2014 - 98th Ronde van Vlaanderen, 259km, Sunday 6th April (1.UWT)

[virenque216]

Sagan

Just to add my experience about Sagan. Our region (Gemer- Roznava) organised Slovak national championships for Juniors, Cadets and below aged groups in 2005 called 'Cena Gemera', I was helping out organisers and used to train with our local cadets from Roznava at a time, the Road race was about 35kg lap, with one 4km hill called Rostarsky kopec and then a very lumpy last 10kms constantly up and down, Peter Sagan raced in category one below Cadet I think, We stayed near the finish at a 90 degree cross roads where we guided the cyclists to take the right way, off course Sagan came first and we kept waiting and waiting and waiting for nearly 10 minutes until the rest of the riders came together, such was the difference between him and the rest of the guys his age.
In general though our cycling clubs had very little money and material, our club and guys had bikes which they passed on to the smaller kids and could last a generation of riders, there were only one or two girls competing and raced with boys, incredible to think that we produced Sagan and Velits brothers under those conditions

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

*****
Cancellara: Even though he seems less impressive than last year (when he would have won E3 or at least been able to gap the peloton), he’s the one to beat, clearly.

****
Sagan: Also much less impressive than last year. But, as I said before, this might somehow even improve his chanced
Vanmarcke: I am not sure what happened on the Kwaremont in E3, but apart from that he proved he is in top form, and apparently can even sprint.
Terpstra: Should be the main man for OPQS, which obviously is the best team

***
Boonen: Unbelievable that he is still able to be here, after what he has gone through recently. This clearly set him back in form, but Wevelgem was encouraging. And it’s Boonen.
Stybar: Was good at E3, where he could follow Cancellara (even though Canc clearly was tired from the impressive chase he did before). I hope I can give him one extra star for next week.
Devolder: I really liked what I saw from him the last couple of races. With Cancellara as main man, he might even pull another Volderke

**
Kristoff: He’s got the form, he’s got the talent. A future winner, but I don’t think that future is this week.
GVA: Not sure about him. He seems decent, as always, but looking at the names I rated higher, I don’t think he has shown anything that justifies a spot up there

*
There’s so many names that could surprise. A lot of people that have showed they are well fit for this races, but just didn’t deliver yet this year: EBH, Pozzato (what’s up with him?), Pozzato, Roelandts (too bad, but he really didn’t show good form), Chavanel, Langeveld, Leukemans,…
And then there’s the young guys (or at least: the ones that are still up and coming), I already mentioned Kristoff, but there’s also Degenkolb, Le Bon, Thomas, Démare, Van Asbroeck, Durbridge, Phiney,…

All by all, I expect the race to be more open than last year. The course, I think, changed for the better, and both Cancellara and Sagan are a bit less impressive than one year ago.

Although a Cancellara one man show is also a possibility.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Why are people so surprised Vanmarcke can sprint. He did beat Boonen in Omloop het Nieuwsblad in a sprint just two years ago

 

[theyoungest]

And what happened to Vanmarcke on the Oude Kwaremont was, according to himself, that he was empty. With a couple of flat tires, almost-crashes, and bike changes, that's not that surprising. It's a miracle he still got 5th in that race.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Good to know. That's what I guessed and why I put him up that high.

 

[theyoungest]

Good to know. That's what I guessed and why I put him up that high.

Yeah, or maybe it's the Belgian hope that if Boonen fails, there is a replacement I think Vanmarcke tends to be slightly overrated in that regard.

 

[Netserk]

Vanmarcke is awesome, but I think he'll do better in P-R.

I think Terpstra is overrated for this race. Imho he should be the mid/long-distance card for QS, with Stybar (trying) to mark Canc, and Boonen hoping for a sprint in a small group.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Vanmarcke is awesome, but I think he'll do better in P-R.

Of course, he will win that one.

 

[theyoungest]

Vanmarcke is awesome, but I think he'll do better in P-R.

I think Terpstra is overrated for this race. Imho he should be the mid/long-distance card for QS, with Stybar (trying) to mark Canc, and Boonen hoping for a sprint in a small group.

Talk about overrated... Stybar to mark Canc. Sure, he'll do that, no prob

I guess you're right about Terpstra though... as soon as people expect something of him, he tends to fail. He's been the outright leader for the Dutch national squad on the Worlds and the Olympics a few times now, and he's done absolutely zilch, nothing, zero.

 

[Volderke]

With regards to the ratings, I think it is interesting to have an idea of age:

very old: Paolini (37)

old: Devolder (34), Chavanel (34), Cancellara (33), Boonen (33), Pozzato (32)

normal: Terpstra (29), Vandenbergh (29), Stybar (28), Roelandts (28), GVA (28), Thomas (27), EBH 26, Kristoff (26).

young: Gallopin (25), Vanmarcke (25), Sagan (24).

superyoung-to-be-among-the-favourites: Démare (22)

I think Paolini is too old, and Démare is still too young. But remarkable, there are almost no real superfavourites in the 26-30 category. All favorites are either >30, or <25.

 

[Flamin]

And what happened to Vanmarcke on the Oude Kwaremont was, according to himself, that he was empty. With a couple of flat tires, almost-crashes, and bike changes, that's not that surprising. It's a miracle he still got 5th in that race.

Same goes for Sagan of course, so I don't think Vanmarcke is in super form at this point. Like Netserk said, he will probably be stronger in Paris-Roubaix, which suits him better than Flanders anyway.

 

[trevim]

Why are people so surprised Vanmarcke can sprint. He did beat Boonen in Omloop het Nieuwsblad in a sprint just two years ago

Vanmarcke clearly has a good sprint but Boonen also has a reputation of being ountsprinted in small groups by lesser sprinters

 

[ILovecycling]

Talk about overrated... Stybar to mark Canc. Sure, he'll do that, no prob

I guess you're right about Terpstra though... as soon as people expect something of him, he tends to fail. He's been the outright leader for the Dutch national squad on the Worlds and the Olympics a few times now, and he's done absolutely zilch, nothing, zero.

He will.Remember Roubaix, and in E3 he was glued to his wheel right from the crash,attacks on tarmac,cobbles, everywhere,and he handled it

 

[SKSemtex]

It is funny how fast everybody forgot abot Kwiatko. He was superstrong last year and he will be again this year.

The question is how OPQS is going to play this race.

One thing is for sure we will see completly another RVV this year. If Cance win this one I take his avatar for one year as a sign of respect.

Or I missed something and he does not ride this one?

 

[tomorrow]

It is funny how fast everybody forgot abot Kwiatko. He was superstrong last year and he will be again this year.

The question is how OPQS is going to play this race.

One thing is for sure we will see completly another RVV this year. If Cance win this one I take his avatar for one year as a sign of respect.

Or I missed something and he does not ride this one?

Kwiat is not listed even as reserve in the startlist of RVV, so it's very unlikely he would start

 

[Jspear]

It is funny how fast everybody forgot abot Kwiatko. He was superstrong last year and he will be again this year.

The question is how OPQS is going to play this race.

One thing is for sure we will see completly another RVV this year. If Cance win this one I take his avatar for one year as a sign of respect.

Or I missed something and he does not ride this one?

Cancellara is riding Flanders....and he's gonna win!

 

[SKSemtex]

Ahh. Now I see. Only Ardennes classics. I take my Cancelara avatar taking back

 

[theyoungest]

Same goes for Sagan of course, so I don't think Vanmarcke is in super form at this point. Like Netserk said, he will probably be stronger in Paris-Roubaix, which suits him better than Flanders anyway.

Not quite the same. Vanmarcke was off the bike more than he was on it (figuratively speaking). Of course he doesn't have the talent of a guy like Sagan, he seems more like a hard worker to me.

 

[Lexman]

Why are people so surprised Vanmarcke can sprint. He did beat Boonen in Omloop het Nieuwsblad in a sprint just two years ago

Boonen always said he made some mistakes in that sprint, being too eager to win....

 

[Kwibus]

Boonen always said he made some mistakes in that sprint, being too eager to win....

Sure and Vanmarcke made a mistake in the sprint vs Cancellara in Roubaix.
Part of cycling.

Vanmarcke also finished 4th at G-W where he also finished ahead of Boonen among other sprinters.
Vanmarcke simply has a very good sprint. Not a bunchsprinter, but a good sprint.

 

[wayahead]

I'm missing something... Tuesday already and still no Cancellara's mind games.

 

[theyoungest]

This could be an epic race... right now the prediction is cold, and even snow. Although it could simply take the sting out of any attacks, like we saw in San Remo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

where did you read that?

hard to imagine there being cold and snow when it's currently 25 degree celsius outside

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I see Movistar wants to deploy Malori as a secret weapon here. Must be his debut. Anyway hopefully he will enjoy the cobbles as he may be a card for PR in the future.

 

[Kwibus]

This could be an epic race... right now the prediction is cold, and even snow. Although it could simply take the sting out of any attacks, like we saw in San Remo.

The weather forecast for sunday is still too far away.
I checked 3 different weather sites and all 3 very different.
1 had a sunny day, other one was cloudy, but 0% chance of rain and the last one had showers and wind.

Let's wait and see.