Omloop Het (Volk) Nieuwsblad - Feb 26th 2011

[boomcie]

I'm going to throw the following names:

*Edvald Boasson Hagen
*Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni
*Stijn Devolder
*Philippe Gilbert
*Tom Boonen

Is this one of those "who does not belong on this list" games? Cause then I'm pretty sure the answer is: Devolder.

Seriously though, Devolder does not seem in great shape to me, also he races till thursday in Spain and starts in Belgium on saturday. But you never know with that guy.

 

[hfer07]

Is this one of those "who does not belong on this list" games? Cause then I'm pretty sure the answer is: Devolder.

Seriously though, Devolder does not seem in great shape to me, also he races till thursday in Spain and starts in Belgium on saturday. But you never know with that guy.

honestly I put him on the list, since Vacansoleil is in need to redeem their name with some quality win & maybe he can pull it off

 

[will10]

Devolder and Leukemans will definitely be up there, could be a powerful duo for the semi-classics and Flanders/Roubaix

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Is this one of those "who does not belong on this list" games? Cause then I'm pretty sure the answer is: Devolder.

Seriously though, Devolder does not seem in great shape to me, also he races till thursday in Spain and starts in Belgium on saturday. But you never know with that guy.

Why not? Seems to be doing really good in spain?

 

[boomcie]

Why not? Seems to be doing really good in spain?

Tell me more? TT was bad. Good indicator of his shape I believe. 4th place in first stage did not mean an awful lot IMO.
We'll see.

 

[auscyclefan94]

has he actually won a race?

erm no and he wont win AGR

3 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
8 Ronde van Vlaanderen
4 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
5 World Championships (Melbourne - Geelong) R.R.

There are other results but it is well known that Greg is a decent climber who can sprint. If you look at his form in the worlds he worked and worked and worked on the front for gilbert of what was a tough course and still finished 5th.

We will see but I think he is a good chance in AGR.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Amstel might be good for him, but Fleche and Liege? I don't see it.

That said, he was probably the strongest in that Ardennes stage in the Tour of Belgium, so who knows.

But the Ardennes stage of the Tour of Belgium isn't really a reference. Even Cavendish would have a shot.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Why not? Seems to be doing really good in spain?

Where he turned into a bunch sprinter!?
This is weird Devolder behaviour. He normally stays incognito untill the TT of the Driedaagse De Panne.

Devolder & Het Volk; I would get my hopes up too high.

 

[theyoungest]

But the Ardennes stage of the Tour of Belgium isn't really a reference. Even Cavendish would have a shot.

Did you even watch it? That was serious (and very entertaining) racing. And no, Cav would have had no chance in hell of winning that one.

I hope you don't think Bakelants is a talent for the Ardennes races, because he couldn't hold Boom's wheel there.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Did you even watch it? That was serious (and very entertaining) racing. And no, Cav would have had no chance in hell of winning that one.

I hope you don't think Bakelants is a talent for the Ardennes races, because he couldn't hold Boom's wheel there.

Yes I did and I enjoyed it. OK, maybe I exagerated a little but I only meant the quality of the field wasn't that high. Which is perfectly illustrated by the (large) number of Belgians in the top-10. And the parcours was no LBL either.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes I did and I enjoyed it. OK, maybe I exagerated a little but I only meant the quality of the field wasn't that high. Which is perfectly illustrated by the (large) number of Belgians in the top-10. And the parcours was no LBL either.

There were mostly Ardennes riders in the front group. And not the worst ones either. De Waele, Moerenhout, Van Avermaet, Dekker... and Niels Albert who will definitely be a climber if he ever switches to road.

Anyway, like I said, I don't think Boom is cut out for LBL either. I can't see him following Andy Schleck up the Roche aux Faucons

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But the Ardennes stage of the Tour of Belgium isn't really a reference. Even Cavendish would have a shot.

That's a bit of a huge lie.

I mean, if you actually saw that stage, you know Cavendish would finish lightyears behind.At least 15 minutes+

 

[theyoungest]

That's a bit of a huge lie.

I mean, if you actually saw that stage, you know Cavendish would finish lightyears behind.At least 15 minutes+

What part of "I exaggerated a little" don't you understand?

 

[il_fiammingo]

Is anybody going to see the race in real life?

 

[Big_Blue_Dave]

I dont know. No Canc, no Ballan no Haussler. No Sagan

Great but could be better.

Also, wtf are Aqua e Sapone doing there? Betancourts listed as their leader. Can he do something here ?

They are listed in alphabetical order as tends to be the case when teams do one day races, unless they want to show who really is the leader for the race.

 

[sublimit]

Bte365 have Boonen as favourite..

Boonen 5.5
Gilbert 6.5
Hagen 7.5
Fecha 12
Pozzato 14
Van Avermaet 19
Hushovd 21
Boom 26
Devolder 41
Voekler 41
Terpstra 51

Boom at 26!? maybe good value as an outsider..

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Albert bigger build? You joking? Have you even seen the guy?

albert is 182 and 68 kg. They may be on par a bit but still.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Roger Hammond

that's a good one although with 167 and 71 kg there's little chance of becoming anything good uphill.

also he is one of few who have made big transtion. because most cyclo cross riders have problems with 200 km but hammond learned to increase his engine big time and the longer the race the stronger he is. boom may hope to achieve the same

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Amstel might be good for him, but Fleche and Liege? I don't see it.

That said, he was probably the strongest in that Ardennes stage in the Tour of Belgium, so who knows.

he needs to increase his engine and endurance for long races but I actuallys e ehim more in lbl than agr as it's longer climbs and less after each other and less technical. boom is good steerer but less of a wringer(??) in big group also his stage wins in circuito montanes prooved how good he is in longer climbs.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

And what skill do you need to climb up a short steep cobbled climb? Explosive climbing with a bit of bike skill????????? Have you any idea of the types of climbs and the differences between the Ardennes and Flanders?

With his current power to weight Boom is clearly more suited to Flanders!

you don't need bike skills to ride on cobbles, you only need bike skills to steer and wring in a peloton, something cyclo crossers aren't used to as there is no peloton in cyclo cross.

 

[theyoungest]

he needs to increase his engine and endurance for long races but I actuallys e ehim more in lbl than agr as it's longer climbs and less after each other and less technical. boom is good steerer but less of a wringer(??) in big group also his stage wins in circuito montanes prooved how good he is in longer climbs.

Boom needs short climbs in quick succession, not long uphill slogs. I know he used to be on par with Andy Schleck as a climber when he was younger, but it seems his physique has developed differently. And contrary to what you say, he's very good at positioning himself in the peloton, just look at last year's cobbled classics. Always in front, that is until his engine blew up.

Niels Albert has the build of a hilly classics rider/climber. He's 10 kilos lighter than Boom!

 

[L'arriviste]

Is anybody going to see the race in real life?

Yeah, I'm going again this year. Last year, I did the Muur and the Molenberg. This year, I'm not really sure. G'bergen will now be reduced to even less of a footnote with only the Guilleminlaan.

I was thinking of going to the Haaghoek cobbled section near Sint Maria Horebeke because it's part of the three little laps, so three times the fun. But I don't really know. Part of me wants to be able to get home in time for the finish too. I don't know most of the bergs on this parcours.

Any suggestions?

 

[il_fiammingo]

you don't need bike skills to ride on cobbles, you only need bike skills to steer and wring in a peloton, something cyclo crossers aren't used to as there is no peloton in cyclo cross.

Ever ridden on cobbles? You certainly need a specific technique, you know. You gotta ride the bike with your lower back.

Cyclo crossers do ride enough road races during off-season. Riding in a peloton is no trouble at all for them.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Yeah, I'm going again this year. Last year, I did the Muur and the Molenberg. This year, I'm not really sure. G'bergen will now be reduced to even less of a footnote with only the Guilleminlaan.

I was thinking of going to the Haaghoek cobbled section near Sint Maria Horebeke because it's part of the three little laps, so three times the fun. But I don't really know. Part of me wants to be able to get home in time for the finish too. I don't know most of the bergs on this parcours.

Any suggestions?

The Haaghoek is excellent. But don't take my spot over there!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Boom needs short climbs in quick succession, not long uphill slogs. I know he used to be on par with Andy Schleck as a climber when he was younger, but it seems his physique has developed differently. And contrary to what you say, he's very good at positioning himself in the peloton, just look at last year's cobbled classics. Always in front, that is until his engine blew up.

Niels Albert has the build of a hilly classics rider/climber. He's 10 kilos lighter than Boom!

he is also 10 cm smaller. albert is 182 x 68 that isn't pure climber build. frank schleck is 186x65