Gent - Wevelgem: October 11th, 2020

[ciranda]

Why is SKA not riding this?

He has a history of winning or being second in Paris-Tours so will probably race there.

 

[Volderke]

Whats the wind forecast like. That is the key factor changing it from a hard but not enormously selective final to a brutal every man or woman battling to hang on to the wheel in front final.

Nothing outrageous like in 2015, but the wind will be hard enough to play a role, both in the first part of the race (sideways) and on the way to Wevelgem (3 quarters from the back and tailwind for the last part). It will either be a bit damp / rainy, but if there is a dry spell for e.g. some hours, roads dry quickly with the wind, except on the smaller roads in the berg zone, and the plug streets ofcourse!

In other words: it will be great.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Clara Koppenburg doesn't do the Ronde, we riot.

 

[Volderke]

I expect Kamil Gradek to come over from the Giro and attack on the Kemmel.

 

[gunara]

How weird to see this thread now, I swear I will never manage to get myself in touch with the reality of this year's schedule, or any event schedule, what a confusing year. Missed a lot of races already just because I didn't visit this forum often enough.

 

[tobydawq]

I expect Kamil Gradek to come over from the Giro and attack on the Kemmel.

What about Kamil Malecki?

 

[tobydawq]

How weird to see this thread now, I swear I will never manage to get myself in touch with the reality of this year's schedule, or any event schedule, what a confusing year. Missed a lot of races already just because I didn't visit this forum often enough.

Why not just look the calendar up on PCS?

 

[Volderke]

What about Kamil Malecki?

They can come over together from the Giro

 

[Leinster]

What about Kamil Malecki?

I loved him in Bohemian Rhapsody.

 

[gunara]

Why not just look the calendar up on PCS?

The problem is remembering, and maybe feeling it, not finding info. Things are losing their regularity. Sports calendars were always subconsciously connected to what I do at certain points of the year, and now both sides are upside down.
And I'm not complaining, in fact I can't believe my luck to still have these intense months of racing this year.

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's like Easter falls in October this year.

 

[RedheadDane]

The problem is remembering, and maybe feeling it, not finding info. Things are losing their regularity. Sports calendars were always subconsciously connected to what I do at certain points of the year, and now both sides are upside down.
And I'm not complaining, in fact I can't believe my luck to still have these intense months of racing this year.

I think I've basically reached the point where, if someone was to tell me that the Grand Depart for the 2025 TdF was tomorrow, my reaction would probably be like; "Oh... okay. Seems reasonable."

 

[Pantani_lives]

Depending on the scenario - group sprint, echelon race or individual actions - there are many possible winners. A lot will depend on the weather, but "chance of showers" and "changeable" doesn't say very much.

****Van Aert, Van der Poel
***Bennett, Kristoff, Pedersen
**Colbrelli, Ewan, Ackermann
*Asgreen, Stybar, Trentin, Bettiol, Politt, Naesen, Vanmarcke, Benoot

Women:
****Deignan
***Lippert, Bastianelli, Brown
**D'hoore, Kopecky, Mackaij, Wild
*Rivera, Longo-Borghini, García, Wiebes

 

[Volderke]

Wind is a fairly strong NW, but a W or SW would have been just that little bit better for the echelons. Still plenty of opportunities to split the race.
This race is going to be good anyway: with the cancellation of PR, the classics riders now have only two races to show themselves.

I hope many will start with a do-or-die attitude.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Depending on the scenario - group sprint, echelon race or individual actions - there are many possible winners. A lot will depend on the weather, but "chance of showers" and "changeable" doesn't say very much.

****Van Aert, Van der Poel
***Bennett, Kristoff, Pedersen
**Colbrelli, Ewan, Ackermann
*Asgreen, Stybar, Trentin, Bettiol, Politt, Naesen, Vanmarcke, Benoot

Women:
****Deignan
***Lippert, Bastianelli, Brown
**D'hoore, Kopecky, Mackaij, Wild
*Rivera, Longo-Borghini, García, Wiebes

That’s a bit optimistic about Bennett and Ewan, I suspect. First races back after the Tour, not much cobbled pedigree... It would have to be an extraordinarily boring edition for either to feature!

 

[Pantani_lives]

That’s a bit optimistic about Bennett and Ewan, I suspect. First races back after the Tour, not much cobbled pedigree... It would have to be an extraordinarily boring edition for either to feature!

Ewan is doubtful indeed, but Bennett has the team to keep him in front or bring him back. It depends on the strategy of DSt.

 

[tobydawq]

Ewan is doubtful indeed, but Bennett has the team to keep him in front or bring him back. It depends on the strategy of DSt.

They usually have an aggressive strategy in GW. And now that they have been robbed of the most important cobbled classic I doubt they will just ride train here. He does have both the Scheldeprijs and the De Panne race (if he isn't going to the Vuelta) for that.

 

[Sciatic]

Sagan should be here instead of the Giro!

 

[tobydawq]

So, a Giro mountain stage, Paris-Tours, this race and Nadal-Djokovic in the Roland Garros final the same Sunday afternoon... And they said super Sunday was cancelled.

 

[BlueRoads]

And I won't be able to watch any of it. Definitely the wrong sunday

 

[tobydawq]

And I won't be able to watch any of it. Definitely the wrong sunday

Eurosport Player is your friend.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Astana entering 6 Kazak riders, has that ever happened in a WT race before?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Depending on the scenario - group sprint, echelon race or individual actions - there are many possible winners. A lot will depend on the weather, but "chance of showers" and "changeable" doesn't say very much.

****Van Aert, Van der Poel
***Bennett, Kristoff, Pedersen
**Colbrelli, Ewan, Ackermann
*Asgreen, Stybar, Trentin, Bettiol, Politt, Naesen, Vanmarcke, Benoot

I'm missing Küng and Kwiatkowski on your list.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I'm missing Küng and Kwiatkowski on your list.

According to cyclingfever Kwiatkowski isn't riding.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

According to cyclingfever Kwiatkowski isn't riding.

Ok, just saw him on the PCS start list, so assumed