105th Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 4th, 2021

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I either lost in your post or I don't understand. The only year when Kristoff won Tour of Flanders was in 2015, that was when he was in leading duo with Terpstra and GvA and Sagan duo was chasing them.

Maybe you mean Kristoff's MSR win?
Kristoff never loses the sprint in Vlaanderen or Roubaix, it's just rarely for 1st.

2020, wins sprint for 3rd
2019, wins sprint for 3rd
2018, 16th, loses small group sprint to Demare
2017, wins sprint for 5th
2016, wins sprint for 4th
2015, wins 2 man sprint for the win
2014, finishes 5th solo
2013, wins sprint for 4th

Roubaix he won the group sprint for 9th/ 10th both times he didn't finish 15 minutes down or DNF.
 
Kristoff never loses the sprint in Vlaanderen or Roubaix, it's just rarely for 1st.

2020, wins sprint for 3rd
2019, wins sprint for 3rd
2018, 16th, loses small group sprint to Demare
2017, wins sprint for 5th
2016, wins sprint for 4th
2015, wins 2 man sprint for the win
2014, finishes 5th solo
2013, wins sprint for 4th

Roubaix he won the group sprint for 9th/ 10th both times he didn't finish 15 minutes down or DNF.
Yeah, he has 7 top 5 results out of 9 times that he raced the RVV, really impressive.
 
It's actually a bit surprising to me that his results are so poor in Roubaix.
Roubaix cobbles are a different kind of cobbles and the sectors are much longer. Greipel for example has a top 10 result in Roubaix, but usually he was always better on the short cobbled climbs than on the Roubaix sectors or the Poggio. It's probably multiple anaerobic efforts vs multiple efforts that are close to your vo2 max power or even longer. Roubaix seems to suit strong TTers more.
 
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Kristoff never loses the sprint in Vlaanderen or Roubaix, it's just rarely for 1st.

2020, wins sprint for 3rd
2019, wins sprint for 3rd
2018, 16th, loses small group sprint to Demare
2017, wins sprint for 5th
2016, wins sprint for 4th
2015, wins 2 man sprint for the win
2014, finishes 5th solo
2013, wins sprint for 4th

Roubaix he won the group sprint for 9th/ 10th both times he didn't finish 15 minutes down or DNF.
Oh, I see your point now. I thought you suggested a winning strategy for Sagan and you've just suggested a strategy that would bring a very good result with more chance than trying to win. I don't think this is very "Sagan-ish" strategy. Also after this race, his preparation for giro starts, so I think(or just maybe only hope) he can go deep tomorrow.
 
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Oh, I see your point now. I thought you suggested a winning strategy for Sagan and you've just suggested a strategy that would bring a very good result with more chance than trying to win. I don't think this is very "Sagan-ish" strategy. Also after this race, his preparation for giro starts, so I think(or just maybe only hope) he can go deep tomorrow.

Has he confirmed he will do the Giro?
 
Sagan: "Haha what is happening"

giphy.gif
 
The most experienced rider is Marcus Burghardt (Bora). He starts for the sixteenth time. He only had one DNF. His best result was seventh in 2009 - two years after his in Gent-Wevelgem.

Imanol Erviti (Movistar) also starts for the sixteenth time, but he had three DNFs. His best result was also seventh, in 2016.

Burghardt will probably stay with Sagan and Politt, but Erviti might join the early attackers. Here's my prediction for the long breakaway:
  • Loïc Vliegen (Intermarché)
  • Pieter Vanspeybroeck (Intermarché)
  • Fabio Van Den Bossche (Sport Vlaanderen)
  • Thimo Willems (Sport Vlaanderen)
  • Kenneth Vanbilsen (Cofidis)
  • Timothy Dupont (Bingoal)
  • Cyril Lemoine (B&B)
  • Imanol Erviti (Movistar)
  • Max Walscheid (Qhubeka)
  • Marco Haller (Bahrein)
  • Nikita Stalnov (Astana)
 
The most experienced rider is Marcus Burghardt (Bora). He starts for the sixteenth time. He only had one DNF. His best result was seventh in 2009 - two years after his in Gent-Wevelgem.

Imanol Erviti (Movistar) also starts for the sixteenth time, but he had three DNFs. His best result was also seventh, in 2016.

Burghardt will probably stay with Sagan and Politt, but Erviti might join the early attackers. Here's my prediction for the long breakaway:
  • Loïc Vliegen (Intermarché)
  • Pieter Vanspeybroeck (Intermarché)
  • Fabio Van Den Bossche (Sport Vlaanderen)
  • Thimo Willems (Sport Vlaanderen)
  • Kenneth Vanbilsen (Cofidis)
  • Timothy Dupont (Bingoal)
  • Cyril Lemoine (B&B)
  • Imanol Erviti (Movistar)
  • Max Walscheid (Qhubeka)
  • Marco Haller (Bahrein)
  • Nikita Stalnov (Astana)

Sometimes, I think people are a bit silly for predicting entire top tens because that's impossible to get right. But this seems reasonable...
 
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For my own use, I have created a shortlist of the 33 riders who have odds 151 or shorter on Betfair. Maybe someone else also finds this helpful:
nummernavnLagOdds
1​
VAN DER POEL MathieuAlpecin-Fenix
4​
11​
ALAPHILIPPE Julian Deceuninck - Quick Step
8,5​
12​
ASGREEN Kasper Deceuninck - Quick Step
10​
13​
BALLERINI Davide Deceuninck - Quick Step
67​
15​
SÉNÉCHAL Florian Deceuninck - Quick Step
15​
16​
LAMPAERT Yves Deceuninck - Quick Step
21​
21​
VAN AVERMAET Greg AG2R Citroën Team
26​
23​
NAESEN Oliver AG2R Citroën Team
41​
31​
VAN AERT Wout Team Jumbo-Visma
3,75​
41​
DEGENKOLB John Lotto Soudal
151​
47​
WELLENS Tim Lotto Soudal
71​
51​
STUYVEN Jasper Trek - Segafredo
26​
55​
PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo
34​
61​
SAGAN Peter BORA - hansgrohe
21​
65​
POLITT Nils BORA - hansgrohe
51​
71​
BETTIOL Alberto EF Education - Nippo
126​
73​
VALGREN Michael EF Education - Nippo
67​
81​
VANMARCKE Sep Israel Start-Up Nation
51​
91​
BENOOT Tiesj Team DSM
67​
94​
KRAGH ANDERSEN Søren Team DSM
67​
101​
MATTHEWS Michael Team BikeExchange
41​
111​
KRISTOFF Alexander UAE-Team Emirates
26​
116​
TRENTIN Matteo UAE-Team Emirates
51​
121​
CAMPENAERTS Victor Team Qhubeka ASSOS
151​
124​
NIZZOLO Giacomo Team Qhubeka ASSOS
67​
141​
LAPORTE Christophe Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
67​
151​
COLBRELLI Sonny Bahrain - Victorious
151​
152​
TEUNS Dylan Bahrain - Victorious
101​
161​
KÜNG Stefan Groupama - FDJ
67​
171​
PIDCOCK Thomas INEOS Grenadiers
41​
177​
VAN BAARLE Dylan INEOS Grenadiers
21​
191​
GARCÍA CORTINA Iván Movistar Team
101​
246​
TURGIS Anthony Team Total Direct Energie
41​
 
Stybar missing it sucks for the race. Think he would be most likely of the others than the big 3 to follow them and would have made a interesting tactical situation. Oh well, will still be.a good race. Looking forward to follow bargirl.