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Liege - Bastogne - Liege Discussion
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-09-2014 08:25
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The Preview is written by cunego59, who also has done the report but is on holiday at the moment.
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | | 1. |  Yuri Trofimov |  Frank Schleck | Frank Schleck | | 2. |  Edvald Boasson Hagen |  Jan Bakelants |  Patrik Sinkewitz | | 3. | Jan Bakelants | Stefan Schumacher |  Luis Leon Sanchez Gil |
Welcome to Liège - Bastogne - Liège, fourth monument and closing race of the Ardennes week. Prestigeous as it is, the race attracts the strongest puncheurs of the peloton, and a battle royale between the very best is guaranteed.
The route is the same as last year, when  Yuri Trofimov broke  Frank Schleck's streak of three consecutive victories in a sprint from a rather large group. Will we see a similar finale this year or can a lone rider surprise the rest with a long-range attack? These are the guys that will try everything to cross the line first:
Top favorite, like in every race he enters, is world champion  Edvald Boasson Hagen. However, in 2014, the Norwegian is yet to confirm that big win, falling just short with podium places in both Tirreno - Adriatico (2nd) and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco (3rd).
Yuri Trofimov not only one of Hagen's main challengers and the defending champion, but also arguably the most successful rider so far this year. With overall wins in Catalunya and the Basque Country as well as the Amstel Gold Race, his season could've hardly gone better.
 Jan Bakelants is the next in the line of world class puncheurs. He was so close to a win here in the past two years, he knows the race, it could be his turn. On a similar level, we can expect  Stefan Schumacher, who leads an otherwise completely Swiss squad of Swisscom - UBS.
A few teams come with more than one world class leader. Vesuvio has probably the strongest double lead. Frank Schleck, triple champion of this race, is supported by compatriot Ben Gastauer. Flèche Wallonne winner
 Francesco Ginnani comes with one of the best luxury domestiques, Nicholas Roche. And  Volkswagen has even three contenders, as Filippo Pozzato, Alex Flügel and Dominik Klemme are all capable puncheurs.
 Good Energy's Simone Ponzi has had a great Ardennes campaign so far with a third place at the Amstel Gold Race and a close second to Ginnani in the Flèche. He surely has high hopes for this. Another interesting contender is
 Dmitri Claeys, who is Lotto's leader in the absence of Damiano Cunego.
We also have the entire podium of Milano - San Remo starting:  Riccardo Ricco,  Tejay Van Garderen and  Phillipe Gilbert are all ambitious, and rightfully so.
The wild card teams in this race are  Bacardi with Italian champion Diego Ulissi, and  Kenya Airways for Hassem Ben Nasser. Especially Ulissi has to be considered for at least a Top 10.
Further contenders are  Robin van der Hugenhaben, the man with the most beautiful name in the peloton,  Luis Leon Sanchez and Anthony Roux for Rothaus,  Vueling's Valverde, Schreurs and Sinkewitz,  Peter Sagan,
 Jelle Vanendert, who leads Project 1t4i instead of Robert Gesink,  Rui Costa and  Rasmus Guldhammer.
 Simply Red Bull,  Santander and  ING are pretty much without any hopes of a decent result.
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-09-2014 08:27
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After 15th and 11th in the Ardennes I hope for the first top10 here.
And please join the break. |
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 13-09-2014 12:11
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After securing the Catalunya and Pais Vasco sponsor goals (Trofimov won both), this is the last goal I expect Trofimov to deliver: Top-3.
After that he can set his own targets for the rest of the season, maybe a Maglia Rossa, Azzurra or Rosa!
Tinkoff Credit Systems Bank Goals
| Importance | Nat. | Goals | UCI |  |  | Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Top-3 | PT | |  | Liege- Bastogne - Liege, Top-3 | PT | | | Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Win | PT | |  | Tour de France, Top-10 (Kritskiy) | PT | |  | Team Standings, avoiding relegation (Team) | PT |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 08-12-2025 05:49
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 13-09-2014 16:21
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Beautiful preview.
Hoping for a beautiful race as well to finish the Ardennes season. Costa for a shocker here!
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| SotD |
Posted on 13-09-2014 16:58
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Another one of those races where I can't really expect much, but still really hope that Ricco can do a top 10 in, and obviously the closer to the top 5 the better, but anything between 5 and 10 is good.
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 13-09-2014 17:31
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Schumacher for top 15!
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| ember |
Posted on 13-09-2014 18:07
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Admittedly, Boasson Hagen's performances in the classics have been far from expected. But if he's going to shine in just one classic this season, please let La Doyenne be it.
But seeing Trofimov so far this season, he's the rider to beat, especially considering last year's race as well. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-09-2014 19:33
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Oh great, another race where my team will only be seen in the breakaway 
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 13-09-2014 21:32
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Btw don't know if everybody noticed but you can find your PT Avatars/Sign here -> https://pcmdaily.c...d_id=36175
Want custom stuff just pm me or ask in graphic topic
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 13-09-2014 22:30
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World Champion
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OlegTinkov wrote:
Btw don't know if everybody noticed but you can find your PT Avatars/Sign here -> https://pcmdaily.c...d_id=36175
Want custom stuff just pm me or ask in graphic topic
I guess people didn't notice it because you put them in the Graphics section and not the MG one. At least that's the reason I just saw them for the first time.
Nice work though 
Edited by alexkr00 on 13-09-2014 22:31
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| Crommy |
Posted on 13-09-2014 22:56
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Bakelants needs to do better here
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 14-09-2014 12:21
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Even the report seems nicer when I get to see so much of my team's jersey 
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| SotD |
Posted on 14-09-2014 12:22
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Ricco wasted a lot of energy today in making attacks, and tries to bridge alone and such, so 9th is OK... If he was staying within himself once in a while he should have been able to outsprint atleast two of the riders infront of him, but I can live with him failing a spot or two when he still doesn't blow out completely.
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| Crommy |
Posted on 14-09-2014 12:26
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Incoming message from Bouygues Telecom DS Crommy.
Message reads:
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Message Ends.
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-09-2014 12:28
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Disappointing individual result today.
But therefore LLS and Roux both were in that group as 17th and 22nd.
Also Boom 40th and Thurau! 48th with some more points and great to see him in the break of the day. Something that I am hoping to see a lot in his next races, in especially GT`s. Breakaway stage hunting for him this year.
Brilliant report cunego and congrats to Crommy!
Edited by roturn on 14-09-2014 12:28
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| Bushwackers |
Posted on 14-09-2014 16:00
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Well disappointing but I'm used to it. Great race between the leaders though.
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 14-09-2014 16:14
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That was anonymous at best. Hopefully we can make bigger impressions in our other wildcard races because that was pretty pointless.
Congrats to Bouygues and Crommy. Bakelants paying back some of his huge pricetag.
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 14-09-2014 16:15
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| ember |
Posted on 14-09-2014 18:20
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Boasson Hagen looked really strong, just like in Flèche, but once again he stands no chance opening the sprint with others on his wheel.
Definitely a great race, but I can't say it has been a great Ardennes week, coming away from it with only one podium from Boasson Hagen. Must admit I hoped for more, but that gives us something to target next season (if we stay up that is )!
Big congratulations to Crommy, finally Bakelants strikes in such a classic.
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| OlegTinkov |
Posted on 15-09-2014 15:09
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Wow, Trofimov; Amstel-Fleche-Liege: 1-3-2!
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| Heine |
Posted on 15-09-2014 20:14
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7th from Flügel, really happy about that  Fly, Flügel, fly!
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