P.G.

[Andre.J]

Can Gilbert one day win Flanders? He is getting stronger every year.

Andre

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, especially if the finish changes next year. At least, I hope it does.

 

[Parrulo]

what kind of finish will it be?

also even with this route he can do it if he works on his endurance imo

 

[hrotha]

Look at it this way - is Nuyens better than Gilbert?

 

[El Pistolero]

Look at it this way - is Nuyens better than Gilbert?

Mind you, Nuyens is pretty talented. He has a vo2max of 81.

 

[The Hitch]

He can but I dont think he will.

If he peaks for it though i think hed have a great chance. Not the best on the flat though. And people treat him as the favourite which means they mark him which doenst help him either.

If he wins LBL this year though, he might focus more on RVV next year.

 

[El Pistolero]

He can but I dont think he will.

If he peaks for it though i think hed have a great chance. Not the best on the flat though. And people treat him as the favourite which means they mark him which doenst help him either.

If he wins LBL this year though, he might focus more on RVV next year.

He'd rather win LBL 2 times than 1 time RVV and 1 time LBL.

 

[maltiv]

Mind you, Nuyens is pretty talented. He has a vo2max of 81.

Isn't that quite low?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gilbert isn't going to win this unless they plant the finish at de Muur or one of the other small hills. And if Onowefailalot-Lotto can keep it together

 

[maltiv]

I'm pretty sure he would have won this year if he didn't waste his energy attacking whilst in a group where he was the strongest sprinter by far.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm pretty sure he would have won this year if he didn't waste his energy attacking whilst in a group where he was the strongest sprinter by far.

Wasnt Boonen in that group when Gilbert attacked? I think he was.

But even if he wasnt, who was going to keep that group away from Boonens one?

 

[la.margna]

of course he can win it. but will he?
as we have learned from years, it's not just about being the or one of the strongest. a lot of luck is also needed.
but the route change from next year on, might improve his chances.

In 2012 the final ascent will be Geraardsbergen. The Koppenberg will be about 50km from the finish and riders will hit the Old Kwaremont at 12 km from the finish.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

of course he can win it. but will he?

Bingo.

An equal question, as mentioned, is if he's going to spend the energy trying to win it, potentially sacrificing a more likely win elsewhere.

 

[palmerq]

Has the date for the 2012 tour of flanders been decided yet? I want to go so I am trying to plan in advance..

btw this isn't off topic, dont tell the mods :S

 

[El Pistolero]

Wasnt Boonen in that group when Gilbert attacked? I think he was.

But even if he wasnt, who was going to keep that group away from Boonens one?

If Ballan and Gilbert would have worked together after the Molenberg things could have looked very differently.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Isn't that quite low?

don't say that to liggett or armstrong

 

[El Pistolero]

Isn't that quite low?

Miguel Indurain had like 88.8 or something. So, it's pretty good actually. Armstrong was around 84.

Professional athletes average around 70 or so.

 

[ergmonkey]

Gilbert has a better sprint than he seems to be getting credit for here. He's not Boonen-level, but he routinely scores Top 10s in stage race sprints when he's motivated to go after points or early gc time. There are plenty of small groups from which Gilbert could win a Flanders sprint. He could certainly outsprint: Ballan, Devolder, Hoste. It wouldn't be outrageous for him to outkick: Pozzato, Cancellara.

 

[hrotha]

Mind you, Nuyens is pretty talented. He has a vo2max of 81.

Good for him. My bad, I was trying to say Gilbert is better but somehow must have said Nuyens sucks in the process.

 

[El Pistolero]

Good for him. My bed, I was trying to say Gilbert is better but somehow must have said Nuyens sucks in the process.

At this kind of race I wouldn't know who's better, Gilbert or Nuyens. Of course Gilbert is the better cyclist, but this is just one race and perhaps it's better suited to Nuyens than it is to Gilbert.

 

[greenedge]

did anyone read about how he was 4 seconds quicker than Cancellara, on the hill, where Spartacus last yr rode away from Boonen

 

[Willy_Voet]

did anyone read about how he was 4 seconds quicker than Cancellara, on the hill, where Spartacus last yr rode away from Boonen

Time to take this to the Clinic...Cancellara was using a motor last year, didn't you hear?

 

[ergmonkey]

did anyone read about how he was 4 seconds quicker than Cancellara, on the hill, where Spartacus last yr rode away from Boonen

Yeah, that's impressive but not ridiculous.

Last year Boonen and Cancellara were riding hard away from the field in the lead-up to the Muur after attacking out of the group on the previous hill. Then, Cancellara's acceleration only came about two-thirds of the way up the climb.

This year, on the other hand, Gilbert had not been off the front before the climb, and then he drilled it from the very bottom. With two exceptional riders, it makes sense that Gilbert's approach this year would be faster up the hill.