Poll - who will win Ronde van Vlaanderen 2014?

[Amsterdam]

Sagan is ready to take his first monument. I can't see another rider than Sagan en Cancellara winning this race. Maybe Boonen in topform, but I doubt he is..

 

[Volderke]

Facts can help in this discussion, especially for David Williams.

Climbing times of Kwaremont in E3:
N Terpstra, G Thomas, J. Degenkolb: 4:33
F Cancellara, Z Stybar, S Devolder: SAME TIME (after chasing back +1 minute for kms from before Paterberg)
P Sagan: +4 s (because he didn't want to drag too much riders rather than not been able to follow it seemed)

For what it is worth:
RVV 2013
P Sagan, F Cancellara: 4:20

 

[scholar]

I can't seriously tell whether you're trolling or not.

It doesn't matter whether or not he's trolling. Even if he's serious, he's functionally equivalent to a troll.

(He's not as good a troll as 'ianstannard' was. I don't know if it's just that the same person has adopted a less intelligent persona, or if it's someone else.)

 

[Flamin]

How can you make a poll with Degenkolb, Stybar, Van Avermaet and Thomas but without Devolder?
= 2-times winner and super-lieutenant versus some top 10s in Flanders...

Pretty worthless poll then, if you ask me. :roll eyes:

beginner's advise if you don't know what should go in: Check some betting polls before you make a poll.

Oh look, a Devolder fanboy arising out of nowhere

Who cares about 2008 and 2009? I guess Nuyens should be in this poll as well then? Now please show me what results he has achieved ever since that makes him such an obvious pick?

And lol at your 'advise'

 

[rainman]

What's the logic behind that? Last year he had like 5 seconds at the top of Paterberg and won by 1 and a half minute.

Yes he has the power to do that again. But if Boonen, Stybar, Terpstra and Vandenbergh are still in contention it could be too much for Cance this time.

 

[Bushman]

Sure bike handling is a factor but having the power is a much bigger one.
Cancellara always rode away for everybody because the opposition was weak. This time he will have to face a rider who ride hill faster than him i just can't wait to see him failing big time.

Thomas is clearly better than Boonen or Gilbert some years ago, right.

 

[Volderke]

Oh look, a Devolder fanboy arising out of nowhere

Who cares about 2008 and 2009? I guess Nuyens should be in this poll as well then? Now please show me what results he has achieved ever since that makes him such an obvious pick?

And lol at your 'advise'

Nuyens was ill, he won't be a contender. But just look at some pathetic choices in your poll. Check the odds on betting sites:
1. Canc*
2. Sagan*
3. Boonen*
4. Vanmarcke*
5. Stybar*
6. Devolder
7. Terpstra*
8. Thomas*
9. GvA*
10. Degenkolb*

The ones with a * are in the poll. Devolder is not in there and that's a shame. I will explain why: Devolder had problems with his thyroid the last couple of years and couldn't perform as he used to. Last year, he made his come-back at the RVV and the Belgium Championschip. Check his winning attack in La Roche on a hilly L-B-L parcours: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/2.22611/MF_130623_BK_La_Roche_verslag ).

Devolder is one of few in the peloton that can go solo from far out (in this list, only Cancellara can do that better). The whole peloton and all cycling journalists are talking about the resurrection of Devolder and you manage to ignore him, but still put Degenkolb and GvA in this poll. But I'll be happy guys like you keep ignoring, as Devolder will perform best when most underestimate him.

 

[Netserk]

Oh look, a Devolder fanboy arising out of nowhere

Who cares about 2008 and 2009? I guess Nuyens should be in this poll as well then? Now please show me what results he has achieved ever since that makes him such an obvious pick?

And lol at your 'advise'

Did you see either of E3 or GW? It's obvious Devolder is in form, and he has showed before that he knows how to get a win. He's a much, much, much more likely winner than Thomas or Van Avermaet.

 

[Flamin]

Nuyens was ill, he won't be a contender. But just look at some pathetic choices in your poll. Check the odds on betting sites:
1. Canc*
2. Sagan*
3. Boonen*
4. Vanmarcke*
5. Stybar*
6. Devolder
7. Terpstra*
8. Thomas*
9. GvA*
10. Degenkolb*

The ones with a * are in the poll. Devolder is not in there and that's a shame. I will explain why: Devolder had problems with his thyroid the last couple of years and couldn't perform as he used to. Last year, he made his come-back at the RVV and the Belgium Championschip. Check his winning attack in La Roche on a hilly L-B-L parcours: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/2.22611/MF_130623_BK_La_Roche_verslag ).

Devolder is one of few in the peloton that can go solo from far out (in this list, only Cancellara can do that better). The whole peloton and all cycling journalists are talking about the resurrection of Devolder and you manage to ignore him, but still put Degenkolb and GvA in this poll. But I'll be happy guys like you keep ignoring, as Devolder will perform best when most underestimate him.

I don't check betting sites and I don't care about them.

Take a chill pill. You act like I left out freaking Cancellara. For the record, Devolder is a domestique in the first place. GVA and Degenkolb are leaders. That's why I gave them the edge. And before you say, so are Stybar and Terpstra. No they're not. Not in the same category as Devolder at least.

 

[Flamin]

Did you see either of E3 or GW? It's obvious Devolder is in form, and he has showed before that he knows how to get a win. He's a much, much, much more likely winner than Thomas or Van Avermaet.

Disagree with the last sentence. If he was still with OPQS maybe, but right now, I can't think of any possible race situation where Devolder would have a bigger chance than Thomas or GVA.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

No way he can make a gap on a climb this year. He has to Face Geraint "#$$#%%3 Thomas, not Tom Boonen

Yeah sure, but I thought we were discussing who will finish second as Thomas will obviously win by two hours.

 

[Winterfold]

Someone up the road from the second tier will win this I reckon, favourites to mark themselves out of it

 

[webbie146]

No way he can make a gap on a climb this year. He has to Face Geraint "#$$#%%3 Thomas, not Tom Boonen

Are u the guy asking things like 'What is cycling?' and 'can Froome beat Cav in the sprint?' but with a different account?

 

[David_William]

Problem with Devolder is that Trek won't make good use of him, which is sad since they could win the race two ways...

 

[SafeBet]

Nuyens was ill, he won't be a contender. But just look at some pathetic choices in your poll. Check the odds on betting sites:
1. Canc*
2. Sagan*
3. Boonen*
4. Vanmarcke*
5. Stybar*
6. Devolder
7. Terpstra*
8. Thomas*
9. GvA*
10. Degenkolb*

The ones with a * are in the poll.

So you tell him he made some pathetic choices. Then you proceed to show he included in the poll 9 out of 10 of the most favorite riders according to an unspecified betting site. The same betting site which, according to you, should be used as the ultimate guide on how to make polls on a cycling forum.

All of this in order to prove Devolder needed to be in this poll? Seriously, who cares?

 

[Samson777]

Problem with Devolder is that Trek won't make good use of him, which is sad since they could win the race two ways...

Treks problem is they don't have that strong a squad overall, if they had a quick step squad they could send Devolder out, for sure. But as it is, Devolder is way to important for Cancellara, I would asume.

 

[Volderke]

@ safebet (what's in a name?): Degenkolb and GvA are poor bets and poor poll choices.

About Devolder: with Boonen and Vanmarcke, he is our best chance winning. And he is a RVV legend, on a totally different level than guys who can only dream of a podium in, arguably, the biggest one day race in the world.
Isn't it ironic that you don't seem to care about Devolder, but still you are waisting your time on this forum? I guess you are not the only wanna-be here.

@ Flamin: good you don't trust betting sites, but if you are so much better, I advise you to make some bets, as you will outsmart the betting agencies and make a lot of money (irony).

 

[wayahead]

I'd like to see Sagan win, but Cancellara is still the biggest favourite for me, so opted for him.

To be poll's favourite is like kiss of death this spring anyway. Sorry, Fabian.

 

[barmaher]

Nuyens was ill, he won't be a contender. But just look at some pathetic choices in your poll. Check the odds on betting sites:
1. Canc*
2. Sagan*
3. Boonen*
4. Vanmarcke*
5. Stybar*
6. Devolder
7. Terpstra*
8. Thomas*
9. GvA*
10. Degenkolb*

The ones with a * are in the poll. Devolder is not in there and that's a shame. I will explain why: Devolder had problems with his thyroid the last couple of years and couldn't perform as he used to. Last year, he made his come-back at the RVV and the Belgium Championschip. Check his winning attack in La Roche on a hilly L-B-L parcours: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/2.22611/MF_130623_BK_La_Roche_verslag ).

Devolder is one of few in the peloton that can go solo from far out (in this list, only Cancellara can do that better). The whole peloton and all cycling journalists are talking about the resurrection of Devolder and you manage to ignore him, but still put Degenkolb and GvA in this poll. But I'll be happy guys like you keep ignoring, as Devolder will perform best when most underestimate him.

My bookie has Devolder at 50/1, so I think it is completely reasonable to not have him as a poll option. I personally think that a 2% chance of him winning is overstating it.

For the record, I think that Cancellara will win this easily. The RVV course is specifically designed for a rider of his capabilities. I really hope that Boonen and Sagan give him a race.

I also really hope that the significant action is not all on the last two cobbled climbs.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I don't see why GVA would be a poorer choice than Thomas, for example, but anyway...

Vote other, state your other, and stop complaining. Or create your own poll next time.

 

[David_William]

Greg van Avermaet most overrated cyclisst ever. Just like the whole BMC team. From Cadel Evans to Rick Zabel to Taylor Phinney

 

[Afrank]

The ones with a * are in the poll. Devolder is not in there and that's a shame. I will explain why: Devolder had problems with his thyroid the last couple of years and couldn't perform as he used to. Last year, he made his come-back at the RVV and the Belgium Championschip. Check his winning attack in La Roche on a hilly L-B-L parcours: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/2.22611/MF_130623_BK_La_Roche_verslag ).

Devolder is one of few in the peloton that can go solo from far out (in this list, only Cancellara can do that better). The whole peloton and all cycling journalists are talking about the resurrection of Devolder and you manage to ignore him, but still put Degenkolb and GvA in this poll. But I'll be happy guys like you keep ignoring, as Devolder will perform best when most underestimate him.

Devolder is a good bet for a dark horse. He's looking in very good form, but he's also Cancellara's best domestique. So Trek are going to want to keep him close to Cance in case he has a problem. I don't see them giving him the go ahead to try to win the race himself unless Cancellara crashes out.

 

[Afrank]

Greg van Avermaet most overrated cyclisst ever. Just like the whole BMC team. From Cadel Evans to Rick Zabel to Taylor Phinney

Zabel? It's his first year in the pro tour. 1. Give him some time before calling him out as an overrated cyclists. He's only 20 years old after all. 2. who is over hyping him?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Zabel? It's his first year in the pro tour. 1. Give him some time before calling him out as an overrated cyclists. He's only 20 years old after all. 2. who is over hyping him?

Just don't react. Major troll

 

[therhodeo]

If he would have named Thor and Gilbert he would have went from being a troll to being correct.