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

[Netserk]

so a combo of GvA and Hushovd for RvV? Simplified leadership. Might work, lets see.

More like just GvA then. Hushovd has never impressed in RvV.

 

[Pentacycle]

More like just GvA then. Hushovd has never impressed in RvV.

Daniel Oss won't mind this either, although GVA should be leader with his 4th place last year. Hushovd should just stick to domestique duties in Flanders, and save his best form for Roubaix.

 

[Afrank]

Gilbert won't start. He's suffering from a cold and has been withdrawn from BMC's roster. Taylor Phinney won't start either because of pains in his knee.

Adam Blythe and Klaas Lodewyck will replace them.

Luckily Gilbert and Phinney missing out shouldn't affect them too much. The best BMC can hope for in RVV is probably a top 10 from GVA or possibly Oss if he picks the right move to follow. Really too bad that they don't have Ballan.

 

[ILovecycling]

Thanks. Too bad I have a football-match at that time. I think I'll try and quit the Internet Sunday afternoon and then watch the review Monday on Eurosport.

Cancel the match!This is De Ronde!

 

[JaffaGT]

***** Chavanel, Cancellara, Sagan
**** Boonen, Oss, Voeckler
*** Offredo, Kristoff, van Avermaet
** Stannard, Haussler, Turgot
* Pozzatto, Gallopin, Roelands

 

[jaylew]

1. Sagan
2. Cancellara
3. Chavanel
4. Vandenbergh
5. Terpstra
6. Boonen
7. Voeckler
8. Haussler
9. Oss
10. Paolini

Sky will definitely get someone in the top 10. Their team is too strong to get no placing at all.

 

[Miburo]

Sagan and Canc are the top dogs.

And you know what happens when 2 dogs fight for a bone, chava gets it

Ask ciolek

 

[Hugo Koblet]

1. Chavanel
2. Sagan
3. Boonen
4. Cancellara
5. Gaudin

 

[kanari]

***** Sagan
**** Cancellara, Chavanel
*** Boonen, Terpstra, Thomas
** Oss, GVA, Haussler, Stannard
* Offredo, Flecha, Paolini, Gatto, Voeckler

 

[William H]

Sky will definitely get someone in the top 10. Their team is too strong to get no placing at all.

They might miss out if they don't bother with the sprint for placings like last year

 

[mr. tibbs]

An all French podium? Haha that'd be the day.

1 - Chava
2 - Offredo
3 - Voeckler

I really don't think Offredo's gonna make top ten, though--I feel like P-R is more his bag--and Voecklerr's heroics will never fly against OPQS and Team Spartacus.

I'm pulling for Chavanel to get it. Still gutted that he didn't win in 2011, and he's got that form right now. C'mon, Sagan--let the old guys take one more year...

 

[The Blues]

Cancel the match!This is De Ronde!

I was very close to doing so... And I know I'll regret my decision come Sunday (it's my own decision, I know, but still...).

Edit: I guess I have to contribute with something more than just pettying myself, so my guess is that Cancellara will smash the others (he looked really strong in E3) - probably except for Sagan, but I still don't think he has it in him. Chavanel to come closest to them considering he has got real good form.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Hopefully Chavanel or Boonen will take this. I wouldn't mind Sagan winning solo either, as I wonder what he has prepared for his first monument. Surely his celebration will be something special.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Cancellara.

But Sagan will be super-strong. This is the biggest goal of his season.

 

[JaffaGT]

Ladagnous (FDJ) will be a surprise winner on Sunday. Performing well so far this season and 16th last year. Surely a top-10 position at least.

 

[Pentacycle]

Ladagnous (FDJ) will be a surprise winner on Sunday. Performing well so far this season and 16th last year. Surely a top-10 position at least.

There are at least 50 riders who are 'sure' top 10 riders. It's mostly a lottery behind the top 3.

 

[sankaa]

Cance will take this if he stays away from trouble.

Anyone think EBH got a chance at this? Did OK last year during the race, though.

 

[sankaa]

There are at least 50 riders who are 'sure' top 10 riders. It's mostly a lottery behind the top 3.

Guys getting dropped in the last hill usually gets caught by a bigger group of riders, so imo the resultlist usually lies after the top 3-4 riders.

Not surprised if Kristoff make the top 10.

 

[maltiv]

Cance will take this if he stays away from trouble.

Anyone think EBH got a chance at this? Did OK last year during the race, though.

Probably not, but worth nothing that he was much, much better at E3 and G-W this year than he was last year. And last year he was still up there in the finale of RVV.

But I can't really see him winning, unless some weird **** happens

 

[Pentacycle]

Probably not, but worth nothing that he was much, much better at E3 and G-W this year than he was last year. And last year he was still up there in the finale of RVV.

But I can't really see him winning, unless some weird **** happens

If you mean by better in E3 'less bad' you're right, but as usual he lacked explosiveness on steep hills and cobbles. EBH's just destined to be the best domestique ever, at least that's how I feel about him.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Can't wait for my favorite one day race. RVV

 

[maltiv]

If you mean by better in E3 'less bad' you're right, but as usual he lacked explosiveness on steep hills and cobbles. EBH's just destined to be the best domestique ever, at least that's how I feel about him.

That is indeed what the word better means.

He wasn't that bad...he went into the decisive climb far back in the group (obviously) and over the top he was seriously 1 or 2 seconds behind Oss, the last guy who made the front group. So he'd most likely have made that group with a better position, and if that were the case, he would almost certainly have been 3rd or so as there were barely any significant hills left after that.

That said, he didn't show good enough form to contend for the win in RVV, but if his form improves by then I wouldn't rule him out for a top 5 finish.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I think it's Sagan vs. Canc vs. Omega-Quickstep. The strategy of Omega-Q will influence the race. I expect they will let Terpstra or Vandenbergh attack early in the final (30 to 70 k before the finish), hoping to copy the Devolder sytem. Chavanel also won't wait too long.

 

[movingtarget]

I think Thomas is a better chance than EBH. Chavanel is looking good also. Of course everyone will be looking for Cancellara's back wheel.

 

[Rui Quinta]

Cancellara and Boonen are the chronic favorites (despite all the problems with Boonen) and the young Peter Sagan, but I think other riders and teams will be a decisive factor. In addition to Chavanel and Terpstra, riders like Thomas, Stannard or Flecha need attack early to make the race as hard as possible.

Anyway, it will be great, it is De Ronde!