It was Ardennes week – with a LouLou-lovin’ Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday and a first Monument for Pogs. We also have Spot the Difference with the Yates Brothers, cocky kids doing stuff in races, a Wanty Wunderkind, and Marcel Kittel living his best life
Pogs takes his Monument
Would be nice to see a little more emotion. #LBL #LBL21 pic.twitter.com/CUVeLs0UIK
— daniel (@cyclingreporter) April 25, 2021
We won @davideformolo we won!! thank you♥️ https://t.co/Wpp97SXBaQ
— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) April 25, 2021
I admire people’s dedication to their brands, for example Tadej Pogačar always having tufts of hair sticking out of his helmet
— Robyn (@robynjournalist) April 25, 2021
Why does Pog’s hair do that, so very consistently?
— Pursuit Books (@Pursuitbooks) April 25, 2021
Oh really? It's an inherently tufty helmet!
— Pursuit Books (@Pursuitbooks) April 26, 2021
Pogacar was 8 when Valverde first won Liege.
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) April 25, 2021
The photofinish
I’m actually a little scared to mention photofinishes after Amstel (for the record: Draw as many red lines as you want on the picture, Wout won that one), but luckily this was a bit more straightforward.
Camera in the wrong place. Woods won. https://t.co/SPxZmHZwPN
— Freddie Shires (@fshires) April 25, 2021
For the second year in a row, Julian Alaphilippe has been beaten at the line at @LiegeBastogneL by a Slovenian star, this time by Tadej Pogačar.
Powered by @flobikes #FlandersOnFlo pic.twitter.com/9KeN1uK1Jv
— peloton® (@pelotonmagazine) April 25, 2021
The World Champion might not have won LBL but …
Proud of you, @alafpolak1 👏
You left everything out there in #LBL! pic.twitter.com/TnjBBemWjb— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 25, 2021
he won Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday
When you just won #FlecheWallonne for the third time.
Photo: A.S.O./Aurélien Vialatte pic.twitter.com/fqM9mw3f0v— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 21, 2021
But I’m not sure it was one of the most exciting victories in history.
That was one of the best and most thrilling #FlecheWallonne finishes in history. pic.twitter.com/mqRkEq7duO
— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 21, 2021
Really interesting insight from Dan Martin
First time in my career I’m not racing @flechewallonne Strange feeling but I now realize why people say it’s a boring race. As a rider it’s one of the most intense stressful races on the calendar. Interesting how it doesn’t translate into good viewing. Cheering for @rusty_woods
— Dan Martin (@DanMartin86) April 21, 2021
Vliegen the Valiant
🇧🇪 #LBL21
And now Loïc goes on his own! He has 50 seconds on the peloton with Quinten Hermans!
🏁 28 km pic.twitter.com/TcmHRiNPDb
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) April 25, 2021
Cra(m)p. #LBL
— (((Lukas Knöfler))) (@lukascph) April 25, 2021
⚡️ cramp for Loïc Vliegen. Job done though, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert probably can't win but this is their home race and they've been on TV all afternoon
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) April 25, 2021
Don’t get cocky, kids
And yet, we know how it’ll end! https://t.co/9ZVVIufYi2
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) April 25, 2021
Ineos is empty handed after that work, reminds me of Milano-Sanremo #lbl
— Gregor Brown (@gregorbrown) April 25, 2021
DSM clearly struggling from having been cursed for wearing old Sky uniforms… #couchpeloton
— 🎾 Angelic Scootus 😇 🚵♂️ (@evilscootus) April 25, 2021
Cofidis–the dodgy comedy club ad libbers of the peloton. #LBL #CouchPeloton
— Jamie Naragon (@TdF4077) April 25, 2021
The Gap
"Mom, can I have some big attacks from far in LBL?"
Mom: "We have big attacks at home."#LBL21 pic.twitter.com/DQgLva6n2J
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) April 25, 2021
One of these days, the 'favourites' will miscalculate, and someone from the early breakaway will win a Monument.
— (((Lukas Knöfler))) (@lukascph) April 25, 2021
Style and details
This looks great – and it’s heartening to see Fabio Aru with such a big smile on his face.
A little something special on the shoulders of @FabioAru1 today…
How beautiful is that @assos_com #BicyclesChangeLives 🖐 jersey? 😍
📷 James Startt pic.twitter.com/5vXDRDmwI9
— Team Qhubeka ASSOS (@QhubekaAssos) April 24, 2021
Stupid sunnies.
I hate that gigantic insect look. pic.twitter.com/2Uhj4RA5fy
— Bronagh (@BeebsyMcA) April 23, 2021
Yates or Yates? That was the question
I honestly seriously can't. Not by looks, nor by results – it's all one big blur to me.
— (((Lukas Knöfler))) (@lukascph) April 23, 2021
For Sadhbh, it’s all about the details.
Adam is on the left and Simon is on the right. Easy. pic.twitter.com/RSTmlYOgnM
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) April 23, 2021
These are identical men with beards. I’ll never be able to tell them apart.
— Luke (@LukeTheCycliste) April 23, 2021
And the glory of the win!
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) April 23, 2021
Marcel without regrets
Just after the Tour of Turkey, there was a tweet about how Marcel Kittel must be jealous of Cav‘s resurgence (he isn’t) and then a tone-deaf, insulting comment on Eurosport about why Kittel retired. Andy McGrath had the last word on that one …
More than demeaning; not the right way to frame mental health issues to a listening audience of thousands.
No need for big drama: I'm sure Carlton meant it differently, but I hope a producer or someone has a little word post-race about how to phrase it better in future https://t.co/S2fUnCfxL5
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) April 21, 2021
I went to see Marcel Kittel at home in November 2019 for @rouleur. His girlfriend was expecting their first child a month later. He spoke like he had nothing left to prove in the sport and I was struck by his total happiness. If that's "giving in", then we all should!
— Andy McGrath (@Andymcgra) April 21, 2021