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

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G

greenedge

Mar 27, 2011
6,135
7
17,495
My stars
5*Cancellara or Sagan to win.
4*Boonen, Thomas,
3*GVA, Hushovd, Pozzato, Langeveld, Terpstra, Chavanel, Paolini, Voeckler, Bozic, Haussler, Gatto, Roelandts
2*Oss, Demare, Farrar, Stannard, Kristoff, EBH, Flecha, Turgot, Boom
1*De Kort, Degenkolb, Keukeleire, Rojas, Bennati, Breschel, Wetterhall, Eisel, Amador and of course Devolder.

Time for me to dissect basically every team...

OPQS have a very strong team and Boonen if he hangs on can win the sprint. I do not know if we shall see him on the attack- but that would be pretty cool. It would also be good for them to have one of Terpstra or Chavanel (maybe Vandenbergh too) ahead of the others in the last 20 or so km. The rest of the team can support them very well.

AG2R have Chainel who i like and the rest can basically just go on the attack.

Bozic looks on good form- but I am not certain as to whether he can stick with the big 2, he should get a top 10. Inglinsky to attack and good to see Lutsenko being blooded (from 2nd post).

Looks like Blanco have been hit hard with Vanmarcke sustaining an injury in the lead up. Boom could go well but he has not shown much in other cobbled races this year.

BMC have a strong team- though losing Gilbert and Phinney who look to be on form hurts. 3 cards to play in Oss, Hushovd and GVA. Burghardt for an early break???

Will just work for Sagan- Bodnar looks very strong and Fabio and Elia can up the pace well.

Best of luck not crashing for the Carrots.

Ladagnous, Demare and Boucher all look on form. Demare if he survives (don't know if it is his 1st time) could get a top 10 from a chase group.

Garmin should try and get strength in numbers in the break. Should get a top 10 from one of their riders.

Katusha have a strong team- as always and should have Paolini animate the race a bit. Kristoff should go well.

Lampre have Pozzato- who performed well early in the year. Could have been lurking. Based on last year should perform well. Lampre have a strong team/ should feature.

Lotto have Roelandts- who will be their hope for a high placing. Has looked strong this season but has had some little setbacks, running out of fuel/ cornea in some races.

Amador has looked strong but is no set winner. Rojas to top 10? Otherwise a strong team that should be in the breaks.

OGE have a strong team and will hope Langeveld has good legs- hopefully he can go with any big moves and not be in a chasing group sprinting, for a place.

RSL have a strong team with the addition of Devolder. Hopefully they can help Cancellara.

Part 2 later.
 
Karl Max

Karl Max

Apr 28, 2011
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I think the big teams like Sky, BMC and Omega need to isolate Sagan and Cancellara. I like both Sagan and Cancellara but honestly I hope for someone else to win. Would be cool if a rider like Haussler or Hushovd can take this one. Haussler is obviously back after his struggling since the 2009 season. Hushovd has on the other hand never done anything in Flandern, he was in the sprint for the 3rd place in 2009 but had a bad crash 100 meters before crossing the goal line. He has not shown his cards yet so far in the classics but my bet he is back on his bet next weekend for P-R. Fleacha would also be a great winner, but I think he can make it to the podium but I think it will be hard for him to take the win.

If I should say one rider who I really think deserve to win Flandern it must be Chavanel. I think he would be Omegas best bet as it does not seem Boonen has the level he had last year at the moment.
 
serfla

serfla

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Nov 12, 2012
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I've just read what Pozzato said, and for a moment I thought he might have a chance. He's not in bad shape, he's out of the main focus and could pass under the radar.
But, on the second thought, I can't imagine him in a break other then with main favorites and in a sprint where Sagan won't be present (although last year it happened).
So, after all, his chances really are slim, in my opinion.
 
luckyboy

luckyboy

May 26, 2009
10,230
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1. Cancellara
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel

OPQS obviously have more cards to play than RadioShack and Cannondale, so I hope one of their guys (Chavanel) can win somehow. Just gotta wait and see just how Boonen is I guess.
 
mr. tibbs

mr. tibbs

Mar 10, 2009
2,278
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luckyboy said:
1. Cancellara
2. Sagan
3. Chavanel

OPQS obviously have more cards to play than RadioShack and Cannondale, so I hope one of their guys (Chavanel) can win somehow. Just gotta wait and see just how Boonen is I guess.
Click to expand...

What kind of gaps are you imagining? I'm assuming Cancellara by at least 45 seconds, followed by a Sagan/Chava sprint. Is this set up a response to a Chava move, with Boonen just unable to hold onto Sagan and Cancellara when they bridge up?
 
Telmisartan new

Telmisartan new

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Jul 13, 2012
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Gee....just read the whole thread for first time,people are really convinced Fab is going to ride away from everyone alone to the finish,can he just ride an alert top form Sagan off his wheel like that,not convinced he can tbh.
 
will10

will10

Dec 27, 2010
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Telmisartan new said:
Gee....just read the whole thread for first time,people are really convinced Fab is going to ride away from everyone alone to the finish,can he just ride an alert top form Sagan off his wheel like that,not convinced he can tbh.
Click to expand...

He did last week.
 
serfla

serfla

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Nov 12, 2012
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Telmisartan new said:
Gee....just read the whole thread for first time,people are really convinced Fab is going to ride away from everyone alone to the finish,can he just ride an alert top form Sagan off his wheel like that,not convinced he can tbh.
Click to expand...
Opinions aren't so uniform.
 
Telmisartan new

Telmisartan new

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Jul 13, 2012
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will10 said:
He did last week.
Click to expand...

Cant see it myself,E3 wasn't the target for Sagan,he knows he can't win every race,RVV is the one he wants,no chance Cancellara drops him on the Kwaremont like some have mentioned he might,no chance,Sagan is too strong at this moment.I'll eat my hat if that happens.
 
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velosiped

Sep 25, 2009
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Telmisartan new said:
Gee....just read the whole thread for first time,people are really convinced Fab is going to ride away from everyone alone to the finish,can he just ride an alert top form Sagan off his wheel like that,not convinced he can tbh.
Click to expand...



Fabian will crush the field at Kwaremont; attack early like Ballan did last year.
He will escape with a good distance to 2 Sky riders. Sagan and the rest further back.
Question is: will the duo have the stamina to cooperate and bring him back before the finish?
 
Samson777

Samson777

Mar 12, 2013
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I think Sagan or a guy from SKY will win. Is Porte racing?;)

A outsider that not a lot mention is Breschel. in his last year for Saxo he was looking very strong, almost as strong as Cancellara, but had an accident. Of course he had some bad years at Rabobank, but maybe he will get back in better form with Riis. He's form seem okay, and he will have the whole Saxo team will be behind him.

Remember Nuyens?:)
Victory for Breschel would not make less sense than Nuyens victory did.
 
Telmisartan new

Telmisartan new

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Jul 13, 2012
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velosiped said:
Fabian will crush the field at Kwaremont; attack early like Ballan did last year.
He will escape with a good distance to 2 Sky riders. Sagan and the rest further back.
Question is: will the duo have the stamina to cooperate and bring him back before the finish?
Click to expand...

I'm rooting for Cancellara to stay away in that scenario.:)
 
S

Sophistic82

Dec 10, 2012
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Telmisartan new said:
Cant see it myself,E3 wasn't the target for Sagan,he knows he can't win every race,RVV is the one he wants,no chance Cancellara drops him on the Kwaremont like some have mentioned he might,no chance,Sagan is too strong at this moment.I'll eat my hat if that happens.
Click to expand...

comedy gold
 
G

Gloin22

Apr 10, 2011
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Samson777 said:
Remember Nuyens?:)
Victory for Breschel would not make less sense than Nuyens victory did.
Click to expand...

Yea, but Nuyens came with a great form as shown by his Dwars door Vlaanderen - Waregem win which showed he was a dark horse and big outside for the win ;)

Breschel didn't show anything special so far.
 
Samson777

Samson777

Mar 12, 2013
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Gloin22 said:
Yea, but Nuyens came with a great form as shown by his Dwars door Vlaanderen - Waregem win which showed he was a dark horse and big outside for the win ;)

Breschel didn't show anything special so far.
Click to expand...
It's true of course, but Breschel have had a bit of sickness, and I would say in Welegem he looked good, just missed the right break. I think he is a guy who have the capacity to win a race like Vlaanderen, and no one will be looking out for him. But yes ,of course it would not be very logical if he wins:)
 
Pentacycle

Pentacycle

May 28, 2012
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Telmisartan new said:
So what's your prediction nimrod?
Click to expand...

I don't want to interrupt your discussion, but saying that Sagan didn't want to win the E3 is pure nonsense. Canc completely destroyed the field there, including Sagan. He can do the same on Sunday.
 
serfla

serfla

BANNED
Nov 12, 2012
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Samson777 said:
It's true of course, but Breschel have had a bit of sickness, and I would say in Welegem he looked good, just missed the right break. I think he is a guy who have the capacity to win a race like Vlaanderen, and no one will be looking out for him. But yes ,of course it would not be very logical if he wins:)
Click to expand...
Breschel is winning material, certainly. Just remember his years in Cancellara's support. Also keep in mind that only Lefevere is more successful than Riis in cobbled classics.
Anything is possible in a scenario similar to 2011, which the most of us are expecting.
 
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