Omloop Het (Volk) Nieuwsblad - Feb 26th 2011

[FignonLeGrand]

boom isn't cut out for cobbles. hope he realizes that soon and goes for hilly races

He is tall, powerful, strong and hard as nails.

Why not cut out for the cobbles?

 

[FignonLeGrand]

Amstel is pretty much decided from a sprint on the cauberg and you generally get a reasonably sized group that will go to the finish. van avermaet can and will out sprint Gilbert and van avermaet has really worked on his climbing so he can win hilly classics such as Amstel.

getting back on topic. van avermaet has decent form atm so he could do well. But I will go with EBH in this race.

Good to see Will Clarke will get a chance to lead Leopard Trek in a classics race. He is a cobbled guy for the future.

Van Avermaet was second rate at best and seems to have gone backwards in recent times, he will never win a classic

 

[Ryaguas]

Van Avermaet was second rate at best and seems to have gone backwards in recent times, he will never win a classic

Ehhhhh... error... bad post... I better disappear before ACF shows up here...

 

[boomcie]

Van Avermaet was second rate at best and seems to have gone backwards in recent times, he will never win a classic

The actual capacities of Van Avermaet are hard to pin down. He showed a lot of promise at first, but he has indeed been struggling to confirm his talent. I think this year might be his last chance to prove himself as a team leader.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He is tall, powerful, strong and hard as nails.

Why not cut out for the cobbles?

because he comes from cyclo cross, they are explosive sprinter/climber types, even heavy build guys like sven nys never really excelled in cobbles despite trying it many times but he did win stages over the mur de huy in tour of belgium. in u23 and juniors boom was also a climber itt guy and no good on cobbles at all.

 

[boomcie]

because he comes from cyclo cross, they are explosive sprinter/climber types, even heavy build guys like sven nys never really excelled in cobbles despite trying it many times but he did win stages over the mur de huy in tour of belgium. in u23 and juniors boom was also a climber itt guy and no good on cobbles at all.

Yeah right, Roger De Vlaeminck also sucked on cobbles...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yeah right, Roger De Vlaeminck also sucked on cobbles...

yeah what a great comparision, someone from the 60s when there was no specialisation in cycling at all we are talking here about modern cycling

 

[boomcie]

yeah what a great comparision, someone from the 60s when there was no specialisation in cycling at all we are talking here about modern cycling

Still, what you are saying is total nonsense. How can you exclude all cyclo cross riders from being able to perform on the cobbles? That is just ***.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Langeveld didn't perform well last year so I really hope he will be back at the top this year else I'm afraid he just doesn't cut it.

Did you follow his results this year so far?

5th and 4th in Mallorca, not outside the top 25 in Algarve in every stage finishing the race as 13rd... He's in way better shape than last year when he had knee problems (don't forget)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Still, what you are saying is total nonsense. How can you exclude all cyclo cross riders from being able to perform on the cobbles? That is just ***.

ok then name me one cyclo cross rider good on cobbles??

hell even someone like niels albert is a way better climber than cobble guy not to mention guys like gadret and mourey although they are smaller the principle is the same. guys like nys and albert are bigger build then boom and also excell on asphalt hills and not on cobbles

 

[kurtinsc]

ok then name me one cyclo cross rider good on cobbles??

hell even someone like niels albert is a way better climber than cobble guy not to mention guys like gadret and mourey although they are smaller the principle is the same. guys like nys and albert are bigger build then boom and also excell on asphalt hills and not on cobbles

Adri van der Poel?

3rd in P-R... though he became a cyclocross guy after that I guess.

Enrico Franzoi was a top cyclo-cross guy who finished 8th in P-R.

Sagan has also shown some potential in the cobbles after some cyclo cross success.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Boom?!

IMO, he should be Rabo's n°1 next Saturday. For some reason I don't understand much of the Boom hype that is going on for a year and a half now. In this type of races Langeveld has proven his value.

Agreed, in terms of sprinting EBH & Gilbert have the better chances. But besides that, I would give him great odds.

Because the Boom hype is for real! In his element, Boom is clearly better than the rest of the world. In some technical conditions he is not fast. Big wins on the road is possible for Mr. Boom.

Spring Classics are a different game. Boom will be riding against more experienced roadies too. It also depends on what team orders are for the day. It would be nice for another 'crosser to do well at a monument or two.

Put me down for Gilbert and Boom in the top-5. Crazy? Sure.

 

[boomcie]

guys like nys and albert are bigger build then boom and also excell on asphalt hills and not on cobbles

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

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I'd like to see how Wynants does, would like to see him lead rabobank

 

[Michielveedeebee]

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

I guess not Albert's the smallest guy ever

 

[theyoungest]

boom isn't cut out for cobbles. hope he realizes that soon and goes for hilly races

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.

 

[mc_mountain]

Interested to see how Blythe will go in support of Gilbert.

 

[simo1733]

ok then name me one cyclo cross rider good on cobbles??

hell even someone like niels albert is a way better climber than cobble guy not to mention guys like gadret and mourey although they are smaller the principle is the same. guys like nys and albert are bigger build then boom and also excell on asphalt hills and not on cobbles

Roger Hammond

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'd like to see how Wynants does, would like to see him lead rabobank

Yes and that's as likely to happen as Terpstra leading Quick Step.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

because he comes from cyclo cross, they are explosive sprinter/climber types, even heavy build guys like sven nys never really excelled in cobbles despite trying it many times but he did win stages over the mur de huy in tour of belgium. in u23 and juniors boom was also a climber itt guy and no good on cobbles at all.

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!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Van Avermaet was second rate at best and seems to have gone backwards in recent times, he will never win a classic

-He's only 25 or 26.
-He's showed a lot of promise
-He has had two bad years like others have
-He is looking super lean and very fit.

He WILL win Amstel this year. Could possibly feature this weekend as well

 

[FignonLeGrand]

-He's only 25 or 26.
-He's showed a lot of promise
-He has had two bad years like others have
-He is looking super lean and very fit.

He WILL win Amstel this year. Could possibly feature this weekend as well

has he actually won a race?

erm no and he wont win AGR

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Van Avermaet actually won a Vuelta stage on a hard hilly course with Rebellin in the group, and also won the Points classification of said Vuelta.

 

[FignonLeGrand]

Van Avermaet actually won a Vuelta stage on a hard hilly course with Rebellin in the group, and also won the Points classification of said Vuelta.

yeah fair enough, he also won Heistse Pijl. None of that though really indicates he is going to walk away with one of the most competitive one day races in Europe. I just don't see it, but we will have to wait a few weeks to see. Cant wait!

 

[hfer07]

I'm going to throw the following names:

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