Omega Pharma v Lotto

[El Pistolero]

Even with his 2011 form and bad luck, Boonen won Gent-Wevelgem. Didn't see Roelandts do anything of the sort.

QST just have a far better cobbled classics squad. In the Ardennes it's different, but Lotto will hardly dominate there.

If Boonen will have an injury free season and get the same level as a few years ago then yeah it's no contest at all. Though, I'm not convinced he will, so that's why it could be pretty equal. QS no longer has the classic squad they had back in 2000-2009. It's basically Boonen and Chavanel now. I hope Chavanel will own again in the Ronde next year though. If anyone deserves a classic win of those who haven't won one, it's definitely Chavanel.

 

[Kvinto]

Even with his 2011 form and bad luck, Boonen won Gent-Wevelgem. Didn't see Roelandts do anything of the sort.

QST just have a far better cobbled classics squad. In the Ardennes it's different, but Lotto will hardly dominate there.

hey wait, cobbled classics or classics at all? QS is cobbled-oriented for years, it's hard to match them in this case. I just take best classic riders from both sides, and consider what to expect from them. Vanendert and Roelandts don't have the 1/10 results that Boonen has but it's really hard to guess what would Boonen 2012 look like, while i'm a bit tempted to believe that without Gilbert Lotto guys can improve...

 

[nobilis]

I have to say OPQS. Most of Lotto wins would be Greipel's, who i think would be the most prolific winner this year. He has more freedom than when Gilbert was in the team.
As for OPQS, their wins would be much more distributed between different riders. Martin would have many TT wins and maybe some stage races along with many others like Levi and they have Chavanel (he has high hopes for paris nice) and Boonen for the classics, and a number of good sprinters (Ciolek, Chichi, Steegmans...) P. Velits, Kiatkowski might score some wins too. Bottom line, there is muchh more potential for OPQS.

 

[Quixote]

I went with QS just because I like the off season moves, but hey, great question...this will be fun to follow. Anyway, I have a question that kind of fits here. Is Greipel (TDU wins) just showing early season power over other poorly prepared lead-outs and "not in top form" sprinters. Or, is this the real deal who might dominate even when the other teams get their acts together and the headline sprinters are added to the mix?

 

[Jukebox]

I see Lotto having a higher tally of wins, mostly by virtue of the Gorilla. However, OPQS will most likely have the higher quality wins. I think Boonen will return to top form and their prospects for one week races are impressive.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Yes, Boonen returns to form and stomps RSE.

 

[Kvinto]

Yes, Boonen returns to form and stomps ****.

i hope so, it would be absolutely awesome especially if he will win against Cav several times

 

[luckyboy]

How are we referring to Omega Pharma QuickStep for short?

I prefer to call them QuickStep.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

OPaG.........and the poll is really close.

 

[Old School]

I went with QuickStep...because i "think" Boonen will remind everyone that he was once a major threat in all classics he entered...and Martin is for real....and the fact that Lotto only has Greipel.

Who knows...

 

[mewmewmew13]

OPQuickS...

because. more well-rounded imho

 

[Panda Claws]

I went with QS just because I like the off season moves, but hey, great question...this will be fun to follow. Anyway, I have a question that kind of fits here. Is Greipel (TDU wins) just showing early season power over other poorly prepared lead-outs and "not in top form" sprinters. Or, is this the real deal who might dominate even when the other teams get their acts together and the headline sprinters are added to the mix?

Greipel was always very dangerous but seemed to lack a proper lead-out during many occassions last year. Now that Phil is gone Lotto has given Greipel a better lead-out and it shows.

I expect a lot from Greipel this year, let us not forget that he was virtually the only one to beat Cav in a sprint (where cav actually tried) in 2011.

 

[The Hitch]

I honestly cant see past OPQS

possibly the best team in the world.

 

[Ragerod]

Gone with Omega. Greipel will rack up wins but unless he reaches the twenties, and I don't see him doing so, Lotto will lose out.

 

[greenedge]

I think it could go either way but from what Greipel has been doing at the TDU made me inclned to vote for Lotto. However Omega should win some more prestigious races ( the Classics/ a lot of ITT's ). Their squad is also better ( more in depth/ better support for leaders ) with riders i like; Chavanel and Steegmans and then riders like Boonen and Ciolek in my CQ team.

Lotto in my view can win 3 stages in the TDF ( as Sky might have to work for Wiggins and JVDB/ Vanendert should have a crack ) and Greipel has a chance at M-SR and the Olympics ( even though it is natonality based ). JVDB might enjoy a renaissance of his career and place well in a GT. Vanendert in my view can try get another GT stage win and should be co-leader with JVDB at the Ardennes.

 

[roundabout]

OPQ doesn't have da Gorilla but they have a broader team and very good TT riders who can narrow the win deficit because of the lack of a prolific sprinter.

OPQ should win more, but probably not by very much.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I don't see how Lotto will own Omega Pharma on the rankings? It's last year's Lotto without Gilbert, look at how many WT points they had without Gilbert.

agreed. Quickstep to do better.

 

[Ryaguas]

OPQS will own lotto so hard... Tomeke will talke MSR, Flanders, PR and 3 stages in Le Tour, Bottle and Tony will take at least 1 GC each one and Chicchi will win several minors sprints..

 

[the asian]

It will be very close, but I do think Lotto will have more wins because of Greipel.
Op-QS are a better team and will do well in the classics and stage races, but they don't have a top tier sprinter of the Caliber of Greipel, Cav, Pettachi who can rack up the wins. Ciolek won't win too many sprints.

 

[Mondrian]

I am surprised that so many are banking on Boonen - lets face it he has not won much in past couple of years so along with levi we can say that their best years are behind them. Personally I think Chavanel will have a better chance for wins than Boonen, he had a fantastic year in 2011 and if it wasn't for Boonen factor he might have even got a big one or two.

Lotto on the other hand are a team on the way up, it is true they lost Gilbert but cycling is a team sport and Lotto sacrificed a lot for Gilbert so expect them to shine this year when the riders will have more freedom - Griepel is perhaps the 2nd best sprinter in the world but with a better lead-out train than Cav (IMO) so he should bag a few, then there is VDB & Venendert as well as Bart De Clercq who won stage 7 at Giro - other guys who have shown they are capable of winning are Van Leijen, Lars Bak and as already mentioned they have dark horses such as Roelands and the new signing, Sohrabi.

As already mentioned QS has the stronger squad for the cobbled classics but for Tour duty and Ardennes classics Lotto have by far the stronger squad. Dont expect much from Tony Martin at Tdf as he has already said that he wont go for GC and instead concentrate on Olympic ITT. So I don't expect QS to come anywhere near Lotto.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I am surprised that so many are banking on Boonen - lets face it he has not won much in past couple of years so along with levi we can say that their best years are behind them. Personally I think Chavanel will have a better chance for wins than Boonen, he had a fantastic year in 2011 and if it wasn't for Boonen factor he might have even got a big one or two.

Lotto on the other hand are a team on the way up, it is true they lost Gilbert but cycling is a team sport and Lotto sacrificed a lot for Gilbert so expect them to shine this year when the riders will have more freedom - Griepel is perhaps the 2nd best sprinter in the world but with a better lead-out train than Cav (IMO) so he should bag a few, then there is VDB & Venendert as well as Bart De Clercq who won stage 7 at Giro - other guys who have shown they are capable of winning are Van Leijen, Lars Bak and as already mentioned they have dark horses such as Roelands and the new signing, Sohrabi.

As already mentioned QS has the stronger squad for the cobbled classics but for Tour duty and Ardennes classics Lotto have by far the stronger squad. Dont expect much from Tony Martin at Tdf as he has already said that he wont go for GC and instead concentrate on Olympic ITT. So I don't expect QS to come anywhere near Lotto.

Injuries are to blame for that, oh and in 2010 Boonen was extremely strong, shame he bumped in to Freire and Canc though

 

[The Hitch]

As already mentioned QS has the stronger squad for the cobbled classics but for Tour duty and Ardennes classics Lotto have by far the stronger squad. Dont expect much from Tony Martin at Tdf as he has already said that he wont go for GC and instead concentrate on Olympic ITT. So I don't expect QS to come anywhere near Lotto.

OPQS have Velits for the TDF.

 

[theyoungest]

As already mentioned QS has the stronger squad for the cobbled classics but for Tour duty and Ardennes classics Lotto have by far the stronger squad. Dont expect much from Tony Martin at Tdf as he has already said that he wont go for GC and instead concentrate on Olympic ITT. So I don't expect QS to come anywhere near Lotto.

Lotto have by far the strongest squad for the Tour? OPQS will win at least 3 stages (3 time trials), plus they have Velits and Leipheimer for GC. Maybe VDB can get a spot in the lower reaches of the top 10 but is that really worth more than a few stage wins? I don't expect Greipel to suddenly rack up the wins in the Tour.

 

[Ragerod]

As already mentioned QS has the stronger squad for the cobbled classics but for Tour duty and Ardennes classics Lotto have by far the stronger squad. Dont expect much from Tony Martin at Tdf as he has already said that he wont go for GC and instead concentrate on Olympic ITT. So I don't expect QS to come anywhere near Lotto.

There are two ITTs and a prologue, I wouldn't be surprised if he won all three.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Canc will likely win the prologue.