2018 Tour of Flanders

[animir]

Re:

I think someone from QuickStep will win this solo. Gilbert or Terpstra seems the most likely as Stybar will sit on Sagan's wheel as he usually does, and Lampaert will probably play the role as helper even though he seems just as strong as Gilbert and Terpstra. I just don't see the other favorites collaborating in bringing back a Gilbert or Terpstra solo ride. We already saw that in E3 when the big chasing group couldn't agree on bringing back Terpstra even though BMC had three riders in that group.

Because its so difficult and frustratig to do chasing whith a quick step rider on your wheel, I expect that other favorites will do their best to prevent that situation. If some of them will be too smart too soon and will just rely e.g. on Sagan to chase all attacks, they will loose all. If they cooperate, they can beat quick step. If Benoot covers an attack of Terpstra, the next attack of Gilbert can be covered by Sagan or GVA and the next one by Vanmarcke ... In my opinion this is the only way, how to beat such a strog team.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

I think someone from QuickStep will win this solo. Gilbert or Terpstra seems the most likely as Stybar will sit on Sagan's wheel as he usually does, and Lampaert will probably play the role as helper even though he seems just as strong as Gilbert and Terpstra. I just don't see the other favorites collaborating in bringing back a Gilbert or Terpstra solo ride. We already saw that in E3 when the big chasing group couldn't agree on bringing back Terpstra even though BMC had three riders in that group.

Because its so difficult and frustratig to do chasing whith a quick step rider on your wheel, I expect that other favorites will do their best to prevent that situation. If some of them will be too smart too soon and will just rely e.g. on Sagan to chase all attacks, they will loose all. If they cooperate, they can beat quick step. If Benoot covers an attack of Terpstra, the next attack of Gilbert can be covered by Sagan or GVA and the next one by Vanmarcke ... In my opinion this is the only way, how to beat such a strog team.

Well, I don't disagree but I don't see that happening. The other riders aren't riding as a team and I have a hard time imagining that they'll cover attacks alternately. And I do think you hit the nail on the head with your comment on Sagan, because I think that it's very likely that they'll all be looking at Sagan who doesn't seem nearly as strong as he usually does.

 

[Vesica]

I don’t understand why more people vote for Stybar than for Terpstra. (Lampaert is not even in the poll option..) For me Stybar is the Sep Vanmarcke of quickstep, always there, but never able to take that last step. In all those years he only won once Strade.

QS is calling themselfs the Wolfpack, they’re really hunting for victories.

**** Terpstra, Gilbert, Lampaert
*** Van Avermaet, Benoot
** Sagan, Stybar, Vanmarcke, Naesen, Van Aert
* Kwiatkowski, Moscon

 

[Hugo Koblet]

My favorites:

*****
**** Terpstra, Gilbert
*** Stybar, Vanmarcke, Benoot, Sagan, GVA
** Lampaert, Naesen, Trentin, Kwiatkowski
* Demare, Stuyven, Degenkolb, Hagen, Kristoff, Van Aert, Moscon, Modolo, Colbrelli, Nibali, Valgren

 

[Hellyea]

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

 

[Blanco]

Nibali to attack at the Muur with one of the steppers...

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

I say Quik Step shoots for a long range with Gilbert again just like last year and have the rest of the crew just sit on the favorites. Thats got to be depressing knowing you're chasing with a fresh Stybar, Terpstra, and Lampaert getting an easy ride.

They won’t let Gilbert up the road like that again. Keisse, Sabatini or deClercq might be given that freedom, but the 4 potential winners (including Lampaert) in the QS squad won’t.

Given the freedom by who?

The collective cognoscenti of the peloton? I just think there's no way a move will go featuring any QS leader that won't have the leaders of 3 or 4 other teams automatically attached.

 

[THEORYY]

so hype around Terpstra, one good race and people think that he is going to win everything...same with Benoot(1 pro win so far, and already favorite for everything).
its going to be battle between Sagan and GVA

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

GP E3 told a different story.

 

[Hellyea]

Re: Re:

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

GP E3 told a different story.

I don't think that was a performance problem on his side.

 

[Oliver]

Hard to predict.
No clear favorite. Maybe Terpstra or Benoot.
Can't see Sagan strong enough.
I hope there some action @ de Muur, and a group of favorites is getting away.

 

[Forever The Best]

Wow, Sagan fans are very annoying.
As for the race, hoping for a great race like last year with one of Gilbert, Nibali, Benoot or Kwiatkowski winning.

 

[Orbit501]

Fingers crossed for Naesen's recon ride today. Hopefully his knee comes out of it ok and he's fit and raring to go on Sunday.

Anyone any more info on him?

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

Fingers crossed for Naesen's recon ride today. Hopefully his knee comes out of it ok and he's fit and raring to go on Sunday.

Anyone any more info on him?

Ah, forgot him. I would be very happy if he wins as well.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/oliver-naesen-confident-for-tour-of-flanders/

 

[Der Effe]

Re:

Fingers crossed for Naesen's recon ride today. Hopefully his knee comes out of it ok and he's fit and raring to go on Sunday.

Anyone any more info on him?

AG2R confirmed he is starting.

 

[loge1884]

Re: Re:

was there in 'modern times' anyone who won RvV on his first appearance?

Van Hooydonck in 1989.
Durand in 1992.

Van Hooydonck was 27th in 1987 and 22nd in 1988 before winning.
http://firstcycling.com/rider.php?r=543&k=monu

My mistake, I mislooked. So Durand seems to be the only one.

Going back there are René Martens in 1982, Cees Bal in 1974, Dino Zandegù in 1967.
Martens and Bal at the only try of their careers.

thanks for the update .... that's what I like about this forum: whatever the question (regarding cycling sports history) someone seems to know the answer ....

 

[Orbit501]

Re: Re:

Fingers crossed for Naesen's recon ride today. Hopefully his knee comes out of it ok and he's fit and raring to go on Sunday.

Anyone any more info on him?

AG2R confirmed he is starting.

That's good. Really hoping the injury doesn't affect his performance as he's going well again this season.

 

[nevuna]

Re: Re:

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

GP E3 told a different story.

I don't think that was a performance problem on his side.

in E3 he had a crash in first half, nobody knows how that affected him. GW different story, seems in pretty decent shape. Steppers are in the zone, but when everybody think they cant loose they come up with collosial screw up

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

so hype around Terpstra, one good race and people think that he is going to win everything...same with Benoot(1 pro win so far, and already favorite for everything).
its going to be battle between Sagan and GVA

Terpstra won more then one race.

Still he needs to finish solo and he needs a strong collective QS for it.
If he waits for sagan/gva attack he gets dropped.

 

[GraftPunk]

Re: Re:

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

GP E3 told a different story.

I don't think that was a performance problem on his side.

in E3 he had a crash in first half, nobody knows how that affected him. GW different story, seems in pretty decent shape. Steppers are in the zone, but when everybody think they cant loose they come up with collosial screw up

History has shown that they can always find a way to loose if there is one. Sometimes they just get lucky and there isn't one

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

so hype around Terpstra, one good race and people think that he is going to win everything...same with Benoot(1 pro win so far, and already favorite for everything).
its going to be battle between Sagan and GVA

Tour of Qatar (2014, 2015)
Tour de Wallonie (2015)
Eneco Tour (2016)

National Road Race Championships
(2010, 2012, 2015)
Paris–Roubaix (2014)
E3 Harelbeke (2018)
Dwars door Vlaanderen (2012, 2014)

One race ...

Not to mention countless other results. Also from all cobble contenders arguably the best form currently with victories in Le Samyn and E3. Both in convincing fashion. Also 5 times in the top 10 of De Ronde in the last 6 years. You may not like him but he is one of the obvious favorites!

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Sagan is gonna peak at RVV and P-R. He didn't break any sweat at G-W. He is easily top3 for RVV. Never count him off, Never.

GP E3 told a different story.

I don't think that was a performance problem on his side.

This is worse the bertie....

Never Sagans fault

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

so hype around Terpstra, one good race and people think that he is going to win everything...same with Benoot(1 pro win so far, and already favorite for everything).
its going to be battle between Sagan and GVA

Yeah, Benoot only has one pro win so far, but he has been on top of the one day racing scene for a few years now. His palmares doesn't show what he is capable of.
Terpstra however is one of the most decorated cobbles specialists of his generation. The man has won Paris-Roubaix ffs. If that was the only thing he has ever won before E3 it would still be enough to show your statement is completely wrong, but it really isn't. ENECO tour, wars door vlaanderen twice, 3 more monument podiums. One good race? You consider that one good race?

 

[GraftPunk]

Terpstra on form, and with his head about him, should not be under-estimated. My main concern for the steppers is that there might be internal competition to see who gets second place behind Sagan.

 

[Koronin]

Terpstra's biggest problem at Ronde may just be that there are 3-4 Quickstep riders who can actually win.