What a banger of a finish… When i saw from the highlights that it was Sagan, Alaphillipe and Kwiatskiskiskiski i knew it was going to be entertaining.
Some foxing, some all out powermoves and then a fun gallop to the line.
sad for no sagan sensations but good finish and deserving winner.
Sagan vs van Avermaet at Flanders - who you got?
I think Sagan gets away on that last climb by just a bit, then GvA will need someone with him (vanMarcke?) to chase Sagan down on the final flat kms before the sprint. Then GvA gets them on the line.
Or they all crash and Valverde wins. Sure, Valverde is not in the race, but that dude just fkn wins everything. He’ll find a way.
was going to post a serious response but got to your last line and realised you were altogether correct and nothing more could be said.
I’m always been fascinated by this race named “Three Days of Pain”
It’s really good. Hard and tough. It’s 3 belgian classics and a TT in 3 days.
sounds almost as hard as 3DT
Re. Valverde - I’ve been following the Volta a Catalunya and AV has been so incredibly good.
Couple days ago saw an incredible battle in a summit finish between AV, Contador and Froome - AV left them for dead in the last couple switchbacks. Then yesterday in Barcelona, Froome attacks 9 ks from the finish (his now trademark attack just before a crest followed by pedalling on the TT in the descent), super clever and strong, he quickly opened a substantial gap. I thought that was it, but Bardet, Contador, AV, and Dan Martin got organised and reeled him in. After that it was a total shambles, attacks everywhere. So fun to watch. Bardet went but was caught, AV went but was caught (iirc), while Contador was going after everyone and destroying every attack. Then Dan martin went and it looked good, AV took his wheel and they were only caught meters from the finish, but AV still won.
I guess that Froome is only testing the waters and might not be peaking as the Tour is the important thing for him, but still. Valverde is gonna be a hell of a domestique for Quintana (I’m assuming he’s doing the Tour)
Looks like a rookie error from a guy who is supposed to be the best in the world. But its nice to see Phil back to top form.
Fuck, he gave it a good crack eh!
Fell asleep with no recording on… looks like it wound up being a cracking race
There’s always the race on youtube a day or two later. Probably even now actually.
Pretty much.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Or if you just want the final kilometres
Ex Pro, Phil the Thrill grabbing another KOM.
seems like he hit a flag and that took him into the barriers.
theres video out there of the flag being wrapped around neassens bike (you can see it wrapped around his arm).
GVA smashed into him hard enough to rip the wheel out of the rear dropouts.
Different view of the crash.
Good man - cheers mate!!!
Looks like the legs of that one particular barrier are a bit further out than the rest and Peter clipped those, while Naessen got caught up in the spectators jacket seperately?
Total bummer not to see what could have been, but that’s racing. An absolute cracker of a race and stoked for Gilbert
Looks like Sagan’s hood caught on a jacket. Still riding pretty damn close to that barrier. Maybe too close? Doesn’t give you much room for error.