Gent Wevelgem

[theyoungest]

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

Because, of course, Theo Bos has a far better chance of winning this

Actually, I'd have given him a chance on the old course. Now it's probably a little too bumpy.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Greg Van Avermaet

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Because, of course, Theo Bos has a far better chance of winning this

Actually, I'd have given him a chance on the old course. Now it's probably a little too bumpy.

Yeah when it's a group of 50 he won't be there. A group of 100 maybe..
All depends on how they race.

Although I wouldn't give Bos winning chances regardless, after hills + 215km he isn't good anymore anyway

 

[Michele]

It looks like it might not be the usual Gent-Wevelgem but more for riders like Gilbert&Co. ?

 

[hektoren]

Boasson-Hagen has developed Achilles tendinitis, and doesn't know yet if he'll start or not.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

It looks like it might not be the usual Gent-Wevelgem but more for riders like Gilbert&Co. ?

I wouldn't say that.
There are three more hills before the Kemmelberg, so there are now 5 hills before the Kemmel instead of 2, but there's still a long flat part before and after.. So it will be harder, but still likely to end in a sprint unless there are cross-winds

 

[Jamsque]

I just had a brief look over the past few editions of G-W, and on the old course it only came down to a bunch sprint on three out of the past 10 editions. With the extra climbs surely it is now even less likely that a large group will arrive at the finish together.

 

[Michele]

I wouldn't say that.
There are three more hills before the Kemmelberg, so there are now 5 hills before the Kemmel instead of 2, but there's still a long flat part before and after.. So it will be harder, but still likely to end in a sprint unless there are cross-winds

So the finale will be just the same? With Kemmel as last one?
Then yeah, it's gonna be an even more interesting race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Kemmel as last one yeah, nothing changed there.

McEwen does say on his twitter account that, due to the extra hills, the course is now more of a Mini-Tour of Flanders than before. So it's definately harder.
But don't forget even Flanders has little differences and had a mass sprint for 2nd place last year.
Wevelgem has Kemmel further from the line, is shorter, and has less importance for the attacking riders, so the chance of a sprint will always be bigger

 

[sublimit]

Its hard to say but Gilbert contantly gets tipped and is yet to do anything so maybe this is the time. i'm also looking out for Grabovsky, Flecha as they seem to have some form.

If Hagen rides and is fit then he should take it, but if he's injured i presume Downing comes in?

 

[maltiv]

Boasson-Hagen has developed Achilles tendinitis, and doesn't know yet if he'll start or not.

Bad news for sure. A lot of great classic riders who are injured now (EBH, Haussler, Andy Schleck).

 

[Anonymous]

Boasson-Hagen has developed Achilles tendinitis, and doesn't know yet if he'll start or not.

doubtful. Possible subs, Barry to ride one, downing the other, and a sub put into crit intl where the squad is already one down. Sky not having the best of weeks.

Edit: Ignore that, barry is riding both anyway. I was reading completely the wrong peice of paper when i typed that.

If Hagen rides and is fit then he should take it, but if he's injured i presume Downing comes in?

Downing is down for the Crit, the squad is already one down there, but may be he comes in for one race. POssoni and Nordhaug may be fit for the crit intl. Lot of shuffling going on.

 

[hektoren]

doubtful. Possible subs, Barry to ride one, downing the other, and a sub put into crit intl where the squad is already one down. Sky not having the best of weeks.



Downing is down for the Crit, the squad is already one down there, but may be he comes in for one race. POssoni and Nordhaug may be fit for the crit intl. Lot of shuffling going on.

I miss you, Dim! Please come back! You're about 65% of my motivation for reading these pages.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I miss you, Dim! Please come back! You're about 65% of my motivation for reading these pages.

Where did you get 65% from? I do miss dim though.

What are matt goss' chances at Gent.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

what do you guys think?

does the race schedule reshuffling and bumping of GW to a sunday increase its prestige? will it be a harder race as a result? or will folks at least for the next few years look straight through it to flanders the following week?

my opinion, i think it will become a more prestigious victory over the next few years and less likely to end in a sprint.

i'd like to see flecha take it this year.

 

[Michele]

If I remember correctly Gent was already a very prestigious race some years ago with a 250km route but then been moved and shortened.

 

[philcrisp]

If I remember correctly Gent was already a very prestigious race some years ago with a 250km route but then been moved and shortened.

It had been the Wednesday before Flanders for as long as I can remember. However, you're right that before the WC it was 250k. I'm sure I've read Barry Hoban being very forthright about that in the British Press.

 

[Night Rider]

Boonen ftw.

 

[trompe le monde]

I think it, Gent-Wevelgem, was moved to a wednesday some 40 years ago, though I could be wrong.


http://www.gent-wevelgem.be/fileadmin/DOCS/startlist_1269451118.pdf - the most recent startlist, as of yesterday. If the weather is decent someone like Rojas could do well as he's placed in the top 10 twice before.

 

[maltiv]

I think it, Gent-Wevelgem, was moved to a wednesday some 40 years ago, though I could be wrong.


http://www.gent-wevelgem.be/fileadmin/DOCS/startlist_1269451118.pdf - the most recent startlist, as of yesterday. If the weather is decent someone like Rojas could do well as he's placed in the top 10 twice before.

The route has changed from 2 climbs to 16 climbs. It doesn't really matter who has done well before - it's a whole different race.

 

[trompe le monde]

The route has changed from 2 climbs to 16 climbs. It doesn't really matter who has done well before - it's a whole different race.

Yes, I remembered the route change and inclusion of more hills about a few seconds after I submitted my post. Makes it less likely for Rojas I guess.

 

[il_fiammingo]

It had been the Wednesday before Flanders for as long as I can remember. However, you're right that before the WC it was 250k. I'm sure I've read Barry Hoban being very forthright about that in the British Press.

You mean: Wednesday before Paris-Roubaix.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Boonen ftw.

meh. I think someone who doesn't ride e3 will win.
This notion supports my theory that friere will win.

 

[Jonathan]

meh. I think someone who doesn't ride e3 will win.
This notion supports my theory that friere will win.

Agreed, Freire much more likely than Boonen.

 

[hfer07]

Aside from the usual favorites, I'm hoping from BMC to break through in this race, because so far they haven't done a thing in the early classics and is becoming a joke TBH.