#1
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RvV
Not to take anything away from Wesemann, but this year's Ronde felt a
little flat. Maybe because the principles never really made it to the front of the race, other than the brief re-grouping on the Muur. Quick.Step's tactics have to be questioned - Bettini and Boonen seemed to do a lot of the work to bring it back together - but then they had no-one in either of the lead groups after the Muur. However, Wesemann rode an excellent race and was the strongest rider in the finale. Regards! Stephen |
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#2
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RvV
On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 20:24:19 +0100, Steve McGinty wrote:
However, Wesemann rode an excellent race and was the strongest rider in the finale. He did, but was he? I think maybe Van Bon was, but because of really strange tactics (betting on Hoste against Wesemann??!) he couldn't work with Dekker. Dekker was very good, but not super or he would have closed the 14 sec gap to the Wesemann/Bruylandts tandem. I think it was Dekker himself saying earlier (should be somewhere on his site) that he thought Wesemann was thinner than usual, better climbing but lacking in strength. Well there you go. |
#3
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RvV
On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 21:33:47 +0200, Ewoud Dronkert
wrote: On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 20:24:19 +0100, Steve McGinty wrote: However, Wesemann rode an excellent race and was the strongest rider in the finale. He did, but was he? I think maybe Van Bon was, but because of really strange tactics (betting on Hoste against Wesemann??!) he couldn't work with Dekker. Dekker was very good, but not super or he would have closed the 14 sec gap to the Wesemann/Bruylandts tandem. Closing down 14 seconds at 60kph when it's two against one ain't easy... Regards! Stephen |
#4
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RvV
"Ewoud Dronkert" wrote in message ... On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 20:24:19 +0100, Steve McGinty wrote: However, Wesemann rode an excellent race and was the strongest rider in the finale. He did, but was he? I think maybe Van Bon was, but because of really strange tactics (betting on Hoste against Wesemann??!) he couldn't work with Dekker. Dekker was very good, but not super or he would have closed the 14 sec gap to the Wesemann/Bruylandts tandem. I think it was Dekker himself saying earlier (should be somewhere on his site) that he thought Wesemann was thinner than usual, better climbing but lacking in strength. Well there you go. No that was Scott Sunderland. Oh well, Wese proved him wrong :-) The weight loss seemed to help him fly up the Muur. Bruylandts was better there too. Must be the "autostrada". Lotto seemed to be playing the Van Bon card, by not having Hoste work in front. But not having Van Bon work behind defeated the purpose somewhat. Andreas Klier is pretty handy too - he won Gent Wevelgem in 2003. cheers, Jeff |
#5
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RvV
On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 06:08:52 +1000, Jeff Jones wrote:
[Dekker?] thought Wesemann was thinner than usual No that was Scott Sunderland. Ah sorry yes, in his diary on CN. Lotto seemed to be playing the Van Bon card, by not having Hoste work in front. But not having Van Bon work behind defeated the purpose somewhat. Andreas Klier is pretty handy too - he won Gent Wevelgem in 2003. but even if you count in bringing back Klier for free, I still think Van Bon at the front would have given Lotto *much* better chances for the win than to just leave Hoste to be devoured by Wesemann. Who didn't see that one coming from a mile away (13 km actually). Anyway, when looking back we're all top analysts... |
#6
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On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 22:36:33 +0200, Ewoud Dronkert
wrote: On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 06:08:52 +1000, Jeff Jones wrote: [Dekker?] thought Wesemann was thinner than usual No that was Scott Sunderland. Ah sorry yes, in his diary on CN. Lotto seemed to be playing the Van Bon card, by not having Hoste work in front. But not having Van Bon work behind defeated the purpose somewhat. Andreas Klier is pretty handy too - he won Gent Wevelgem in 2003. but even if you count in bringing back Klier for free, I still think Van Bon at the front would have given Lotto *much* better chances for the win than to just leave Hoste to be devoured by Wesemann. Who didn't see that one coming from a mile away (13 km actually). Duffield and Kelly on GB Eurosport... Regards! Stephen |
#7
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RvV
Lotto seemed to be playing the Van Bon card, by not having Hoste work in front. But not having Van Bon work behind defeated the purpose somewhat. Andreas Klier is pretty handy too - he won Gent Wevelgem in 2003. yeah, when I read on the Cyclingnews live report that Hoste was not working because Van Bon was behind and that Van Bon was not working because Hoste was in front, I was a bit perplexed. But in the end, if all six had gotten together with a couple of Km to go, I would have put my money on Telekom (sorry, T-Mobile) with Klier and Wesemman. Only if Dekker had towed Van Bon to the leaders with less than 500m to go, would I have bet on Van Bon - he definitely has the sprint, but I don't think he has the short-range attack of the two Germans. They would have worked him over and Hoste may not have been much help (only Lotto knows that). So maybe it was a "rock and a hard place" type of scenario for Lotto. What was that TdF stage where Rabobank played this card so well? I think that Dekker and another were in the finale and Dekker was cooked after being away for so long. But he fooled the guys in the break with a false attack while his teammate went off on the other side of the road. That was masterful. However, T-Mobile probably would not have taken their eyes off of Van Bon, so it may not have worked. Hey, this is fun - I can see why Don Cherry loves making grand pronouncements about hockey, after the results (apologies to non-Canadians, or perhaps I should ask for your sympathy because I have to put up with the guy). steve |
#8
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On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 06:08:52 +1000, Jeff Jones wrote:
No that was Scott Sunderland. Here's Dekker's analysis, my translation: I was looking forward to this for a long time and this morning it was there; the Ronde. At half past 6 we were at the breakfast table and got a nice surprise: Rabobank will remain as sponsor until 2008. Good start of the day. The race was difficult, weird and I thought chaotic. So many escapees so early in the race at the front, that gave a strange twist to the race. My radio wasn't working so I was deprived of all info. A blessing in disguise, I would rather have not known anyway! The legs were good, but for some reason I always seemed to be riding just where it broke in front of me. The legs steadily improved relative to the competition and after the Muur I showed them my heels. Unfortunately my companions were team mates of the leaders so that I had to do most of the work. Unfortunately for Leon van Bon he realised too late that he could help me. A unique chance for him to win Flanders' Finest. I finished fifth and that was to my satisfaction. I was in contention for the win in one of the most beautiful and hardest races. Those were my expectations. Three years ago was the last time I acted on this level. Four months ago I didn't think it would be easy to reach this level. I mean, I sure had taken into account I would need more time. Not so! This Saturday the Ronde (van Drenthe). In two weeks my next goal: AGR! Source: http://www.erikdekker.nl/nieuws.php |
#9
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RvV
On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 21:05:56 GMT, steve robertson wrote:
What was that TdF stage where Rabobank played this card so well? I think that Dekker and another were in the finale and Dekker was cooked after being away for so long. But he fooled the guys in the break with a false attack while his teammate went off on the other side of the road. That was masterful. TdF 2002, 14 juillet, Karsten Kroon won the stage to Plouay (podium all Dutch on Bastille day, hehe). |
#10
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"Steve McGinty" wrote in message
... On Sun, 04 Apr 2004 22:36:33 +0200, Ewoud Dronkert wrote: but even if you count in bringing back Klier for free, I still think Van Bon at the front would have given Lotto *much* better chances for the win than to just leave Hoste to be devoured by Wesemann. Who didn't see that one coming from a mile away (13 km actually). Duffield and Kelly on GB Eurosport... Lotto were guaranteed a podium spot if Van Bon didn't work. If Dekker pulled Van Bon up then he would have the advantage. Great DS strategy. And that's why you guys aren't D'sS. |
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