• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

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

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 .
PDC_3846.jpg


I couldn't wait any longer for someone else to do the thread. The 100th edition of the Tour of Flanders is here. One last year of Spartacus v Tornado Tom.

Startlist (not complete yet)

TEAM KATUSHA
1 KRISTOFF Alexander
2 BYSTROM Sven Erik
3 GUARNIERI Jacopo
4 HALLER Marco
5 KOZONTCHUK Dmitriy
6 KUZNETSOV Vyacheslav
7 LAGUTIN Sergey
8 MORKOV Michael

TINKOFF TEAM
11 SAGAN Peter
13 BLYTHE Adam
14 BODNAR Maciej
15 GATTO Oscar
16 GOGL Michael
17 KOLAR Michal
18 TRUSOV Nikolai

ETIXX - QUICK STEP

21 BOONEN Tom
22 KEISSE Iljo
23 MAES Nikolas
24 STYBAR Zdenek
25 TERPSTRA Niki
26 TRENTIN Matteo
27 VANDENBERGH Stijn
28 MARTIN Tony

LOTTO - SOUDAL
31 ROELANDTS Jurgen
32 GREIPEL André
33 BENOOT Tiesj
34 DE BUYST Jasper
35 BAK Lars Ytting
36 DE BIE Sean
37 SIEBERG Marcel
38 WALLAYS Jelle

TREK FACTORY RACING
41 CANCELLARA Fabian
42 DEVOLDER Stijn
43 STUYVEN Jasper
44 POPOVYCH Yaroslav
45 RAST Grégory
46 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel
47 THEUNS Edward
48 VAN POPPEL Boy

BMC RACING TEAM
51 VAN AVERMAET Greg
52 DRUCKER Jean Pierre
53 KUENG Stefan
54 OSS Daniel
55 PHINNEY Taylor
56 QUINZIATO Manuel
57 SCHÄR Michael
58 BURGHARDT Marcus

TEAM LOTTO NL - JUMBO
61 VANMARCKE Sep
62 TANKINK Bram
63 TEUNISSEN Mike
64 TJALLINGII Maarten
65 VAN ASBROECK Tom
66 VAN EMDEN Jos
67 LEEZER Tom
68 WYNANTS Maarten

TEAM SKY
71 KWIATKOWSKI Michal
72 KNEES Christian
73 FENN Andrew
74 PUCCIO Salvatore
75 ROWE Luke
76 STANNARD Ian
77 THOMAS Geraint
78 VIVIANI Elia

DIMENSION DATA
81 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
82 BRAMMEIER Matthew
83 DOUGALL Nick
84 EISEL Bernhard
85 FARRAR Tyler
86 JANSE VAN RENSBURG
87 REGUIGUI Youcef
88 THOMSON Jay Robert

AG2R LA MONDIALE
91 BAGDONAS Gediminas
92 DANIEL Maxime
93 GAUDIN Damien
94 GOUGEARD Alexis
95 HOULE Hugo
96 MINARD Sébastien
97 SERGENT Jesse
98 TURGOT Sébastien

ASTANA PRO TEAM
101 BOOM Lars
102 DE VREESE Laurens
103 FUGLSANG Jakob
104 GRIVKO Andriy
105 LUTSENKO Alexey
106 SMUKULIS Gatis
107 TLEUBAYEV Ruslan
108 WESTRA Lieuwe

CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM
111 BAUER Jack
112 BETTIOL Alberto
113 BEVIN Patrick
114 BRESCHEL Matti
115 LANGEVELD Sebastian
116 SKJERPING Kristoffer
117 SKUJINS Toms
118 VAN BAARLE Dylan

FDJ
121 DEMARE Arnaud
122 DELAGE Mickael
123 FISCHER Murilo Antonio
124 HOELGAARD Daniel
125 KONOVALOVAS Ignatas
126 LADAGNOUS Matthieu
127 LE BON Johan
128 LE GAC Olivier

IAM CYCLING
131 HAUSSLER Heinrich
132 ELMIGER Martin
133 DEVENYNS Dries
134 HOLLENSTEIN Reto
135 KLUGE Roger
136 LAENGEN Vegard Stake
137 NAESEN Oliver
138 SARAMOTINS Aleksejs

LAMPRE - MERIDA
141 CATTANEO Mattia
142 FARIA DA COSTA Mario Jorge
143 FENG Chun Kai
144 FERRARI Roberto
145 KUMP Marko
146 MODOLO Sacha
147 PIBERNIK Luka
148 ZURLO Federico

MOVISTAR TEAM
151 AMADOR BIKKAZAKOVA Andrey
152 ARCAS PEÑA Jorge
153 SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA Nelson Filipe
154 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose
155 QUINTANA ROJAS Dayer Uberney
156 ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin
157 SÜTTERLIN Jasha
158 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José

ORICA GREENEDGE
161 BEWLEY Sam
162 DOCKER Mitchell
163 DURBRIDGE Luke
164 MEZGEC Luka
165 JUUL JENSEN Christopher
166 KEUKELEIRE Jens
167 CORT NIELSEN Magnus
168 TUFT Svein

TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN
171 ANDERSEN Søren Kragh
172 ARNDT Nikias
173 CURVERS Roy
174 DE BACKER Bert
175 DE KORT Koen
176 SINKELDAM Ramon
177 TIMMER Albert
178 WAEYTENS Zico

TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - BALOISE
181 VAN HECKE Preben
182 DECLERCQ Tim
183 HELVEN Sander
184 STEELS Stijn
185 CAPIOT Amaury
186 VAN HOECKE Gijs
187 VAN LERBERGHE Bert
188 VANSPEYBROUCK Pieter

WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT
191 ANTONINI Simone
192 BACKAERT Frederik
193 BAUGNIES Jérôme
194 CLAEYS Dimitri
195 MARCATO Marco
196 MCNALLY Mark
197 THURAU Bjorn
198 VAN MELSEN Kevin

BORA-ARGON 18
201 ARCHBOLD Shane
202 BARTA Jan
203 DEMPSTER Zakkari
204 MATZKA Ralf
205 PFINGSTEN Christoph
206 POSTLBERGER Lukas
207 SCHILLINGER Andreas
208 THWAITES Scott

CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE
211 KIENDYS Tomasz
212 KUREK Adrian
213 MARYCZ Jaroslaw
214 MATYSIAK Bartlomiej
215 MIHAILOV Nikolai
216 PALUTA Michal
217 PATERSKI Maciej
218 PONZI Simone

DIRECT ENERGIE
221 CHAVANEL Sylvain
222 CARDIS Romain
223 ANDERSON Ryan
224 DUCHESNE Antoine
225 GENE Yohann
226 MORICE Julien
227 PETIT Adrien
228 PICHOT Alexandre

ROOMPOT ORANJE PELOTON
231 ASSELMAN Jesper
232 DE VRIES Berden
233 KERKHOF Tim
234 KREDER Michel
235 KREDER Wesley
236 SLIK Ivar
237 VAN GINNEKEN Sjoerd
238 VAN GOETHEM Brian

SOUTHEAST-VENEZUELA
241 POZZATO Filippo
242 DAL COL Andrea
243 FEDI Andrea
244 FONZI Giuseppe
245 BELLETTI Manuel
246 TEDESCHI Mirko
247 TROSINO Mirko

course-map-640.jpg


profiel.jpg




2015 Results
1 Kristoff
2 Terpstra
3 Van Avermaet
4 Sagan
5 Benoot
6 Boom
7 Degenkolb
8 Roelandts
9 Stybar
10 Elmiger

Recent Winners
2015 KRISTOFF Alexander
2014 CANCELLARA Fabian
2013 CANCELLARA Fabian
2012 BOONEN Tom
2011 NUYENS Nick
2010 CANCELLARA Fabian
2009 DEVOLDER Stijn
2008 DEVOLDER Stijn
2007 BALLAN Alessandro
2006 BOONEN Tom
2005 BOONEN Tom

My rating:

*****Cancellara, Sagan, GVA
****Kwiatkowski, Stybar, Terpstra
***Kristoff, Vanmarcke
**Roelandts, Benoot, Stannard, Boonen, Thomas
* Stuyven, Boom, Trentin, Rowe, EBH
 
I feel like there are 3 guys under the most internal pressure to get a win here or at Roubaix - GVA, Sagan, and Cancellara. Sagan and GVA are obvious. Cancellara has nothing to prove to anyone but it's been obvious for some time that he wants to go out on top. He's been knocked out by injury too often in the latter part of his career and I think he wants to be able to say he was the best when he retired. The tremendous form he's shown only adds to it.

I really think one of those guys will take it. It would be nice to see Canc go out with a bang but I'd be just as happy for GVA. A Terpstra or Sagan win would be also ok. I don't think Boonen is going to be there at the finish but I don't expect him to be completely anonymous. All the pressure is on Stypstra. One of those guys has to be able to go with the key move when it happens.

Sky also looks surprisingly strong and could play a significant role, though I do wonder how Thomas is going to be, having not done a single cobbled race this year.
 
Re:

jaylew said:
I feel like there are 3 guys under the most internal pressure to get a win here or at Roubaix - GVA, Sagan, and Cancellara. Sagan and GVA are obvious. Cancellara has nothing to prove to anyone but it's been obvious for some time that he wants to go out on top. He's been knocked out by injury too often in the latter part of his career and I think he wants to be able to say he was the best when he retired. The tremendous form he's shown only adds to it.

I really think one of those guys will take it. It would be nice to see Canc go out with a bang but I'd be just as happy for GVA. A Terpstra or Sagan win would be also ok. I don't think Boonen is going to be there at the finish but I don't expect him to be completely anonymous. All the pressure is on Stypstra. One of those guys has to be able to go with the key move when it happens.

Sky also looks surprisingly strong and could play a significant role, though I do wonder how Thomas is going to be, having not done a single cobbled race this year.

When you say "internal pressure", do you mean within the team? Seems to me that Cancellara, Sagan and GvA actually don't have much pressure as they already have decent wins this spring. On the other hand the Etixx trio of Boonen, Stybar and Terpstra must be under immense pressure to not come up empty handed again. Vanmarcke also needs a win.
 
I meant within themselves. I just think it's super important for those guys to pick up a monument this year. I feel like the pressure for the Etixx guys is from the public and also from the team management but that pressure is aimed more at the team collectively.
 
Spartacus is the overwhelming favorite for me, barring crashes or mechanicals. I doubt anybody can stay with him on the Kwaremont. And even in that case, he could win the sprint.

**** Cancellara
*** Sagan, GVA, Vanmarcke
** Terpstra, Stybar, Kwiatkowski, Kristoff, Rowe
* Boonen, Benoot, Lutsenko, Boom, Stuyven, Demare, Stannard
 
I just noticed the change in the route this year, though I have read earlier, last years route will stick for this year too. To me, it looks tougher to last year, as there are some serious helingen after first time kwaremont - patersberg combo. Is it really so?
If yes, then with cancellara in tremendous form, we could really see some carnage much sooner then last year, and the year before. Imho Kristoff has no chance this year, and he would have none even if the route was same as last year, which clearly is not the case.
For me, there is are only few questions left.

Will Fabian come to the finish alone or will Sagan be able to stay with him till the end this time?
Will Avarmaet join the battle?
Could some long range attack mix the card in a way, that those 2(or 3) will join him only during the last paterberg and then he would be able to stay with them?
 
In my opinion there are only two riders who deserve a 5 star ranking here: Cancellara and Sagan.

Van Avermaet needs to come up with an attack before the aforementioned duo unleashes hell. Otherwise he will not be able to follow. Adding to that, Fabian has a better team than he's ever had at Trek. He won't have to close down every single move like in 2014 Flanders, where Greg had that advantage.

Big joker to me is Vanmarcke. He looked like he was back to his best in Gent Wevelgem.
 
Feb 6, 2016
1,213
0
0
Visit site
Scarponi said:
Surely Rowe has to be Sky leader over Thomas?

Kwiatkowski, no? Rowe's better suited to Roubaix, it strikes me, and Kwiat's my number one favourite: he's in form, he should have an excellent team behind him (who are racing with a tactical aptitude putting EQS to shame) and De Ronde seems to suit him. I know Thomas wanted to win this race, but I don't think he can, and his illness may well be a blessing in disguise if it means he doesn't demand leadership and instead works for Kwiat. The Lion of Essex could lead, I guess, but he hasn't raced much recently.
 
Re:

tomorrow said:
I just noticed the change in the route this year, though I have read earlier, last years route will stick for this year too. To me, it looks tougher to last year, as there are some serious helingen after first time kwaremont - patersberg combo. Is it really so?

Same as last year.
 
Re: Re:

kareeem said:
tomorrow said:
I just noticed the change in the route this year, though I have read earlier, last years route will stick for this year too. To me, it looks tougher to last year, as there are some serious helingen after first time kwaremont - patersberg combo. Is it really so?

Same as last year.

There are minor changes, they won't affect the race too much. In particular,
- Distance is 9 km shorter
- Tiegemberg is replaced by Huiseportiweg and Holleweg by Jagerij, so overall 2 km more of cobbles

edit: actually, there is a mistake in the official profile, omitting Holleweg means also omitting the second part of Kerkgate (aka Karel Martelstraat), which is 1 km long, so only 1 km of cobbles more after all.
 
Re: Re:

togo95 said:
kareeem said:
tomorrow said:
I just noticed the change in the route this year, though I have read earlier, last years route will stick for this year too. To me, it looks tougher to last year, as there are some serious helingen after first time kwaremont - patersberg combo. Is it really so?

Same as last year.

There are minor changes, they won't affect the race too much. In particular,
- Distance is 9 km shorter
- Tiegemberg is replaced by Huiseportiweg and Holleweg by Jagerij, so overall 2 km more of cobbles

Sure but the crucial part after the first Kwaremont-Patersberg combo is the same.
 
Stannard confirms that him and Rowe will play the role as super-doms for Kwiatkowski and Thomas in Flanders but will lead the team in Roubaix.

"Stannard came home three minutes down on Tuesday's opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne as he felt his way back into action. He will be expected to assume the mantle of leadership for Sky at Paris-Roubaix – "It's more the one that suits me, I guess" – and he will likely set out from Bruges on Sunday in a supporting role at the Tour of Flanders, where E3 Harelbeke winner Michal Kwiatkowski and Paris-Nice winner Geraint Thomas will top the bill for the British team.

"Kwiatkowski showed the other day what he can do on these climbs, which is awesome and gives us more strength. Geraint is coming in too and he really wants to go for Flanders, so we're going to have a good strong team to support those guys," he said. "Luke [Rowe] was up there on Sunday as well, so that bodes well for this weekend.""
 
Re:

Velolover2 said:
Stannard confirms that him and Rowe will play the role as super-doms for Kwiatkowski and Thomas in Flanders but will lead the team in Roubaix.

"Stannard came home three minutes down on Tuesday's opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne as he felt his way back into action. He will be expected to assume the mantle of leadership for Sky at Paris-Roubaix – "It's more the one that suits me, I guess" – and he will likely set out from Bruges on Sunday in a supporting role at the Tour of Flanders, where E3 Harelbeke winner Michal Kwiatkowski and Paris-Nice winner Geraint Thomas will top the bill for the British team.

"Kwiatkowski showed the other day what he can do on these climbs, which is awesome and gives us more strength. Geraint is coming in too and he really wants to go for Flanders, so we're going to have a good strong team to support those guys," he said. "Luke [Rowe] was up there on Sunday as well, so that bodes well for this weekend.""

What they need now is to replace Fenn or Viviani with Moscon
 
This is about the only time of year I really like to discuss contenders for victory.

For me, it is obvious that Cancellara and Sagan are really, really good. 5 *****

There are some guys that should be able to follow the accellerations up the Kwaremont and Paterberg, most likely Van Avermaet, Vanmarcke, Kwiatkowski. Those get 4.5 ****1/2

Just below, there are guys like Stannard and current-form Kristoff, that will probably miss the explosive accelleration on the cobbled hills, or those who are likely fading just that little bit compared to Sagan and Cancellara because of the distance (Stybar, Benoot). All 4 well deserved ****

I would like to give Thomas and Terpstra also four stars, but they haven't fully convinced me the last couple of weeks and do not seem to be able to get rid of some faster sprinters so 3.5 ***1/2

Below those are the 3 star riders like Boonen, Demare, EBH, ... ***

so in short:
5 stars: Canc, Sagan
4.5 stars: Van avermaet, Vanmarcke, Kwiatkowski
4 stars: Stannard, Stybar, Benoot
3.5 stars: Thomas, Terpstra
3 stars: Boonen, Demare, EBH
 

TRENDING THREADS