Biggest dissapointment of the Cobbled Classics 2013

[jaylew]

Boom and EBH were a little better than Hushovd and Pozzato. Thomas had some bad luck but was still not so great. Biggest difference between my expectation and performance was Pippo so that's how I voted.

Sky beats out OPQS for me as most disappointing team. I din't expect them to win anything but I figured they'd do a bit better than a 3rd at Dwars. OPQS did ok without Boonen being there and were by far the best team at PR even with some bad luck.

 

[Winterfold]

Other: Sky Classics Squad

 

[Martin]

Other: Flecha.
I saw him racing only at Gent Wevelgem... and wish him better rest of the season.
EDIT: who's pippo pozzato?

 

[Pentacycle]

Garmin messed up. Lots of potential with Vansummeren, Nuyens, Bauer, Maaskant, but nowhere to be seen near the front.

Most of this ofc caused by bad luck, but Vansummeren should've been good in Roubaix.

 

[masking_agent]

garmin and bmc

 

[Swarley]

Other: Flecha.
I saw him racing only at Gent Wevelgem... and wish him better rest of the season.
EDIT: who's pippo pozzato?

I think it was a good Spring for Flecha: 5th in Gent-Wevelgem, and 8th in Paris-Roubaix. He's like 36, what more could he have done? At this age he still was the best rider of Vacansoleil on the cobbles.

 

[Miburo]

Pippo needs to stop giving interviews.

Gotta back it up

 

[J-King]

I would add Breschel to the list as well. It's not like he is too old or anything

 

[Swarley]

I would add Breschel to the list as well. It's not like he is too old or anything

I don't think people had high expectations from him.

 

[Beaver]

Juan Antonio Flecha.

It was spring of great chances for him. Strongest cobbled sprinters (like Boonen and Ballan) didn't start, he was an absolute leader of the team, but results were not good for this experienced rider.

And I think, this year was the last chance for him

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I said it before omloop that boom's chances were overrated this classics campaign.

 

[movingtarget]

Ballan injured himself months ago. How is that a disappointment?
We should be happy he's still able to ride a bike.

I know that, genius. I was disappointed that he wasn't riding this year along with Boonen.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I am afraid it's Pippo. He keeps on disappointing year after year..he must love trolling people.

 

[melkemugg]

Hoped more of the norwegians. Especial Edvald.

 

[barn yard]

geraint thomas

the bookies believed the media hype around his classics season for some reason

i got some great odds against him in head to heads so i am happy with his failure (that said he is a really friendly guy who i have bumped into out on the road a few times and would gladly ride with again)

 

[greenedge]

Thomas crashed a lot and had one good placing.
Hushovd is old, so...

Pippo should have gone better than he did, new team, no injuries and should have featured more so i voted him.

 

[will10]

Pippo seemed to be more than decent in February/early March, so I expected him to be as good as last year.

Basically this.

There's something about Pozzato and bad weather. I think it was Millar who said he thought he [Pozzato] didn't like getting his shoes dirty.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Phinney in Roubaix

 

[42x16ss]

Phinney in Roubaix

Yep, Phinney and Matt Hayman for my money. I don't know WTF they were thinking at Roubaix, they were BMC and Sky's best chance for a real result and they burn themselves out going hard in the early move. Both of them were capable of far more on the day.

Edit: Pozzato and Hushovd raced this spring?

 

[Pentacycle]

Yep, Phinney and Matt Hayman for my money. I don't know WTF they were thinking at Roubaix, they were BMC and Sky's best chance for a real result and they burn themselves out going hard in the early move. Both of them were capable of far more on the day.

The reason they attacked early was most likely that they didn't feel like making the final selection in any other way. Did anyone seriously believe Phinney was a possible winner at Roubaix? He finished several minutes down last year, and he had a knee injury which only cleared up a week before the race.

And BMC's best man was definitely GVA...

 

[greenedge]

Hayman is strong and probably was Sky's best chance- but going into the race, EBH, Stannard and Thomas probably would have been ahead of him in the team hierarchy.

But it is disappointing that Sky did not have him as their leader- if that is what you mean.

 

[Archibald]

biggest disappointment for me was GvA... so near yet so far
not for a want of effort or trying, but really would like to see this guy crack a win in one of these classics

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Didn't know about Phinneys knee injury. How serious was it?

I didn't expect him to win, but a top 10 shouldn't be a surprise at all. The field was rather weak this year too. Do you know how much of the people who placed in front of Phinney in 2012 rode a top 10 this year? 2: Turgot & Terpstra.

 

[ILovecycling]

I didnt expect anything from Pippo,so I voted Eddy.I had a little bit faith in him,but I definitely am stupid

 

[PhiberAwptik]

Yep, Phinney and Matt Hayman for my money. I don't know WTF they were thinking at Roubaix, they were BMC and Sky's best chance for a real result and they burn themselves out going hard in the early move. Both of them were capable of far more on the day.

Edit: Pozzato and Hushovd raced this spring?

I imagine that's a result of poor tactics from BMC, not the individual riders. It would be nice if BMC would stop burning their young talent to support a guy like Hushovd who clearly is done.