“Unfortunately the Volta has Carlton Kirby and Brian Smith commentating and I can’t stand Smith!”
Do they not have the ambient sound option on the multi-language feed anymore? I used that a lot last season.
I can't put my finger on why I'm so pessimistic about WvA's chances, but I can't see him taking RvV or Roubaix sadly.
Pogacar and MvdP have been looking spectacular so far and both seem better suited to the sort of mad impulsive (or just impressive) attacks that decide these races now. I guess WvA *might* have gapped MvdP last year if it weren't for the puncture, but it would also have been entirely typical of MvdP to have bridged it.
Also Phillipsen looks to have found his best form right now and of course he outsprinted WvA for second at Roubaix last year (albeit I think WvA had spent himself chasing MvdP so probably not a 'fair' sprint).
That being said, I would be interested to see if WvA's block at altitude has any effect (is laps of Mt Teide really 'altitude' training?)
Bit of a scrappy sprint in the Women's race, Elisa Balsamo getting back-to-back wins following her victory in Trofeo Alfredo Binda last weekend.
Busy weekend ahead. E3 Saxo Classic tomorrow which Rouleur are touting as the first big showdown of the Classics season between MvdP and WvA (the winner last year). Pogacar was 3rd last year but he's prancing up mountains in Spain at the moment.
And then Gent-Wevelghem on Sunday!
I see Cavendish has assembled both Bol and Morkov for the G-W, i wonder if he thinks he's got a chance of keeping it mostly together ? Must admit his choice of early season racing has confused my slightly as he's ridden mostly hilly races and in the sprints he's been in, he's been fairly off the pace (apart from one where he went too early)
Slightly disappointed that the E3 is only on TV from 1pm today, thought i'd check Discovery+ to see if it was on for longer there, but seems it's the same time as well...
I'm just hoping that the WvA and MvdP fun hasn't already kicked off by then.
nothing has kicked off yet, looking pretty miserable out there 🙂
Yeah i'm glad we made it there for the E3/G-W on the year we went, we got decent/great weather, t-shirt and shorts for the full weekend. Looks far less friendly for this one. I'm not sure i'd have made the 145km ride if it was like this that's for sure.
nothing has kicked off yet, looking pretty miserable out there 🙂
Blown to bits now! Moves going left right and centre!
Just as you say that, another goes!
kicking lumps out of each other with 60k still to go! must be the ghost of Pog playing on their minds 😉
BOOM again.. again, again.. lol... It's awesome... this is why i love watching the Belgian races.
Here we go, the MvdP / WvA smashfest!
I've ridden that cobbled sector. Not at that speed though. 😳
WvA looks happy to take it to a bunch sprint 😕
WvA goes down!
Back on and riding but it'll be brutal to get back to the front.
I wondered looking at that if he blame Kung for putting him off or was just circumstances.
The next 2-3km will decide this
That's it, all over IMO.
They're not getting that back
I dunno, WvA has pulled back 10-15 seconds already. The 3rd group on the road is messing around, if WvA puts his head down and drills it, he can get it back. The two of them will then spend the final 30km knocking spots off each other.
Yeah it's an intriguing one. About 15s after I wrote it Jorgensen pulled WvA and he went after the leader. Most interesting
has WvA "blown" ?
Not sure, for some weird reason I'm watching on Eurosport so getting adverts. I'll switch to discovery in a minute
Going back out again isn't it? WvA looking slightly more laboured now - he looked like he was on a mission 5-10 minutes ago, less so now.
Yup that as they say, appears to be it.
That gap has suddenly just ballooned, it's like WvA has blown or just given up. He's only 30" in front of G3 now.
I bloody love MVdP!!!
Cracking race that. More of the same please but with added Pog and Pidders.
Pog isn't riding any of the cobbled classics (not keen on riders not defending their "titles") 🙁 his next monument is LBL,
You heard it here first: WvA is simply setting up a badass redemption arc so we can celebrate his unlikely big win sometime in the future. It'll be epic.
Blimey huge crowds @ Volta Catalunya 😕 another day and another Pog masterclass
Nice to see Bernal going well
Great relate for Bernal and he was very modest about his progress, so let's hope for more to come.
MvdP vs rest.
I think MVdP might be on lead out duty today unless he gets into someone else's break
Pog sprints to another stage win 😕
and crosswind carnage @ Gent-Wevelgem
Battle of the MPs.
M(vd)P vs MP (Mads Pedersen).
Who we picking then?
I'm going VdP
Asgreen keeping them honest!
the milan "stalking horse" play won it
Super close sprint finish in the Women's race!
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Onto Dwars Door Vlaanderen on Wednesday then Tour of Flanders on Sunday. 🙂
Really pleased for Mads Pedersen. He's been in the shadow of the vans and Pog the last couple of years but he's been knocking even louder on the door this year. I doubt it's the last we see of him at the pointy end of the classics this year.
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/dwars-door-vlaanderen
Tomorrow's race, the Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Afternoon viewing sorted. 🙂
Watching the Men's race at the moment - it's actually quite fascinating to see the tactics. One or two teams are taking it up at the front and absolutely smashing it into the foot of the climbs then just taking it steady up the climb which acts like brake-checking the bunch. Over the top, smash it again leaving the bunch to try and accelerate right on the steepest part of the climb.
I know it's basically just a warm-up race for Flanders on Sunday but this is being properly raced, they're averaging mid 40's kph.
Crosswinds brewing as well, here come the echelons!
What impresses me is that you see Lidl Trek and the front 2 of them breathing out of their backsides, then Visma throw a few at front and they're killing themselves... but still 70km... how do they go so hard so long !!!
