Properly fragmenting now!
Sometimes these smaller races are more enthralling than the big ones with a favourite like Pogacar or MvdP who just smashes clear. This is a just a massive free-for-all scrap!
****, that's a massive crash. 🙁
WvA down. Biniam Girmay too. Jasper Stuyven.
Oh that's horrific. 🙁
That'll be WvA out this weekend then.
brutal! doesn't look good for WvA's season 🙁
This is going to be a nailbiting finish! Lots of options but a chasing group at 90 seconds keeping it tight. Two Visma riders, could they do they old 1-2...?
Wonder what happened with Alberto Bettiol, he was going well and then just seized up, didn't look like a mechanical.
Ouch! That's bad.
That's unlucky for WvA.
That's a shitter for wva and a shame for the racing
Tarling worth an ew bet for Roubaix? 33/1
33/1 sounds more like top 20 odds, but why not? 20yo making the podium of PR would be incredible, even for someone as strong as Tarling. 260k plus cobbled chaos and insane fights for position at key sectors, huge challenge for a young rider coming from a TT formation.
WvA did Roubaix his first two serious road seasons and was 13th and 22nd - and he's been smashing the cobbles since he was off the teat.
I think too many kickers for Tarling in reality and he was slightly flattered by the fact the super climbers were either not riding (as they'd crashed) or not there.... I think he'll find the PR a fair bit trickier to match the leaders.
My pal is very proud to have beaten Tarling in a TT. Mind you it was a 100 mile TT, the difference was just a couple of minutes and Tarling was only 12 ! #beast
Wonder what happened with Alberto Bettiol, he was going well and then just seized up, didn’t look like a mechanical.
Cramp.
Stuyven and WvA were one after the other in the Herentals hospital getting their collarbones fixed. Stuyven joking about having a coffee together afterwards in the ward, although I felt he was also sort of pinning the blame for the crash on Wva?
"****, I saw it happening in front of me, but I couldn't move. Wout tapped the rear wheel of a teammate, was thrown off balance and collided with my teammate Alex Kirsch. The two fell and since I was just behind Kirsch, there was no way to dodge. I went over my bike with my head and took a serious tumble ending up on my left shoulder.
"Am I angry? It is typical that it happened in the run-up to the Kanarieberg. One of the most dangerous moments in the race. It is not without reason that they have taken that out of the Tour [of Flanders] this year, but not yet for Dwars door Vlaanderen. Maybe now they will avoid it in the future. However, you cannot blame the organisation, it is the riders who want to position themselves as best as possible in such a large group, which made it dangerous.""
Latest edition of Rouleur magazine is Classics focussed. Ironically enough it's got a big interview with WvA about Flanders and Roubaix - guess that's the problem with the schedule of printing a magazine!
Good interviews with the three winners of the Women's Paris Roubaix and lots of good pics.
Linking it now cos I'm out tomorrow morning, hopefully back in time for the bulk of the racing!
Tomorrow, and P-R next Sunday, are my two favourite races (indeed two favourite Sundays) of the year. The only two races where I will sit down and watch every minute of the coverage. Got the diary cleared for the day, a couple of Belgian beers chilling in the fridge for when they hit the bergs, and MrsKenny primed to make the frites and mayo.
Gutted to see WVA out, so it does look like MVP is the clear favourite, especially with Pog saving himself for Liege. However my outside bet would be Bettiol who is looking pretty good so far this season. What I worry might happen is that MVP goes clear with a good distance to go (possibly second time up the Kwaremont but I suspect Steenbeekdries is more likely) then the chasers do that annoying thing of "Well I'm not leading the chase", "Neither am I", "Well I'm not doing all the work" and fight for second place.
I also hope MVP doesn't win because he fails my "Is it someone I'd like to have a beer with" test. Mind you so does WVA. That said, they are both brilliant riders. Here's hoping for a classic in every sense.
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/tour-of-flanders-preview
Some great historical pics in there plus the start list for both races.
And they're off! I think I'll give it a couple of hours before putting it on and cracking open a Bruges Zot.
I'm letting it burble while I contemplate attacking a piece of belly pork with a razor blade. First beer after 136km I think as they hit the Oude Kwaaremont.
Frantic start, break gone, everyone sits up for the next 100km...
rattle rattle rattle bobble bobble rattle rattle 🙂
spectator wipeout!
mental race into a relative normal corner! tense peloton ?
Where’s the best place for a live text feed?
rains started! as is the racing! love the Visma rider No to Mads request for a turn 🙂
Where’s the best place for a live text feed?
https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-2024/elite-men/live-report/
Lizzie Diegnan crashed out of the Women's race. 🙁
💥
Koppenberg!
Gnarly day out on a bike by any measure.
We saw MvDP go on the second ascent of the Kwaremont....looked in a league of his own. Had to leave to head back for the ferry, just seen that he's got two minutes on everyone!
Wow 😮😮😮😮
Conditions in the Women's race absolutely grim, it's pouring down now. Exciting race, still really open. Group of favourites has been ebbing and flowing for the last 15-20km.
Close finish! I was rooting for Vos but it wasn't to be.
the men's race really needed the baby faced assassin once WvA was ruled out.
So was Matthews disqualified?
So was Matthews disqualified?
Relegated but not disqualified from what I can see. So no podium for him
Yes relegated to the back of the group for an irregular sprint.
Great tactics by Lidl Trek in the women's race.
When you sprint at 45 degrees across the track you can expect to be put to the back of the bunch by the comm! MVDP was in a class of his own as soon as it got uppy and slippy. Love it when the bunch comes to a halt and start running. Absolute chaos. Will watch the race in full on the turbo, then the ladies race hilights next week. Then… Hell of the North. Pray for a nice cold wet blast of weather.
