Omloop het Nieuwsblad 2012

[blaxland]

Bs.

Maaskant without anything hindering him is a top 10 cobble rider everywhere

Agreed Maaskant should not be overlooked.just needs some luck.

 

[Swede1]

I think Haussler and Breschel will have good classics seasons. For Omloop though it seems like Boonen will be the favorite.

 

[greenedge]

I think if it comes to a sprint Boonen will win. However he will have to have his teammates there with him ( and they shall probably have to work all day ). If the sprint happens but with a fragmented OPQS train i think one of Haussler/ Breschel shall win. Sutton can also find a good wheel ( if it is chaotic )

Boonen could of course do what he did in Qatar ( with Flecha, Cancellara and Veelers ) and go with the moves of Flecha/ Gilbert, then smoke them in the sprint.
Gilbert/ the rest of BMC ( whoever they ride for ) and Flecha can only win if they attack ( but that is a likely possibility ) since Flecha looks to be in good form.

@El Pistolero: I agree that ( OPQS should use Chavanel since the route is harder than KBK/ they can use him as an attacking option/ he has good Classics pedigree now )

 

[greenedge]

What are you talking about? Garmin doesn't attack

They should more ( they still have quite a nice Classics team ).

Also what do you call stage 16 of the TDF, various stages in the Vuelta ( for Dan Martin ) and of course P-R ( all examples from last year )

 

[greenedge]

I still think it's going to be too soon. Next year he'll get back at his 2010 level I reckon.

Could be wrong though...

The 108 people who chose him for CQ cycling teams disagree with you/ hope not.

 

[greenedge]

Brunyeel simply doesn't care about cobbles or one days races in general. The only reason all these question comes along, is because JB inherited Cancellara as part of the merger. Now he is force to play along with minimum effort and resources.

At least if he makes an open show of supporting Cancellara he can probably get a Classic victory ( his 1st and as a Belgian he cares ) and the points will stay with the team.

 

[greenedge]

Canc dropped Hushov and Ballan eventually, even after pulling them for Km after KM. Hammond is better than any cobbles dom that Radioshack currently have as well.

If only he retained O'Grady.

Rast can help him enough in P-R and hermans should be good in RVV. Popovych might be able to help ( it would be good to see any signs of life from him )

 

[greenedge]

Favorites

***** Boonen
**** Flecha
*** Gilbert, Breschel
** Van Avermaet
* Hushovd, Leukemans, Ballan
So who did I forget?

No Haussler and maybe Boom deserves something as well.

 

[CobbleStoner]

nobody is giving Degenkolb a chance? he seems in really good form and he will have his whole team riding for him, and they know that race well. what are his odds at right now, anybody know?
but I still think Tomeke will take it, or Breschel.
cant wait! the season starts in 4 1/2 hours...

 

[dlwssonic]

FUUUCK IM SO EXCITED!! What time does live coverage start GMT??

 

[Hugo Koblet]

For me the favorites are these:

*****: Boonen
****: Flecha, Gilbert
***: Breschel, Avermaet, Haussler
**: Degenkolb, Leukemans, Hushovd
*: Boom, Chavanel, Ballan

I agree with Pistolero that Chavanel could do well. In fact he would be one I would put my money on.

I also hope that De Gendt can surprise.

But most of all I hope that Vanmarcke puts on a good show today.

 

[UselessToo]

Black horses - Navardauskas and De Gendt

 

[Kvinto]

But most of all I hope that Vanmarcke puts on a good show today.

I have read his interview recently, and he said he has only Algarve in his legs to date because... he wants to be in top shape untill RVV (if i'm not mistaken he described that period as 'around GV-RVV weeks' or so)

 

[LaFlorecita]

didn't see it here.kasseien...love that word.

Lol. It sounds weird. That's why I always say "stones" or "bad road".

 

[online-rider]

For me the favorites are these:

*****: Boonen
****: Flecha, Gilbert
***: Breschel, Avermaet, Haussler
**: Degenkolb, Leukemans, Hushovd
*: Boom, Chavanel, Ballan

I agree with Pistolero that Chavanel could do well. In fact he would be one I would put my money on.

I also hope that De Gendt can surprise.

But most of all I hope that Vanmarcke puts on a good show today.

Can Griepel not win this race?

 

[online-rider]

Can Griepel not win this race?

Oops my bad. I got my races crossed

 

[ferryman]

FUUUCK IM SO EXCITED!! What time does live coverage start GMT??

I must show my other half this post I know she thinks I'm a freak I get so excited about 'some guys on bikes' Working on it though

 

[search]

from today's print issue of Het Nieuwsblad:

***** Boonen / Gilbert
**** Flecha / Chavanel / van Avermaet
*** Hushovd / Breschel / van Summeren
** Hoste / Leukemans / Haussler / Devolder
* Langeveld / Scheirlinckx / Bak

 

[LaFlorecita]

from today's print issue of Het Nieuwsblad:

***** Boonen / Gilbert
**** Flecha / Chavanel / van Avermaet
*** Hushovd / Breschel / van Summeren
** Hoste / Leukemans / Haussler / Devolder
* Langeveld / Scheirlinckx / Bak

Gilbert 5? I'd give him 3 stars max.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Gilbert 5? I'd give him 3 stars max.

Especially now he no longer has the confidence boost of being best on the hills.

 

[Panda Claws]

Nieuwsblad rating system sucks.

They sometimes work with a max. 3-star system, and they gave Van Avermaet 2 stars for Lombardia on that one.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Nieuwsblad is Belgian, promoting its own race and hoping for a Belgian national hero to win

so its pretty natural that it is going to rate Boonen and Gilbert as 5*

 

[El Pistolero]

Especially now he no longer has the confidence boost of being best on the hills.

Yup, like Cavendish no longer has the confidence boost of being the best in sprints anymore

 

[El Pistolero]

Nieuwsblad rating system sucks.

They sometimes work with a max. 3-star system, and they gave Van Avermaet 2 stars for Lombardia on that one.

A Belgian newspaper hyping a Belgian cyclist, who just won Paris-Tours and got second in Piemonte, you don't say?

 

[Panda Claws]

Well, there is really 2 ways to look at it.

You could say that Gilbert hasn't really shown anything yet and thus shouldn't be a favourite.


But on the other hand he seems to be in pretty much the same condition as the last 2 years he won it.