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2012 Predictions

Page 6 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Jul 16, 2010
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Timmy-loves-Rabo said:
I think that comes down to the more difficult nature of cobblestones tho, very tough area, generally why you see such big selections in these races.

Still, cobblestoned is talking bs again. But.. ardennes imo have become oh so bland and boring in recent years. At the cobbles we see selections and chaos. At the ardennes we see action in the dying stages. Terrrible racing imo. One of teh reasons I like GlB more probably, it is more chaotic.

Last year the Ardennes were much better than the cobbled classics. This year it was kinda boring for a lot of people, I agree. But that's because the Schlecks only have one brain between them.

I'd like some course changes in the Ardennes:

- FW needs to change desperately, so it won't become an uphill sprint all the time.
- Amstel Gold Race should finish 3km or so after the Cauberg to shake up the race a bit. Now Phil will always win.


==

But these days the competition in the cobbled classics is a bit lacking. Boonen isn't like he used to be anymore and Gilbert never shows up in top shape at the cobbled classics. Most hilly classic specialists also decide to skip the Ronde even though it could suit them. I'm thinking of guys like Valverde, Kolobnev, Ivanov, Vinokourov, Rebellin, Cadel Evans, etc
 
Jun 22, 2009
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El Pistolero said:
Last year the Ardennes were much better than the cobbled classics. This year it was kinda boring for a lot of people, I agree. But that's because the Schlecks only have one brain between them.

I'd like some course changes in the Ardennes:

- FW needs to change desperately, so it won't become an uphill sprint all the time.
- Amstel Gold Race should finish 3km or so after the Cauberg to shake up the race a bit. Now Phil will always win.

Well canc. domination was dissapointing, but other then LBL the ardennes races still pretty much sucked last year with sprints up the finale. The smaller races were still pretty good in the cobbles last year; e3, omloop, ddv etc. I find myself liking the nature of the Ardennes less every year. LBL is the best of the 3.
 
Jul 16, 2010
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will10 said:
The Ardennes would've had to be fricking epic to be a better race than 2011 Flanders.

Gilbert, Cadel Evans, Greg van Avermaet vs Valverde, Visconti vs Andy, Frank Schleck, Oliver Zaugg, Cancellara(once he stops being a wuss and goes for the hilly classics) vs Alberto Contador vs Vinokourov, Kreuziger vs Rebellin :cool:
 
Jun 16, 2009
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jencredible said:
Let's try this again:

Olympic Road: Cav
Olympic TT: Panzerwagon

World Road: Piti
World TT: Spartacus
TTT: Sky

MSR: Oscarito
RvV: Gilbert
PR: Spartacus
LBL: Gilbert
GL: Squalo
GW: Sagan
AMG: Samu
FW: Purito
CSS: Gesink
PT: Kittel

Giro: Basso
Tour: El Pistolero (Unless he's suspended in which case Cuddles)
Vuelta: " (Suspension alternative is Scarponi)

and for the yanks
ToC: Levi

P.R. Spartacus?????? never!!!!!;)
 
Jul 16, 2010
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Timmy-loves-Rabo said:
Well canc. domination was dissapointing, but other then LBL the ardennes races still pretty much sucked last year with sprints up the finale. The smaller races were still pretty good in the cobbles last year; e3, omloop, ddv etc. I find myself liking the nature of the Ardennes less every year. LBL is the best of the 3.

Don't agree, AGR had a lot of attacks last year. Was a pretty good race.
 
Jan 27, 2011
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Fleche Wallone is by far the most boring Ardennes classic there is.. 4th row people hoping they can get lucky for once and stay away in the break, but nope theyre caught 5km before the Mur de Huy and we have a nice little sprint thats hardly exciting..
 
Jul 16, 2010
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Havetts said:
Fleche Wallone is by far the most boring Ardennes classic there is.. 4th row people hoping they can get lucky for once and stay away in the break, but nope theyre caught 5km before the Mur de Huy and we have a nice little sprint thats hardly exciting..

That's true, but I guess they can't make it anymore heavier because it's in between AGR and LBL.

MSR and G-W usually are more boring than a typical Ardennes classic though :p
 
FW is one of those rare things where one really must hand it to Lance. The way he won it in 96 was just awesome and something I would like to see much more often in that race.

Still, my greatest protest against sprints, is not that they exist but rather that they are overused.

So I guess since FW is kind of the only race of its sort, and we only have to wait 3 days for LBL after that, its all right I suppose, to have something a little bit different and even if the action is short lived, its pretty intense and whatsmore we get to enjoy it with lengthy discussions afterwards as to what happened and what the results mean.
 
Feb 15, 2011
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auscyclefan94 said:
I can live with that! :p

I think I could actually see Goss in green... but I don't think cuddles will do two in a row. No chance! I wish someone young and new without so much hype would have a crazy breakout year (clean) and win the TDF, but one can only dream.

Or just someone other than Menchov, Evans, AC, or Schleck :)
 
The Hitch said:
FW is one of those rare things where one really must hand it to Lance. The way he won it in 96 was just awesome and something I would like to see much more often in that race.

well it's not a lance thing.until 2003 astarloa the fleche was won like a proper classic,little groups,two-three guys sprinting.since 2004 just bunch sprints on huy

also what the hell is with the weather on europe?i was watching some fleche wallonnes of the 90's and early 2000's...just rain rain snow on the fleche day.in the last 8 years just one rainy day,the others very nice,20 degrees days.same thing with roubaix.this global warming is happening too fast.

2012 fleche will be finally won by purito i think
 
Jun 16, 2009
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gustienordic said:
I think I could actually see Goss in green... but I don't think cuddles will do two in a row. No chance! I wish someone young and new without so much hype would have a crazy breakout year (clean) and win the TDF, but one can only dream.

Or just someone other than Menchov, Evans, AC, or Schleck :)

No chance? You don't have to think he will win mate but saying that the defending champion on a course that really suits him has no chance of winning is a bit harsh imo. On Goss, there are not enough tough stages where he will survive and Cav will be dropped in the tour next year.
 
Feb 15, 2011
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auscyclefan94 said:
No chance? You don't have to think he will win mate but saying that the defending champion on a course that really suits him has no chance of winning is a bit harsh imo. On Goss, there are not enough tough stages where he will survive and Cav will be dropped in the tour next year.

Ha cuddles does actually have a great chance, I would just love it if some young guy like Taaramae or Rolland or Coppel just absolutely popped the race of his life and ended up winning :) hehe!
 
Jun 16, 2009
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gustienordic said:
Ha cuddles does actually have a great chance, I would just love it if some young guy like Taaramae or Rolland or Coppel just absolutely popped the race of his life and ended up winning :) hehe!
Fair enough, I guess it would be cool if Rolland did come out of nowhere and do really well. :p
 
auscyclefan94 said:
On Goss, there are not enough tough stages where he will survive and Cav will be dropped in the tour next year.

Cav has been the best sprinter 4 years but only won the green once.

And hes going to be with half a mind on London, so its a good bet that someone else will win it, and Goss is as good as anyone for that.
 
The Hitch said:
Cav has been the best sprinter 4 years but only won the green once.

And hes going to be with half a mind on London, so its a good bet that someone else will win it, and Goss is as good as anyone for that.
Luckily for Cav the biggest potential threat for the green jersey is going to be his leadout man next year :rolleyes:

I guess Goss is a decent bet but I don't think he can get enough points on the medium mountain stages to get the edge on Cavendish.
 
Parrulo said:
it would certainly bee a shame to see johan go back to his super dom role in roubaix as i personally rate him at the same level of a guy like flecha
And i do agree that Johans' victory as well as his consistent placings beforehand should give him a role as co-leader.

Flecha in my view has declined. He did well at Het Volk but a rider who was being a domestique for him on two occasions was stronger than him. They were Geraint Thomas at RVV and Matt Hayman at P-R. Hayman i think should be given more of an opportunity next year as he is very solid and has not had the opportunity beforehand ( resulting in a smaller pal mares )

I think Goss will win at least one stage of the TDF. It will be the one where Cav goes missing. Then he can consistently place in the top 3 behind Cav in the flatter stages and there should be at least one other stage that he can target. I think Goss can still grow as a cyclist and really challenge Cav. He was instrumental this year for Cav and still came 2nd in a stage.
 
jens_attacks said:
2012 fleche will be finally won by purito i think

Out of all the Ardennes races this is the one i think Phil has wrapped up. Evans can diesel charge then let Gilbert sprint on the flatter part ( maybe ) and it would not matter where he sprints from. I think JROD could win L-BL ( as it is hard to control ) as the most likely option and then AGR.

I know his explosiveness is more evident at F-W but we saw this year that Phil needs to be out-raced tactically for opponents to beat him.
 
greenedge said:
Out of all the Ardennes races this is the one i think Phil has wrapped up. Evans can diesel charge then let Gilbert sprint on the flatter part ( maybe ) and it would not matter where he sprints from. I think JROD could win L-BL ( as it is hard to control ) as the most likely option and then AGR.

I know his explosiveness is more evident at F-W but we saw this year that Phil needs to be out-raced tactically for opponents to beat him.

I think that Phil has more of a chance at a third AGR than at second FW though. The cauberg is really a schoolbook example of a 'Phill hill' and since he has got Evans to chase breaks this year...

If Gilbert gets to the bottom of the cauberg with the bunch, he wins.
With FW we are not so sure.
 
greenedge said:
Out of all the Ardennes races this is the one i think Phil has wrapped up. Evans can diesel charge then let Gilbert sprint on the flatter part ( maybe ) and it would not matter where he sprints from. I think JROD could win L-BL ( as it is hard to control ) as the most likely option and then AGR.

I know his explosiveness is more evident at F-W but we saw this year that Phil needs to be out-raced tactically for opponents to beat him.

my bet is that phil will tremendously peak like an angel for san remo smashing poggio and he will also win ronde and roubaix.he already won all the ardennes classics,next year he won't fight for them.
winning san remo,ronde,roubaix,amstel,fleche and liege in one spring is too much even for phil.
 

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