57th De Brabantse Pijl, 12th April (1.HC, 197km)

[SafeBet]

Competing teams

Quick-Step Floors (Gilbert, Vakoc, Mas)
Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team (Gasparotto, Colbrelli)
BMC Racing Team (Hermans, Dillier)
Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team (Clarke, Bettiol)
Lotto Soudal (Wellens, Vanendert)
ORICA-Scott (Gerrans, Haig)
Dimension Data (Haas, Sbaragli)
Team LottoNL-Jumbo (Martens, Lobato)
Team Sunweb (Matthews, Geschke)
Aqua Blue Sport (Nordhaug, Blythe)
Bardiani - CSF (Barbin, Rota)
CCC Sprandi Polkowice (Ponzi, Paterski)
Cofidis, Solutions Cr�dits (van Staeyen, Maté)
Direct Energie (Coquard, Hivert)
Fortuneo - Vital Concept (Bouet, Vachon)
Gazprom-RusVelo (Tsatevich, Trusov)
Israel Cycling Academy (Boivin, Dempster)
Manzana Postobon (Bol, Paredes)
Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij (Ligthart, van der Lijke)
Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise (Deltombe, Sprengers)
Team Novo Nordisk (Megias, Verschoor)
Verandas Willems-Crelan (Devolder, Dupont)
Wanty - Groupe Gobert (van Keirsbulck, Baugnies)
WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect (Vantomme, Ista)

Official Website: http://www.debrabantsepijl.be/
Follow the race on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DeBrabantsePijl

Startlist is still provisional. If there's any other info that you guys want in the OP just tell me and I'll gladly add it.

 

[loge1884]

so Bora is not racing this?

 

[SKSemtex]

Competing teams

Quick-Step Floors (Gilbert, Vakoc, Mas)
Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team (Gasparotto, Colbrelli)
BMC Racing Team (Hermans, Dillier)
Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team (Clarke, Bettiol)
Lotto Soudal (Wellens, Vanendert)
ORICA-Scott (Gerrans, Haig)
Dimension Data (Haas, Sbaragli)
Team LottoNL-Jumbo (Martens, Lobato)
Team Sunweb (Matthews, Geschke)
Aqua Blue Sport (Nordhaug, Blythe)
Bardiani - CSF (Barbin, Rota)
CCC Sprandi Polkowice (Ponzi, Paterski)
Cofidis, Solutions Cr�dits (van Staeyen, Maté)
Direct Energie (Coquard, Hivert)
Fortuneo - Vital Concept (Bouet, Vachon)
Gazprom-RusVelo (Tsatevich, Trusov)
Israel Cycling Academy (Boivin, Dempster)
Manzana Postobon (Bol, Paredes)
Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij (Ligthart, van der Lijke)
Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise (Deltombe, Sprengers)
Team Novo Nordisk (Megias, Verschoor)
Verandas Willems-Crelan (Devolder, Dupont)
Wanty - Groupe Gobert (van Keirsbulck, Baugnies)
WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect (Vantomme, Ista)

Official Website: http://www.debrabantsepijl.be/
Follow the race on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DeBrabantsePijl

Startlist is still provisional. If there's any other info that you guys want in the OP just tell me and I'll gladly add it.

I really like this race. I still remember Sagan winning here in 2013. Closing several attacks by himself, especially the one of GVA and then beating Gilbert on the line. It was brutal. Till RVV 2016 I considered this as his strongest performance.

Looking at this finish you finally understand how GVA was improved last 4 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd1BsqiL1js

 

[tobydawq]

I really like this race. I still remember Sagan winning here in 2013. Closing several attacks by himself, especially the one of GVA and then beating Gilbert on the line. It was brutal. Till RVV 2016 I considered this as his strongest performance.

Yes, that was nothing short of insane. Some of my favourite final few kilometres ever.

 

[loge1884]

I really like this race. I still remember Sagan winning here in 2013. Closing several attacks by himself, especially the one of GVA and then beating Gilbert on the line. It was brutal. Till RVV 2016 I considered this as his strongest performance.

Yes, that was nothing short of insane. Some of my favourite final few kilometres ever.

Wasn't that the race were he had to win in order to prove he could behave on the podium?

 

[tobydawq]

I guess a podium spot would have been sufficient. But yes, it was his first race after that incident.

But how he was toying with GvA and Gilbert back then. It's quite strange that they are so much closer to each another now, level-wise, considering how much younger Sagan is.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re:

I guess a podium spot would have been sufficient. But yes, it was his first race after that incident.

But how he was toying with GvA and Gilbert back then. It's quite strange that they are so much closer to each another now, level-wise, considering how much younger Sagan is.

If just sagan could still improve with the age like GVA . But we all know it is not possible.

 

[Jagartrott]

He could improve tactically though. He's physically so gifted that he perhaps never really learned how to deal with competitors that are near his level.

 

[Breh]

Going with LottoBE for this one.

 

[barmaher]

QuickStep have a deep roster for this.

Gilbert, Vakoc, Mas, Devenyns and De Plus.

 

[Oliver]

Colbrelli would be nice and deserved!

But who can Gilbert stop...

 

[DFA123]

I guess Matthews will go in as favourite, but he's such a passive rider, on such a passive team, that it seems highly likely to me he'll just end up winning the sprint for 2nd or 3rd, while someone gets away in the last few km.

 

[trucido]

Re: Re:

I guess a podium spot would have been sufficient. But yes, it was his first race after that incident.

But how he was toying with GvA and Gilbert back then. It's quite strange that they are so much closer to each another now, level-wise, considering how much younger Sagan is.

If just sagan could still improve with the age like GVA . But we all know it is not possible.

Hey Gilbert's done it too, why can't Sagan? Though this conversation probably belongs in another section of the forum

 

[Ricco']

Re: Re:

I guess a podium spot would have been sufficient. But yes, it was his first race after that incident.

But how he was toying with GvA and Gilbert back then. It's quite strange that they are so much closer to each another now, level-wise, considering how much younger Sagan is.

If just sagan could still improve with the age like GVA . But we all know it is not possible.

Hey Gilbert's done it too, why can't Sagan? Though this conversation probably belongs in another section of the forum

Sagan appeared much stronger on his U23 age compared to Gilbert. And usually, riders that achieve higher levels of their physical capacity in their youth have little room to improve compared to riders who show talent but aren't so dominant.

Sagan always seemed more matured physically in 2013 compared to Gilbert in 2005.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Usually a a good race. Going with Jules or Dillier.

 

[yaco]

Matthews struggled with the uphill finish in 2016 - He's climbing better in 2017 but I still have my doubts - Suspect the big names will keep theri powder dry for Amstel Gold - I'll have a stab at Haas,Hermans and S.Clarke.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Colbrelli would be nice and deserved!

But who can Gilbert stop...

Almost everyone I guess....

 

[Valv.Piti]

Gilbert or Vakoc, hopefully Gilbert, such an enjoyable rider. Especially when you look at the startles and realise both Matthews and Gerrans are present, go PhilBear!

 

[Shardi]

Going with a safe bet:

Gerrans/Matthews will be on the wheel of every attack in the last km

Amstel-style!

 

[El Pistolero]

This race should be WT, always a fun one. Hopefully Gilbert can blow this race apart, maybe together with Wellens.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Colbrelli would be nice and deserved!

But who can Gilbert stop...

Almost everyone I guess....

Question is; can he stop them all at the same time?

 

[Anderis]

Re:

This race should be WT, always a fun one. Hopefully Gilbert can blow this race apart, maybe together with Wellens.

I think it's good to have some good races that are outside of WT. Not that many of them left since Strade Bianche and Omloop got promoted this year.

Interestingly, Cannondale named Bettion and Van Asbroeck as their leaders for this race. I would think that it's too hard for Tom and riders like Clarke, Howes or Skujins would have a better chance for a good result.
I still remember when they once said that Cardoso was going to be their leader in Catalunya when the route didn't suit him at all and he ended up being 4th or 5th best classified rider from the team. :lol:

 

[Brullnux]

Going with a safe bet:

Gerrans/Matthews will be on the wheel of every attack in the last km

Amstel-style!

I don't mind if Matthews and Gerrans follow attacks, as that does take skill and nous. It's when they don't chase for no reason that annoys me. Or expect others to take pulls for them.

 

[ThePirate81]

How about Vakoc for today? He has showed some form in Catalunya,maybe Gilbert is gonna save his legs for Amstel.

 

[Oliver]

I forget about Wellens.
Good season so far.
Unfortunately for him it's not raining.. but he has a good chance!