94th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 4

[auscyclefan94]

Yup, here too: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/100402_pozzato_past_rvv

Susan

We might as well just give it to Boonen now

any competitions for flanders susan?

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

any competitions for flanders susan?

I haven't heard yet, but it wouldn't surprise me. I'll see what I can find out tomorrow.

Time to start thinking about who I wlll pick for our internal competition.

Susan

Edit: here's Pippo in english: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-worse-out-of-flanders

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

We might as well just give it to Boonen now

any competitions for flanders susan?

I'm sorry? Fabian Cancellara? Matti Breschel? Juan Antonio Flecha? Still plenty of competition.

Cancellara beat him in E3 and has a stronger team because I think Saxo makes a stronger impression than Quick Step. And Breschel is way more dangerous of a 2nd leader than Devolder. Boonen fears Breschel in the sprint

 

[Offtheback]

check on steephill

Thanks mate.

 

[Cerberus]

I'm sorry? Fabian Cancellara? Matti Breschel? Juan Antonio Flecha? Still plenty of competition.

Cancellara beat him in E3 and has a stronger team because I think Saxo makes a stronger impression than Quick Step. And Breschel is way more dangerous of a 2nd leader than Devolder. Boonen fears Breschel in the sprint

Breschel has rode really well recently on the cobbles, and Boonen should be concerned about him, but in the sprint? Perhaps it's different in a small group, but I would consider Boonen far superior a sprinter than Breschel. Breschel is an ok sprinter, but I don't think he has ever won a sprint against anything close to top level sprinters. Boonen is on a different level there. If I was Boonen I'd be far more scared of an attack from Breschel than a sprint against him. Still I agree that Breschel is a threat and that does give Cancellara a big advantage.

 

[jaylew]

A shame so many potential protagonists seem to be suffering from injury, illness, or lack of form: Pozzato, Haussler, Ballan, Devolder, Chavanel, Nuyens, Hoste...

 

[Ibanez]

Nooooo Pippo

 

[Michele]

It's a shame for the show.

 

[Ferminal]

****** .

"bugg er"

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

@Cerberus: After a hard race a sprint is not like a mass sprint.

Pozzato beat Boonen in a sprint in the E3 Prijs last year remember? Breschel is just as fast, trust me.

 

[hfer07]

well- with Pippo out,this race is becoming a battle man to man between Cancellara & Bonnen-Unless something goes terribly wrong for either one of them, I just don't see anybody coming out the shadows to claim it.

 

[Cerberus]

@Cerberus: After a hard race a sprint is not like a mass sprint.

Pozzato beat Boonen in a sprint in the E3 Prijs last year remember? Breschel is just as fast, trust me.

Fair point, I would still put my money on Boonen in a sprint though, but it might not be a foregone conclusion, especially not if Boonen has to do more work during the race.

well- with Pippo out,this race is becoming a battle man to man between Cancellara & Bonnen-Unless something goes terribly wrong for either one of them, I just don't see anybody coming out the shadows to claim it.

I wouldn't rule out Breschel pulling a Devolder. The way I see it Pippo's exit is a big boon for Saxo Bank, it eliminates one of the very few rider capable of following/dropping Cancellara and Breschel on the cobbles. Saxo Bank could have 2 men in a leading group of 3-5 riders.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I stopped putting money on someone's sprint in a 2/3 man group sprint after Veneberg beat Vaitkus in the Scheldeprijs a few years back.

These sprints are..different. Often started from low speed, acceleration often beats top speed here...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

getting excited
I hope for a real big upset.

 

[Cerberus]

getting excited
I hope for a real big upset.

Wouter Mol (whoever that is) to win at odds 501:1,

 

[Rocksteady]

getting excited
I hope for a real big upset.

I'm with you Timmy. Upset or at least make Boonen work for it.

 

[jaylew]

I'm sorry? Fabian Cancellara? Matti Breschel? Juan Antonio Flecha? Still plenty of competition.

Cancellara beat him in E3 and has a stronger team because I think Saxo makes a stronger impression than Quick Step. And Breschel is way more dangerous of a 2nd leader than Devolder. Boonen fears Breschel in the sprint

People seem to be writing off/forgetting Gilbert, but I think he'll be there as well (provided he races smart).

 

[Phlakaton]

Hincapie - I guess he's not really on anyone's radar. He did manage a second and is in the twilight of his career but I think he can pull it off. Being older sometimes makes these classics a bit easier to manage with the better stamina. He flubbed Ghent but hey... My 2 cents.

 

[Cerberus]

People seem to be writing off/forgetting Gilbert, but I think he'll be there as well (provided he races smart).

He might be there, but I don't see him as a likely winner, he did ok in Gent, but no better than ok, and the competition will be tougher for Ronde.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

Breschel winning the sprint in a small group is a good call

Breschel's problem in a huge bunch is he's too easily pushed away by the big boys, but in a smaller bunch he's a bit tasty.

 

[maikel]

Don't forget the Rabo guys, they are in depth probably after Saxo the strongest squad. If they play it wise, they can cause an upset I think

 

[Cerberus]

Don't forget the Rabo guys, they are in depth probably after Saxo the strongest squad. If they play it wise, they can cause an upset I think

I don't think that's likely. They're the Radioshack of Flanders. Strong support, but no strong contenders.

Breschel's problem in a huge bunch is he's too easily pushed away by the big boys, but in a smaller bunch he's a bit tasty.

I'm certainly exited to see how Breschel is going to do on sunday. He dominated the climbs at Gent, but that wasn't against the very best and smart tactics prevented Boonen and other from riding directly against him in Dwars. I'm looking forward to seeing how he'll do against the very best.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wouter Mol (whoever that is) to win at odds 501:1,

Wouter Mol won the Tour of Qatar and 7th in Dwars door Vlaanderen (Waregem).
I'm a bit suprised you don't know who that is.
Also a former winner of the GP Jef Scherens, and last year 2nd in the Münsterland Giro and 3rd in the Hel van het Mergelland. Good rider.
But not a favorite or outsider for Flanders ofcourse.

 

[theyoungest]

Wouter Mol won the Tour of Qatar and 7th in Dwars door Vlaanderen (Waregem).
I'm a bit suprised you don't know who that is.
Also a former winner of the GP Jef Scherens, and last year 2nd in the Münsterland Giro and 3rd in the Hel van het Mergelland. Good rider.
But not a favorite or outsider for Flanders ofcourse.

Come on, it's forgivable to not know Wouter Mol. I have trouble distinguishing between all those Saxo Danes, I guess it's the same for a Dane looking at a team like Vacansoleil.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't, guess I thought wrong that all visitors of such forums must be all-following freaks like me