March 19: Milan - San Remo 2011 298km

[Ferminal]

I would like to say Hushovd but I fear that he cannot beat his own teammate, Heinrich Haussler, who is both stronger in the hills and faster in the sprint. Can't really see anyone beating Haussler really.

Haussler is the designated leader for this I think.

Hushovd for Roubaix

Not sure about Flanders.

 

[Anonymous]

Haussler is the designated leader for this I think.

Hushovd for Roubaix

Not sure about Flanders.

And Farrar owes Hushovd a lead out. If you line up those three, whoever is in the back has a good shot.

 

[woodie]

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS !

These are no great winners. These are disgraces !! Sprinters and wheelsuckers.


Merckx made the legend of Milan Sanremo, the legend of the Poggio. The Via Roma was his garden !

Actually I think they are great winners, to be able to get over the climbs with the attacking going on and then still sprint at 65+km/h at the end of 298km is amazing. Sure they have their teams to help but they still need to get to the finish. I'd like to see you do that

Cav or Haussler FTW

 

[Roland Rat]

Don't think Cav will have the form for this. I think it'll come to a sprint between the usual suspects... I'd choose Goss on recent form, but the Garvelo train may steamroller everyone.

I'll be disappointed if Haussler wins it, there's something about him I just don't like or trust. I don't believe he belongs in the same rank as Boonen, Thor etc.

Edit, if Cav can't win then I'd like to see Gilbert take it, and if not then Freire.

Edit 2, given the way they've sprinted in Paris-Nice, it's a shame that Thomas Geraint and... my brains gone dead... whatshisname... the Kiwi sprinter on Sky... Henderson aren't riding, if Henderson made it over the climbs he'd have had a decent chance.

 

[Ferminal]

I'll be disappointed if Haussler wins it, there's something about him I just don't like or trust. I don't believe he belongs in the same rank as Boonen, Thor etc.

In what way? None of them have won M-SR, Thor or Haussler haven't won any monuments. If Haussler wins it I feel it will differentiate him rather than "join" them.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Goss, Ale jet or Kristoff. He's due!

 

[il_fiammingo]

And Pozzato will wheelsuck.

He always does

His biggest trouble will be the choice whether he sucks Boonen's or Gilbert's wheel during the upcoming classics.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Don't think Cav will have the form for this. I think it'll come to a sprint between the usual suspects... I'd choose Goss on recent form, but the Garvelo train may steamroller everyone.

I'll be disappointed if Haussler wins it, there's something about him I just don't like or trust. I don't believe he belongs in the same rank as Boonen, Thor etc.

In terms of palmares, he doesn't. But he makes procycling look so easy.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Goss, Ale jet or Kristoff. He's due!

His chances of winning MSR are as big as TGBM's chances to win le Tour

 

[kanari]

His chances of winning MSR are as big as TGBM's chances to win le Tour

TGAK is actually not riding. Didn't make the squad...

 

[maltiv]

Edit 2, given the way they've sprinted in Paris-Nice, it's a shame that Thomas Geraint and... my brains gone dead... whatshisname... the Kiwi sprinter on Sky... Henderson aren't riding, if Henderson made it over the climbs he'd have had a decent chance.

Henderson wasn't even close to making it over the climbs last year so I guess that's why they're not bringing him. Kinda silly though as it's possible that it will be as easy as in 2009 and then he probably would have been there.

I definitely don't understand why they are not bringing Geraint Thomas, he could be a top 10 candidate or could've given EBH a great leadout which might not result in a win but a possible podium at least.

 

[Tornadin]

If you would have to guess the result of EBH, Boonen and Gilbert?

Which rank do you think will they come in?

 

[sublimit]

I would had Swift in there as well as Thomas for Sky. Maybe next year.

I'm going for an outsider like Viviani if he can get over the last climb, Haussler must be favourite I would imagine though.

 

[Lanark]

If you would have to guess the result of EBH, Boonen and Gilbert?

Which rank do you think will they come in?

Boonen probably the best result. Top-5 if it's a bunch sprint. Gilbert will probably sprint to a top-10 place as well, and if a small group survives after the descent of the Poggio he has a good chance of winning, but that doesn't happen very often. I don't think EBH will survive the distance and the hills.

 

[El Pistolero]

Boonen probably the best result. Top-5 if it's a bunch sprint. Gilbert will probably sprint to a top-10 place as well, and if a small group survives after the descent of the Poggio he has a good chance of winning, but that doesn't happen very often. I don't think EBH will survive the distance and the hills.

Boonen is sick, I don't even think he'll make it over the Poggio unless he recovers in time during T-A.

 

[Roland Rat]

I definitely don't understand why they are not bringing Geraint Thomas, he could be a top 10 candidate or could've given EBH a great leadout which might not result in a win but a possible podium at least.

I would had Swift in there as well as Thomas for Sky. Maybe next year.

Track worlds.

 

[sublimit]

Track worlds.

I love track racing but its disrupting things at Sky. Swift or maybe Sutton should be penciled in next time as a back up sprinter or leadout guy.
So they have Boasson Hagen and no plan B by the looks of things unless Flecha takes a flyer on the descent.

 

[The Hitch]

I pick JJ Haedo

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Piva claims that Cav's form is the same as when he won MSR in 2009

Source: Sporza

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Piva claims that Cav's form is the same as when he won MSR in 2009

Source: Sporza

Posted that hours ago in the Tirreno topic, was already being discussed there

 

[The Hitch]

Posted that hours ago in the Tirreno topic, was already being discussed there

Here i assumed that all those pages on the tirreno thread after the bunch sprint were spent discussing how great JJ is

 

[taiwan]

A hypothetical attackers podium:

Gilbert, Ballan, um...

I can think of a few classicists who can sprint who might rather take their chances on an attack, like Boonen, Hushovd (form), Boasson Hagen.

 

[auscyclefan94]

btw it is listed in cycling startlists that Kristoff will be riding MSR so he still has some sort of miniscule chance of winning

 

[The Hitch]

How big a gap will the breakaway get. I predict 20 minutes. Its quite funny when they get out some big gaps sometimes. You have people crossing a point, and then have to wait HALF AN HOUR, for the next group to come by and whats more, that theyll be able to take back those 30 minutes over the next 2 hours.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Haussler anyone?

That looked suspiciously like a broken arm of some sort.