94th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 4

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Cancellara did look very strong in Dwaars last night. Covered the moves with ease. Though i don't think he can bring home the bacon In RVV. Bit too hard or steep for him. Would have to go with someone who has some more punch on the climbs and a sprint like Ballan.

lol, of course... Honestly IMO BMC havn't showed a thing to indicate they will do anything in the next fortnight.

Spartacus is very capable of getting over these climbs i feel, he showed strength at dwaars and I think he was holding back a bit. Boonen was holding back a bit to i feel, or merely testing his legs. Flecha looks good this season too.
I can see maaskant having a good RVV. He looked quite good at T-A and I bet he will do something in either RVV or P-R.

 

[craig1985]

I got my "Ned" Lion of Flanders flag ready

Stupid Flanders.

 

[auscyclefan94]

lol, of course... Honestly IMO BMC havn't showed a thing to indicate they will do anything in the next fortnight.

Spartacus is very capable of getting over these climbs i feel, he showed strength at dwaars and I think he was holding back a bit. Boonen was holding back a bit to i feel, or merely testing his legs. Flecha looks good this season too.
I can see maaskant having a good RVV. He looked quite good at T-A and I bet he will do something in either RVV or P-R.

Yes he will get over the climbs but others can get over them better and can sprint as well if needed. people like breschel ,boonen and ballan come into that bracket. That is why FC can do well in PR as it is flat.

I would say that ballan and hincapie for bmc are getting some form as well. Maybe not enough form to win this weekend but maybe the next week in RVV.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yes he will get over the climbs but others can get over them better and can sprint as well if needed. people like breschel ,boonen and ballan come into that bracket. That is why FC can do well in PR as it is flat.

I would say that ballan and hincapie for bmc are getting some form as well. Maybe not enough form to win this weekend but maybe the next week in RVV.

i think you underestimate spartacus.

 

[Cerberus]

i think you underestimate spartacus.

Well one thing is true. He will need to breakaway to win. He won't be beating Boonen in a sprint. Of cause that's the case for Breschel and Ballan too.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I don't disagree, but if FC wins I think he can get away on the final climb. Just my opinion.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Well one thing is true. He will need to breakaway to win. He won't be beating Boonen in a sprint. Of cause that's the case for Breschel and Ballan too.

Talking about Ballan: where the hell is he??

Het Volk: 68th
Tirreno: 80th
Sanremo: 64th

Not really the kind of results that are pointing to a greate shape. No idea what to expect from him the next few weeks.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Maybe hiding. Although Ballan is not usually the type that hides himself.

 

[Jamsque]

Yeah, it looks like Ballan just doesn't have the form right now. He's still got time to set it right, but with the way Boonen and Cancellara are going he has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to be competitive.

 

[Michele]

Maybe hiding. Although Ballan is not usually the type that hides himself.

Difficult to hide when you're THAT tall.

 

[Ferminal]

This needs a bump/sticky.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I really, really hope this year is not a tactical race like the last 2 years. I want the strongest to win, not the one that attacks and nobody else watches because they are afraid of Boonen...

Really didn't like the way Flanders went in 2008 and 2009. Hope of an edition like 2005 or 2006, with the best riders in front, not a Devolder vs Van Hecke and Quinziatio (with all due respect)

 

[ak-zaaf]

Lies and rumors make Devolder a saaaaaaaad panda.

"I realize that many people have long grudge me the success" opens Stijn Devolder. "Riders and commentators. I do not know what the intention. There are those who benefit from a bad atmosphere at Quick-Step."

"But it tickles me. Cancellara Sunday as first drive and I follow with Boonen in my wheel, I drive not 55 but 60 km / hour. At that time the newspaper comes to my mind again."

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

60 km/h won't be enough since Der Cance will be riding at least 65 km/h, dropping Devolder like a fly on the flat

 

[Bala Verde]

Talking about Ballan: where the hell is he??

Het Volk: 68th
Tirreno: 80th
Sanremo: 64th

Not really the kind of results that are pointing to a greate shape. No idea what to expect from him the next few weeks.

When was the last time we heard from Ballan at all...

 

[Jonathan]

60 km/h won't be enough since Der Cance will be riding at least 65 km/h, dropping Devolder like a fly on the flat

Still, Lefevere must be quite happy with Cancellara. It's almost like the two are in league to stir Devolder into action.

 

[sonny0729]

Hello guys,

Who will win the TDF this year...your guess

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Today Devolder really wasn't good in the Panne either. I can't see him getting into the right shape for sunday, he'll need to get extremely lucky or search 'extra aid' to get win now

 

[Big Mig]

Boonen is gonna have some problems if he gets over the muur and finds himself in a small lead group with Cancellara and Breschel.

 

[hfer07]

Cancellara is by far the favorite this time around-his form is really good, & most importantly, his competition is going through a lot of set backs-I only see Boonen putting a good fight, but no more than that. I also going to add Flecha, to the equation, since he's performing superb lately.

 

[franciep10]

Boonen is of course the strongest but Cancellara and breschel have looked very strong, devolder is an unknown quantity if Boonen gets help from quick step he should win

 

[screaming fist]

I have a hard time figuring out wich individual rider mide be the strongest. Boonen, Cancellara, Pozatto, Breschel, Flecha they all look really strong.
Saxo Bank seem to be a bit in adavantage as their duo Cancellara/Breschel seems a bit stronger than Boonen/Devolder.
Cancellara wants this win really really bad, so I don't know if he'll be ready to give up his chances for Breschel. But mostly Riis manages to keep his riders being team players.

 

[theyoungest]

Today Devolder really wasn't good in the Panne either. I can't see him getting into the right shape for sunday, he'll need to get extremely lucky or search 'extra aid' to get win now

I thought he looked OK, it's not like one of the guys in the front group is going to win the Tour of Flanders. He was right up there with Quinziato and Ballan, doing some good training.

 

[Wallace]

Cancellara is by far the favorite this time around-his form is really good, & most importantly, his competition is going through a lot of set backs-I only see Boonen putting a good fight, but no more than that. I also going to add Flecha, to the equation, since he's performing superb lately.

I'd say that Boonen and Cancellara are about equal now--Flecha was the weak link at the E3 Prijs, Cancellara blasted away from him on that corner and Boonen wasn't able to respond in time. He probably wouldn't have been able to shake off Boonen like that. The other name I'd put up there is Pozatto, who knows how to glue himself to a wheel and is great form. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was those three going in the finish.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I thought he looked OK, it's not like one of the guys in the front group is going to win the Tour of Flanders. He was right up there with Quinziato and Ballan, doing some good training.

Balland and Quinziato aren't going to win either. Going by their form... Devolder was going full gas and didn't even gain a second on Bert Scheirlinckx (at the front at that moment).
No, if Devolder rides top 10 in the Tour of Flanders I'll eat my hat (with proof)