Road Bike Racing - Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Sunday is Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Another big classic! It's been said that this is a race is for "tour" riders. Will Armstrong be there?

I heard he might be at LBL, and for sure Amstel gold.

Bettini, Garzelli, Basso - Italians all. Mapei 1-2, and still on a roll. Armstrong around 15th or so.

Cheers...Gary

Originally posted by gmason
Bettini, Garzelli, Basso - Italians all. Mapei 1-2, and still on a roll. Armstrong around 15th or so.

Cheers...Gary

Oh man, that's going to hurt my fantasy cycling standings...

FWIW, that was my idea of the way pro riders are supposed to work. Bettini is team leader, and Garzelli understands that he is a domestique. In this race, G busted his hump for B, B won, and not only called G over to join hands just before the finish, but pointed back to him as they crossed the line, and kissed him after the race was over. (They are Italians, after all). ;)

That kind of recognition has to help keep the other team members working for you.

Cheers...Gary

Yeah, for a change- considering the fractious nature of the Mapei and Italian nat'l teams, it seems to be a rarity for italian teammates to be cooperating with each other. Way to go Bettini!

Italians are cleaning up in spring classics. I did notice, though, that Bartoli,twice winner of LBL and one of the big faves, finished way back there. Mind you, what else does he have to prove. And last year's winner wasn't even in the race- too bad!

The only spring classic left now is Amstel gold! Last year's winner is out of that one too. I hope Zabel wins- he hasn't had much luck yet this year!

Hey now, Bartoli got 3rd at Fleche Wallone and when you miss the key break you miss the podium.
Bartoli is not interested in 5th or 10th. I am hoping he does well at Amstel Gold as he knows that complicated course and has done well there. Basso kept the Fassa colors on the podium so a great week for Fassa Bortolo.

Garzelli will get payback in the Giro and TDF, believe me. This was no big sacrifice for him and to call Garzelli a domestique...well... I would say a teammate of Bettini. And it was a wonderful way to win for Bettini and Garzelli.
Mapei is a really cohesive team. I don't see any infighting except for the Bettini/Bartoli bruhaha over a year ago. Mapei has so many heavy hitters that could head their own teams. Tafi, Nardello, Bettini, Garzelli, Zanini...the list goes on and on.

That´s true, Mapei really is one of the strongest (and biggest) teams in international pro cycling. Allmost every rider is good for a big win.

I'm sure they'll both be in the giro, and I hope the Mapei big guns will also be in the Tour. Both Garzelli and Bettini are great climbers, especially Garzelli.


Anyone follow the tour of Aragon? It just ended. It really looks like a great race for sprinters and, of course, climbers who usually are the overall winners. Pedro Delgado won it once. Leonardo Peipoli won, for his second or third time, but Aleksandr Shefer came in second overall. He's having a great season so far. Jewish cyclists of the world, unite! I'd like to see ALessio in the Tour but they'll probably be in the Giro.

Originally posted by wabbit
I heard he might be at LBL, and for sure Amstel gold.

Hmmm. According to the official chart, Armstrong was 65th. No surprise as he worked for Hincapie and let go two climbs before the finish.

Just my 2 cents,
Timo