2015 Le Samyn, 4th March, 201.2 km, 1.1

[Flamin]

OFFICIAL STARTLIST

PARCOURS

Route

First the usual part, 102.3 km from Quaregnon to Dour, where they hit the local circuit which will be raced 5 times. It's 24.6 km long and includes the Cote de la Roquette (a 500m cobbled climb, 13 km from the finish) and, new this year, Rue de Belle Vue (700m cobbled section, organisation gave it 3 stars) at just 3 km from the finish.

In other words, not the usual bunch sprint. The finish is still an uphill drag.

2014

Top 10:

1. VANTOMME Maxime
2. TSATEVICH Alexei
3. BOUHANNI Nacer
4. CORBEL Erwann
5. SBARAGLI Kristian
6. CHAINEL Steve
7. NAPOLITANO Danilo
8. CIOLEK Gerald
9. WAEYTENS Zico
10. DERNIES Tom

 

[Bushman]

They added something like 10 new sections of cobbles right?

 

[ILovecycling]

highlights or broadcasting?

 

[Banana_Joe]

Who will win this race? Nizzolo, Meersman, Terpstra, Coquard?

 

[lemon cheese cake]

highlights or broadcasting?

Eurosport are showing it live. In the UK at least.

 

[ILovecycling]

Eurosport are showing it live. In the UK at least.

Oh greaaat
thanks

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Who will win this race? Nizzolo, Meersman, Terpstra, Coquard?

I hope Vantomme will win again so he finally gets signed by a bigger team again.

 

[TMP401]

Hmm wonder why Tsatevich is celebrating.

 

[Kazistuta]

With a more selective course this year we hopefully get a true-blood cobbles winner, even though the numbers are few: Terpstra (great form) and Le Bon comes to mind. Two times Stijn, Chainel, Leukemans and Van Keirsbulck to a lesser extent.

Etixx have a team designed for every scenario. Obviously Meersman is favorite if it's a bunch sprint, but they have enough firepower to make the race interesting instead of sit in and wait.

I like Lampaert for this one actually.

Outsiders for both selected group finish and big sprint finish: Vangenechten, Van Der Sande, Boeckmans. D. Van Poppel, Van Stayen, Groenewegen, Baugnies

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Would have preferred a reduction in team size rather than changing parcours at this time, but we are way past Christmas so perhaps next year.

If Pelucchi wants to be a hard man sprinter, this is a good chance.

Going with Coquard however.

Great little race in the middle of the week with full live coverage.

 

[Michele]

Any live streaming?

 

[staubsauger]

Any live streaming?

RTBF will start coverage at 15.15. The question is whether there are geo restrictions.

Edith says probably not. But it's on Eurosport 2 so there are some streams up at procyclinglive.com

 

[Bigas Lunas]

Any live streaming?

Live now here.

http://www.sportingvideo.tv/20150304/vv54f69c1da94f92.85900382-1017573.html

 

[luckyboy]

So much for a selective race, that was the last cobbled sector already wasn't it? Group is big still

 

[Hugo Koblet]

So much for a selective race, that was the last cobbled sector already wasn't it? Group is big still

I think there's a cobbled sector shortly before the finish line, but I haven't watched the race up until now, so perhaps someone who has watched the last laps can tell us?

 

[luckyboy]

Commentators said it was the last one but looking at the profile and map it looks like there are still 3 on this lap

 

[wansteadimp]

Yep, a cobbled climb to come, plus the hard section about 3k from the line.

 

[TMP401]

Well there is a small group ahead of the peloton so it may be selective.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Van der Sande, Dron, Engoulvent, Lagutin, Petit, Barta and one more have a small lead now. Gougeard (who else?) is the last one.

 

[TMP401]

van der Sande puncture

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Haha, karma for not taking any turns?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Le Bon opens up a gap.. Come on!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Let's see how Terpstra and Vandenbergh screw this one up Now it's down to the expected Meersman vs Boeckmans showdown. I think Boeckmans is gonna take it.

 

[luckyboy]

lol EQS

Meersman went too far across the road at the finish

 

[LosBrolin]

And he did! Nice sprint. Etixx fail again.