Last battle at lombardy! Who will win?

[Ferminal]

heart pulls for vino.. its just a matter wether one of this many idiot attacks actually works....

if it doesnt, the cunego....

Hoping for Vino win too, but resisted the urge to vote in his favour.

Went for Kolobnev.

Gilbert's form is ridiculous, so I think he's a better chance than Evans.

 

[RhodriM]

With riders like Armstrong still racing and getting VIP treatment by the UCI and race organizers, who cares what Vino has done? At least he paid a price. People support Vino because he is an exciting racer.

Didn't really show much remorse did he?

 

[il_fiammingo]

Gilbert's form is ridiculous, so I think he's a better chance than Evans.

idd, Gilbert just scored a hattrick in Piemonte...

 

[Ferminal]

Yeh, ridiculously good!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gilbert won again... he really seems to have excellent end of season form.

 

[Cogombre]

Hmm, I was between Gilbert and Gesink, so I chose the less likely (if Gilbert keeps that pace) option and voted for Gesink.

 

[tretow95]

gilbert

think it will be gilbert to lose he is in best form and has got evans with him.

 

[tretow95]

I'm expecting Lövkvist to put in a good showing but since he can't even outsprint a trainer I don't think he'll be the winner.

lol he is so slow but evans lovkvist and vino will have to come in on their own if they wanna win.

maybe uran and brajkovic like lats year in the podium? lol

 

[KazakhNeRider]

Yes, but do you have the jersey?

vino-4-ever? nooooooooo, it's a clown's stuff!
Etxeondo Liberty Seguros Kazakh Champion's kit - this is really forever!

 

[Anonymous]

Didn't really show much remorse did he?

guess he figures he is just one of many and he got caught...

i just love his riding style, his aggression, and his mentality.. thats not down to doping, thats down to personality...

watching some of VDB's races over the last few days, reminded me a lot of vino..

this forum really will be torn in two if he wins wont it..

 

[Echoes]

Gilbert can make a hattrick in one week just like De Vlaeminck in 1976 and 4 wins in 10 days.

He can be the first Belgian to win the race since Fons De Wolf in 1980.

 

[Echoes]

Hmm, I was between Gilbert and Gesink, so I chose the less likely (if Gilbert keeps that pace) option and voted for Gesink.

Gesink has hardly any experience of such long one-day races. Lombardy is not Emily. But maybe he will surprise me.

 

[Cogombre]

Gesink has hardly any experience of such long one-day races. Lombardy is not Emily. But maybe he will surprise me.

Well, he was 15th in the 2007's Giro di Lombardia, now he has more experience and I think that also a bit of rage after la Vuelta and the worlds. I really think that he can do a very good race.

 

[BeachBum]

I took the lazy approach and voted for the most likely Italian--Cunego. It doesn't matter who wins as long as we get some fireworks on the climbs, I'm hoping Gesink and Cunego duke it out. If the Spaniards and Evans can toss in some attacks, all the better.

Gilbert is the wild card for me. Crazy good form, but can he hang with all the climbs?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I took the lazy approach and voted for the most likely Italian--Cunego. It doesn't matter who wins as long as we get some fireworks on the climbs, I'm hoping Gesink and Cunego duke it out. If the Spaniards and Evans can toss in some attacks, all the better.

Gilbert is the wild card for me. Crazy good form, but can he hang with all the climbs?

The difference between Lombardy and the worlds are the climbs are longer, i think some of the other teams will try to drop gilbert knowing how much of a threat he is in a sprint. S/L cam play a two pronged attack. Evans can attack and gilbert can let them all chase then blow them away on the final climb or sprint. They could do it the other way as well. A great end of season for S/L. They are on fire.

 

[Race Radio]

Gilbert won again today. He is on fire.

Expect him to be a marked man and very aggressive racing for the last 2 hours.

 

[Anonymous]

Gilbert won again today. He is on fire.

Expect him to be a marked man and very aggressive racing for the last 2 hours.

Yea, that was my choice in the poll. He was STRONG this past Sunday.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Yea, that was my choice in the poll. He was STRONG this past Sunday.

He is my choice too. I think though that his streak may play against him in the amount of attention he gets from others.

 

[Anonymous]

He is my choice too. I think though that his streak may play against him in the amount of attention he gets from others.

Yea, but Boonen gave him plenty of attention and couldn't come around him. I do realize that Boonen is not fully on form, but to beat him the way Gilbert did Sunday was pretty impressive. He may just be strong enough that attention won't do him. He was defending champion of Paris Tours so it isn't like he didn't get attention there. I hope he wins

 

[Ripper]

This'll be a good race! Lotsa contenders on form.

Yee ha!

 

[Hugh Januss]

This'll be a good race! Lotsa contenders on form.

Yee ha!

Yaa, this is gonna be good!! Is it saturday yet?

 

[Runitout]

Gilbert - wow - what an incredible streak. Hilly, flat - he's winning it all.

I'll pick Samu, because he has to redeem himself from Mendrisio, and he likes this race a lot. Gilbert may be marked out of it - but he had Evans to play off, so he's a damn good chance.

Samu
Cunego
Gilbert
Evans
Velits, P.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think if S/L and lampre are smart the should ride an agressive race as they have many cards to play. Ballan and Cunego + Evans and Gilbert. they will be the two teams to beat.

 

[Echoes]

Well, he was 15th in the 2007's Giro di Lombardia, now he has more experience and I think that also a bit of rage after la Vuelta and the worlds. I really think that he can do a very good race.

Oh OK. I didn't know that. But I still think he's rather a stage race rider. But why not, after all?

 

[eric_vv]

Oh OK. I didn't know that. But I still think he's rather a stage race rider. But why not, after all?

I agree Gesink is better in stage races, but he has had good (and improving) results since his first pro year.

2007
9th Fleche Wallone
15th Giro di Lombardia

2008
21st AGR
4th FW
13th LBL

2009
3th AGR

Missed FW because of injury and not at his best at LBL because of the same injury. The main point is he keeps improving year by year in the hilly classics. He needs to finish alone to win here, but he will be among the best in the race if he reaches his normal level.