Gent Wevelgem

[auscyclefan94]

ProTour teams:
AG2R LA MONDIALE - FRA
ASTANA - KAZ
CAISSE D'EPARGNE - ESP
EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI - ESP
FOOTON-SERVETTO - ESP
FRANÇAISE DES JEUX - FRA
GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM - USA
LAMPRE-FARNESE VINI - ITA
LIQUIGAS-DOIMO - ITA
OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTO - BEL
QUICK STEP - BEL
RABOBANK - NED
SKY PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM - GBR
TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA - USA
TEAM KATUSHA - RUS
TEAM MILRAM - GER
TEAM RADIOSHACK - USA
TEAM SAXO BANK - DEN

Wild cards:
LANDBOUWKREDIET - BEL
TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR - BEL
ACQUA & SAPONE - ITA
SKIL - SHIMANO - NED
VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM - NED
CERVELO TEST TEAM - SUI
BMC RACING TEAM - USA

gent Wevelgem course preview

Who do you think will win? Discuss...

 

[Bike Boy]

Thor hushovd

 

[Sasquatch]

Toss up between Boasson-Hagen and Pozzato. Matt Goss might surprise with Columbia. Third last year.

 

[Andrichuk]

Tom Boonen

 

[auscyclefan94]

Boasson
Burghardt
Boonen

Boasson will go away with Burghardt and boasson will beat Burghardt in the sprint. boonen will clean up in the bunch sprint.

 

[Big GMaC]

Fyumi Beppu FT.... Oh, no retardshack. thank god.

Therefore:

BOONEN FTW

 

[Hugh Januss]

Iglinski !
Just a guess, is he starting or taking a deserved rest?
He has been going pretty good for a guy that last years Astana couldn't even find a spot for.

 

[craig1985]

Not saying he will win, but I would like to see Manuel Quinziato have a good ride.

 

[pedaldancer]

Should think Bo-Hagen will make sure he is in the mixer for this one, I mean he's beaten Cancellara in a time trial, picked up a buch sprint with the big boys (if a little wrecklessly) so much to the Team Sky haters dismay he is in form... and the fact he didn't/couldn't do much at M-SR means he'll be chomping at the bit.... Although no doubt Boonen will want to strike while his metaphorical iron is hot.

 

[rghysens]

Boonen won't participate. He will race E3-prijs and De Panne instead.
Unless he changes his racing schedule, off course

 

[issoisso]

Up to this year, it was either a bunch sprint, or whoever got lucky with the wind won.

Now the course has been radically redesigned, so it's going to be entirely different.

 

[joy118118]

EBH will not win, but will get a good result

 

[Michele]

Anyone has a bigger map of the route?
I didnt know there were big changes.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Anyone has a bigger map of the route?
I didnt know there were big changes.

I think it is more hilly then previous editions, next year it will be larger in length too.

i'll make a prediction when a see a more solid startlist.
should be a good w.e with e3 and this.

 

[39*23t]

Does anyone know if Stijn Devolder is riding?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Up to this year, it was either a bunch sprint, or whoever got lucky with the wind won.

Now the course has been radically redesigned, so it's going to be entirely different.

You really don't understand cross-wind riding if you say that. You don't "get lucky" in the wind. Only strong riders survive.

Maybe it's because you are from Portugal that you don't understand, but this type of riding is for the strong men. It has nothing to do with 'getting lucky'.
Hagen is a classic type of rider who you'd expect to do well when there are cross winds.

 

[stefrees]

Not saying he will win, but I would like to see Manuel Quinziato have a good ride.

i agree, one of my favourite riders!

 

[issoisso]

You really don't understand cross-wind riding if you say that. You don't "get lucky" in the wind. Only strong riders survive.

Maybe it's because you are from Portugal that you don't understand, but this type of riding is for the strong men. It has nothing to do with 'getting lucky'.
Hagen is a classic type of rider who you'd expect to do well when there are cross winds.

Wind changes quite a bit. If the wind is decimating the peloton, then you have to be strong. But if you just happen to be ahead when the wind changes and disorganizes the chase, then you're lucky. I'm not talking about anyone specifically, much less Hagen.

 

[philcrisp]

Talking about the wind...

Does anyone have a weather forecast for Sunday?

 

[Tugboat]

Be hard to bet against Oscarito now. He's won before and certainly has the form to do it again.

 

[cyclopeon]

Should think Bo-Hagen will make sure he is in the mixer for this one, I mean he's beaten Cancellara in a time trial, picked up a buch sprint with the big boys (if a little wrecklessly) so much to the Team Sky haters dismay he is in form... and the fact he didn't/couldn't do much at M-SR means he'll be chomping at the bit.... Although no doubt Boonen will want to strike while his metaphorical iron is hot.

A wreckless race is a good race

reckless is a different matter though

 

[BeachBum]

Be hard to bet against Oscarito now. He's won before and certainly has the form to do it again.

Agreed. There might be more hills with the course redesign, but probably nothing he can't handle.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

if it comes to a sprint i wouldn't bet against friere. But like mentioned, if wind plays a part it could be more interesting then that.

 

[Frosty]

Does anyone have a weather forecast for Sunday?

Looks generally unsettled over the weekend but its too far ahead at the moment to say whether the rain/showers will coincide with the race. Could be a bit breezy too.

 

[maltiv]

Thor hushovd

He's not riding. I have no idea why.