OPQS should launch chavanel on the kemmelberg and then keep Terpstra back just so that if it comes back together, then he along with steegmans can help Boonen chase others and lead him out. Also they should make the race hard so that by the time Chavanel goes, there are not so many teammates left and some of the favorites may eventually have to do some pulls to get him back. Although of course you risk maybe letter someone like pozzato going away with chavanel and then having him drop chavanel but still it might work.
- Jul 16, 2010
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Farrar FTW.
Sentimental pick, I know his form has been crap.
I was at a talk (interview and Q&A) Farrar did with my Seattle bike club in December (Farrar's hometown is 3 hrs. from here, which, BTW for Eurofolks, is not considered a long drive in the US West). He talked about how important this race was for him: he and his wife have their racing season home in Gent, which they love, and when Farrar 1st came to Europe with the US jr. national team, they trained on the roads and lived on a farm near Wevelgem. So, he says, he knows people along the entire route. Said he was sorry to disappoint them with only 3rd last year.
BTW, Farrar was quite realistic (at least during that calm time in the off-season) about racing against Cav. Someone asked him if the sprints would be different with Cav at Sky. He said it wouldn't make much difference at the end of races, because in the last 200 meters "Cav is going to be Cav." Farrar called him the best sprinter of his generation and 1 of the 2 best of all time (with Cippo). "Just my luck to come up at the same time."
One other fun note from that talk: "podiums at the Giro and the Vuelta are way more fun than the podium at the tour."
Sentimental pick, I know his form has been crap.
I was at a talk (interview and Q&A) Farrar did with my Seattle bike club in December (Farrar's hometown is 3 hrs. from here, which, BTW for Eurofolks, is not considered a long drive in the US West). He talked about how important this race was for him: he and his wife have their racing season home in Gent, which they love, and when Farrar 1st came to Europe with the US jr. national team, they trained on the roads and lived on a farm near Wevelgem. So, he says, he knows people along the entire route. Said he was sorry to disappoint them with only 3rd last year.
BTW, Farrar was quite realistic (at least during that calm time in the off-season) about racing against Cav. Someone asked him if the sprints would be different with Cav at Sky. He said it wouldn't make much difference at the end of races, because in the last 200 meters "Cav is going to be Cav." Farrar called him the best sprinter of his generation and 1 of the 2 best of all time (with Cippo). "Just my luck to come up at the same time."
One other fun note from that talk: "podiums at the Giro and the Vuelta are way more fun than the podium at the tour."
- Mar 31, 2010
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El Pistolero said:Yeah, because Pozzato can really drop Chavanel these days
you seem to know it all. why don';t you make a fortune with betting?
Swede1 said:
Very good tactics.
Only a shame that neither Terpstra or Chavanel are participating:
http://www.omegapharma-quickstep.com/en/competitions/race/162
- Mar 10, 2009
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rghysens said:
What the hell? Ciolek, Steegmans, and Chicchi to lead out Boonen? Throwing all in for a group sprint, huh?
Maybe they want to keep their powder dry, you know, not tip of the competition about their super secret plans for Flanders and Roubaix. I'm sure no other team is expecting anything from Chava and Terpstra in the first part of April, and OPQS wants to keep it that way.
Remember, boys--this is top secret hush-hush.
rghysens said:
Haha oh well then they should use that tactic for flanders and roubaix. I guess they are assuming it will come to a bunch sprint. In that case i'd say either oscarito or sagan. If sagan doesnt waste energy early on by attacking too many times I think he will win.
- Sep 8, 2009
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- Jun 10, 2010
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I would never, ever bet against Pozzato being able to drop someone in a classic, not after many silly seasons, and certainly not after some very good performances like the ones he's had this year.El Pistolero said:Yeah, because Pozzato can really drop Chavanel these days
- Jun 7, 2010
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Pozzato is still the faster of the 2 in a sprint so as long as they share the workload evenly he would be the favorite.
Edit: make it "even if they share the workload evenly" since it's Pozzato we are talking about.
Edit: make it "even if they share the workload evenly" since it's Pozzato we are talking about.
- Dec 30, 2011
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Umm... if Steegmans shows anything like what he showed in qatar then he will be factor even outside a sprint and Ciolek is always good on hillyish courses (see canadian races)mr. tibbs said:What the hell? Ciolek, Steegmans, and Chicchi to lead out Boonen? Throwing all in for a group sprint, huh?
Maybe they want to keep their powder dry, you know, not tip of the competition about their super secret plans for Flanders and Roubaix. I'm sure no other team is expecting anything from Chava and Terpstra in the first part of April, and OPQS wants to keep it that way.
Remember, boys--this is top secret hush-hush.
- Aug 29, 2011
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Froome19 said:
Yeah, but Steegmans doesn't seem to have that 'Winning spirit' anymore. It would seem that he can't handle the pressure of being a leader.
- Jul 8, 2011
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- Jul 16, 2010
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hrotha said:
Considering Chava dropped him in Dwars door Vlaanderen it's not something that's likely to happen. That post spoke as if it was an almost guaranteed thing to happen.
- Aug 29, 2011
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DominicDecoco said:
Those seem to be from 2011 (the page has team lists from 2011).
Hopefully either they'll get updated by Steephill before the race or one will work again this year! (And I can brush up on my Dutch.)
- Aug 9, 2010
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- Sep 30, 2011
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- Oct 17, 2010
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My podium: 1.Freire;2.Boonen;3.Bennati.
Freire had sad face after E3. He wants revenge. He's going to crush it
Freire had sad face after E3. He wants revenge. He's going to crush it
- Jun 7, 2010
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canyonball said:My podium: 1.Freire;2.Boonen;3.Bennati.
Freire had sad face after E3. He's angry. He's going to crush it
Looks like it will be a 3 rider sprint then for Bennati to finish so high
- Oct 17, 2010
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