No second win.. but somehow that was expected
Strong group I think, very strong, 3 guys with 70+ mountain, 75+pavé, and those are the favorites, 2 of them with 60+ sprint. All 3 were in the 4 man first group. 12 guys with 70+ mountain 72+pavé, 4 of them in Pokemon's team, 2 in Costs. The problem there is the Oude Kwaremont of course, 3*** risks to drop a lot of the ones that are leaders. The hope there could have been to stay close, come back or almost on the Paterberg.
Then 19 riders with 80+ pavé, 5 Tukhs, but all under 60, 3 Donkeys, max 50 mountain. Only 3 with 60+ 80+, another Pokemon, a Gipfel and a Mosca. Mosca with 66 sprint, Gipfel with 59. Pokemon with 47, but it was very clear that this guy, Davies, 66-87 with 81 pavé was going to wreak havoc on the Oude Kwaremont. The question was only which passage. Early or late. It was late.
So, favorites clear IMO, Pokemon, Gipfel, Mosca, in this order. With many outsiders, Cost with classics, but most missing pavé, Tukh the top leader, Hansa assured to be in front but thought with little chances to win, Donkey Armas, but pavé, Leinad Keita, but pavé, Liquigas 2 classics, but pavé (and no sprint)
Race: The Donkey race plan was clear from the start. Well, not the exact plan, who is the leader was to be decided along the way.... But the 3 stage rocket was clear. Go in the early escape with Quttiboyev and Krankl. Turned out to be Lafargue and Krankl, I'm not really sure why actually. And not completely surprising, but a bit, Pokemon with one there. Which basically kills the escape, best sprint, best pavé, good mountain, basically undroppable... so the whole escape was just there to see if somebody works finally. Unfortunately somebody did, I thought about going out at 14', not 15' maybe somebody had that as moment to go in. Out at 14', wait, see if a double attack later gets rid of Pokemon.... And if not no problem, that wasn't planned as the winning attack.
In the back Gipfel and Mosca let that escape go, I probably wouldn't have, would have chased any Pokemon... as I did with Liquigas/CC in MSR. But ok, having him ahead had some advantage too maybe, he has one less helper in the back, for his army not ideal... Catch him, let a group without him go, then he has a full team in the back... which allows him to keep more riders fit. And then the risk of an early massacre maybe is bigger? But ok, I would have chased him immediately.
Group at 13-14', then pace increases, down, second stage by Donkey goes, Km 141 Hikmet-Wiedmer, somebody with Wiedmer was the plan, and this one was more serious, Wiedmer my eternal hilly pavé leader that sucks, wanted to try, far from the goal, hope for some time then see. But most likely wait for the final part of the rocket. So serious attack, only in the Donkey's mind... there Poke went too, was likely that it was for siebing later, and so it was, so the 4 Donkeys ahead were only there to save themselves over some hellingen finally. Reach km 170 was the goal pretty fast. From there 28km till the next climb, so good to have helpers there. All together around there again, the Donkey at one point even had all 9 riders in the peloton again, cool . But only 1-2 km, then Quttiboyev, the last one to come back to the peloton followed the next farmer attack, so 5 Donkeys in attack today, was hoping to make it 7 later.
Farming, riding.. second Oude Kwaremont, now was likely nothing too much would happen, Pokemon had already wasted energy with farmers, unlikely he would try to blow it apart a first time here, didn't. Idéfix attack, but clearly too early before the Oude Kwaremont, after Donkey with 5 riders, Belhassen, by now leader and helped with 2 guys, Brotcorne-Armas for the later attack, if there was an opening, Wiedmer-Totakhyl for loading... So was ridden really softly. Donkey waiting for his opening, then km 218, downhill of Paterberg the weirdest action of the day IMO. Doubleattack Gipfel, Einarsson-Arvidsson, 2 strong guys. 61-85-77 with 59 sprint, 82,9 pavé and 59-87-60, 59 sprint 85,2 pavé. Green attack, but then not riding. 3 guys followed probably Arvidsson, he was behind, so Einarsson rides alone ahead, the one in the back does nothing, then soon caught. This, I absolutely didn't get. The place of the attack seemed strange, then not going for it even more. Ok, don't kill Arvidsson? But ride one km and then try with Einarsson and see what develops? Or don't attack at all. This confused me to no end. 227 Stationsberg? Or whatever, a 3*** anyway, all Donks dropped, maybe Brotcorne stayed? But no fighting on yet. All back soon.
Then finally finally at km 231 the opening, Taaienberg? Or one earlier, really no clue, but a sieb by... forgot, Tukh who was in tempo at that point in the back riding, Donkey attacks, 2 Costs too. A bit disappointingly no followers, had hoped/expected some (not too many please). Anyway, finally could do the attack, had put it in and taken it out at least twice before...I think I got the right moment for once, then hope that a biggish group can go to the end. Was small, so hope that there's no unity in the back, wait for others to come back, give us enough time to survive the last Oude Kwaremont/Paterberg combi. But was soon clear wasn't going to happen, Poke chased. Help by somebody towards the end. Anyway, that really was my best shot at the win, anticipate. Tried, failed.
The Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg finish really rather predictable. Davies siebs on the flat Kwaremontpart, 6 guys there. Downhill somebody helps davis with sectricks I htink, most likely Pincemail? Hoped to somehow get back close with Belhassen there. The leaders in on the Paterberg, Davies and Viel dropped. Thornquist and Pincemail then in tempo, as was logic. In the back Belhassen finally waits, a nice 4 man group that collaborates.. hoped to gain time, but well, we didn't.... went up to 20", stayed there, once to 19", end 21". What made it interesting was Viel chasing with Davies in his wheel.
I thought at some point Poke would go out in front, let Davies back, ride with him... then it opens 100 possibilites, Davies rides? Pincemail attacks? Davies attacks? But that's probably why Pincemail continued... he wanted to win, not have Davies as a second card, the eternal points record attempt (which will fail anyway) in front Stucki and Gamarra suck, rightly. probably I would have gone in the last 2 km when it seemed possible that Davies Viel comes back, don't want him there...
Sprint, the less said the better.
Donkey 7th, Belhassen, result wise that's fine. My attacks were ok, so I'm rather satisfied with my race. Siebing race was no option here for me (hm, or it might have been, Hikmet flat siebers, provoke POke or Gipfel into riding earlier) Keep Brotcorne in front, see if Belhassen or Armas stay, probably not, look at when they come back, bla bla...)
Leader, Armas or Belhassen.. Armas better in mountain, but pavé a bit weaker, and that 3*** was always to be decisive. So I'm ok with Belhassen. Lafargue to ride with Eggenberger? Hm, not really an option, but liked that he sort of tried that.
