52nd Brabantse Pijl 196km

[dlwssonic]

Andy Schleck, Philippe Gilbert, Oscar Freire, Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Gianni Meersman, Jelle Vanendert, Matti Breschel, Lars Boom, Luis Leon Sanchez, Sebastien Rosseler, Oscar Gatto, Thomas De Gendt and Johnny Hoogerland are the notable starters.


ROLL OF HONOUR
2011 1. Philippe Gilbert 2. Bjorn Leukemans 3. Anthony Geslin
2010 1. Sebastien Rosseler 2. Thomas De Gendt 3. Jurgen Van de Walle
2009 1. Anthony Geslin 2. Jérôme Pineau 3. Fabian Wegmann
2008 1. Sylvain Chavanel 2. Philippe Gilbert 3. Juan Antonio Flecha
2007 1. Oscar Freire 2. Nick Nuyens 3. Kim Kirchen
2006 1. Oscar Freire 2. Karsten Kroon 3. Nick Nuyens
2005 1. Oscar Freire 2. Marc Lodz 3. Axel Merckx
2004 1. Luca Paolini 2. Michael Boogerd 3. Nico Sijmens
2003 1. Michael Boogerd 2. Oscar Freire 3. Luca Paolini
2002 1. Fabien De Waele 2. Erwin Thijs 3. Chris Peers
2001 1. Michael Boogerd 2. Scott Sunderland 3. Axel Merckx
2000 1. Johan Museeuw 2. Nico Mattan 3. Rolf Sorensen
1999 1.Michele Bartoli 2. Michael Boogerd 3. Daniele Nardello

Startlist http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjMxMjA=
Personally I am extremely looking forward to this race, can't wait for the ardennes to start. GVA or Sagan are the main favorites in my opinion. We would be able to see how is Gilbert's form in this race.

 

[Panda Claws]

You will probably be able to watch this via the sporza website.

It's a battel between Oscar Freire, Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet.

Unless Phil finds his form back, but in that case it would barely be a battle.

 

[Azabael]

I know you probably like BMC a lot, but I'd say Sagan and Vanendert instead of GvA.

 

[Lexman]

Sagan, Freire & GVA and as surprise ftw Gilbert.

real close and or outsiders will be Meersman and Voeckler...

 

[Lexman]

I know you probably like BMC a lot, but I'd say Sagan and Vanendert instead of GvA.

Vanendert did abandon in Pays Basque, don't expect to much from him but i hope he prove me wrong...

 

[Azabael]

Vanendert did abandon in Pays Basque, don't expect to much from him but i hope he prove me wrong...

With Gilbert leaving, it's his time to shine. I expect him to focus his form toward the classics like Schleck does with le Tour. However, he might prove not to fit the role of leading man. Let's find out.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Just before this season started I read an interview in a Belgian newspaper with some guy from Lotto about Vanendert. The guy was saying how Vanendert was gonna be their big man in the Ardennes, how he was going to compete with Gilbert, how he was a major contender for LBL bla bla bla.

Well, Vanenert better show it! He sucked in everything so far this season, but who cares, now the Ardennes start and Vanendert better show this Brabantse pijl he is worth being the leader of his team!

 

[dlwssonic]

I know you probably like BMC a lot, but I'd say Sagan and Vanendert instead of GvA.

Sagan is a favorite, I don't expect Vanendert to do much. Voeckler can do well too.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

return of colombians. by now I hope are in good shape and have covered their lack of training base. duarte ftw!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

lol vanendert.. i think he missing the right stance of saturnus to perform here

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ahahahhaha

or his other saturn sister

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I'm still giving Vanendert a chance though, because he didn't do anything before the Ardennes last year either. Seems to be following the same prep of crap results and DNFing, only now he'll go for himself instead of being an excellent domestique for Gilbert.

 

[Lexman]

don't count on Leukemans, he's out with knee problems

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120409_Leukemans_voorjaar_voorbij

 

[taiwan]

Gilbert, Sagan, Gatto, I'll say

Actually Sagan, Gilbert, Gatto because even supermen need to show some form going into a race.

 

[Froome19]

I'm still giving Vanendert a chance though, because he didn't do anything before the Ardennes last year either. Seems to be following the same prep of crap results and DNFing, only now he'll go for himself instead of being an excellent domestique for Gilbert.

Exactly.

 

[theyoungest]

Indeed, for all we know Vanendert might have great form. He was simply wise to abandon on that horrible stage in Pais Vasco, where he had nothing to gain and everything to lose.

It's Sagan's for the taking, if he wants it. Otherwise, I don't know. Maybe Gilbert has found some form again?

 

[roundabout]

Didn't Vanendert crash somewhere on stage 1? I remember reading about it. He certainly was nowhere before his DNF.

 

[hoerpi]

Tobias Ludvigsson to smoke everyone

Probably a fight between Peter Sagan and Freire after an awesome leadout by Andy.

 

[roundabout]

41 Pineau, Jerome
42 Bandiera, Marco
43 Ciolek, Gerald
44 Devenyns, Dries
45 Golas, Michal
46 Vandewalle, Kristof
47 Velits, Martin
48 Vermote, Julien

Pick a winner

 

[theyoungest]

Didn't Vanendert crash somewhere on stage 1? I remember reading about it. He certainly was nowhere before his DNF.

I saw him a few times in the final, as a (next to) last man for VDB. To be fair, last year he was okay in Pais Vasco, but nothing spectacular either. Let's wait and see.

 

[roundabout]

The only thing I remember from him last year was an attack on the last road stage.

This year, yeah there seemed to be many Lotto's there around VDB but they all disappeared when the racing really started.

For a team in 16th position in the UCI rankings touring around is unacceptable, but indeed Vanendert can find form out of nowhere.

 

[theyoungest]

The only thing I remember from him last year was an attack on the last road stage.

This year, yeah there seemed to be many Lotto's there around VDB but they all disappeared when the racing really started.

For a team in 16th position in the UCI rankings touring around is unacceptable, but indeed Vanendert can find form out of nowhere.

They had to protect their best chance for UCI points.

Unfortunately, VDB threw them all away on the final stage.

 

[andrew_s]

don't count on Leukemans, he's out with knee problems

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120409_Leukemans_voorjaar_voorbij

I see that google translate is getting into product placement:

laatste wielernieuws ==> Shimano disc brake movies last

 

[Herr Katt]

It struck me that in 2008 Sylvain Chavanel had an amazing year.

 

[will10]

It struck me that in 2008 Sylvain Chavanel had an amazing year.

It was the first year he really tried the classics after years of trying to finish top 10 in the Tour to keep the French press happy.