Ah, all stopped for a slash
Imagine that - Bouhani having a tantrum 🙄
that was fun !
Marvelous! I love it when someone says "ok, what you all got" and hangs on instead of relying on others etc.
Superb, I thought he'd popped, dug deep and took it. Well deserved.
That was a good finish. Uncertain outcome right to the last.
Mods, can this thread be moved to the bike forum? Makes zero sense to be in chat.
Loved that! It’s funny how all I did was sit on my couch, but I still get to benefit from the excitement. 😎
The perfect way to spend this afternoon, watching that from the sofa making "That injection yesterday has wiped me out" noises at the wife......
Very impressed with Caleb Ewans ability to hang in on both climbs, but WvA seems to be able to sprint as fast as specialists. Possibly left it a bit late.
I expect WvA was a bit wary about leading out the big Dutchman again. You see that at times where the Certs mark eachother out of the race
Good effort by Sagan!
Combined with snacks and beer that was a pleasant way to while away 8 hours.
Great finish. I really thought Caleb Ewan would have it at the bottom of the Poggio. He looked so gutted not to win. Absolutely great way to win for Stuyven though, just roll the dice and hold on for dear life.
Glad Ewan didn’t win - didn’t stick his nose out the front of the race once, just sucking other rider’s wheels for 7 hours. Stuyven great opportunist attack and for hanging on for the finish.
MVdP didn’t look sharp enough at the front - leaving too big a gap, so maybe T-A took more out than he’s admitted or he’s going to struggle to retain form for another 3 weeks for RVV and P-Rx?
Thought Pidcock did really well today - he's been at the pointy end of most of his races this season. Can't be long before he gets a big win.
Glad Ewan didn’t win – didn’t stick his nose out the front of the race once, just sucking other rider’s wheels for 7 hours.
You're kidding right? He lost any support from his team, got to the front of the lead group before the Poggio and stayed there when the likes of Ganna strung the group out when every other spinter including Demare couldn't hold on, then navigated a really technical descent, positioned him self well and beat everyone but the winner in the sprint - including last year's winner and the world champion. Yeah. Poor form.😂
I watched the last two hours (my first time) and loved it. So beautiful along the coast.
Glad Ewan didn’t win – didn’t stick his nose out the front of the race once, just sucking other rider’s wheels for 7 hours.
What you have described there is bicycle racing.
Can anyone explain what INEOS were up to? No sprinters so surely a Kwaikoski Pidcock one two was needed. Instead they had Hanna dissuade any attacks. Made no sense to me, may they thought it was a stage race?
Looked to me that they had someone in mind to launch an attack near the top of the poggio. Too much strength in the pack nullified that chance. Possibly Pidcock as he seemed to have a go on the descent. I heard or read that he didn't actually know the descent too well so it seems a bit of an odd one.
Can anyone explain what INEOS were up to? No sprinters so surely a Kwaikoski Pidcock one two was needed. Instead they had Hanna dissuade any attacks. Made no sense to me, may they thought it was a stage race?
I wondered that too. Only conclusion I came to was that it was simply habit.
Or treated as practice for other races, plenty still to come. I think Pidcock might get a win yet.
it was a bit A watching B watching C watching D...... K sneaked away for the win. but yeah Odious on the front was a tad odd when there didn't seem an option other than jumping off the front at the bottom of the poggio. I guess when everyone looked round and saw Caleb still in the mix they thought **** that for a game of soldiers.
Don’t think Ineos had any other option but to ride hard up the Poggio otherwise their riders (Pidcock and Kwiatkoski) wouldn’t have had any opportunity to jump. Bit of a catch 22 for Ineos and JV.
And Caleb Ewan wheel sucking 😂. That was one hell of a ride by Ewan.
Kudos to Stuyven finding that second wind, thought he'd popped.
Dunno if it was a lack of organisation behind or just utter carnage with everyone being shredded from the previous 300km and the pace Ineos were setting up the Poggio.
Hopefully they will explain what that was all about.
Also Kudos to Ewan for keeping pace on that climb and being so close at the finish.
Edit: Ganna had the sniffles apparently: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ganna-hits-back-at-criticism-over-ineos-milan-san-remo-tactics/
I did wonder why he wouldn't fancy a go at TT-ing to victory. Perhaps that had been Plan A.
Hopefully they will explain what that was all about.
I'd assume it went something like
"Tom/Kwia, how you feeling, you got a break in you if we get you up to the top near the front"
"yeah lads, i'm in...."
5 mins later
"oh crap, the legs say no"
Wouldn't surprise me if a few more races go this way. All the big names watching each other & someone else takes a punt & making it stick.
Hmm seems to be off/probably off/maybe off. Though I'm betting off.
As you say - cock.
Thought this was a cyclocross race link but is sad, that is one of the real joys of the classics.
WvA v MvdP ding ding round eight.... saxo bank e3.
Beer at the ready.
Some good riders today. I'm hoping for a proper ding-dong battle at the end
proper race on! WvA vs MvdP vs DQS
Where you watching fellas ? Doesn't seem to be on Eurosport as i'm sitting watching some Spain.
Edit : Found it, 6:30pm on Eurosport....
What a brilliant race this (E3) is so far. Exactly why I love the Classics.
love these hardman races 😀
Where you watching fellas ?
It's live on GCN
absolute master class from DQS!
Yep. dqs can really play with the numbers. Super racing
perhaps MvdP should have eased up once they caught Asgreen the first time and let WvA get back on.
seems trek have withdrawn from Gent-Wevelgem, and it's going to be windy. Difficult to see past another DQS win... don't think WVA has the team to compete.
Bora Hansgrohe not racing either, half their squad have been quarantined by a doctor. Rules them out of Dwars Door Vlaanderen too
I've seen a few previews suggesting many teams being happy to settle for a bunch sprint at the end. However given the outcome of that will almost certainly be a win for Sam Bennet and DQS I think attacks are going to have to come from further out. Could be an interesting afternoon.
echelons!!!!!
sam bennett is isolaated!
