95th Ronde van Vlaanderen - April 3 2011

[Granville57]

Another good one:
The 18 climbs of the Tour of Flanders
With a comparison of distance, gradient and surface type.
http://velonews.competitor.com/files/2011/03/108.jpg

 

[rghysens]

they didn't

I was being sarcastic

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

anyway is that young kid some sort of young talent? if so learning from boonen would prolly make wonders for him.

Big Talent indeed. Won Paris-Roubaix U19 in 2009 (but of course, Phinney, being only 1 year older, won the U23 that year...)

fun fact: he's the grandson of 1963 world champion Benoni Beheyt

 

[jens_attacks]

"We said last week that Boonen's win in Gent-Wevelgem was arguably more impressive that Cancellara's in E3"

ok what the hell is cyclingnews talking???!!!cance's victory in e3 was one of the craziest things i've ever seen in cycling since maybe santi perez owning heras.please don't tell me you really mean it.

 

[joy118118]

Big Talent indeed. Won Paris-Roubaix U19 in 2009 (but of course, Phinney, being only 1 year older, won the U23 that year...)

fun fact: he's the grandson of 1963 world champion Benoni Beheyt

Phinney won it without Matthews and Degenkolb. Matthews did RVV U23 very well. have Phinney taken part in it?

 

[boomcie]

This is kinda what my life will look like until Sunday morning.

That and sleeping, probably with the same image in mind. I will also do something with my girl on Saturday, but in my head it will still look like the above. At work people will not appreciate this

 

[L'arriviste]

Nice book excerpt about Flanders from,
The Spring Classics: Cycling’s Greatest One-Day Races
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/book-excerpt-the-tour-of-flanders-from-the-spring-classics-part-1_166118

Got it for Christmas. + Gorgeous photography. - Weak, predictably French-biased text plus frequent caption errors from the L'Equipe journos. = Totally worth it for the photography and esoterica.

 

[theyoungest]

"We said last week that Boonen's win in Gent-Wevelgem was arguably more impressive that Cancellara's in E3"

ok what the hell is cyclingnews talking???!!!cance's victory in e3 was one of the craziest things i've ever seen in cycling since maybe santi perez owning heras.please don't tell me you really mean it.

Lol, Cyclingnews have been infected with Belgiumitis. That's just insane. I thought Boonen was very unimpressive indeed, that is until he won the sprint.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Welcome to the.... uh.... light side, JMB.

Just read that due to Terpstra's injury, young Van Keirsbulck is riding... I dunno if Qst has the team to cripple the others, really. But that's cool he's riding, I could only imagine riding the Ronde at 20 as a Flandrien.

Van Keirsbulck is already having an awesome season. I thought they'd let him become a pro a year too early. I'm glad I was wrong
He should let PR slip though, doing too much in your first years is not a good idea, see Greg Van avermaet after winning the points jersey

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh yeah. Isnt that like, tomorow?

I did think you lived in Madrid though.

Still i would personally much prefer to cycle there. For me cycling is truly fun when there is sun. without it, meh. Much prefer that to northern europe.

It really does not rain too much here in Belgium. Winters are cold, but in the summer the sun is usually always there.

 

[Echoes]

All our wishes for Sunday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qRJIBtbc2c

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house we're born
Into this world we're thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out alone
Riders on the storm

There's a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin' like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If ya give this man a ride
Sweet family will die
Killer on the road, yeah

Girl ya gotta love your man
Girl ya gotta love your man
Take him by the hand
Make him understand
The world on you depends
Our life will never end
Gotta love your man, yeah

Wow!

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house we're born
Into this world we're thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out alone
Riders on the storm

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm

 

[mulletCobra]

Boonen's not afraid anymore!

 

[beer_thirty]

The ONLY chance I see of Canc not winning Sunday would be if just the right break somehow got away from him. Say Chavenal, Ballan, Nuyens, a few others at that level, all from different teams. The key would be:

1) The teams would have enough faith in 'their' guy that they'd be happy to roll
the dice on him. Just having anyone in the move wouldn't be enough; the
guy would have to have a decent track record at this distance.

2) Enough teams represented to limit any chasing firepower.

3) The guys in the break at an even enough level they'd all work together and be willing to take their shot in the final.

Only then could I see a chance of FC not being able to get back to this. I just don't see it being a bunch of nobodies staying away; just too far and too hard.He seems to be able to read this type of race really well so I can't see it happening, but it is one scenario that might work. He can't chase EVERYTHING, can he?

Anyway, I see it as highly unlikely. The podium:

1)FC
2)Gilbert
3)Hmm, I really liked Steegmans ride at GW; thought he was immense and would love to see him do it. Probably he'll be working for Boonen as QS seems way more likely to let Chavenal have some room.

Chavenal: Really looking good; a podium from him would not surprise me at all.

Ballan: Looks to be approaching the form he had when he won it; experience matters here.

Boonen: Just don't see it in him. He himself said in his interview last week that he needed to get better, and he won't be good enough yet this week. PR I think will see him in with a shot though.

I'm going with Chavenal for 3rd.

My dark horse podium pick: Van Marcke!!! Please JV, give this guy his shot!!

Can't wait for Sunday; it's going to be great, especially if there is some weather..

 

[boomcie]

Sunday's weather is looking ace. Join me in *** edited by mod *** prayer!

 

[beer_thirty]

Sunday's weather is looking ace. Join me in ************* prayer!

How the heck did that get through the filters? Perhaps they thought no one would ever actually post such a word.

But I'm prayin' for the nasty weather just the same!

 

[mr. tibbs]

I have now come full circle: I think Boonen can win this. The weather will be on his side, and these races bring out a certain pedigree in Belgian cyclists. (See CN's crack about Devolder only racing one weekend a year.) He may need Chava's help, but those two are in a great position to work over Spartacus. (And Gilbert, for that matter.)

And can Cancellara really be perfect every day he wants to for two straight years? I don't think so, and the cracks are going to start showing soon. The weather will help.

MVDB: When I typed "I think that was the joke," it was in good humor with a smile on my face. That stuff doesn't communicate too well sometimes on forums!

Jaylew: I'll be at Trampies, regardless. Come by even if you followed a stream earlier in the day. (But no spoilers--not even hints! )

 

[L'arriviste]

It could happen again...

 

[beer_thirty]

It could happen again...

<images snipped>

Damn I sure hope not; one thing I really want to see, is this one a straight up battle of who is strongest and smartest and best on the day. Flats fine, crashes fine, but somehow the busted chain thing would just seem too much to bear!

 

[Anonymous]

Right now, the forecast is for rain to begin around 6am local time. AWESOME!! I can't wait to start watching.

 

[joy118118]

Mini Phinney will not start RVV this year

 

[Anonymous]

<images snipped>

Damn I sure hope not; one thing I really want to see, is this one a straight up battle of who is strongest and smartest and best on the day. Flats fine, crashes fine, but somehow the busted chain thing would just seem too much to bear!

I want a nasty, disgusting amount of rain...just DEPLORABLE conditions. I want to see unexpected breaks, crashes (not wishing injuries) that catch some of the favorites out because they are held up, dramatic chases, Gilbert hitting the front for no reason, Hincapie being talked about early and then not being able to find him for about the last hour or so, Boonen showing up from seemingly nowhere, a break consisting of well known names all of whom are good, but not good enough to actually pull it out, and everything blowing apart on the muur. I relize that in all of that, Canc will catch whomever is in front at some point (without the help of anyone), drop them, and ride solo to the win, but still, I want it to be messy and nasty while he is doing it. I want to see those pictures of the rider's faces post-race where they look like someone put them on the rack and tortured them for 6 hours. I want to see grime and those clean marks (the only ones on their faces) starting from the corners of their mouths down their chins after they have gulped down a couple of bottles of water. I want to see riders standing next to their bikes with their outstretched arms holding on to their bars and seat, bent completely over, struggling breathe and cope with what they just undertook. Da*m I love the spring classics!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Meh, we could see a Bortolami-edition... second string riders battling for the win and the favs all watching Cancellara to do something.

 

[lancaster]

I'm mooiste with excitement!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rabobank:

Boom, Langeveld, Flens, Wynants, Tjallingi, Leezer, Vermeltfoort and Van Winden.

I think the best they can hope for is a top 10. Langeveld is past his top shape and Boom will struggle with with 220km+ distance. Maybe if they get lucky and have a guy in a group that goes before the favorites, and everyone keeps looking at eachother behind, they might get lucky. But that's it.

 

[will10]

Chavanel for the win.