Liege Bastogne Liege

[Tewdric]

Was it just me or did anyone else think that Gilbert's win was settled in advance?

[Aidan]

It was once the Schlecks decided to have a sprint for it

[David Martin]

The Schlecks certainly know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory..

It needed constant attacks - a real doing, or had they just settled for a sprint for second?

[giropaul]

Choice - keep riding and settle for 2nd and 3rd

OR

stop riding and risk getting caught and end up off the podium.

Not too difficult in my view.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Crap tactics, two on one and nothing worthwhile even vaguely attempted. Frankly I'd be annoyed at half-decent amateurs throwing away their advantage like that. I hope the payoff was worth it.

[Rhys W]

It wasn't that they didn't attempt anything - one of the Schlecks got dropped on the penultimate climb, he clearly didn't have the legs to do a one-two. Gilbert is unbeatable in an uphill sprint finish.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

So why drag that person along to exactly that situation?

[Jack Osbourne snr]

Todays standings earned me 83 points in the Road.CC Fantasy Cycling. Thanks guys!

[Rhys W]

So why drag that person along to exactly that situation?

They weren't strong enough to drop him. There were two Schlecks/Leopards there, but one could barely keep up.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Who towed him up to the front? The weaker Schleck, stupid is stupid.

[Rhys W]

Well, yeah, they lost that in the same way Cancellara and Boonen lost Paris-Roubaix.

[giropaul]

Crap tactics, two on one and nothing worthwhile even vaguely attempted. Frankly I'd be annoyed at half-decent amateurs throwing away their advantage like that. I hope the payoff was worth it.

Why would you get a payoff for that?

You'd only talk money if there was one of your riders in the break who could realistically beat your rider - Sclecks  (and their manager) knew they were riding for 2nd and 3rd - still podium places.

There is more chance of a payout for Gilbert for not dropping them and leaving them to be swept up by the peloton.

there could, maybe, be a useful future alliance; Lotto don't feature strongly this year for the big tours, but will be riding.

[David Martin]

there could, maybe, be a useful future alliance; Lotto don't feature strongly this year for the big tours, but will be riding.

An interesting perspective - the battle for the Tour starts in the classics with the alliances and favours, slights and feuds.

[David Martin]

Wonderful quote from the comic's analysis..

You have to wonder what the instructions from the Leopard team car were but in the final analysis you are left with the conclusion that even if the Schlecks shared one tactical brain between them they’d be dangerous.