2021 PRO thread

[robbosmans]

They just couldn’t, Alaphilipe attacked so many times. He clearly was the best

[spartan]

MVDP even at 80% strength is superior to the most of the field. great ride. van aert can not handle presssure. belgians should have kept remco fresh for the last 50km. AleJet pure class. he keeps his rainbow bike for another year.

[Smultie]

Great ride from Alaphilippe.

You have to wonder what the IT,NL,BE teams were thinking letting him go though. WvA,MVDP and Colbrelli all marked themselves out of the chase

Letting him go? You know that it's not always a matter of deciding if you wanna follow?

[Miller]

Just enjoying the slomo of Loulou crossing the line with stony-faced Belgians in the background.

[martocom]

Not a fan of him, but he was simply the best today and absolutely deserves the rainbow jersey. Also, good job from the whole french team.

Pidcock best of the rest, but missed the decising moves.

[bikewithnoname]

Great ride from Alaphilippe.

You have to wonder what the IT,NL,BE teams were thinking letting him go though. WvA,MVDP and Colbrelli all marked themselves out of the chase

Letting him go? You know that it's not always a matter of deciding if you wanna follow?

Thanks for the education. With 14-8km to go it was clear that Stuyven and Van Baarle group were making no ground and even if they could have caught JA they would have lost the sprint, why not drop back and drag your stars up? Pidcock took 30+ secs out of the chasers in the last 2km solo, clearly that group weren't even thinking about the win. A consequence of no race radios I guess, the chasers not seeing the bigger picture

[TobinHatesYou]

Thanks for the education. With 14-8km to go it was clear that Stuyven and Van Baarle group were making no ground and even if they could have caught JA they would have lost the sprint, why not drop back and drag your stars up? Pidcock took 30+ secs out of the chasers in the last 2km solo, clearly that group weren't even thinking about the win. A consequence of no race radios I guess, the chasers not seeing the bigger picture

You’ve got 4 different nations in G2. You think you can get them all to agree, especially with Powless and Valgren having no countrymen in G3? Why risk losing a good chance at 2nd for yourself and country? Besides, they would have had no idea if their teammates were even in G3 anymore or how far back they were.

4 riders should have been able to catch 1. Alaphilippe was just that much better today.

[Kjetil]

Strong man's win. According to Voeckler the plan wasn't followed.

[Karvalo]

Thanks for the education. With 14-8km to go it was clear that Stuyven and Van Baarle group were making no ground and even if they could have caught JA they would have lost the sprint, why not drop back and drag your stars up? Pidcock took 30+ secs out of the chasers in the last 2km solo, clearly that group weren't even thinking about the win. A consequence of no race radios I guess, the chasers not seeing the bigger picture

You’ve got 4 different nations in G2. You think you can get them all to agree, especially with Powless and Valgren having no countrymen in G3? Why risk losing a good chance at 2nd for yourself and country? Besides, they would have had no idea if their teammates were even in G3 anymore or how far back they were.

4 riders should have been able to catch 1. Alaphilippe was just that much better today.

Yep. When the leader is just better the chasing tactics always look shit.

Alaphilippe was outstanding. He didn't slip away when everyone else was looking at each other, he powered off at a pace no-one could follow and then he held it to the end. Sensational win.

[jasjas]

MVDP even at 80% strength is superior to the most of the field. great ride. van aert can not handle presssure. belgians should have kept remco fresh for the last 50km. AleJet pure class. he keeps his rainbow bike for another year.

Yes, with hindsight Remco but JA was superb, my favourite rider but i'd like to see the twat who threw water/beer etc at JA as he finished made to face JA and then see if he/she is so brave!
These idiots should stick to football.

[Cycomanic]

MVDP even at 80% strength is superior to the most of the field. great ride. van aert can not handle presssure. belgians should have kept remco fresh for the last 50km. AleJet pure class. he keeps his rainbow bike for another year.

Yes, with hindsight Remco but JA was superb, my favourite rider but i'd like to see the twat who threw water/beer etc at JA as he finished made to face JA and then see if he/she is so brave!
These idiots should stick to football.

Yes it was a bit sad to see that and also hear the booing, Belgian cycling fans should be better than that.

[maquisard]

I suspect it is the beer that talks.

[Cycomanic]

MVDP even at 80% strength is superior to the most of the field. great ride. van aert can not handle presssure. belgians should have kept remco fresh for the last 50km. AleJet pure class. he keeps his rainbow bike for another year.

Seriously? I think he has proven multiple times that he very much can handle pressure. The bottom line was that this has been a very long season and he was on top form pretty much from the beginning to the end, I think the legs are just tired and nobody was close to keeping matching JA. The attacks he put in were very impressive. In comparison to everyone else's attacks it really showed that he was a level above the rest. The most impressive to me was Markus Hoelgaard. That guy is a continental pro rider (signed to Trek next year) and was amongst the biggest names in one-day racing up to the end (he even attacked out of the third group at some point).

[maquisard]

Seriously? I think he has proven multiple times that he very much can handle pressure.

Agree completely, WvA is an exceptional talent and has delivered when under pressure many times.

Today JA was the greatest rider and deserved the win - a great champion.

[Dan Gerous]

Wout admitted he didn't have the legs, he even told so to Jasper Stuyven and to go for his own chances towards the end but there was no beating Alaphilippe today, no one 'chose' to let him go on his decisive attack, nobody could, he was the strongest and the french team were really active and aggressive for most of the race, well earned victory if you ask me.

I wonder if Remco is pissed that he worked so hard for nothing now, well not entirely for nothing, he rode as a huge middle finger to Eddy Merckx! But with hindsight, he was probably the only one who had the legs to compete with Alaphilippe if he had been a protected co-leader with Wout...