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

[Dazed and Confused]

I´d value a maiden RVV win higher than a second (and first rider to do so) Ardennes triple...

Dunno, I rate repeat winners very high. Sure a broad palmares is very desirable, but there is also something special about champions who confirms their greatness by winning the same race more than once.

I mean a win can be a "fluke" so to speak (Gilberts LBL wasn't of course).

I think Gilbert should focus on winning both RvV and LBL. If Wiggins can dominate for 4-5 months, why can't a classic rider.

 

[burning]

Remember how close Boonen was to win it in '11.

He will win it again

He was really bad in '11, he started the move (He had Chavanel ahead too) before Leberg, then he got dropped in 2km

And he couldnt follow the obvious winning move and went for a hopeless sprint (But it almost worked though)

 

[gjb483]

In light of his recent difficulties, I'd be pleasantly surprised if Boonen features.

Can't wait!!

 

[serfla]

Very difficult to predict. The favorites are so prominent that heavy marking is inevitable. The organizer will want an epic race to mark the anniversary in 6 hours tv coverage across the Europe. A Flandrien's victory is what the audience in Oudenaarde will be hoping for to complete the festivity.
After the E3 Harelbeke a rider from Leopard is on my mind.

 

[Pentacycle]

He was really bad in '11, he started the move (He had Chavanel ahead too) before Leberg, then he got dropped in 2km

And he couldnt follow the obvious winning move and went for a hopeless sprint (But it almost worked though)

He's even worse now than in 2011. He only had an illness around the Omloop back then, but now he's had two infections and a crash. He'll fade on Sunday just like he did in E3, that 'hunger knock' was just an excuse for dropping on the Kwaremont. But he won't be invisible, that's a certainty with Boonen.

 

[Flamin]

Spartacus top favourite, Sagan slightly below him. Others at a respectable distance.

My money is on Spartacus. Sagan's rise might actually turn out to be a god's gift for him, since it won't be Canc vs. the world no more.

 

[Miburo]

Remember how close Boonen was to win it in '11.

He will win it again

The Quick step tactics were really horrible in the last 10km.

 

[gruppeto993]

Spartacus top favourite, Sagan slightly below him. Others at a respectable distance.

My money is on Spartacus. Sagan's rise might actually turn out to be a god's gift for him, since it won't be Canc vs. the world no more.

his win in E3 showed that no one could follow him. But the fact that sagan was present in the chase group made the others reluctant to chase hard. this is what would help cancellara, if sagan is in the chasing group behind him.

 

[tomorrow]

his win in E3 showed that no one could follow him. But the fact that sagan was present in the chase group made the others reluctant to chase hard. this is what would help cancellara, if sagan is in the chasing group behind him.

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

 

[GP Blanco]

Already looking forward to Sunday. Vlaanderens Hoogmis on Easter. This co-incidence should result in some beautiful racing with hopefully a classic Cancellara ride to victory.

Weather forecast: 9 C and dry.

 

[brilleaben]

My jaw keeps dropping everytime I see OPQS's cobbles lineup. If they don't manage to win this one...

 

[l.Harm]

Hope Pippo shows something. He doesn't seem to be as good as last year

 

[Lanark]

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

That would be boring as hell. Cancellara would be storming away from him.

 

[tomorrow]

That would be boring as hell. Cancellara would be storming away from him.

well, we would see, I admit, cancellara storming away would be more probable, however, however I meant it that way, that for some reason he wouldn't be.

 

[gruppeto993]

That would be boring as hell. Cancellara would be storming away from him.

Cancellara should attack from far. Because this is where he has the upper hand on sagan, he is a top time trialist and can ride at a top speed with consistency over a long distance. Sagan wouldn't last by himself unless its over about a 5km distance, like in GW.
anyhow we should be in for a great race. I hope none of the favourites puncture in a decisive moment and I hope cancellara and sagan dont end up alone together because that would mean either an obvious sagan win or cancellara arguing and refusing to cooperate so they both end up going nowhere.

 

[Pentacycle]

Cancellara should attack from far. Because this is where he has the upper hand on sagan, he is a top time trialist and can ride at a top speed with consistency over a long distance. Sagan wouldn't last by himself unless its over about a 5km distance, like in GW.
anyhow we should be in for a great race. I hope none of the favourites puncture in a decisive moment and I hope cancellara and sagan dont end up alone together because that would mean either an obvious sagan win or cancellara arguing and refusing to cooperate so they both end up going nowhere.

You're talking like there aren't any hills in the final... Cancellara will be stronger on the Oude Kwaremont, and Sagan should be better on the Pater. It's up to them to decide when they go, but those hills are important for both riders. The E3 indicated that Cancellara will gladly ride with Sagan, unless he can't ride him off his wheel.

 

[tomorrow]

You're talking like there aren't any hills in the final... Cancellara will be stronger on the Oude Kwaremont, and Sagan should be better on the Pater. It's up to them to decide when they go, but those hills are important for both riders. The E3 indicated that Cancellara will gladly ride with Sagan, unless he can't ride him off his wheel.

exactly, it's also possible that sagan can be able to make it back to fabian on the pater, however not gap bigger than 5 to 10 seconds and also that would be providing that only he weren't going full gas on kwaremont.

 

[jaylew]

For me, it's:

***** Cancellara, Sagan
**** Chavanel, Haussler, Thomas
*** Boonen, Langeveld, Van Avermaet, Pozzato, Voeckler
** Gilbert, EBH, Paolini, Roelandts, Flecha
* Iglinskiy, Oss, Hushovd, Boom

Boonen could move up a star if he looks ok this week

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

For me, it's:

***** Cancellara, Sagan
**** Chavanel, Haussler, Thomas
*** Boonen, Langeveld, Van Avermaet, Pozzato, Voeckler
** Gilbert, EBH, Paolini, Roelandts, Flecha
* Iglinskiy, Oss, Hushovd, Boom

Boonen could move up a star if he looks ok this week

If you put Hushovd up there, you can't exclude Stijn Vandenbergh

 

[trevim]

If you put Hushovd up there, you can't exclude Stijn Vandenbergh

And the other Stijn too. Both Devolder and Hushovd probably have the same sort of shape right now ...

 

[serfla]

And the other Stijn too. Both Devolder and Hushovd probably have the same sort of shape right now ...

Volderke was pretty good in Harelbeke. Finished in the main group after a half day of (enthusiastic and determined) chasing due to a mechanical. In Dwars Door Vlaanderen he looked like he was on current Hushovd's level, in Harelbeke he was a lot better.

 

[Roderick]

and since Hushovd never rode a decent race in RvV

 

[eljimberino]

greg van avermaet

 

[hfer07]

Sagan has earned his rightful place as a favorite FTW-however-What we witnessed during the E3 Harelbeke means that Spartacus has the shape,which in combination of his experience, is indeed going to prevail against brutal strength.....

Sorry for Boonen, but he ain't got a chance this year, considering his poor shape & the competition he's up against....

 

[saneguy]

Its a toss between Cancellara and Sagan for me. Cancellara for me did pull off the move of the year at E3 but Sagan did well at Gent. Should be a real tough fight.