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

[cineteq]

***** Sagan
**** Boonen, Cancellara
*** Chavanel, Van Aevermaet, Langeveld, Stannard, Gatto
** Voeckler, Flecha, Haussler, Thomas
* Pozzato, Gilbert, Roelandts

 

[Orbit501]

A little concussion but he should be ok for sunday

Ok, thanks.

Wondering how it'll effect him going into Sunday. Had good form going into E3 and GV but a lot of bad luck.

 

[rghysens]

Anyone have any news on Roelandts following his accident in Gent-Wevelgem?

He trained today and will do a reconnaissance of the final of the rvv.

 

[will10]

As well as Boonen and Chavanel, I'd give Terpstra a chance too. He doesn't seem to be going as well as last year but numbers are going to play a huge role on Sunday with Cancellara and Sagan looking so good with relatively poor teams around them. It wouldn't surprise me to see OPQS will open the hostilities on the first lap of the finishing circuit. Their best bet is to make the race hard and get those two isolated as early as possible.

 

[sankaa]

His WC RR 2012 says otherwise

If he could that more often, it would have been great.We know he can when he is at his best. Problem is that when a race is over 250 km, he often falls back.

 

[Parrulo]

i think that with boonen's form being a question mark OPQS tactics will be great for the race.

boonen will just sit up and try to save himself for the sprint while chavannel and terpstra will be all over the road from 80k out, and with their team strenghts and being the red hot favourites, cancellara and sagan will be forced to put their nose in the wind much soonen then they would probably like chasing those two.

 

[Orbit501]

He trained today and will do a reconnaissance of the final of the rvv.

Thanks, that's good to hear.

Meanwhile...

...I'm surprised to see no love for Bozic on people's star ratings for Sunday. He's in superb form at the moment and seems to be preparing well for Sunday too. Got to be worth at least one or two stars surely?

 

[serfla]

As well as Boonen and Chavanel, I'd give Terpstra a chance too. He doesn't seem to be going as well as last year but numbers are going to play a huge role on Sunday with Cancellara and Sagan looking so good with relatively poor teams around them. It wouldn't surprise me to see OPQS will open the hostilities on the first lap of the finishing circuit. Their best bet is to make the race hard and get those two isolated as early as possible.

Putting Koppenberg just before the circuit(s), organizers wanted to give it more important role in shaping up the race. Off course, it was important before as well, but then there was still enough time and road to get back in action.
This year I think it will decide the race tactics-wise.
OPQS will know after the Koppenberg whether they should attack the moment they hit the Kwaremont, or should they wait a bit. They simply have to isolate Cancellara and Sagan if they want to have a chance. Ideally, OPQS vs Cancellara&Sagan should be 3 vs 2 (including teammates in front). 1:1 correspondence won't do it.

 

[The Hitch]

Chavanel 4*? Really?

Thats where id put him. Hes not as strong as Cancellara and Sagan but hes stronger than everyone else

 

[Roderick]

Thats where id put him. Hes not as strong as Cancellara and Sagan but hes stronger than everyone else

Langeveld, GVA, Stannard and Tommy V are at least equally strong. I would also give Tommeke a better chance of winning, because well yeah, it's Tommeke.
And I'm also pretty sure that Pippo is in great form too, he just didn't show it so far like he always does

 

[SafeBet]

And I'm also pretty sure that Pippo is in great form too, he just didn't show it so far like he always does

He's been as Pippo-ish as ever, I'd say.
Never where he should be when it matters.
I'd take Gatto over him as the best italian card for this race.

 

[JRanton]

As well as Boonen and Chavanel, I'd give Terpstra a chance too. He doesn't seem to be going as well as last year but numbers are going to play a huge role on Sunday with Cancellara and Sagan looking so good with relatively poor teams around them. It wouldn't surprise me to see OPQS will open the hostilities on the first lap of the finishing circuit. Their best bet is to make the race hard and get those two isolated as early as possible.

Yup. BMC and Sky the same. I predict an epic race.

 

[Afrank]

He's been as Pippo-ish as ever, I'd say.
Never where he should be when it matters.
I'd take Gatto over him as the best italian card for this race.

Just can't see Pippo being up there this year, he seems to be missing all the key moves. This is a much bigger race though, so hopefully he'll be more attentive, but I'm not expecting too much from him.

Gatto would also be my wildcard pick for a surprise win. He's in great form right now.

 

[personal]

Shame there is no Ballan.
What is going on with him?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Shame there is no Ballan.
What is going on with him?

He had a brutal crash during a training ride earlier this year and was hospitalized for a long time. Still recovering.

 

[JimmyFingers]

I'm hoping for a breakout performance from Geraint, reckon he's due one soon. Really hoping he turns into a good puncheur/classics rider in the future

 

[will10]

I'm hoping for a breakout performance from Geraint, reckon he's due one soon. Really hoping he turns into a good puncheur/classics rider in the future

I dunno, even in great shape this spring he's still a level or two below the top names. Would need a chunk of look to be in there for the win this year IMO - just because of how I expect OPQS to take the race to Cancellara and Sagan. I am anticipating a full on race from a way out this year. I just don't think you're going to see a situation where there's a bit of uncertainty in the final and guys keep coming back to the point where the 6th or 7th strongest guy on the day can ride smartly and get the win (á la Nuyens in 2011).

 

[The Blues]

Do you guys know when this is approximated to end? I know it's not going to be precise, but just an estimation?

 

[Pantani_lives]

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

 

[Morbius]

Do you guys know when this is approximated to end? I know it's not going to be precise, but just an estimation?

Eurosport have it live in UK from 11am to 4pm

 

[The Blues]

Eurosport have it live in UK from 11am to 4pm

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.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

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.

 

[Gloin22]

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.

Gilbert wouldn't have been factor anyway.

Shame for Phinney though, however hopefully his big goal of Robuaix won't be in jeopardy.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Gilbert wouldn't have been factor anyway.

Shame for Phinney though, however hopefully his big goal of Robuaix won't be in jeopardy.

He doesn't seem to think it is. He'll take an extra week home in Italy to recover for Paris-Roubaix. Gilbert will do Vuelta al Pais Vasco instead.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He doesn't seem to think it is. He'll take an extra week home in Italy to recover for Paris-Roubaix. Gilbert will do Vuelta al Pais Vasco instead.

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