Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2013, 23 Feb, (198 km) 1.HC

[Miburo]

Boom is in good form, but still not entirely convinced on the cobbles. we'll see.
what time does coverage start on Saturday?

He was there in paris-roubaix though last year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Boom is in good form, but still not entirely convinced on the cobbles. we'll see.
what time does coverage start on Saturday?

sorry, what?

 

[Viking]

what time does coverage start on Saturday?

Looks like the Sporza coverage starts at 14:00 CET.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Boom is in good form, but still not entirely convinced on the cobbles. we'll see.
what time does coverage start on Saturday?

Boom is podium material for sure.

 

[Pentacycle]

Boom is in good form, but still not entirely convinced on the cobbles. we'll see.
what time does coverage start on Saturday?

Imagine this, just with different colors. Vanmarcke, Boom, Wynants and Martens TT away from the field, then it's up to the DS to decide who wins.

On a more serious note, Roelandts made himself look like a climber in the Tour Med. He has to win this now with his seemingly close to peak form, and he doesn't even have to attack to do so. It's time he proves he can indeed step up to the level of the big classics contenders.

Boonen will probably end up 3 mins. behind, together with Hushovd. Tbh it's a lottery at this point. Who suspected last year Vanmarcke was already in such good shape? Some riders may have been trying to hide their true strength...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Looks like the Sporza coverage starts at 14:00 CET.

so about 2 1/2 h live coverage somewhere.

 

[Pentacycle]

sorry, what?

He's still somewhat unproven on cobbled hills. When has he ever ridden with the big guys in a spring classic like that?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Imagine this, just with different colors. Vanmarcke, Boom, Wynants and Martens TT away from the field, then it's up to the DS to decide who wins.

On a more serious note, Roelandts made himself look like a climber in the Tour Med. He has to win this now with his seemingly close to peak form, and he doesn't even have to attack to do so. It's time he proves he can indeed step up to the level of the big classics contenders.

Boonen will probably end up 3 mins. behind, together with Hushovd. Tbh it's a lottery at this point. Who suspected last year Vanmarcke was already in such good shape? Some riders may have been trying to hide their true strength...

Hushovd will not soft peddle here. He needs to hammer his authority on the team selection for P-R at this point.

 

[serfla]

Hushovd will not soft peddle here. He needs to hammer his authority on the team selection for P-R at this point.

I'm sure P-R leadership was part of the contract with BMC. Won't be a factor on Saturday, I think.

 

[Pentacycle]

I'm sure P-R leadership was part of the contract with BMC. Won't be a factor on Saturday, I think.

Yeah even last year he was leader there, despite complete lack of results.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He's still somewhat unproven on cobbled hills. When has he ever ridden with the big guys in a spring classic like that?

Did you completely miss Paris Roubaix last 2 years? The guy has proven to be extremely fast on cobble sections. Only Boonen and Cancellara are outer class (in top form). He can handle anyone else

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I'm sure P-R leadership was part of the contract with BMC. Won't be a factor on Saturday, I think.

Hushovd is starting to be less of an asset to BMC compared to Phinney. I don't think Rhis cares two cent about the finer details of Hushovd's contract if he can't deliver this year.

 

[gerundium]

He's still somewhat unproven on cobbled hills. When has he ever ridden with the big guys in a spring classic like that?

last year P-R he looked pretty strong.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

last year P-R he looked pretty strong.

you mean the Arenberg hills?

 

[Pentacycle]

Did you completely miss Paris Roubaix last 2 years? The guy has proven to be extremely fast on cobble sections. Only Boonen and Cancellara are outer class (in top form). He can handle anyone else

In PR he's already proven his class, but I clearly said cobbled hills, not just cobbles. He rode well in ENECO last year, but what has he ever done in the Flemish Ardennes in the spring? I can't remember him ever riding with the best there.

 

[serfla]

Hushovd is starting to be less of an asset to BMC compared to Phinney. I don't think Rhis cares two cent about the finer details of Hushovd's contract if he can't deliver this year.

Phinney still has to prove himself.
No doubt the team will work for Hushovd in P-R. Phinney may just be freed of duties if opportunity arises.
That's how I see the things.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He did well in the E3 Prijs cobbled hills ,especially oude kwaremont, two times.

The edition Cancellara won so easily (in the end) he almost closed the gap to Cancellara, but when they turned to the asphalt he lost it again

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Phinney still has to prove himself.
No doubt the team will work for Hushovd in P-R. Phinney may just be freed of duties if opportunity arises.
That's how I see the things.

Yes, Phinney is unproven in P-R, but more valuable PR wise for BMC, a company that likes the US market. You can spin the story for a few years, even without results. Thats how I see it. Now we will see reality on Saturday.

 

[serfla]

Yes, Phinney is unproven in P-R, but more valuable PR wise for BMC, a company that likes the US market. You can spin the story for a few years, even without results. Thats how I see it. Now we will see reality on Saturday.

I doubt we'll see anything relevant for P-R on Saturday.

 

[Pentacycle]

He did well in the E3 Prijs cobbled hills ,especially oude kwaremont, two times.

The edition Cancellara won so easily (in the end) he almost closed the gap to Cancellara, but when they turned to the asphalt he lost it again

Yeah, indeed. I always figured the Kwaremont would suit him. It's almost like a French pavé on a hill, a climb for rouleurs. But this year he seems to be climbing very well compared to last year, so he could improve massively on his previous results in Flanders.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I doubt we'll see anything relevant for P-R on Saturday.

Well, Boonen is riding with one arm and Cancellara is sitting at home eating some concoction of melted cheese so yes, there will be bigger players at P-R. Still I would not discount the "youngsters" here.

 

[serfla]

Well, Boonen is riding with one arm and Cancellara is sitting at home eating some concoction of melted cheese so yes, there will be bigger players at P-R. Still I would not discount the "youngsters" here.

I meant more about Omloop as an indicator for P-R selection than the bigger players you're talking about.
Omloop is great race for every up-and-coming rider. It has always been.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I meant more about Omloop as an indicator for P-R selection than the bigger players you're talking about.
Omloop is great race for every up-and-coming rider. It has always been.

Lets just hope we get to see the action somehow. I know TV production is done and frankly thats the hard part.

 

[serfla]

Lets just hope we get to see the action somehow. I know TV production is done and frankly thats the hard part.

I'll rely on links posted here hoping they won't be restricted.
Racing in Flanders is something I truly adore.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah, indeed. I always figured the Kwaremont would suit him. It's almost like a French pavé on a hill, a climb for rouleurs. But this year he seems to be climbing very well compared to last year, so he could improve massively on his previous results in Flanders.

The biggest issue Boom has is that he often doesn't "keep going" ... he has a spectacular acceleration but then falls still. I think this year it's better though, considering he also won a longer time trial already. Thats something new