104th Ronde van Vlaanderen (243 km) | 18 October 2020 | Unmasked Spoilers

dastardly00

Feel very bad for Alaphilippe

Now it's WvA & MvdP mano a mano

What happened, looked like he was on the radio looking down and ran into the moto?

Richard Hillman

It looked like he was talking on his radio, or doing something with his Jersey, had his head down but when it popped up the bike was there.

Richard Hillman

https://twitter.com/Eurosport_UK/status/1317814191118581760?s=19

fat bloke

AAAARGHLaphilippe!

Raoul Duke

Looked to me like WVA was drafting on the motorbike and the motorbike slowed down too quickly.
But maybe the bike was going at a slow speed for a while, in which case that seems like dangerous cycling by WVA. It would be the same as cycling directly at a bollard and moving aside at the last second. The guys behind, who don't see the bollard would be fecked.

Raoul Duke

Raoul Duke wrote: »

Looked to me like WVA was drafting on the motorbike and the motorbike slowed down too quickly.
But maybe the bike was going at a slow speed for a while, in which case that seems like dangerous cycling by WVA. It would be the same as cycling directly at a bollard and moving aside at the last second. The guys behind, who don't see the bollard would be fecked.

Actually, ignore all that. Watched it again. WvA wasn't drafting. Alaphilippe's fault for not paying attention. Unlucky.

dastardly00

If I had free money for a bet I still wouldn't know who to pick

Dodge

dastardly00 wrote: »

If I had free money for a bet I still wouldn't know who to pick

No. Just excited to watch it. 2 outstanding riders

Raoul Duke

Raoul Duke wrote: »

Actually, ignore all that. Watched it again. WvA wasn't drafting. Alaphilippe's fault for not paying attention. Unlucky.

MvdP was nearly caught out as well and adjusted his line at the last second.

Kelly is in his element here calling this.

bazermc

The bad language. Terrible. Cover your ears kids.

paddy no 11

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Kelly is in his element here calling this.

That's rough on wvd, best in the world but no victories of late

dastardly00

What a race!

Women's stream up now on the apps. 2 Irish ladies in the field.

Dodge

Loved that race. Sprint was incredible

velo.2010

Van der Poel read Van Aert's sprint very well — he must have a tell that Van der Poel knows very well. Anyway, I think that split second reaction helped VDP hold on for the win. A shame about Alaphilippe but a great race as always.

Raoul Duke

velo.2010 wrote: »

Van der Poel read Van Aert's sprint very well — he must have a tell that Van der Poel knows very well. Anyway, I think that split second reaction helped VDP hold on for the win. A shame about Alaphilippe but a great race as always.

Yeah, he reacted so quickly to WvA's sprint start. As soon as WvA got out of the saddle he went.

Chips Lovell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dufkbTnscWU

The two ladies are just sitting up and laughing here

dastardly00

Alaphilippe has two fractures in his right hand. It could have been a lot worse

rcklap

Vastly different wheel setups from the two lads today, is that a factor on such a close finish?

Crazy, RTE mentioned the race on the news there. Showed the crashes and never bothered with who won it or even showed the finish :rolleyes:

velo.2010

Deleted User wrote: »

Crazy, RTE mentioned the race on the news there. Showed the crashes and never bothered with who won it or even showed the finish :rolleyes:

Outside of an Irish win, the only time cycling is mentioned on RTE is when it involves either drugs or crashes, sadly.

velo.2010

velo.2010 wrote: »

Outside of an Irish win, the only time cycling is mentioned on RTE is when it involves either drugs or crashes, sadly.

Yeah but usually when they showed the stages at the tour they mentioned who had actually won Irish or not

Refractions

Deleted User wrote: »

Crazy, RTE mentioned the race on the news there. Showed the crashes and never bothered with who won it or even showed the finish :rolleyes:

I've worked in RTE on Sundays, it's a joke, there's about 5 people in the place. Not at all surprised with a slapdash 'report' like that.

Finnrocco

Kelly called the sprint bang on, Van Aert said he preferred a longer gallop, exactly as Kelly explained.

Refractions

Finnrocco wrote: »

Kelly called the sprint bang on, Van Aert said he preferred a longer gallop, exactly as Kelly explained.

Not sure if it would have helped him to go earlier as MvdP is able to sustain crazy power for long periods too (eg Amstel Gold last year). That's bound to have played on WVA's mind. It was so delicately poised, great to watch. Two cyclocrossers sprinting track-style at a Monument :eek:

paddy no 11

Interesting few months for Julian - he's fairly mixed the ridiculous and the sublime

Inquitus

Finnrocco wrote: »

Kelly called the sprint bang on, Van Aert said he preferred a longer gallop, exactly as Kelly explained.

Begs the question, why did WVA not take it up earlier?