2015, Ronde van Vlaanderen 264.9 Km

[tomorrow]

Re:

Which of the riders people are talking about as favorites is going to attack first?

Perhaps Roelandts will go early but he is not really a big favorite. Vanmarcke seems to waste energy so maybe he will have a pointless dig earlier than the rest which might get things going a bit but he probably will not go on a full attack too early. Etixx might send a rider up the road early but unless it is one of Stybar, Terpstra or Vandenbergh they probably will be let go as they will not be strong enough.

i don't know who will attack first, but I am afraid I know who will waste his energy first, and that would be Sagan. At least that's what past suggests. And interview with tinkoff director confirms that, brutal tempo and with 50km to go, sagan isolated instead of taking advantage of kristoff's good form and sagan's "flying little under radar", they should make other teams wanting to tire kristoff and degenkolb work. They should save some guys for catching attacks second to last lap.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Clearly there is only one favourie for ths race: Lars Boom.
Arguably the strongest cobbled classics rider of his generation. Joining the best cycling team in the world before the start of this season, he simply can't fail

 

[Tank Engine]

Re:

Which of the riders people are talking about as favorites is going to attack first?

GvA. He'll hope to get over the Paterburg first.

Etixx and Sky will want a brisk pace to get rid of the sprinters. At the start of the pointy end of the race, they'll send guys up the road (Wiggo will drive if there are no Sky guys up the road). G, Stybar, Terpstra to hit the front on the Paterburg. Vanmarke didn't look as strong as G or Terpstra in G-W last week, but certainly has the skill set to be up front.

My head says Stybar, but I hope it's G

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Which of the riders people are talking about as favorites is going to attack first?

GvA. He'll hope to get over the Paterburg first.

Etixx and Sky will want a brisk pace to get rid of the sprinters. At the start of the pointy end of the race, they'll send guys up the road (Wiggo will drive if there are no Sky guys up the road). G, Stybar, Terpstra to hit the front on the Paterburg. Vanmarke didn't look as strong as G or Terpstra in G-W last week, but certainly has the skill set to be up front.

My head says Stybar, but I hope it's G

For me it's the exact opposite

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Clearly there is only one favourie for ths race: Lars Boom.
Arguably the strongest cobbled classics rider of his generation. Joining the best cycling team in the world before the start of this season, he simply can't fail

Funniest comment I've read all day. Job succeeded with that!
In all seriousness, Boom is a great rider, but I expect his talents to favour Paris-Roubaix.

 

[GP Blanco]

Re:

Clearly there is only one favourie for ths race: Lars Boom.
Arguably the strongest cobbled classics rider of his generation. Joining the best cycling team in the world before the start of this season, he simply can't fail

He is saving energy for a wet Paris Roubaix which will happen his year because Vino also controls the weather

 

[Pantani_lives]

Devolder said he will win it or finish outside of the top 20.

 

[cycladianpirate]

Re:

Devolder said he will win it or finish outside of the top 20.

Frankly, I could make that claim.

 

[trevim]

Re:

Devolder said he will win it or finish outside of the top 20.

DNF perhaps :-D
Seriously though I would like to see him back to the podium.

 

[Kwibus]

Cancellara actually said something that made sense for once.

He suggested to change the final run it to more flemish roads instead of the current final 10km on straight bring roads.

There actually 2 option available for a more flemish final with small roads with a lot of curves without changing the position of the finish. 1 option is riding next to the Schelde and it makes the distance 800mtr longer with just the last 1.5km on the final wide road.

Option 2 makes the course 1.5km longer, but it adds another cobbled section of 1.5km as well. We will end up with just the final 4km on the wide road.

So there are actually 2 alternatives which are a lot more interesting, but the response from the organisation is that they will keep it in mind, but that they don't want to touch the course anymore so that it gros in tradition.
Well just make this final change and then let the tradition build....please...

 

[Miburo]

Devolder might win it, you never know it with him. Don't give him 5 seconds, you won't bring him back then.

I guarantee you that, he becomes like Cancellara then, no way getting him back.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

I think a Lotto guy will attack early again, probably Debusschere. He's in great form but he won't survive the final in the peloton and if he gets caught after the final climbs he can still sprint real well (though the same applies to Roelandts).

 

[markene2]

Not a single mention of Pozzato in this thread. I think he will and might win this, he has had great form this year, and has a beutifull style on the bike!

 

[luckyboy]

Pozzato has had great form? lol, he's past-it

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

Not a single mention of Pozzato in this thread. I think he will and might win this, he has had great form this year, and has a beutifull style on the bike!

We are not allowed to talk about him because only God can judge him

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Devolder said he will win it or finish outside of the top 20.

I don't think he said that. It's just his history at RVV: he won it, or finished outside the top-20.
He'll not hold back, that's for sure.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

ready

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

set

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

go!

 

[mrhender]

Re:

go!

Great picture!!!

I'am so ready

 

[Flamin]

Stupid that they only showed the first 10 min and come back live at 12h when the interesting part is over.

 

[sir fly]

I can't believe there's so few comments in the thread an hour before the broadcast.
As far as I'm concerned, the beer is cooling, chicken wings are waiting just a bit before I put them in the oven where the dessert is baking at the moment.
Happy Easter to all of you who are celebrating it on this Sunday!

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Re:

I can't believe there's so few comments in the thread an hour before the broadcast.
As far as I'm concerned, the beer is cooling, chicken wings are waiting just a bit before I put them in the oven where the dessert is baking at the moment.
Happy Easter to all of you who are celebrating it on this Sunday!

Then of course you've got the obligatory egg shaped chocalate nibbles to help you through the day!

 

[TommyPlus]

Break....
Matthew Brammeier (MTN – Qhubeka), Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing), Damien Gaudin (AG2R La Mondiale), Ralf Matzka (Bora), Clément Venturini (Cofidis), Dylan Groenewegen (Team Roompot)

 

[eljimberino]

Go TheBar!