2015 Ronde van België (Baloise Belgium Tour) 27-31/05 2.HC

[Geraint Too Fast]

Updated.

Riders who Rohan Dennis has finished 2nd to in TT's/prologues (since he turned pro);

Brändle
Porte
Dowsett
Wiggins
Kwiatkowski
Dumoulin
Sagan
Martin
Durbridge



Riders who have finished 2nd to Rohan Dennis in TT's/prologues (since he turned pro);

TBA

 

[Vesica]

Too bad Giant (a.k.a. Dumoulin) is not in this years edition. Second last year.

 

[Arredondo]

Great rider Brändle. Really is earning himself a place in the pro peloton.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re:

Greg to try and win overall

He's certainly started off well.

 

[WheelofGear]

Is there any cobbles? If yes, I'm starting to think that Elminger could take it. If only hills, nobody is gonna beat GVA.

 

[Jagartrott]

Possible crosswinds today?
Seems to be rather windy.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Is there any cobbles? If yes, I'm starting to think that Elminger could take it. If only hills, nobody is gonna beat GVA.

Stage 3 has Paddestraat-Lippenhovestraat at 10k to go but I doubt any differences between the top contenders will be made on that stage. This Golden km on the other hand will be far more important.

 

[Jagartrott]

Boonen wins it, ahead of Demare.

 

[Velolover2]

Boonen just won a stage.

Gilbert and Boonen, party like it's 2011 and 2012.

 

[Mr.White]

Tommeke! Yes!

 

[GuyIncognito]

Démare went way way way too early, essentially did a perfect leadout for Boonen on his wheel the whole way.
Even then, Tommeke only barely squeaked by right on the line

 

[tweak37]

Re:

Démare went way way way too early, essentially did a perfect leadout for Boonen on his wheel the whole way.
Even then, Tommeke only barely squeaked by right on the line

He won by a bike length...

 

[jaylew]

Démare gets his wish, Bouhanni is gone, and he can't even beat Boonen in a sprint. Zero wins for him this year and completely anonymous in the classics.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Is there any cobbles? If yes, I'm starting to think that Elminger could take it. If only hills, nobody is gonna beat GVA.

Stage 3 has Paddestraat-Lippenhovestraat at 10k to go but I doubt any differences between the top contenders will be made on that stage. This Golden km on the other hand will be far more important.

Studied the section in Google Maps. It's about 2k and very narrow. Could be crucial. If I were Quick-Step, I'd try to eliminate some of the fast guys and types like Brändle. Both for stage win and GC.

 

[Oliver]

Re: Re:

Is there any cobbles? If yes, I'm starting to think that Elminger could take it. If only hills, nobody is gonna beat GVA.

Stage 3 has Paddestraat-Lippenhovestraat at 10k to go but I doubt any differences between the top contenders will be made on that stage. This Golden km on the other hand will be far more important.

Studied the section in Google Maps. It's about 2k and very narrow. Could be crucial. If I were Quick-Step, I'd try to eliminate some of the fast guys and types like Brändle. Both for stage win and GC.

Paddestraat and Lippenhovestraat are more than 2k. It's about 3,5k cobbles.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Is there any cobbles? If yes, I'm starting to think that Elminger could take it. If only hills, nobody is gonna beat GVA.

Stage 3 has Paddestraat-Lippenhovestraat at 10k to go but I doubt any differences between the top contenders will be made on that stage. This Golden km on the other hand will be far more important.

Studied the section in Google Maps. It's about 2k and very narrow. Could be crucial. If I were Quick-Step, I'd try to eliminate some of the fast guys and types like Brändle. Both for stage win and GC.

QS will likely go crazy there to try and win the stage indeed. If they want the gc, they'll need to exploit their numbers and go from far, because the biggest threats are Greg and Elmiger and they're not going to drop any significant time on a few cobblestones and especially Greg will be the boss (stating the obvious, i know) in the final Ardennes stage.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Where is that guy who said that Boonen can't sprint?

 

[Happy dude]

Re:

Where is that guy who said that Boonen can't sprint?

I'd like them to name someone as old as boonen who can sprint as well. Everyone loses explosiveness with age

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Where is that guy who said that Boonen can't sprint?

No idea who, but he's clearly more comfortable nowadays in non-hectic sprints like these, because Giro sprints were very very hectic this year.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Where is that guy who said that Boonen can't sprint?

No idea who, but he's clearly more comfortable nowadays in non-hectic sprints like these, because Giro sprints were very very hectic this year.

SeriousSam and classicomano apparently: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29383

 

[cellardoor]

I haven't been watching this race but very happy to read that Boonen is back to winning ways. After his fairly lack luster Giro I was worrying that he wasn't going to get his mojo working again.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Re:

I haven't been watching this race but very happy to read that Boonen is back to winning ways. After his fairly lack luster Giro I was worrying that he wasn't going to get his mojo working again.

this is the tour of belgium, any idiot on a bike can win here pretty much

 

[Jagartrott]

Last three winners are Tony Martin, Gilbert and Devolder.
Those are pretty nice to have as winners of a non-WT race.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

I haven't been watching this race but very happy to read that Boonen is back to winning ways. After his fairly lack luster Giro I was worrying that he wasn't going to get his mojo working again.

this is the tour of belgium, any idiot on a bike can win here pretty much

Lol, I wonder who can win Tour of Colombia then? Any idiot without a bike?

 

[Pentacycle]

Re: Re:

Where is that guy who said that Boonen can't sprint?

I'd like them to name someone as old as boonen who can sprint as well. Everyone loses explosiveness with age

Petacchi won two stages in the Tour and the green jersey at 36. But I agree that Boonen is only one of his generation who is still involved in high level sprints.