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GreenEDGE and the La Fleche Wallonne 2012

Roar Guru
18th April, 2012
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So close for GreenEDGE in the Amstel Gold. Simon Gerrans was in the front part of the chasing 20 or so riders turning in the Caulberg, the last climb of the race. The riders chased after Nikki Terpstra and Oscar Freire.

To this point, GreenEDGE rode an outstanding team race and kept Gerrans protected and at the front of the pack.

On the Cauberg he seemed to be well-placed but missed out on a chance to podium due to a crash which split the leaders. However, I think even he would admit that he would not have had the legs to place highly that day.

The 75th edition of the La Flèche Wallonne takes place this Wednesday, April 18th, in the Wallonia region of Belgium, from Charleroi to Huy (201 km).

It has a road race in a large circuit, followed by a smaller circuit where the infamous Mur de Huy will be climbed three times during the route. The Mur or “wall” of Huy is a 1.3 km climb on a 9.3 percent average gradient.

Despite a disappointing climax to a stunning team ride at the Amstel Gold, GreenEDGE will be looking for some good signs and if not results from several riders.

The team for GreenEDGE:

Christian Meier (Canada), Daryl Impey (South Africa), Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan), Michael Albasini (Switzerland), Simon Clarke (Australia), Travis Meyer (Australia), Wesley Sulzberger (Australia)

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Note that the team reflects that GreenEDGE has riders from every continental region of the world. No other team has this and reflects the very multicultural nature of modern Australia.

I expect the two protected riders will be Michael Albasini and Simon Clarke.

Swiss cyclist Michael Albasini, who recently won the Volta a Catalunya 2012 and picked-up two stages, is in excellent form. He is a good climber for the short punchy climbs and has come 7th in 2008, ninth in 2009, and 10th in 2010 in the LFW. He has also won a medium-mountain stage in Vuelta Espana in 2011.

Australian Simon Clarke had a good show in Haut-Var with fifth overall despite a mechanical incident that left him unable to change gear which caused him to rev like a two stroke. Despite this bad luck he still stayed in contact with the lead group. I thought he was looking likely to win that stage and possibly reach the podium for the General Classification. Clarke has shown excellent form in Classics with climbs and has an excellent pedigree for this type of race.

In Mendrisio, Switzerland at the 2009 World Championship, he was instrumental in helping Cadel Evans win in a tough demanding circuit similar to the circuit at the end of Wednesday’s race. Cadel gave special mention to Clarke when thanking the Australian team for their efforts.

South African Daryl Impey won a stage in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and has some form but as he is not known for his climbing ability, he might try to surge through a breakaway before the Mur de Huy and see if he can hold on.

Realistically, GreenEDGE would be looking for signs of improvement in positioning, more experience for the guys to race together and the team continuing to build-on an already outstanding start to the season.

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Remember this is a new team, a team with lots of young talent and they have already impressed. GreenEDGE are in it for the long haul and we can expect continued amazing feats like Milan-San Remo but more of these will take more time.

The GreenEDGE-AIS Women’s team will be racing the La Flèche Wallonne Feminine. The women’s team have had outstanding results this season and we would hope their good performance continues for this UCI Women’s World Cup Race.

Their team: Amanda Spratt, Claudia Häusler, Judith Arndt, Linda Villumsen, Loes Gunnewijk, Tiffany Cromwell.

Australian Road Champion Amanda Spratt recently placed fourth in the Ronde Van Gelderland German Judith Arndt and Netherlands rider Loes Gunnewijk are also racing very well with victories earlier this season in Northern Europe.

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