The moment the race was won

11 thoughts on “The moment the race was won”

1. No disputing the best rider I think.

   Great race and good to get the live TV.

2. Only 52 riders made it to the finish?

3. from Cyclingnews:“I hadn’t raced since Oman and today felt there was something missing: the race rhythm. I don’t know where my form is at the moment. It’s not 100 percent. I’m on the way to improving. That’s important. It’s important to stay relaxed.”

   Can’t wait to see his form a month from now. Wish I could be that relaxed!!

4. Gilbert: Deliberately relaxed or been eating too many ‘frites’ during winter?

5. Bundle – based on what we saw on our visit in 2010, guys who are out of contention may ride directly into Siena rather than swing off the pavement out onto yet another section of dirt, so they’re not counted as official finishers.

6. As you say, the moment the race was won. My reading was that Van Avermaert was trying to set it up for Ballan. The plan was (presumably) that the other favorites would chase, Ballan would sit in and then counter. As it was, Ballan couldn’t hold Cancelleras wheel and Van A couldn’t stay with Cancellera either. On the run in, the chase was doing OK, it was just a shame Ballan missed a corner with 5k(ish) to go when the gap was still only 20secs – that cost the chasers another 20 or secs, and effectively meant game over.

7. The man to beat come early April.

   Innrng – have you also noticed that Canc is looking a fair bit skinnier than he has in recent years – as thin as he was for the worlds in Mendirsio – reflective of the tougher course in Flanders?

   Or is this all in my head – a kind of Stockholm syndrome for a Boonen fan?

8. I’d be interested to know if Cancellara has ever been caught while leading (solo) in the last 15kms of any race.

9. A couple of questions:

   A) If Ballan actually took the left correctly, would they have caught? Did the chase group let up until Ballan caught back on? It would seem to me that at that point, the chase Group just keeps digging away and Van Avermaert rides for himself the remainder of the race.

   B) Was the chase group poorly organized, or was that me? It never seemed that they were drilling it to catch Cancellara. I would have expected at that point, 1 minute pulls, as with 5 riders, 1 minute on, 4 minutes drafting is enough that they could have in my estimation picked up the pace. It seems as if no one was willing to go all out to catch him. Or was my read of this wrong?

   C) At the end of the day, I am not sure there was a whole lot BMC could have done strategically (maybe send Van Avermaert earlier than they did?). Essentially, it just seemed to come down to horsepower, and if you cannot catch and stay on FC’s wheel, then the race is over. If you recall, FC’s move on P-R last year was negated only because Hushvod was able to stay on his wheel, hanging on for dear life. There are only a few riders capable of that, and clearly Ballan’s best years are behind him, and Van Avermeart spent himself on the attack.

10. Funny how some reactions across the web (not here) remind me of those after E3 Prijs last year. We’ll see where everyone is come Flanders and Roubaix.
    I share the impression of a leaner Cancellara. I think he’ll be trying at Amstel again, so that may be a cause. Also, I’m noticing how calm and relaxed he is too. Maybe missing out on his big goals last year makes things easier for him.

11. What i’ve seen was a Van Avermeart in great form being wasted, in this race and in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. BMC better start supporting him, Gilbert and Hushov are obviosly out of form now and Cadel Evans no one knows…

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