Pro-cycling thread

Sagan's fault, he looked switched off, and Kwia just mugged him. He needs to do some track sprinting, learn the art of keeping an eye on the rider behind. Stannard stayed salty in the pack and knocked third. Perfect race by Sky

I'd bet you that Sagan knew exactly what was going to happen, and when. He simply couldn't answer the attack.

And I won't call it a perfect race by Sky unless they get the first 196 places. You've got to have standards.

Sporza said Sagan ate everything in sight between finish line and podium. Bonked again.

It would be nice to see Sagan in a team that can actually support him. He said he was 'just without legs' in the sprint

https://www.facebook.com/PeterSagFan/?fref=ts

From what I saw it was fairly canny of kwia to keep Sagan on the front for as long as possible. Sagans turns were longer, or seemed to be, and when kwia was on the time between them and g2 kept coming down. I know tom boonen was pulling hard, but still.

I was nodding off though.

I did a bit of that, I blame too many ciders last night and an early long dog walk this morning. However thought it was a great race, felt for Cancellera's mechanical but his chase back was awesome. Sky's one-two with Kwia and Stannard was spot on, Winning both their sprints showing they had the best options at the sharp end. Sagan, Is that eight second places in the rainbow hoops already? And there's a long season ahead

Wout Poels. How good are you?!?
I love when a lone breakaway pays off!

My thoughts on the race:

How's Sagan going to fare over Flanders/Roubaix distance if he/his team can't manage his efforts over 200km?

Impressive by Kwiat as I think most people had him pegged as a stage hunter/Ardennes specialist.

Fabs is flying and will one of Flanders/Roubaix.

Kwia didn't need to stay away as much as Sagan did because he had Stannard in the group behind. Stannard was obviously strong enough as he won the sprint from that group.

That's very true but talk of him having bonked doesn't suggest he's being well advised.

Etixx no riders in the top 10. Pretty shambolic.

Just watched it, amazing ride

Sagan will have started today tired, as you want to overload your training the week before your big target for the spring. 30 kms out front will have really nailed him to the floor.

That said, Kwiatkowski was tactically spot on in the final, let Sagan do longer turns knowing that the pressure was on him more to win, then hit him hard and early which is probably what Sagan wasn't expecting. Luckily he had the legs to hold it to the line.

It'll be a different race a week on Sunday.

Sagans interview on sporza after the race, he looked bollocksed. Still looked boss though.

If that's the case surely all the main contenders started tired as they'll be riding this as build up to Flanders. Sagan got out-boxed

He finished ahead of all the other favourites for Flanders and Roubaix.

Is E3 a "big" race?

But surely Kwia is now in contention, for Flanders at least. His interviews post race talked about how at EQS they were so many strong men in the cobbles he was always passed over and unleashed in the Ardennes instead. He threw done a marker today, beat him one-on-one.

Great race

Arguably the third biggest prize of the cobbled spring, after Flanders and Roubaix.

Kwia was asked what he thought about the winner of E3 being traditionally the favourite to win Flanders. He sort of dodged the question though. He seems like a good lad.

In other news G abandons Catalunya to focus on the classics for now.

They've raced together since they were juniors, I think Kwiatkowski has the better record. Sky should be strong for Flanders, but they need to up their tactical game, too often they wait for the race to unfold, rather than using their strength in numbers to shape the race.

But when they did that in the Tour for Wiggins they were accused of making it boring.

It's an effective tactic in the Tour. It never will be in Flanders.

Surely Kwiatkowski won't be Sky's Plan A at Flanders? Not saying he can't win but imagine Stannard and Thomas will be on at least equal billing in terms of the support they get. They really have got an embarrassment of riches.

Sky looked even more impressive today given they missed that first move and got back into the race.

Roll on next Sunday.

The sporz interview suggested Sagan was clearly focused on Flanders and PR.
"And after that, we're in the second stage of the season"