging on about Brad winning PR cos I'll bet good money that he won't. If he does then I'll be the first to post up here apologising for doubting him but I can't see it happening...
G is a far tougher and classier rider, he really deserved that win after a bit of so-near-but-so-far at MSR.
