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Fleche Wallone Discussion
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 01-01-2018 13:18
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We're bang in the middle of Ardennes week. The course consists of the riders climbing the Mur de Huy twice, and then again for the summit finish on the Mur. Between the first two crossings of the Mur, the peloton will tackle the Cote de Peu d'Eau, Cote de Haut-Bois, the Cote de Groynee, the Cote de Boohisseau and the Cote de Boussale. Before the finish, the Cote d'Ereffe awaits. This should be quite a technical course for the best punchers in the world.
| Name | HIL | STA | RES | REC | ACC |  | Ponzi | 84 | 77 | 72 | 76 | 80 |  | Bakelants | 84 | 81 | 78 | 75 | 78 |  | Bobridge | 83 | 74 | 74 | 69 | 80 |  | Skujins | 83 | 80 | 77 | 73 | 76 |  | Lutsenko | 81 | 76 | 73 | 70 | 81 |  | Ginanni | 83 | 78 | 78 | 76 | 74 |  | Trofimov | 82 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 75 |  | Sagan | 82 | 78 | 74 | 70 | 76 |  | Demare | 79 | 75 | 72 | 80 | 81 |  | Gastauer | 82 | 78 | 70 | 68 | 76 |  | De Bie | 82 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 75 |  | Koretzky | 80 | 77 | 70 | 71 | 79 | | Kelderman | 82 | 80 | 75 | 73 | 72 |  | McCarthy | 81 | 80 | 75 | 70 | 74 |  | Boswell | 80 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 76 |
Sagan won the Amstel Gold Race and will be looking for more success here. He has been in red-hot form, despite slipping up somewhat in Pais Vasco. He is 100% in hilly classics for the year, however!
Ponzi and Bakelants will be top favourites with the Italian's acceleration likely to give him the edge if it comes down to a race up the Mur.
Both Bobridge and Skuijns haven't had the best of starts to the season and will be looking to make amends. The Australian in particular has been particularly struggling to hang on to his slightly weaker rivals up climbs.
Kelderman is the defending champion in this race and will be looking for a repeat. Puma SAP haven't had an outstanding start to the season by any means, but they remain on track to challenge for a top 5 finish. They'll be hoping their leader can put them well on their way towards that goal.
The clutch of riders including Ginanni, Sagan, Gastaeur, Trofimov and de Bie all possess the necessary skills to win this race. de Bie will be hoping to improve his team's hills campaign, having so far not lived up to their own expectations. Lutsenko has been punching above his weight and will hope to continue in the same vein.
Koretzky's season has been less than spectacular so far. His team and manager will be hoping he can over-perform here. Demare too, has been more miss than hit, with a lot of bad luck and bad positioning ruining his races this season.
The other riders capable of making an impact are mentioned in the table above.
| Name | HIL | STA | RES | REC | ACC | | Pichon | 79 | 74 | 76 | 72 | 76 |  | Beltran | 79 | 73 | 72 | 72 | 76 |  | Kwiatkowski | 79 | 74 | 76 | 75 | 75 |  | Bystrom | 79 | 75 | 72 | 67 | 76 | | Vakoc | 80 | 75 | 71 | 67 | 74 | | Bilbao | 79 | 77 | 71 | 71 | 75 |  | Dowsett | 80 | 74 | 69 | 67 | 71 |  | Waeytens | 79 | 72 | 70 | 68 | 73 |  | Izagirre | 79 | 73 | 72 | 69 | 63 |
Given the immensely strong startlist, the riders mentioned in the table above will do well to break into the top 10, and spectacularly well to finish any higher. Kwiatkowski and Waeytens fly the flag for the wildcard teams. They'll want to prove that they too can punch with the big boys of the sport.
Beltran, Bystrom, Dowsett and Izagirre will be looking to go as high as possible, which would mean very important points for their respective teams. Although, Aker don't look to be in trouble, the other teams will surely take anything that they manage to get from this race.
Spoiler | Last Name | First Name | Team | | De Bie | Sean | Aegon - Lavazza | | Villella | Davide | Aegon - Lavazza | | Thurau | Björn | Aegon - Lavazza | | Weiss | Martin | Aegon - Lavazza | | Bovenhuis | Jasper | Aegon - Lavazza | | Bauhaus | Phil | Aegon - Lavazza | | Lovassy | Krisztian | Aegon - Lavazza | | Orue | German Anibal | Aegon - Lavazza | | Beltran | Eduard Alexander | Aker - MOT | | Dyrnes | Kristian | Aker - MOT | | Breen | Vegard | Aker - MOT | | Hoelgaard | Daniel | Aker - MOT | | Teuns | Dylan | Aker - MOT | | Aasvold | Lorents Ola | Aker - MOT | | Bugge | Vegard Robinson | Aker - MOT | | Vangstad | Andreas | Aker - MOT | | McCarthy | Jay | Ayubowan! | | Baugnies | Jérôme | Ayubowan! | | Bellis | Jonathan | Ayubowan! | | Gallopin | Tony | Ayubowan! | | Pushpakumara | Gihan | Ayubowan! | | Kemboi | Salem | Ayubowan! | | Turgis | Anthony | Ayubowan! | | Tharuka | Ashen | Ayubowan! | | Boswell | Ian | eBuddy | | Sinkeldam | Ramon | eBuddy | | Gerts | Floris | eBuddy | | Lammertink | Maurits | eBuddy | | Lampaert | Yves | eBuddy | | Castroviejo | Jonathan | eBuddy | | Vermeltfoort | Coen | eBuddy | | Calmejane | Lilian | eBuddy | | Skujins | Toms | Evonik - ELKO | | Siskevicius | Evaldas | Evonik - ELKO | | Smirnovs | Andris | Evonik - ELKO | | Bekmanis | Indulis | Evonik - ELKO | | Potts | Marc | Evonik - ELKO | | Liepins | Emils | Evonik - ELKO | | Sergis | Kaspars | Evonik - ELKO | | Lopez | Miguel Angel | Evonik - ELKO | | Koretzky | Clement | Festina - Dexia | | Jacobs | Pieter | Festina - Dexia | | Kastrantas | Charalampas | Festina - Dexia | | Alaphilippe | Julian | Festina - Dexia | | Roy | Jérémy | Festina - Dexia | | Bayly | Cameron | Festina - Dexia | | Stocker | Manuel | Festina - Dexia | | Bouglas | Georgios | Festina - Dexia | | Ginanni | Francesco | Gazelle | | Formolo | Davide | Gazelle | | Furdi | Blaz | Gazelle | | Senyenov | Roman | Gazelle | | Tratnik | Jan | Gazelle | | Hofland | Moreno | Gazelle | | Zordan | Andrea | Gazelle | | Camilo | Everson | Gazelle | | Ponzi | Simone | Hugo Boss | | Bilbao | Pello | Hugo Boss | | Slagter | Tom Jelte | Hugo Boss | | Landa | Mikel | Hugo Boss | | Mudarra | Pablo | Hugo Boss | | Minguez Ayala | Miguel | Hugo Boss | | Silva | Rafael | Hugo Boss | | Barbero | Carlos | Hugo Boss | | Izagirre | Ion | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Maes | Nikolas | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Gougeard | Alexis | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Oelerich | Jan | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Kosic | Nejc | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Latour | Pierre | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Echarri | Francisco Javier | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Brockhoff | Jan | Iberia - Team Degenkolb | | Bobridge | Jack | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Vanspeybrouck | Pieter | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Dyball | Benjamin | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Haas | Nathan | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Phelan | Adam | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Canty | Brendan | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Van der Haar | Lars | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Feng | Chun Kai | Jayco - Cobra9 | | Waeytens | Zico | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Senni | Manuel | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Stuyven | Jasper | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Cerny | Josef | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Dall'Oste | Daniele | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Umerbekov | Nikita | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Moscon | Gianni | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Verhelst | Louis | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam | | Sagan | Peter | Moser - Sygic | | Vakoc | Petr | Moser - Sygic | | Boroš | Michael | Moser - Sygic | | Vysna | Matej | Moser - Sygic | | Kolar | Michael | Moser - Sygic | | Polnicky | Jiri | Moser - Sygic | | Hosek | Josef | Moser - Sygic | | Stybar | Zdenek | Moser - Sygic | | Prevar | Oleksandr | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Scarponi | Paolo | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Konovalovas | Ignas | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Pibernik | Luka | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Orlov | Andriy | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Nitu | Adrian | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Avetisyan | Mihran | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Andriafenomananiaina | Zouzou | Nemiroff - ABBYY | | Kwiatkowski | Michal | Netia - Vónin | | Sanchez Gil | Luis Leon | Netia - Vónin | | Rabottini | Matteo | Netia - Vónin | | Stachowiak | Adam | Netia - Vónin | | Bernas | Pawel | Netia - Vónin | | Nielsen | Jóanis Albert | Netia - Vónin | | Padun | Mark | Netia - Vónin | | Kanepejs | Deins | Netia - Vónin | | Lutsenko | Alexey | Pendleton's | | Senechal | Florian | Pendleton's | | Edmondson | Joshua | Pendleton's | | Kennaugh | Tim | Pendleton's | | Marycz | Jaroslaw | Pendleton's | | Bravo | Edison | Pendleton's | | Markus | Barry | Pendleton's | | Silva | Kleber | Pendleton's | | Borges | Bruno | Porto - Prio | | Vinhas | Rui Pedro | Porto - Prio | | Afonso | Luis | Porto - Prio | | Silva | Bruno | Porto - Prio | | Figueiredo | Frederico | Porto - Prio | | Egidio | Christian | Porto - Prio | | Marchewka | Krzysztof | Porto - Prio | | Betilson | Manuel | Porto - Prio | | Seboka | Matala | Project: Africa | | Gebrezgabihier | Amanuel | Project: Africa | | Summerhill | Danny | RBC Pro Cycling | | Duchesne | Antoine | RBC Pro Cycling | | Morizot | Florian | RBC Pro Cycling | | Laporte | Christophe | RBC Pro Cycling | | McLay | Dan | RBC Pro Cycling | | Keough | Luke | RBC Pro Cycling | | Carpenter | Robin | RBC Pro Cycling | | Matte | Charles | RBC Pro Cycling | | Bystrom | Sven Erik | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Jensen | Kristian Haugaard | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Ziesler | Johan Fredrik | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Robov | Momchil | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Ludvigsson | Fredrik | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Wetterhall | Alexander | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Stenersen | Sten | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Sweeck | Laurens | Spotify - Haglöfs | | Bakelants | Jan | Strava | | Pichon | Laurent | Strava | | Vanendert | Jelle | Strava | | Marzuki | Nur Amirul | Strava | | Fankhauser | Clemens | Strava | | Hermans | Ben | Strava | | Eyob | Mektel | Strava | | Tulik | Angelo | Strava | | Kelderman | Wilco | Team Puma - SAP | | Demare | Arnaud | Team Puma - SAP | | Felline | Fabio | Team Puma - SAP | | Mager | Christian | Team Puma - SAP | | Bol | Jetse | Team Puma - SAP | | Heider | Johannes | Team Puma - SAP | | Chevrier | Clement | Team Puma - SAP | | Stüssi | Colin | Team Puma - SAP | | Trofimov | Yuri | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Sulimov | Alexander | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Chernetskiy | Sergey | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Zakarin | Ilnur | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Gusev | Vladimir | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Samolenkov | Artem | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Foliforov | Alexander | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Shalunov | Evgeny | Tinkoff Sport Academy | | Gastauer | Ben | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Paterski | Maciej | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Kuroeda | Shiki | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Schlechter | Pit | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Carsi | Mustafa | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Fritsch | Sven | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Schleck | Frank | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Godoy | Caio | Vesuvio - Accumalux | | Dowsett | Alex | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Paulus | Daniel | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Dieteren | Jan | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Pernsteiner | Hermann | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Buchmann | Emanuel | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Wöhrer | David | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Willwohl | Willi | Wiesenhof - Andritz | | Muhlberger | Gregor | Wiesenhof - Andritz |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 12:42
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| viking90 |
Posted on 01-01-2018 13:41
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I could just copy paste from Amstel Gold Race in here and later inte LBL.
If we can get both Bystrom and Haugard Jensen in top 30 its fine.
Will Ponzi get his revenge or Sagan keep on delivering huge results? |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 01-01-2018 13:42
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We certainly need a Top-5 result here. Podium at best. Even a victory could be possible with the length of the race not hitting the 200km mark. It hasn't been a horrible season for Bobridge so far, but he's definitely performing worse than he could have done. Even his 2nd place in the Colombo classic wasn't exactly a great race.
Come on now!
Enough Sagan dominance. Time for the 83+ guys to fight for wins 
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| ember |
Posted on 01-01-2018 13:51
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Being less than 200 kilometers could favour Beltran compared to AGR and other hilly classics, combined with the finish that is the Muur. At least that's my hope, as this should be his best Ardennes classic. Hoping we can also have Dyrnes or Hoelgaard not far from Beltran, to at least score some minor depth points 
As tsmoha says, surely the top puncheurs will step up now and deny Sagan's complete domination? With such a finish, at least their chances should be good. Favouring Ponzi, his sprint and mountain stats on top of his hill stat, should make him the man to beat. |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 01-01-2018 13:56
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AbhishekLFC wrote:
Kelderman is the defending champion in this race and will be looking for a repeat. Puma SAP haven't had an outstanding start to the season by any means, but they remain on track to challenge for a top 5 finish. They'll be hoping their leader can put them well on their way towards that goal.
Demare too, has been more miss than hit, with a lot of bad luck and bad positioning ruining his races this season.
There's really nothing to add to that 
I'd like to be surprised in some form like last year, but on paper this one suits Kelderman the least, and indeed I'm not confident in Demare.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 01-01-2018 14:02
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Don't you dare to forget Borges in a preview Kwiatek to win.
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| knockout |
Posted on 01-01-2018 16:09
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Grand Tour Champion
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Arguably the least fitting race of the Ardennen triple for Skujins but I still like to see him try everything.
Great preview content!
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| DubbelDekker |
Posted on 01-01-2018 16:17
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Really hope Ginanni bounces back from a mediocre AGR. Top 5 would be great.
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 01-01-2018 17:42
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Something like that yeah. Borges to surprise or nothing at all for us. Either way it's fine.
Gonna lay my eggs on Gastauer for this one. He looked fresh in AGR so should be a good bet.
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 01-01-2018 17:48
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Time for Ponzi to better his 5th place in a classic.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 01-01-2018 18:01
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Tour de France Champion
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Bakelants & Pichon to make it 1-2 for Strava. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 01-01-2018 19:08
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Tour de France Champion
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Waeytens to make a fresh season start here.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Heine |
Posted on 01-01-2018 19:44
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Lets hope for more than minimum points!
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 01-01-2018 21:45
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Sagan to keep going for the triple? I'm getting a good feeling about Trofimov though.
Kwiat to Kwiat, thanks for the preview Abhishek!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 01-01-2018 22:38
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Sagan has won enough this season So i'll be rooting for a Strava win 
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| roturn |
Posted on 02-01-2018 07:50
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De Bie really has to make the top10 here and justify his 82 hill.
Looking forward on the race and if Sagan an continue his run. |
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-01-2018 15:34
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Gets in the lead group of 11 .. finishes 13th. Not the greatest of finishes there for Gastauer.
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 02-01-2018 15:36
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Bilbao outpacing Ponzi on a hilly classic. What? Congrats Gazelle, also pleasant result for Strava and Puma which is nice
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 02-01-2018 15:39
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The report had a line wrong earlier, with Sagan mentioned to finish ahead of Trofimov. It has been corrected, thanks to the keen eye of Aquarius.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 02-01-2018 15:39
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Finally Sagan gets beaten in a hilly classic this season, and great win for Gazelle!
That was very close for Bakelants! That big win still escapes from Strava, but 2 podiums out 2 races so far it's building a great week for them
Ponzi struggled there, but at least Bilbao saved the day for Hugo Boss 
The racing was kinda meh, but the report was great as always
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