105th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 4th, 2021

[Samu Cuenca]

Lineup Trek-Segafredo (guys):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1377558059585769476

It looks like a good team until you realize they haven't actually got a single top-10 finish between them.

 

[SafeBet]

Slongo sure has the weight to go well on cobbles.

 

[tobydawq]

It looks like a good team until you realize they haven't actually got a single top-10 finish between them.

Well, they say experience counts for a lot in De Ronde.

 

[Sciatic]

They haven’t posted a timetable on the official race website and I can’t find one elsewhere. Trying to figure out how early I need to wake up—approx what time (central Eur) will they be getting to the 2nd Oude Kwaremont?

 

[search]

Trying to figure out how early I need to wake up—approx what time (central Eur) will they be getting to the 2nd Oude Kwaremont?

14:44 according to the quickest schedule, 15:25 on the slowest

 

[Sciatic]

14:44 according to the quickest schedule, 15:25 on the slowest

Thanks!

 

[Lequack]

Trentin will be riding his new double disc brakes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1377519885526384645

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1377519885526384645?s=20

 

[Lequack]

And Jumbo is going all yellow for Ronde

 

[Vesica]

^^ April fools joke...pretty stupid and bad joke. At least the team thinks its funny on instagram. This design is so much better than the boring and ugly black and yellow bike.

 

[Ranagazoo]

No, that article seems to have a map of 2019. It's not in the course this year.

I wonder why it's missing this year? They removed it last year because they wanted a shorter course due to how busy the October calendar was, don't really have that excuse this year.

 

[Volderke]

I wonder why it's missing this year? They removed it last year because they wanted a shorter course due to how busy the October calendar was, don't really have that excuse this year.

I think the main reason is they wanted to make the 2021 parcours even more compact; in that way, they can more easily control all potential fan traffic trying to get in the hill zone.

 

[KZD]

Its incredible how last year Paris Roubaix was the only of the major cycling races cancelled and this year is the only one being postponed, at least until now.

 

[search]

Its incredible how last year Paris Roubaix was the only of the major cycling races cancelled and this year is the only one being postponed, at least until now.

not having any experience with running the race (or sports events in public in general) is probably exactly one of the main reasons. They couldn't handle it with lower infection numbers last year, making the hurdle even bigger now. It's similar in Germany, where basically everything was cancelled again

 

[Leinster]

not having any experience with running the race (or sports events in public in general) is probably exactly one of the main reasons. They couldn't handle it with lower infection numbers last year, making the hurdle even bigger now. It's similar in Germany, where basically everything was cancelled again

Yeah, if only ASO had got the experience of running a large bike racing event in 2020.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Van Avermaet: 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
Verbeeck: 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
Kelly: 2, 2, 2, 4, 8
Moser: 2, 2, 4, 7
Maertens: 2, 5, 6, 8, 8

I'd say Greg has the upper hand here. He animated the finale more than the other guys (trademark Paterberg presence) and was more in contention than for instance Kelly, who only got his honorary places in group sprints and sprinted for victory just the once. Verbeeck has an amazing track record too, but those were other times with a much smaller 'top level field'. Okay, he had to battle Merckx and other legends, but Greg faced Boonen and Cancellara who are 2 of the very best cobblestone riders ever (Boonen actually being the best) and modern phenomenons whose names I don't need to write down. Also GVA broke his collarbone when being a very big favourite, ánd he is still counting (c'mon you old man) .

Safe to say: all the riders above would deserve a spot on the Ronde van Vlaanderen palmares. But (un)fortunately that's not how it works.

I'd say that Greg could be called the guy with the best results in the RVV who hasn't won the race, but not the best one day racer who hasn't won it. Moser and Kelly are atg one day racers and while Greg has a good palmares you can't compare it to those guys.
About Sunday, I fancy a French winner...

 

[Pantani_lives]

My stars. I think it the men's race will be between the Big Three and DQSt as a team - which gives Alaphilippe two chances to win: as a strong individual or as part of a team strategy. The women's race will probably get another Dutch winner.

Men:
****Van Aert, Van der Poel
***Alaphilippe, Asgreen
**Stuyven, Pedersen, Lampaert, Stybar
*Sagan, Matthews, Van Avermaet, Naesen, Van Baarle, Pidcock, Trentin, Küng

Women:
****Van der Breggen, VDB-Blaak
***Vos, Van Vleuten
**Bastianelli, Kopecky, Brown
*Deignan, Longo Borghini, Niewiadoma, Uttrup, D'hoore, Pieters

 

[search]

About Sunday, I fancy a French winner...

 

[Mayomaniac]

I was more thinking about Turgis and Laporte, but a Wawa win is always welcome.

 

[tobydawq]

I was more thinking about Turgis and Laporte, but a Wawa win is always welcome.

We don't know two French guys for a rather good cobbles classics team who have a better chance for a win than either of those three?

 

[Wvv]

I'd say that Greg could be called the guy with the best results in the RVV who hasn't won the race, but not the best one day racer who hasn't won it. Moser and Kelly are atg one day racers and while Greg has a good palmares you can't compare it to those guys.

Quite exactly what I meant. He's the best 'Ronde-cyclist' without the win. Didn't say the best cyclist.
(Although Greg's regularity in nowadays pro cycling deserves praise, unfortunately winning is so difficult.)

 

[Red Rick]

How often did GvA get really close to winning tho? Like once?

 

[tobydawq]

How often did GvA get really close to winning tho? Like once?

What is really close?

 

[Red Rick]

What is really close?

Being in the winning move over the final Paterberg.

 

[tobydawq]

Being in the winning move over the final Paterberg.

Then yes, only once (2014). But I don't think that is close to telling the whole story.

 

[topcat]

Sean Kelly: the cyclist who came closest to winning de ronde without actually winning it.
Alaphillipe to win on Sunday (he's lucky Kelly's not riding).