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100th Ronde Van Vlaanderen - April 3rd, 2016 - 255.9k

Page 4 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

The new King of Flanders will come from what team?

  • Another team

    Votes: 10 7.1%
  • Etixx

    Votes: 10 7.1%
  • Lotto Soudal

    Votes: 7 5.0%
  • Trek

    Votes: 45 32.1%
  • Sky

    Votes: 15 10.7%
  • Tinkoff

    Votes: 30 21.4%
  • LottoNL

    Votes: 7 5.0%
  • BMC

    Votes: 8 5.7%
  • Katusha

    Votes: 6 4.3%
  • Astana

    Votes: 2 1.4%

  • Total voters
    140
  • Poll closed .
May 26, 2015
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No, he is stronger. Not a single rider has been able to match Sagan on those muurs.

Fabian has been beating everybody on TTs and having great performances. It's just that Sagan is better, right now. :)
 
Re: Re:

DFA123 said:
del1962 said:
Has G's lack of cobbled races this year meant that he is not got a chance?
I think he's got no chance. He never lasted the distance in RVV even when really focusing on the race, so I don't see how that would change now he's lost weight and tried to turn himself into a climber.

Surely after E3, Sky have to back Kwiatkowski as their number one horse; Thomas could certainly be a useful domestique for him.

I think they should attack with Thomas relatively early in the race. But he can't do it all alone. Riding along with a rider like Terpsta or Vanmacke in a break would be perfect for him.

Kwiatkowski who can rely on his fast sprint should be focusing on being in the group of favorites such as Cancellara and Sagan without doing any attacks. He can beat them both in a sprint after a long race.
 
Re:

pedromiguelmartins said:
No, he is stronger. Not a single rider has been able to match Sagan on those muurs.

Fabian has been beating everybody on TTs and having great performances. It's just that Sagan is better, right now. :)
Sagan is probably the best in the world on the hellingen when relatively fresh. What is he like on the Kwaremont and Paterberg after 240km and with 2000m+ of explosive, cobbled climbing in his legs. That is the unknown question right now. We know Cancellara will probably remain super strong throughout the race, has Sagan improved enough this year to match his endurance?
 
Re: Re:

DonEsteban said:
pedromiguelmartins said:
Sagan to win solo after dropping Fabian on the Patenberg
I can image Sagan dropping Fabian on Patenberg, but Fabian should be able to catch him on the flat ... only to be outsprinted by Sagan at the end. :)

Actually, though a little bit altered, it could be a really nice tactics from Fabian to beat Sagan. If Fabian feels he can't drop sagan on paterberg, then actually act a little, let sagan to get some small gap, and then pursue him without closing the gap to the point(but still be able to do it whenever he wants), so that Sagan wouldn't have enough time to rest before sprint. Because if Sagan learnt something this sunday, it's that after the pace is easy in the final km, he's able to outsprint fabian. An if he can hold onto him until the last hill, he won't have to work at all the final 3 kms. I think they will have built more than enough gap by that time. Actually, I think it will be clear, than nobody but these two can fight for the win after they climb Paterberg. The only question is, if Sagan is on Fabians wheel there or no.
 
Re: Re:

Velolover2 said:
DFA123 said:
del1962 said:
Has G's lack of cobbled races this year meant that he is not got a chance?
I think he's got no chance. He never lasted the distance in RVV even when really focusing on the race, so I don't see how that would change now he's lost weight and tried to turn himself into a climber.

Surely after E3, Sky have to back Kwiatkowski as their number one horse; Thomas could certainly be a useful domestique for him.

I think they should attack with Thomas relatively early in the race. But he can't do it all alone. Riding along with a rider like Terpsta or Vanmacke in a break would be perfect for him.

Kwiatkowski who can rely on his fast sprint should be focusing on being in the group of favorites such as Cancellara and Sagan without doing any attacks. He can beat them both in a sprint after a long race.

Strong second group (GVA, Kwiatko,Terpstra, Boonen, Thomas ...) after Paterberg will perfectly helps Cance. Duo will have to work perfectly to the end to keep distance and Sagan will probably burn himself. No chance for last km cat mouse game)
I pray to be mistaken again.
 
It still seems very likely, like I said, that Vanmarcke is the one that attacks on Kwaremont / Paterberg and drops e.g. Cancellara.
Just re-watch 2014 or 2013 Roubaix or 2016 GW where he had to lead the chase after the wind broke up the peloton into two pieces.

I won't say Vanmarcke will win this, but in this race he can for sure match any accelleration by Sagan / Cancellara and continue his effort until the end.
 
Mar 31, 2016
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I would like to see Vanmarcke win thi, I really would.

But I doubt he has enough to drop both Cancellara and Sagan right at this moment, and I don't think he can beat them if they get to the finish together. I believe he'll be with Cancellara until the end, but unfortunately don't see him winning.
 
Re:

Txrt said:
I would like to see Vanmarcke win thi, I really would.

But I doubt he has enough to drop both Cancellara and Sagan right at this moment, and I don't think he can beat them if they get to the finish together. I believe he'll be with Cancellara until the end, but unfortunately don't see him winning.
Agree with this. Vanmarcke could easily get to the end in the front group, but he doesn't have the weapon to finish off a race. His TTing / pursuiting isn't good enough to get away from the likes of Canc/Sagan/Kwiatk and he can't outsprint them either. And he is also too well marked and seen as too dangerous to use some clever tactics in the last few km to win solo.

The exception to this may be if somehow Kristoff can make it into the final group after the Paterberg. Then anything could happen, because everyone will try to attack him before the line, and he will struggle to bring back all attacks. Can't see him being there on current form though.
 
Re:

Txrt said:
I would like to see Vanmarcke win thi, I really would.

But I doubt he has enough to drop both Cancellara and Sagan right at this moment, and I don't think he can beat them if they get to the finish together. I believe he'll be with Cancellara until the end, but unfortunately don't see him winning.

I think Vanmarcke can drop Sagan but not Cancellara. If that's the case it would come down to whether Cancellara is willing to follow his wheel and drag Sagan with him or sit back and risk losing. I'd say if Vanmarcke wants the best chance of that happening he needs to go earlier, possibly the Taaienberg, although I'm unsure if it's steep enough. If he goes on the 2nd Kwaremont/Paterberg, Cancellara and Sagan will be there and Cancellara will drag Sagan to the line rather than let Vanmarcke go. However, if that happens I think Kristoff could also be there which would make the finish interesting.
 
Re: Re:

Pantani_lives said:
del1962 said:
Has G's lack of cobbled races this year meant that he is not got a chance?

If by G you mean Geraint Thomas i think he's one of the top five strongest riders, but he has no weapon to finish it. He can't sprint, so he would have to arrive solo. That leaves the question how he can drop Cancellara and co. I think his only chance is if he gets away before the Kwaremont and others think it's too early and start watching each other.

By the way, what do you call the spot where you can find Geraint Thomas? :p
The podium.
 
Anyone but cancellara, sagan or kristoff suits me. yet I think one of them will win. So just hoping a surprise lowkey darkhorse to do well.

However, this is the fifth edition on the new course. And it's still pale in comparison to the one with muur and bosberg, dammit. Yeah the hill combo with kwaremont and paterberg is nice and all, but no match to the suspense of the old finale. Usually route changes do not bother me, but this one seems to do so.
 
I know he will be an outsider but I really hope for Kwiatkowski to take the victory. He showed promise in this race earlier in his carreer and was strong last week at E3. Maybe with a bit of luck he can make one of his attacks stick. He is always entertaining to watch. :)
 
Re: Re:

tomorrow said:
DonEsteban said:
pedromiguelmartins said:
Sagan to win solo after dropping Fabian on the Patenberg
I can image Sagan dropping Fabian on Patenberg, but Fabian should be able to catch him on the flat ... only to be outsprinted by Sagan at the end. :)

Actually, though a little bit altered, it could be a really nice tactics from Fabian to beat Sagan. If Fabian feels he can't drop sagan on paterberg, then actually act a little, let sagan to get some small gap, and then pursue him without closing the gap to the point(but still be able to do it whenever he wants), so that Sagan wouldn't have enough time to rest before sprint. Because if Sagan learnt something this sunday, it's that after the pace is easy in the final km, he's able to outsprint fabian. An if he can hold onto him until the last hill, he won't have to work at all the final 3 kms. I think they will have built more than enough gap by that time. Actually, I think it will be clear, than nobody but these two can fight for the win after they climb Paterberg. The only question is, if Sagan is on Fabians wheel there or no.
I thought about exactly the same :D
However while your tactic seems to be very risky (Fabian can't know if Sagan doesnt maybe hold something back so he cannot catch him on the final kilometers) I think it would definitely make sense for Sagan, if he is the strongest on the Paterberg, to not try an attack because he would be caught anyway. The difference in TT ability is generally the main reason why I think Fabian is the favorite. I wouldnt even say Cancellara will be the strongest on the climbs, I think Sagan matches him, but if Cancellara drops everyone on the Paterberg its game over, however if Sagan drops Cancellara, he will be caught again, and in a sprint I give them almost equal chances. Don't forget, Cance now knows that he must not let Sagan rest, so he wont make it as easy for him as in Gent-Wevelgem.
 
On current racing form its very hard to go past the two main favourites.
My heart says Spartacus & my head says Sagan - I'd be happy with either of those two taking the win.

Would love to see Eddy the Boss up there having a crack as well.
Not a fan of GVA at all but surely Kristoff has good from right now and should be a serious contender??

Really looking forward to this race.
 
Would be rather funny if someone else than Cancellara from Trek took this. So everyone voting 'Trek' will be right, but also wrong because they probably voted Trek with Cancellara in mind.
Not very likely I know. Spartacus would probably need to break his back again for Trek to decide to ride for someone else.
 
Jun 30, 2014
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Re: Re:

Jspear said:
Mayomaniac said:
I have the strange feeling that Cancellara won't be able to win the Ronde, I trust my gut feeling, so if someone is interested in an Avatar bet, please let me know. :)

You're on! :p

Cancellara will win RVV. Do you have a certain rider in mind for the win? Or are you just betting on Cancellara losing? Either way I'll take the avatar bet. Loser has avatar of the winners choosing till the Giro?
No, just Cancellara loosing, so if I win you have the avatar that I choose till the start of the Giro, if you win I'll have the avatar that you choose till the end of the Giro, ok?
 
Aug 16, 2013
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The problem with Eddy is: fine when it's a 1.1 or 1.HC race. But when it's WT, and especially a big classic, the level is too high for him to really fight for the win.

Same story for Flanders next sunday.
 
Re: Re:

Mayomaniac said:
Jspear said:
Mayomaniac said:
I have the strange feeling that Cancellara won't be able to win the Ronde, I trust my gut feeling, so if someone is interested in an Avatar bet, please let me know. :)

You're on! :p

Cancellara will win RVV. Do you have a certain rider in mind for the win? Or are you just betting on Cancellara losing? Either way I'll take the avatar bet. Loser has avatar of the winners choosing till the Giro?
No, just Cancellara loosing, so if I win you have the avatar that I choose till the start of the Giro, if you win I'll have the avatar that you choose till the end of the Giro, ok?

Sure thing! I've got to go find an epic photo. :p
 

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