Minor race thread 2017 **spoilers**

[SWSteve]

Oli Naesen cannot be far off winning a (semi) classic, he's finished 7th in Omloop, 8th in KBK, 6th in DdV and 3rd today.

Is he a sprinter, or more likely to win breaking off the front of a group? The commentry certainly seemed to give the impression he lacks the sprint but can give it the beans over a longer period (or maybe he was just shot, and that was his greatest chance of winning)

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Is he a sprinter, or more likely to win breaking off the front of a group? The commentry certainly seemed to give the impression he lacks the sprint but can give it the beans over a longer period (or maybe he was just shot, and that was his greatest chance of winning)

He can do both, but lacks the top end speed of a true sprinter, he definitely seems to like cobbles - he also finished 2nd to Terpstra in last year's Eneco Tour.

 

[smutchin]

Oli Naesen cannot be far off winning a (semi) classic, he's finished 7th in Omloop, 8th in KBK, 6th in DdV and 3rd today.

He's the new Greg Van Avermaet.

 

[HF2300]

Think he's really a typical Belgian classics strong man, definitely one to watch. I was close to picking him in PTP this week, slightly wish I had.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Think he's really a typical Belgian classics strong man, definitely one to watch. I was close to picking him in PTP this week, slightly wish I had.

I had him for DdV, turns out to have been the wrong bloody race!

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

He's the new Greg Van Avermaet.

His "back story" is very interesting:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/oliver-naesen-theres-not-much-that-frightens-me/

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Mark Stewart, aka @rich p's protege, picks up the Intermediate Sprints Jersey on today's stage of the Tour of Normandie

 

[HF2300]

I had him for DdV, turns out to have been the wrong bloody race!

TBH I didn't think he'd quite make it in DDV and was going to pick him for E3, but had I done so I'd probably have done it in place of Gilbert rather than the tumbling Slovak!

I don't know Postlberger but his team are pointing to him to suggest there's more to them than just Sagan. He would have been a flair pick!

 

[HF2300]

And for Gent - Wevelgem, a nod to Super Mario whose 50th was this week - IIRC the last pure sprinter to win there.

 

[HF2300]

And for Gent - Wevelgem, a nod to Super Mario who's 50th was this week - IIRC the last pure sprinter to win there.

And to Antoine Demoitié

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Impressive line up from Quick Step for today

 

[Buddfox]

GvA got the win - not a bad season for him so far...!

 

[smutchin]

GVA's Strava log of Gent-Wevelgem:
https://www.strava.com/activities/916326892

 

[Adam4868]

Peter wasn't happy !

 

[Buddfox]

View attachment 344375
Peter wasn't happy !

From a fan's perspective, he kind of has a point. Terpstra was pretty lame - when Sagan tried to bridge across to GvA and Keukelaire (please forgive if I have spelled that incorrectly) and then Terpstra got on his wheel, Terpstra then not taking a turn made it clear they weren't going to make it. Of course he may not have had the legs to help them finish the bridge - but he did look like he just let up.