General News Thread

[the asian]

Re:

Matthews vs Sagan vs Coquard.

I think the GAV should be able to handle it too.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Matthews vs Sagan vs Coquard.

I think the GAV should be able to handle it too.

I don't think GAV is one of the main favorites. I think there are stronger riders on the hills and if it comes down to a sprint the three above should all easily beat him. His only chance is probably a sprint out of a relatively small group.

 

[Netserk]

Gigs, are you thinking of GVA?

 

[sQiD]

In today's episode of the Cycling Podcast, Daniel Freibe said that MSR parcours won't change this year. He confirmed the info with Mauro Vegni the race director who said that MSR should remain a sprinter puncher race.

According to Marco Bonarrigo, an italian journalist, one of the main reason why it become a sprinter's freindly race is that they used to only be 20 or 30 fit riders come the middle of March, while the domestiques weren't in great form and just easing into the season. So it was difficult to control the race. Whereas now everybody is firing in february and everyone bring his classic's A team to the first monument.

 

[the asian]

Re: Re:

Matthews vs Sagan vs Coquard.

I think the GAV should be able to handle it too.

I don't think GAV is one of the main favorites. I think there are stronger riders on the hills and if it comes down to a sprint the three above should all easily beat him. His only chance is probably a sprint out of a relatively small group.

I meant Gaviria.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Gigs, are you thinking of GVA?

Yeah
No idea why I wrote GAV too

 

[sQiD]

Re:

According to Marco Bonarrigo, an italian journalist, one of the main reason why it become a sprinter's freindly race is that they used to only be 20 or 30 fit riders come the middle of March, while the domestiques weren't in great form and just easing into the season. So it was difficult to control the race. Whereas now everybody is firing in february and everyone bring his classic's A team to the first monument.

"At the 1946 Milan-San Remo, Fausto Coppi attacked with a small group just 9km into the 292km race and went on to win by over 14 minutes, riding away from his rivals on the Turchino climb and leaving them gasping in his wake."

The good old days !

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: Re:

De Panne has announced this year's course. Stage 1 will again feature De Muur, it will be climbed twice. The last time 16 kms before the finish.

And Gent-Wevelgem is back to 250 kilometers with a course over Catsberg, Kokereelberg, Vert Mont and Zwarte Berg from two sides. Then it is Baneberg, Kemmel, Monteberg, Baneberg and Kemmel (Ossuaire).

 

[PeterB]

ASO announced Paris - Roubaix wildcard invitations: Cofidis, Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Vital Concept, Delko Marseille Provence KTM, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise and Roompot Nederlandse Loterij.

More or less as expected, although unfortunately, Vérandas Willems - Crelan not invited so no Stijn Devolder or Wout van Aert. I would certainly favour them to Roompot.

 

[shalgo]

Also no Pozzato at Paris-Roubaix again this year.

 

[Squire]

Re:

ASO announced Paris - Roubaix wildcard invitations: Cofidis, Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Vital Concept, Delko Marseille Provence KTM, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise and Roompot Nederlandse Loterij.

More or less as expected, although unfortunately, Vérandas Willems - Crelan not invited so no Stijn Devolder or Wout van Aert. I would certainly favour them to Roompot.

And Marseille will probably have zero finishers. That non-team instead of Pippo!

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

ASO announced Paris - Roubaix wildcard invitations: Cofidis, Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Vital Concept, Delko Marseille Provence KTM, Wanty-Groupe Gobert, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise and Roompot Nederlandse Loterij.

More or less as expected, although unfortunately, Vérandas Willems - Crelan not invited so no Stijn Devolder or Wout van Aert. I would certainly favour them to Roompot.

And Marseille will probably have zero finishers. That non-team instead of Pippo!

Pippo is a non event these days so I'd rather a French team

 

[Alexandre B.]

LBL 2017

 

[Netserk]

So back to the usual post-2008 finale. At this point, I'm really looking forward to another finish than Ans.

 

[sQiD]

Côte de la Vequée : after all there is a climb of 6 + km in Belgium. They put it for the women's race. Why not for the men ?

 

[sQiD]

Re:

So back to the usual post-2008 finale. At this point, I'm really looking forward to another finish than Ans.

Last year paved climb is removed and 3 new climbs introduced : côte de Pont, Belleveaux and Ferme Libert.

We can hope for at least 60 km of action, but as always, they are going to wait until the uphill finish at Ans.
Only a good Kiwatowski could save us.

 

[sQiD]

Flèche Wallonne 2017 : same route, same finish and same winner of course.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Fly Emirates will be the new jersey sponsor of UAE Abu Dhabi

 

[carolina]

Re:

Fly Emirates will be the new jersey sponsor of UAE Abu Dhabi

UAE Team Emirates from now on.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

LBL 2017

Good news that they dropped the cobbled climb between Nicolas and Ans. And the 3 new climbs don't look shabby either.

Now all we need is some guys with big cojones who dare to go with Wellens.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

LBL 2017

Good news that they dropped the cobbled climb between Nicolas and Ans. And the 3 new climbs don't look shabby either.

Now all we need is some guys with big cojones who dare to go with Wellens.

If Orica sends Chaves and/or Simon Yates he should have some company.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Looks like another 20 men sprint in Ans. Matthews for the win.

 

[yaco]

Doubt you will see Chaves back in Europe till April and as late as May.

I don't understand why they don't go back to the old route of climbing the Mur Du Huuy twice.

 

[Netserk]

They've climbed it thrice for as long as I can remember...

 

[yaco]

Re:

They've climbed it thrice for as long as I can remember...

Maybe they need to do it three times.