Milan-Sanremo

[sublimit]

Possibly but you never know with EBH. They do have Hendo there as well so if EBH doesn't make it over the climbs they still have another option for a sprint in addition to some guys that can go solo in the poggio.

i like the look of the Sky team, they have so many options. Henderson has been going well for quite a while now, maybe has a chance depending on how the Sky team tactics pan out.
as for Boonen he is obviously in great form but i reckon if it comes to a sprint he will be outkicked by somebody.

I still go with Bennati, possibly Petacci.

 

[BikeCentric]

Cipo has only one favourite: Boonen. Boonen himself is betting on Bennati (Tombo rightly predicted Flecha for Omloop).

Tomeke is really quite good at calling which of his competitors are on good form.

You all might recall 3 or 4 years ago when Devolder was just breaking out Tom stated that he would be his biggest competition in P-R and Flanders and he was.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Boonen has always been an intelligent rider. But last year he also had a mishap when he said Cavendish wouldn't feature in San Remo

 

[theyoungest]

I'm thinking of doing a full 360 and go with Cavendish. He's got what he wanted with the supporters, to underestimate him. Will other teams underestimate him?

Which means you were always gonna go for Cav?

 

[mr. tibbs]

Dream scenario:

Ballan, Pazzato, Boonen and Cancellara attack on the Poggio, then settle it between each other at the end!

I'm pretty sure you just described an amalgam of the recent editions of Paris-Roubaix! Or Flanders. Which now I'm so excited for those races that I'm having trouble focusing on MSR. (Until Saturday, at least...)

 

[tgsgirl]

I'm thinking of doing a full 360 and go with Cavendish. He's got what he wanted with the supporters, to underestimate him. Will other teams underestimate him?

If you do a 360 you're facing the exact same way you were before.

In the meanwhile, the favourites are all pointing fingers at each other. Cancellara picks Boonen and Pippo.

 

[knewcleardaze]

If you do a 360 you're facing the exact same way you were before.

In the meanwhile, the favourites are all pointing fingers at each other. Cancellara picks Boonen and Pippo.

Ah, the ever popular rope-a-dope. I suspect they are all on to one another
Maybe prior poster meant to type 180° turnabout.

 

[AtletiSK]

Well maybe it´s surprising but let´s not forget Freire, he may not be the hottest favourite but who knows... I am his big fan so I hope he does well

 

[auscyclefan94]

Possibly but you never know with EBH. They do have Hendo there as well so if EBH doesn't make it over the climbs they still have another option for a sprint in addition to some guys that can go solo in the poggio.

They should ride for Hendo over Boasson

 

[Angliru]

Well maybe it´s surprising but let´s not forget Freire, he may not be the hottest favourite but who knows... I am his big fan so I hope he does well

I'm rooting for Oscar too! He's shown renaissance of sorts since last year's season was pretty much lost. I think he's as good a pick as anyone with his history at MSR.

 

[Angliru]

I'm thinking of doing a full 360 and go with Cavendish. He's got what he wanted with the supporters, to underestimate him. Will other teams underestimate him?

He's either gone be in the mix or he's not. I don't think anyone in contention will be underestimating him after last year.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I'm rooting for Oscar too! He's shown renaissance of sorts since last year's season was pretty much lost. I think he's as good a pick as anyone with his history at MSR.

Ditto. For some reason, the popular wisdom always writes him off. (Sometimes it feels like his own team even writes him off, based on the limited support he tends to get.)

Freire is my tip for the win if it comes to a mass sprint. Boonen, Bennati, et al might have the form to beat him, but this is Oscar's race!

In other news, I'm a little disappointed with Chichi's omission. Anyone know why Liquigas isn't sending him to MSR, too?

 

[Race Radio]

Well maybe it´s surprising but let´s not forget Freire, he may not be the hottest favourite but who knows... I am his big fan so I hope he does well

Freire is a great choice. When he is on form he is hard to beat

 

[tgsgirl]

Does anyone know, is it possible to take a wrong turn right before the finishline? Because that would greatly diminish Oscarcito's chances.

(I mock with love, Freire is awesome)

 

[karlboss]

Tipping the late break to stay away this year. Gilbert won't win.

 

[theyoungest]

Well maybe it´s surprising but let´s not forget Freire, he may not be the hottest favourite but who knows... I am his big fan so I hope he does well

According to Karsten Kroon, Oscarito was complaining about this and that and the other during the Tirreno, which usually means he has great form.

 

[BikeCentric]

According to Karsten Kroon, Oscarito was complaining about this and that and the other during the Tirreno, which usually means he has great form.

Uh oh Freire on form is scary. I will always remember him "stealing" the win at MSR in 2004 when Erik Zabel had a premature celebration.

 

[maltiv]

They should ride for Hendo over Boasson

EBH beating Boonen, Bennati, Farrar by 4-5 bike-lengths in a stage with a quite tough climb before the finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8LPB_s7bE

Henderson's two victories this year has been in a much weaker field. In Paris-Nice just he barely won although there were no real sprinters in the lead group. So based on results this year, EBH is really a better sprinter than Henderson (perhaps not as consistent, but no one cares who gets 5th-10th in MSR). EBH is also a much better climber than Henderson.

To sum up: EBH in a top day will win, whilst he will probably get 70th or so if he feels bad. Henderson will get 5th-15th at best if he gets over Poggio.

 

[Jamsque]

EBH beating Boonen, Bennati, Farrar by 4-5 bike-lengths in a stage with a quite tough climb before the finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8LPB_s7bE

Henderson's two victories this year has been in a much weaker field. In Paris-Nice just he barely won although there were no real sprinters in the lead group. So based on results this year, EBH is really a better sprinter than Henderson (perhaps not as consistent, but no one cares who gets 5th-10th in MSR). EBH is also a much better climber than Henderson.

To sum up: EBH in a top day will win, whilst he will probably get 70th or so if he feels bad. Henderson will get 5th-15th at best if he gets over Poggio.

Wow! That is a really astonishing highlight. That was an incredible kick from Eddy to catch Farrar, almost reminiscent of Cav closing down Heinrich Haussler at last year's M-SR.

 

[BikeCentric]

EBH beating Boonen, Bennati, Farrar by 4-5 bike-lengths in a stage with a quite tough climb before the finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8LPB_s7bE

Henderson's two victories this year has been in a much weaker field. In Paris-Nice just he barely won although there were no real sprinters in the lead group. So based on results this year, EBH is really a better sprinter than Henderson (perhaps not as consistent, but no one cares who gets 5th-10th in MSR). EBH is also a much better climber than Henderson.

To sum up: EBH in a top day will win, whilst he will probably get 70th or so if he feels bad. Henderson will get 5th-15th at best if he gets over Poggio.

Amazing sprint.

 

[Night Rider]

...So based on results this year, EBH is really a better sprinter than Henderson (perhaps not as consistent, but no one cares who gets 5th-10th in MSR).

In a straight sprint there is no doubt Henderson is a better sprinter than EBH, and if they end up in the same group 2km out from the finish then Henderson would have to be the go to man, the luxury Sky would have in this scenario is they would effectively have two go to men where other teams have only one.

... EBH is also a much better climber than Henderson.

Agree.

 

[luckyboy]

EBH beating Boonen, Bennati, Farrar by 4-5 bike-lengths in a stage with a quite tough climb before the finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8LPB_s7bE

Argh, Matt Rendell's voice is so annoying. It sounds like he's talking to young children/trying to hypnotise you..

 

[MagnusW]

Amazing sprint.

And look how happy he is!

 

[velosiped]

This race is too long for Boasson at this stage of his career.
Flecha is a better tip from that team. He will probably explode up the Poggio together with guys like Pozzato, Ballan and Gilbert - and maybe Boonen.
No chance that Petacci will let it get away from him if it ends in a bunch sprint.

 

[kurtinsc]

This race is too long for Boasson at this stage of his career.
Flecha is a better tip from that team. He will probably explode up the Poggio together with guys like Pozzato, Ballan and Gilbert - and maybe Boonen.
No chance that Petacci will let it get away from him if it ends in a bunch sprint.

He won a 240 km stage in the Tour of Pologne last year. He won a 244 km stage in the Giro. He won the 210 km Gent-Wevelgem. He won a 232 km stage of the Tour of Ireland in 2007.

Yes, none of those are the nearly 300km you get from MSR... but there simply aren't a lot of races like that. EBH seems to have done well in his longer (200km+) events. It almost seems that the longer and tougher the race, the more it suits him.