E3 Harelbeke, Friday 25th March 2016, 206.4km, WT

[damian13ster]

Kwiatkowski's recovery is suspect. He was always strongest at AGR, decent at FW, and then faded. Personally I think it was because of his early start to the season, which wouldnt be an issue this year, but I guess team (or Kwiatkowski himself) have other ideas. I doubt it is only because of Poels/Heano. If that was the case, they could let Michal ride and just give him Golas as only helper. Thats all he needs

 

[JRanton]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

 

[PremierAndrew]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

From Luke Rowe's comments earlier today, it seemed like Stannard would have leadership at RVV while Rowe would be leader at PR

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The big man should go for the double. Rowe will get his chance later.

 

[WheelofGear]

Sky could have as much as 4 protected leaders in Flanders, Kwiatkowski, Thomas, Stannard and Rowe.

It's all about being up there in numbers in the classics.

 

[JRanton]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

From Luke Rowe's comments earlier today, it seemed like Stannard would have leadership at RVV while Rowe would be leader at PR

I took from his comments that they would both lead at Roubaix (or at least both be protected) given that Kwiatkowski and Thomas are not riding it. Sky (and Etixx) need to ride Flanders very aggressively. They must make Trek chase constantly and isolate Cancellara before the final lap.

 

[tomorrow]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

From Luke Rowe's comments earlier today, it seemed like Stannard would have leadership at RVV while Rowe would be leader at PR

I took from his comments that they would both lead at Roubaix (or at least both be protected) given that Kwiatkowski and Thomas are not riding it. Sky (and Etixx) need to ride Flanders very aggressively. They must make Trek chase constantly and isolate Cancellara before the final lap.

Well, from such scenario would probably benefit Sagan to end second. Unless, Fabian has mechanical, wit, or without team doesn't matter for him

 

[PremierAndrew]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

From Luke Rowe's comments earlier today, it seemed like Stannard would have leadership at RVV while Rowe would be leader at PR

I took from his comments that they would both lead at Roubaix (or at least both be protected) given that Kwiatkowski and Thomas are not riding it. Sky (and Etixx) need to ride Flanders very aggressively. They must make Trek chase constantly and isolate Cancellara before the final lap.

Even if you isolate Canc, so what? If Canc is similarly strong next week as he was today, everyone else is fighting for 2nd place

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

Is there any chance that Sagan will ever realize that he cannot be dragging anyone else to the finish line on his wheel?

Why is it so hard for him to understand that when he hits the 1km mark that he needs to be already riding alone?

Either sit in the small group and wait for the sprint (which he may not win anyway) or just make sure you are going solo the last 2-3km.

Allthough I kinda agree it's also rather unfair to judge him this year. He's coming from a really severe injury where he wasn't able to train for pretty much the entire off-season.
So in all honesty there is no way he can be in best form like the riders who did have a great off-season.

 

[carolina]

so, according to lefevere, they were all cowards for not helping etixx chase.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Didn't watch the race but am shocked that Kwiat won nonetheless. He seemed to be headed the goat way with weight loss n' stuff and then bangz!

He'll win the Ronde and do the Ardennes treble!

Haha, he isn't scheduled to do FW, but I like your way of thinking

Yep. FW is reserved for Poels who seems to be flying as well.

"Along with potentially the Vuelta, Tirreno and Ruta del Sol, Poels and Sergio Henao are likely to co-lead at Fleche Wallonne, another race Poels wants to try and win."

"La Fleche Wallonne suits me really well with the Mur de Huy finish. I really like explosive climbs like Mur de Huy. Last year, my position in the peloton was a lot better. When I am in the front in the finals, I can do a good job, so this year I will really go full for it and see what happens."

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/poels_i_want_to_lead_a_grand_tour/#itUkJxvU2866xWiT.99

Kwiatkowski could have won Fleche as well, but I think he is getting replaced with Poels since he doesn't get a chance to lead a GT this year.

FW is obviously a race where you can easily have 2 leaders but Poels certainly shoudn't have priority over Henao. Poels has never finished top 10 in several tries. Henao has a couple top 10s, including a 2nd.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

so, according to lefevere, they were all cowards for not helping etixx chase.

I tend to agree. It made sense for awhile, but at some point you've got to lend a hand if you want a chance to win. I'm still shocked no one tried anything at all in that group.

Pffffft which idiot said Demare deserved to be more of a favourite for this than Kwiat

Way to own it!

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

Un-freaking-believable that Sagan lost that - and to a Sky rider too, yuck

Kwiatkowski is a great bike racer. He'll find his way onto a normal team soon.

I am biased too because last year I wasn't a fan of Kwiato (and is Etixx-Quickstep a "normal" &#63 team?)

but comments like this make me enjoy his win even more

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

Is there any chance that Sagan will ever realize that he cannot be dragging anyone else to the finish line on his wheel?

Why is it so hard for him to understand that when he hits the 1km mark that he needs to be already riding alone?

Either sit in the small group and wait for the sprint (which he may not win anyway) or just make sure you are going solo the last 2-3km.

Allthough I kinda agree it's also rather unfair to judge him this year. He's coming from a really severe injury where he wasn't able to train for pretty much the entire off-season.
So in all honesty there is no way he can be in best form like the riders who did have a great off-season.

What do you mean, the only injury that I remember happened to him is getting married. Did I miss something?

 

[Vasilis]

Re: Re:

Is there any chance that Sagan will ever realize that he cannot be dragging anyone else to the finish line on his wheel?

Why is it so hard for him to understand that when he hits the 1km mark that he needs to be already riding alone?

Either sit in the small group and wait for the sprint (which he may not win anyway) or just make sure you are going solo the last 2-3km.

Allthough I kinda agree it's also rather unfair to judge him this year. He's coming from a really severe injury where he wasn't able to train for pretty much the entire off-season.
So in all honesty there is no way he can be in best form like the riders who did have a great off-season.

What do you mean, the only injury that I remember happened to him is getting married. Did I miss something?

I think someone is talking about Sagan and someone else is talking about Boonen.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hotsteppers should have unleashed Terpstra. With the appropriate responsibility he would have been with Sagan and Kwia today and then who knows what would happen.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I am really happy with Boonen's race. I was convinced after that skull fracture he would not return to the top, yet here he is. Will be one of the outsiders for PR for sure.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Is there a single rider in the world that Sagan could beat in a 1vs1 sprint at this point?

I'm thinking he'd maybe have a chance vs Pozzovivo, but then again, maybe not...

Sagan vs. Nizzolo would be fun to watch.

 

[JRanton]

I really hope Stannard has timed his form right for Roubaix this year. Very promising today. Flanders is too hilly for him but with his best form and some cold weather he can be a big threat at Roubaix.

From Luke Rowe's comments earlier today, it seemed like Stannard would have leadership at RVV while Rowe would be leader at PR

I took from his comments that they would both lead at Roubaix (or at least both be protected) given that Kwiatkowski and Thomas are not riding it. Sky (and Etixx) need to ride Flanders very aggressively. They must make Trek chase constantly and isolate Cancellara before the final lap.

Even if you isolate Canc, so what? If Canc is similarly strong next week as he was today, everyone else is fighting for 2nd place

Well isn't it obvious? If you isolate him and force him to chase then you tire him out. A bit like today, just without the mechanical. Of course, add in Theuns and that Trek team will be really strong together with the strongest rider in the race, so no doubt Cancellara is the big favourite!

 

[Velolover2]

Kwiatkowski is now 4th favorite for winning Flanders according to the betting companies just behind Fabian, Sagan and GVA.

Still don't know if he has a serious shot at winning. E3 is still different from the real Flanders.

 

[Netserk]

I am really happy with Boonen's race. I was convinced after that skull fracture he would not return to the top, yet here he is. Will be one of the outsiders for PR for sure.

I know his injury last season hasn't helped, but it's obvious that he isn't even as good as he was in '14 (where he also had some misfortunes, though not as bad (cycling related) as last year and '13). I just hope that he'll be more of a joker who attacks from afar and doesn't lock his team.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Kwiatkowski is now 4th favorite for winning Flanders according to the betting companies just behind Fabian, Sagan and GVA.

Still don't know if he has a serious shot at winning. E3 is still different from the real Flanders.

If he can get over Kwaremont (which doesn't seem to suit him too much) with the first chase group, then he will have a good chance of podium. He seemed good on Paterberg where you can ride at the side of the cobbles.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Kwiatkowski is now 4th favorite for winning Flanders according to the betting companies just behind Fabian, Sagan and GVA.

Still don't know if he has a serious shot at winning. E3 is still different from the real Flanders.

Yep, he sits as 4th along with Kristoff. I don't believe in Kristoff. I saw a couple of pictures of him, he seemed heavier? I don't believe it was just a bad day.

Terpstra, Boonen and Stybar are given relatively even chances with 17, 19 and 21 at bet365. I think Stybar fits the bill the best in Flanders, but I think they will be better for Roubaix. Cance is the huge favourite at 5, while Sky also stands very well with Thomas and Standard around odds 20. I think of all the odds, 21 for Stybar is by far the best one. Along with a long shot on Pozzato at 81

 

[May0maniac]

I've got the strage feeling that Tommeke is just testing his legs and playing possum, I think he'll be on of the main protagonists in RVV and P-R.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Kwiatkowski is now 4th favorite for winning Flanders according to the betting companies just behind Fabian, Sagan and GVA.

Still don't know if he has a serious shot at winning. E3 is still different from the real Flanders.

Yep, he sits as 4th along with Kristoff. I don't believe in Kristoff. I saw a couple of pictures of him, he seemed heavier? I don't believe it was just a bad day.

Terpstra, Boonen and Stybar are given relatively even chances with 17, 19 and 21 at bet365. I think Stybar fits the bill the best in Flanders, but I think they will be better for Roubaix. Cance is the huge favourite at 5, while Sky also stands very well with Thomas and Standard around odds 20. I think of all the odds, 21 for Stybar is by far the best one. Along with a long shot on Pozzato at 81

Already said it after the Omloop, Kristoff is not as good as last year. Always at the wrong place and in wrong groups, while normally he's one of those guys who always at the front.

He will not top-10 in Flanders and Roubaix. You need to be in 100% shape to do that.