95th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 3 2011

[El Pistolero]

Yup, it's raining atm in the Flemish Ardennes

Let's hope it rains sunday, really favors Gilbert. He never gets cold.

 

[El Pistolero]

And it will rain on sunday folks

This will be sooo great.

 

[rghysens]

And it will rain on sunday folks

This will be sooo great.

let's hope so

 

[The Hitch]

People are saying the race will be boring, but after this thread, if Pippo wheelsucks Gilbert i will mark out big time D :

 

[El Pistolero]

People are saying the race will be boring, but after this thread, if Pippo wheelsucks Gilbert i will mark out big time D :

Ask Tchmil how smart it is to wheelsuck a Belgian favorite in the Ronde

Going to be wild sunday, 800000 people will be along the course.

 

[The Hitch]

Going to be wild sunday, 800 000 people will be along the course.

Love it. Its that passion, every village packed to the rafters that makes this the best one day race for me. Though last year i heard it was 1 mil, 1 in every 5 Flandrians. So many people ignore how big a part the crowds are in cycling.

If cycling is your religion, worship at the highest altar- the Ronde.

 

[El Pistolero]

Love it. Its that passion, every village packed to the rafters that makes this the best one day race for me. Though last year i heard it was 1 mil, 1 in every 5 Flandrians. So many people ignore how big a part the crowds are in cycling.

If cycling is your religion, worship at the highest altar- the Ronde.

700000 spectators last year. 50 million viewers on TV

 

[The Hitch]

700000 spectators last year. 50 million viewers on TV

Even if Canc goes with 100 k to go i would still watch it just for the crowds. To watch him go down the finishing straight. I wonder how many people will have Swiss flags to try to give to Spartacus in case he comes down that straight alone.

Would Gilbert take the lion if he comes down alone???

Which reminds me of that moment last year where with about 11k still to go Canc was tting his way but saw a sign saying "Fabian Cancellara fan club" and took a moment out of tting to give it a nod.

 

[canyonball]

Which reminds me of that moment last year where with about 11k still to go Canc was tting his way but saw a sign saying "Fabian Cancellara fan club" and took a moment out of tting to give it a nod.

Just yesterday I was reviewing that same moment. That win from cancellara has been growing on me. Last year, I thought it was just plain boring, but the more I see it the more impressive it looks. The acceleration on the muur, the cameras focusing on a struggling Boonen and then passing on to cancellara, who was nowhere to be found (already 10/15 seconds ahead in time trialling mode).

I know it would be hard, but I'm rooting for gilbert. If he can't (which he probably won't), then boonen. As much as I like cancellara, the grinding teeth type of riders will always get my support.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to see the race. Will have to wait one week. (I lack time and bandwith from where I am rigth now). Hopefully it will be worth it.

 

[Tuarts]

Would Gilbert take the lion if he comes down alone???

What about the Bold Rooster?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

What about the Bold Rooster?

Unlikely, he'd have to carry one in his jersey

 

[Echoes]

I'm Italian, and a lot of Italians are against his way of racing (or better, his way of NOT racing)
We do not hate him, but we prefer the Scarponi's way!

I'm sorry I didn't have time to translate but my article didn't show he was hated elsewhere but that he was rather liked in Belgium.

It was about a cyclocross that Boonen organized for a charity in December 2009. Pozzato was invited and came in for "comedia" smiling and all. And he was loud cheered for.

We might not always like the way he rides but when it comes to having fun, we forget all about it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Even if Canc goes with 100 k to go i would still watch it just for the crowds. To watch him go down the finishing straight. I wonder how many people will have Swiss flags to try to give to Spartacus in case he comes down that straight alone.

Would Gilbert take the lion if he comes down alone???

Which reminds me of that moment last year where with about 11k still to go Canc was tting his way but saw a sign saying "Fabian Cancellara fan club" and took a moment out of tting to give it a nod.

I can't see him grab the Flemish lion
I also don't think we'll see any roosters. Ninove is Vlaams Belang territory. A Belgian flag will have to do the trick

I think there will be more Swiss flags at the finish than last year. Last year, there was really only one Swiss flag at the finish lol.

But for Gilbert to finish alone something has to happen like in Lombardia last year- bad weather conditions. He's more of a Valverde classics guy. Win the sprint in a small group.

 

[theyoungest]

But for Gilbert to finish alone something has to happen like in Lombardia last year- bad weather conditions. He's more of a Valverde classics guy. Win the sprint in a small group.

In a group with Boonen and Cancellara, I wouldn't trust on my sprint, if I were Gilbert. And no, I don't think he outsprinted Boonen in Paris-Tours.

 

[El Pistolero]

In a group with Boonen and Cancellara, I wouldn't trust on my sprint, if I were Gilbert. And no, I don't think he outsprinted Boonen in Paris-Tours.

He can certainly outsprint Cancellara. Just because Cancellara beat him in M-SR this year doesn't mean he's a better sprinter. If I remember correctly, Gilbert did an attack in the last few km, so was probably more than à bloc when the sprint begun. Same goes for Pippo, he's also a better sprinter than Cancellara yet finished fourth.

Who says Boonen will be there in the end? I don't know about you, but Gilbert's uphill accelerations have gotten more impressive every year.

Boonen's form doesn't seem that great to me, he'll be ready for Roubaix, but I fear for Flanders.

My analogy is pretty good, seeing as Valverde couldn't outsprint Boonen either(or come close for that matter)
Gilbert didn't outsprint Boonen, but outfoxed him.

 

[theyoungest]

He can certainly outsprint Cancellara. Just because Cancellara beat him in M-SR this year doesn't mean he's a better sprinter. If I remember correctly, Gilbert did an attack in the last few km, so was probably more than à bloc when the sprint begun. Same goes for Pippo, he's also a better sprinter than Cancellara yet finished fourth.

Who says Boonen will be there in the end? I don't know about you, but Gilbert's uphill accelerations have gotten more impressive every year.

Boonen's form doesn't seem that great to me, he'll be ready for Roubaix, but I fear for Flanders.

My analogy is pretty good, seeing as Valverde couldn't outsprint Boonen either(or come close for that matter)

Oh certainly, Gilbert has been more impressive than Boonen so far this year. Neither of them seem to be completely at the top of their game, though. I think Cancellara beating Gilbert in San Remo also had to do with him having more left in the tank after 260 k. The same could very well happen in de Ronde.

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh certainly, Gilbert has been more impressive than Boonen so far this year. Neither of them seem to be completely at the top of their game, though. I think Cancellara beating Gilbert in San Remo also had to do with him having more left in the tank after 260 k. The same could very well happen in de Ronde.

That's possible, but San Remo is 298km and the ronde 260km. So, I'd be really surprised if it came to a 2 man sprint and Cancellara taking it.

If Cancellara wins, and he most probably will, it's going to be a solo anyway.

But let's not forget that Gilbert had 0 wins this point of the season last year. He certainly is not on his AGR and Vuelta form yet, but I hope he's close sunday.

 

[mr. tibbs]

That's possible, but San Remo is 298km and the ronde 260km. So, I'd be really surprised if it came to a 2 man sprint and Cancellara taking it.

If Cancellara wins, and he most probably will, it's going to be a solo anyway.

But let's not forget that Gilbert had 0 wins this point of the season last year. He certainly is not on his AGR and Vuelta form yet, but I hope he's close sunday.

Yeah, this. And though Boonen's form is a bit suspect, could he and Gilbert together keep Spartacus in check? I would love to see those three attacking and counter-attacking all over the Flemish countryside!

I can see it playing out as follows:

-Cancellara wants to attack from 40-20km out and win solo,
-Boonen wants to keep it together for a three or four man sprint, and
-Gilbert will be stuck in the middle.

I can see Gilbert using Boonen (or maybe even Pippo! *wink*) to help keep Cancellara in check, and then attacking on one of the latter hellingen to drop the pair. Cancellara will solo back up to Gilbert, and--as long as the Belgian can stay with him--Gilbert wins in the sprint.

Far-fetched? Maybe, but it would be a really, really good race. And I think it's possible. Gilbert could keep applying pressure on Cancellara on the climbs, keeping him just worn out enough that he can't go into SPARTADRIVE and sail away from everyone.

@Buffalo: No Belgium for me, I'm stuck in Texas for the race. If anyone else is in Austin, I've spoken with Mister Tramps, and they're going to put the race on. No Duvel, though. And there's going to be a bible study group in the back room. Of a bar.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Now I'm all excited and thinking about last year (which was a great race).

Here's a killer photo set from smashred on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smashred/sets/72157623649762413/with/4493262994/

 

[Michielveedeebee]

probably no Terpstra for QST, he fell because of a windbolt in the TT :s

 

[Peyote]

probably no Terpstra for QST, he fell because of a windbolt in the TT :s

This really sucks. Bad for him and Quick Step.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

On to the good news. Rain and wind predicted for sunday.

First rainy RVV in years. Can't wait

 

[Roland Rat]

Looking forward to Sunday. Racing in the morning so should be home for 1pm-ish, coffee, enooooormous turkey salad on granary s/wich, maybe a cheeky chocolate brownie depending on post-race mood, feet up on the sofa and the RVV. Heaven.

 

[rghysens]

On to the good news. Rain and wind predicted for sunday.

First rainy RVV in 3 years. Can't wait

corrected it for you.
Don't you remember the rain and snow during the edition of 2008?

 

[luckyboy]

Sucks that Offredo is out. Sucks that Terpstra is out. Sucks that Devolder is injured.

That piece on Devolder on CN frontpage made me like him more.