2013 97th Ronde van Vlaanderen, 257km, Sunday 31th March

[SKSemtex]

Cannondale domestiques could be the biggest instrument in RVV. Fabian was impressive in E3 Harelbeke and Peter had no chance. But in the same time Fabian has shown his cards already, so I think RVV will be a different story. If he win again the same way as he did in E3, he will be true king of cycling.

 

[Martin]

well, considering the fabian's attack on kwaremont came after sagan caught back after the puncture, it's not that sure that he will be able to drop him again on Sunday. I think it will be very interesting race. Maybe most exciting would be, if fabian escapes alone and then nobody wants to cooperate with sagan, so he will decide to bridge the gap alone. The gap would have to be reasonable big(or better small) though. Imagine sagan and cancellara going one on one with 10 - 20s gap for the last let's say 20km's

Exactly. But if Sagan will puncture, have a mechanical or fall down, those behind will get Cancellara back. He has a chance ONLY if Sgan will be in the group behind.

 

[tomorrow]

Exactly. But if Sagan will puncture, have a mechanical or fall down, those behind will get Cancellara back. He has a chance ONLY if Sgan will be in the group behind.

Or interesting tactics could be if cancellara escapes, sagan drops himself from the chase group and when cancellara is caught then sagan chase back to the group That would be pretty evil, actually, if this would be the case and sagan would win the spring afterwards, then it would probably be the "foxiest" win ever. On the other hand, there is probably not enough kms after last kwaremont for this to happen

 

[xrayvision]

Either Fab or Chavanel ftw, its a race you have to have a lot of experience to win, even that Sagan is a monster, I dont think hes ready yet, but a podium place would be a great result for him too.

 

[Cancellator]

Exactly. But if Sagan will puncture, have a mechanical or fall down, those behind will get Cancellara back. He has a chance ONLY if Sgan will be in the group behind.

If Cancellara gets a 20-30 second gap, bringing him back will be a tough task for even the most dedicated group. It's harder to organize a good chase in a cobbled race, it's not like they will be on a 30k stretch of motorway gunning after Fabian in perfect TTT formation.

Sure, Cancellara will lose if he doesn't manage to get away at all, but if he does, the odds are on his side I'd say.

 

[Lanark]

Or interesting tactics could be if cancellara escapes, sagan drops himself from the chase group and when cancellara is caught then sagan chase back to the group That would be pretty evil, actually, if this would be the case and sagan would win the spring afterwards, then it would probably be the "foxiest" win ever. On the other hand, there is probably not enough kms after last kwaremont for this to happen

Is this the first time you're going to watch this race?

But seriously, in the final of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, domestiques are more than useless. In the last 15k (so the final Kwaremont-Paterberg ride) it will be mano a mano, I can barely remember the last time that a chase group or a domestique played a significant role in the race at that point.

 

[tomorrow]

Is this the first time you're going to watch this race?

no, I'm just having wet dreams 99% of my brain of course says that they are not possible at all. Of course, the real question is if cancellara will be able to make gap big enough on the quaremont. Imho, there like 5-10% chance of this happening. Sagan seems to be much stronger this year compared to the last one, especially in the case of endurance, what he also proved in GW. And he almost hanged on boonens wheel last year, and boonen was in superb form then, he was not that weaker then spartacus is this year. I think that sagan was blocked in the start of kwaremont or pater last year and than he caught back to bonnen. So he was a little bit more tired than he should have been. I am not sure if it was the last time they did those. Nevertheless, the additional work could have had still som impact.
Finally, I put more chance to some surprise win that to spartacus gapping sagan on quaremont. MSR all over again.

 

[SKSemtex]

I think nobody but Sagan knows whether Cancellara is able to gap him at all on quaremont having his own bike and being in leading group all the time.

 

[tomorrow]

I think nobody but Sagan knows whether Cancellara is able to gap him at all on quaremont having his own bike and being in leading group all the time.

imho, for sure neither sagan knows, and possibly he can't even know. If he is not stupid, what I think he isn't, he must be giving some possibility that this will happen.

 

[spalco]

According to the weather reports I could find, it looks like it's going to be yet another very cold "spring" race, but probably above freezing and without snow or rain. Not comfortable though...

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I'm going to root for Chavanel. It's his time for a big win. If not him then Boonen.

 

[momomomo]

I have my hopes on EBH and Kristoff.

As far as Sagan and endurance this year: GW and MSR were both cut short. Not saying the guy can't compete in the long classics (of course he can) but where was he in the WC?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I have my hopes on EBH and Kristoff.

As far as Sagan and endurance this year: GW and MSR were both cut short. Not saying the guy can't compete in the long classics (of course he can) but where was he in the WC?

He wasn't in good form last fall.

 

[theyoungest]

I have my hopes on EBH and Kristoff.

As far as Sagan and endurance this year: GW and MSR were both cut short. Not saying the guy can't compete in the long classics (of course he can) but where was he in the WC?

He got 5th in Flanders, and 3d in Amstel. Those races are way harder than the Worlds in Valkenburg, which was a lame race on a lame course. It was already evident in Canada that Sagan's form was not quite there.

 

[tomorrow]

I have my hopes on EBH and Kristoff.

As far as Sagan and endurance this year: GW and MSR were both cut short. Not saying the guy can't compete in the long classics (of course he can) but where was he in the WC?

well, where was sagan after the end of the TdF? He was there in top shape for nearly 6 months in a row, he couldn't possibly last 2 more months, and for rest and new peak there wasn't enough time.

 

[maltiv]

well, where was sagan after the end of the TdF? He was there in top shape for nearly 6 months in a row, he couldn't possibly last 2 more months, and for rest and new peak there wasn't enough time.

Yes, he could have, but somehow it's harder to compete when you have put on 5 kg of weight due to hardcore partying after the TDF

 

[will10]

well, where was sagan after the end of the TdF? He was there in top shape for nearly 6 months in a row, he couldn't possibly last 2 more months, and for rest and new peak there wasn't enough time.

lol, I wonder which troll this is.

 

[theyoungest]

lol, I wonder which troll this is.

Considering his avatar, I think this is a Sagan fan who can't quite find the right words.

 

[tomorrow]

lol, I wonder which troll this is.

Considering his avatar, I think this is a Sagan fan who can't quite find the right words.

well, instead of trolling me, you both could post some actual arguments why you disagree with what I've written before, cause otherwise you're for trolls yourselves.

Btw, yes I am fan of sagan, as he's my countrymen and to be honest, quite exceptional in our little absurdistan, as far as I'm concerned. However, I don't wear pink glasses. If it's true that he gained some weight as posted before you, I hadn't known/noticed that before. If that was so, then yes, only sagan is to blame.

 

[Christophe]

Sagan and Cance to defeat eachother. The win goes to somebody who's been going well lately, but less expected -- Chavanel, Haussler, Flecha perhaps?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

OPQS is the strongest team. But how can they use that? If at the end Sagan attacks and only Cancellara and Chavanel are able to follow, a strong team is useless...

 

[l.Harm]

Terpstra seems to be less good than last year to me.

 

[Gloin22]

Terpstra seems to be less good than last year to me.

Yep, however he did look better in today's stage.

Chavanel so far is my pick for QOPS.

As the strongest team, I think it's actually going be Sky ( seeing both Terpstra and Boonen are bit off their forms.

However being strongest doesn't mean that have a top favoruite for this in Sky case. Thomas is a candidate for a possible podium though.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Terpstra seems to be less good than last year to me.

agree, he ain't going to be around come business end. Maybe send him in a mid race break.

 

[dabaideschbi]

I hope Sagan gets the win...i mean you can't support against the best talent of the cycling...come on Peter....no more gifts as he did during MSR