2011 cobbled season

[Kvinto]

Nice list, I like it

Thanks

These. All people with something spectacular to do in 2011. The former had an awful 2010 - by his standards, anyway - and the latter two are really knocking on the door of sustained golden greatness.

Something nags at me about Boonen though. I don't know whether he will actually get around to destroying everyone else in 2011.

Not sure how Haussler will play with Hushovd. Suppose they'll have to split things between them. But they have such a stacked team behind them both.

It will be all seen when the season starts. Many things (but not all) will be revealed only after first Omloop and Kuurne. These are too unpredictable kind of races, never know what will happen.
Boonen is very strong on cobbles, I think he is the best of current riders for Roubaix, but expectations of him are sometimes too high. First of all I’m about Roubaix chasing group. I don’t know what happened but it was looked like all of them were thinking that Boonen can catch Cancellara alone (everybody knows that Fabian is the best in TT, and Roubaix is not consist only of cobbles). As for Haussler and Breschel they are my pre-season bet for northern classics, I like them both. In Garmin, I think will be: Haussler for Ronde, Hushovd for Roubaix (but Haussler will be close).

 

[taiwan]

Katusha as a team are being underrated methinks. Pippo, Gusev, Hoste and Kuchynski should be able to pull something off between them.

For the Roubaix: Boonen or Hushovd.

Flanders: Gilbert or Haussler, without thinking too hard.

[edit] and Phinney may live up to the hype by taking a minor classic or placing in a major one.

 

[ingsve]

"And then you took the words right out of my mouth" - Meatloaf

Have you guys been kissing?

 

[momomomo]

Boonens coming back with a bang. Winning at least 1 monument.

As a big Vacon fan really want Stijn to get something.

Would like to see EBH do a top 5 or so in a monument or win one of the other ones.

Gilbert? Can he win RVV? maybe though i prefer someone else.

DOnt think Hushovd will win Roubaix unless Canc doesnt run and Boonen is off form. Hushovd has balls so i guess he could do it, but i hope he does something other than wheelsuck to the finish and outsprint, which is what he did to get 1st in stage 3 Arenberg and a tad unfairly to the one antonio in Roubaix in 2010.

This is not the first time you claim that Thor sucked Flechas wheel in P-R, but unless you have seen some footage I did not there is nothing showing those guys for more than 10-15 seconds before the Velodrome...

Care to enlighten me?

 

[The Hitch]

This is not the first time you claim that Thor sucked Flechas wheel in P-R, but unless you have seen some footage I did not there is nothing showing those guys for more than 10-15 seconds before the Velodrome...

Care to enlighten me?

Flecha clapped as they crossed the line. At first i thought it was a very nice thing to do, to clap an opponenet as they get 2nd But then it turned out he was clapping sarcastically because he felt Hushovd was wheelsucking.

Then in Arenberg stage 3, he did the same, didnt take a turn, though i think it was fair because Cancellara had screwed Thor the day before, and as i always say, you shouldnt get involved in other peoples battles.

Like i said i think Hushovd has balls and i hope to be able to root for another epic green jersey performance this year. But on this front- cobbles, its not just me who claims Hushovd doesnt do his fair share. In fact during Arenberg, some posters here were posing unpleasant things about thor, and many still do.

But you might be right. I am basing this pretty much on the one antonio, and maybe, since he was Hushovds opponent, i shouldnt trust what Flecha says.

 

[maltiv]

Flecha clapped as they crossed the line. At first i thought it was a very nice thing to do, to clap an opponenet as they get 2nd But then it turned out he was clapping sarcastically because he felt Hushovd was wheelsucking.

Then in Arenberg stage 3, he did the same, didnt take a turn, though i think it was fair because Cancellara had screwed Thor the day before, and as i always say, you shouldnt get involved in other peoples battles.

Like i said i think Hushovd has balls and i hope to be able to root for another epic green jersey performance this year. But on this front- cobbles, its not just me who claims Hushovd doesnt do his fair share. In fact during Arenberg, some posters here were posing unpleasant things about thor, and many still do.

But you might be right. I am basing this pretty much on the one antonio, and maybe, since he was Hushovds opponent, i shouldnt trust what Flecha says.

I agree about Hushovd, but he is simply not as strong as the likes of Cancellara and Boonen, but on the other hand, he has a stronger sprint, so obviously his tactic will be a lot more defensive. It's sometimes too defensive though, and I hope he realises now that 2. or 3. is worthless.

On stage 3 in TDF this year he had simply no reason to do anything at the front. Why would he? Even if the group behind them had caught up with them Hushovd would (most likely) still have won the stage, and I see no logical reason as to why he would help Cancellara.

 

[Parrulo]

with no canc boonen and breshel are the only ones i can think of. i watched RVV this afternoon and breshel was super strong. he was just unlucky with the bike change and canc attaking the first time before he got back to the pack. and boonen. . . well he is boonen