52nd Brabantse Pijl 196km

[Panda Claws]

It's just a question of who's show will be starting.

 

[Kvinto]

I think Lotto will simply ride for Meersman instead of banking on the guy whose form nobody knows. I suppose Gianni can make it to the podium.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Go Turbo Diesel

 

[The Hitch]

Phil to put in good performance. Perhaps podium. Forum to go beserk in the Gilbert threads.

 

[FF'Wilco]

Any news about Sagan ? Is he taking it seriously or its going to be a training ride for him ?

 

[Lexman]

I think Lotto will simply ride for Meersman instead of banking on the guy whose form nobody knows. I suppose Gianni can make it to the podium.

thats what they are gonna do indeed

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120410_Lotto-Belisol_voor_BP

 

[Shardi]

Phil to put in good performance. Perhaps podium. Forum to go beserk in the Gilbert threads.

This is actually not an unlikely cenario.

 

[taiwan]

Not as if he needs to be at 100% to win this.

 

[Panda Claws]

I think Gilbert will go well, but he will have to suffer immensly to do so.

Last year he won this race without even breaking a sweat (figuratevely)

This year he will do well, but he will have one of the greatest pain faces of the current peleton.

Seriously though, despite his earlier form it is still hard to bet against Gilbert in these races. It's almost like Cav in a bunch sprint.

 

[El Pistolero]

Time to switch focus, the cobbles are ancient history once more, hilly classics now!

 

[The Sheep]

Should be a good race as long as Gilbert is not at his top level.

 

[Havetts]

Paul Martens going to pull a Gilbert and do the Ardennes triple & Brabantse pijl

 

[ferryman]

Looking forward to see how Andy goes

 

[El Pistolero]

Paul Martens going to pull a Gilbert and do the Ardennes triple & Brabantse pijl

It's going to happen!

And Gesink willl play the roll of Vanendert of course

 

[Havetts]

It's going to happen!

And Gesink willl play the roll of Vanendert of course

Rabobank will sweep the Ardennes like Mapei, Gesink & TGBM granting Paul Martens the victories cause they are such noble souls..

 

[WKA311]

Simon Geschke says that he wants to do something in this and he thinks that with good legs he can even fight for the win

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Paul Martens going to pull a Gilbert and do the Ardennes triple & Brabantse pijl

He'd really deserve to be captain once at least.

 

[Havetts]

He'd really deserve to be captain once at least.

Correct, huge talent and is always there in the Amstel.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Simon Geschke says that he wants to do something in this and he thinks that with good legs he can even fight for the win

He does have a decent sprint and did quite well in the CI.
These kind of races are what he's best at. But fighting for the win. Who knows.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Correct, huge talent and is always there in the Amstel.

Especially considering that he always had to work for his leaders.
This year, he should at least be a protected rider....

 

[Havetts]

I agree, lets cheer for him tomorrow

 

[El Pistolero]

The winner is known, no need to race anymore tomorrow.

 

[greenedge]

I think Voeckler will do something, his RvV was surprising. Gilbert will also do something ( he might just want heavy racing to start stimulating him ). Andy will loom as the danger man to the sprinters if he can attack.

However i think Sagan, GVA and Freire are the favourites. If it ends in a reduced sprint Breschel, Meersman and Kreder could also all do something as well.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Will be interesting to see how Jerome Pineau will do in those four races till LBL... His performances became weaker every year since he joined QuickStep.

He left Bouygues together with Chavanel for the 2009 season, being proud to "leave the FC Nantes for AC Milan"... Wheras Chavanel continued to become the world class rider he is today, Pineau didn´t. I suppose he gets 500.000 Euros a year at QuickStep, and so lacks of motivation to to his best.
He was so outspoken about Ricco (blaming him to have doped since aged 15, without probably even knowing him) and doping in general, but will never have the class of a Ricco or others if he goes on like that.

Nevertheless, would be glad if he proves me wrong in the weeks to come.

-> Geschke and Martens: in my opinion, both are able to win Brabantse Piil.

 

[El Pistolero]

Everyone has more class than Ricco. Jerome won zero races while at Bouygues Telecom. For QS he has won a stage in the Giro.