Australia has Matthews, but otherwise I agree that Italy and Spain especially will want to tire out the opposition. I think Brabantse Prijs will be a good example.DFA123 said:I don't think this will end up being raced like RVV. There are too many strong teams who that wouldn't suit at all (Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Australia); they will want to drive a hard pace up all the hills and look to create breaks along way from the finish. And you have hills from the first lap, not 120km of flat like RVV.
It will be much more like Amstel Gold imo.
That's what I was thinking, get up the road (out of sight, out of mind), and win from the break!WildspokeJoe said:Enrico Gimondi said:Team USA was announced today:
Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./BMC Racing Team)
Tyler Farrar (Seattle, Wash./MTN-Qhubeka)
Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Ben King (North Garden, Va./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./BMC Racing Team)
(Final spot to be named by Sept. 11)
Team USA will be invisible.
BigMac said:Gosh, Farrar 8th in a sprint at the ToB. What the hell is he doing in that list.
TMP402 said:BigMac said:Gosh, Farrar 8th in a sprint at the ToB. What the hell is he doing in that list.
Cobbles.
BigMac said:TMP402 said:BigMac said:Gosh, Farrar 8th in a sprint at the ToB. What the hell is he doing in that list.
Cobbles.
Libby Hill won't make that much a difference in the end me thinks. Too far from the line for an attaquer, not hard enough for those likes. And he was terrible in the cobbles this year anyway.
jmdirt said:That's what I was thinking, get up the road (out of sight, out of mind), and win from the break!WildspokeJoe said:Enrico Gimondi said:Team USA was announced today:
Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./BMC Racing Team)
Tyler Farrar (Seattle, Wash./MTN-Qhubeka)
Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Ben King (North Garden, Va./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./BMC Racing Team)
(Final spot to be named by Sept. 11)
Team USA will be invisible.
On this course even Matthews and Gerrans climb well enough for an Amstel-style race. Both have finished on the podium there and sprint well enough not to fear anyone who is likely to survive, while Clarke, Hansen, Sutherland and McCarthy should be enough support.Brullnux said:Australia has Matthews, but otherwise I agree that Italy and Spain especially will want to tire out the opposition. I think Brabantse Prijs will be a good example.DFA123 said:I don't think this will end up being raced like RVV. There are too many strong teams who that wouldn't suit at all (Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Australia); they will want to drive a hard pace up all the hills and look to create breaks along way from the finish. And you have hills from the first lap, not 120km of flat like RVV.
It will be much more like Amstel Gold imo.
If an Australian is going to win it, I want it to be Matthews, because he's had two very good years in a row now and is actually a relatively entertaining rider who is capable of attacking when the time is right. But part of me wants to see Gerrans win it, just for the lolz! Sorry LibertineBushman said:Unfortunately, yes he could.
If they dropped Howes or King for Craddock and gave the final spot to Boswell that team would be capable of doing something. If the USA had 9 riders riding for Phinney they could certainly show well.WildspokeJoe said:jmdirt said:That's what I was thinking, get up the road (out of sight, out of mind), and win from the break!WildspokeJoe said:Enrico Gimondi said:Team USA was announced today:
Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./BMC Racing Team)
Tyler Farrar (Seattle, Wash./MTN-Qhubeka)
Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Ben King (North Garden, Va./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./BMC Racing Team)
(Final spot to be named by Sept. 11)
Team USA will be invisible.
Let's face it the team is composed of very good complimentary riders. With the exception of TJVG, US cycling isn't very good right now. There's nothing wrong with that's just a very honest assessment. I'll be in Richmond hoping they do well but I'm not holding my breath.
42x16ss said:If they dropped Howes or King for Craddock and gave the final spot to Boswell that team would be capable of doing something. If the USA had 9 riders riding for Phinney they could certainly show well.WildspokeJoe said:jmdirt said:That's what I was thinking, get up the road (out of sight, out of mind), and win from the break!WildspokeJoe said:Enrico Gimondi said:Team USA was announced today:
Brent Bookwalter (Asheville, N.C./BMC Racing Team)
Tyler Farrar (Seattle, Wash./MTN-Qhubeka)
Alex Howes (Boulder, Colo./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Ben King (North Garden, Va./Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling)
Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo./BMC Racing Team)
(Final spot to be named by Sept. 11)
Team USA will be invisible.
Let's face it the team is composed of very good complimentary riders. With the exception of TJVG, US cycling isn't very good right now. There's nothing wrong with that's just a very honest assessment. I'll be in Richmond hoping they do well but I'm not holding my breath.
damian13ster said:Sagan vs Kwiatkowski ala Strade Bianchi is my wet dream.
More likely that Gerrans, Valverde and Mathews will be there as well though
If Italy ride for Viviani and GB ride for Cavendish then they will both get what they deserve - absolutely nothing. Would be amazed if either of those teams rode for a bunch finish; especially Italy.MatParker117 said:damian13ster said:Sagan vs Kwiatkowski ala Strade Bianchi is my wet dream.
More likely that Gerrans, Valverde and Mathews will be there as well though
It'll be a decent sized sprint particularly with GB, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and Australia all having numbers and looking to control things for Cav, Degenkolb, Viviani, Sagan and Matthews expect a group of around 40-60 to hit the base of the final climb.