Velominati Super Prestige: Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 2013
There is something to love about a race that makes a deviation to its route for the simple joy of sending a fleet of professional riders up a fiendishly steep and narrow ramp. The Cote du Stockeu offers zero benefit to the route from a logistical standpoint – in fact, all it does is complicate things. On the way down from the Cote de Wanne – usually at breakneck speed – the race enters the small down of Stavelot. Just before hitting the town proper, you make a right turn and ascend a wall that does little more than become steeper as it twists it way up for 2.4km. Riding the route with Museeuw during Keepers Tour, he quietly tried to dissuade us of riding it, “You don’t need to do this for me; I’ve never enjoyed this one.”
At the top lies the monument to Merckx and his 525 victories. Upon reaching it, the route takes a sharp left turn and descends right back down to exactly the same spot from which it climbed up. This is why I love this climb so much; its just free pain for the racers – a steep climb just for the sake of making their legs hurt a bit more. Shortly thereafter, the route rolls down a few valleys and arrives at the Cote de la Redoute (The Fearsome), which signals the beginning of the finale. Its too far from the finish to make a winning move, but if you’ve got bad legs, you’ll be left behind to suffer all the way to Ans.
Amstel has been sorted, as has La Fléche. Both were won by an outsider. I don’t think the big names will let that happen again. Surely Gilbert and the Sag Wagon will have their act together this time around.
Check the start list and enter your picks in by the time the countdown clock goes to zero at midnight on Sunday morning Pacific Time. The winner of this monument will post for the next year with the LBL Winners Badge. Good luck.
[vsp_results id=”23150″/]
@minion
Romans Vainsteins is definitely one – never won a race after hisWorld champs in 2000. A truly dodgy and opportunistic motherfucker. And if I recall rightly from some article from Procycling or Cycle Sport many moons ago, he also managed to marry the daughter of the owner of his team sponsor Vini Caldirola. Respect!
@minion was that the year he shut the door (very hard) on Baden Cooke in a Giro finish?
@Bianchi Denti
I feel the same but…and there is a but…Brailsford said he wanted to win a classic within 2 years (this is year 1). Froome had some mechanicals several times and reckons he expended too much getting back each time. Uran looked strong as a lead out on the climbs right up until he caressed someone elses wheel and went over. Henao also looked strong but had to do too much work over the final climbs…he is not strong enough yet but with those 4 plus Brad and Rogers in the Sky line up, they do look strong on paper for the Grand Tours in the Mountains. You imagine if you’ve got Henao, Rogers and Uran pulling you up all the peaks then all you need to do is timetrial for your life!…and that is not even mentioning the rest of the squad Knees et al.
Belated burst of querelousness now posted as a result of none of my picks posting (despite them showing). But let that not detract from a brilliant finish. He’s been threatening to do something fully awesome like that for a while, now. Listening to Sean Kelly commentate while he did it seemed impeccably appropriate. Brilliant stuff .
@frank
My sentiments exactly.
My VSP took a dump because of his win, but I can’t feel bad for a second. A great way to end the classics season, just sad it’s over.
@Deakus except Rogers will be riding for Contador. Do you touch yourself when you think about Team Sky?
@Marcus
Sounds like my kind of rider. Technically, Lance W!#ker C**t Gunderson should be in this category, except I don’t think his ban would go back far enough. Lance in nappies wouldn’t be far enough back IMO.
LtD @ LBL
http://app.strava.com/activities/49977381
@Marcus
Nope…even I am not brave enough to touch mine! However, if you wish to read in to this a desire to spur on a British Team and see them succeed, then yes you are correct……a frustrating Spring Classics series, but I look forward to the Grand Tour series with some excitement, not only for Sky but also because I think there are some real contenders coming through the ranks on several teams and I think it is going to be a stonking summer!
@Marcus
O…and I meant Porte…wierd mistake to make confusing those two but C’est La Vie…
@frank
Gutted…my money was on the Panda for the victory!
I occasionally ride with a guy who insists on wearing full Sky kit. Rides a Pinerallo too. After waiting at the top of a hill I told him how he looked just like a Team Sky rider in the Ardennes classics. He seemed to like that – bit too subtle I guess?
Anyway…..
I can’t believe people are talking about Sky flunking out in the classics when Belgium (the whole country!) failed to win a single classic this year.
Nice quote from Dan the Man
“I can’t believe it, I’m really in shock,” said Martin. “I’ve never seen the team ride so strong – they kept me protected all day. It felt like one of the easiest races I’ve ever did. It really is incredible, I’m so happy.”
Dan Martin, you absolute beauty…….I taped the race and hadn’t seen the results but when he pulled up next to Rodriguez I was screaming at the box. and when he dropped him in a show of class I almost gave birth. bloody brilliant.
@Dr C
He’s not the only one who’s in shock , I’ve just seems my stunning new Belgium colour. Ongelooflijk!
@strathlubnaig
Kind of like a “Danny” Darko moment??? (What the fuck is up with that movie anyways? I watched it and just said, huh? and I normally like the kind of off beat, non-mainstream movies)
@starclimber
I’m really looking forward the Giro. Wiggins vs Ryder vs Nibali. Out of those 3, its Wiggins that hasn’t really shown much form yet this year.
@motor city
Rubbish! He can park a bike up against a wall like no-one I have ever seen!!!
@Deakus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_355613&feature=iv&src_vid=BNv4M32FEmM&v=O1uZ2M9f6Iw
Such a memorable scene. When I first saw this I was yelling “That’s material for 12,000€ you stupid cu- not bad.”
@Ron
Thor didn’t win much in the stripes although he got a couple tour stages. Ballan won nothing in the stripes IIRC. They call it the curse of the rainbow jersey.
Bloody fantastic finish from Martin – so happy to see that.
@Nate – that was 2010 for Thor right? He had a bit of an epic Tour if I remember rightly, fighting all the way through to beat Cavendish into green by a couple of points?
Poor old Gilbo, don’t know what he’s missing at the moment.
Agree that Hooseyerdaddy is looking spiffing for the Giro….
@Joe Yeah, Thor won I think two tour stages, maybe the green jersey. Not to sneeze at, but his classics campaign that year was for shit IIRC.
that was a great race,well the final 20k. was hoping ryder could hold them off,but great teamwork by garmin,nice win by dan. cheers.
i see i was one who just martin,thanks for the heads up frank,will be more specfic. forgot about tony,lol.