Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[Anonymous]

Well, it seems we are at my favorite time of year... THE NORTHERN CLASSICS!!

As many are aware, the course has been changed dramatically for this year's event causing quite an uproar amongst the traditionalists. Out is the legendary Kappelmuur in Geraardsbergen as well as the Bosberg.

Personally, I am excited to see how this year's race unfolds. I think it will be quite different as I don't think the riders know what to expect. From first impressions the course looks to be much more difficult but as we all know the riders make the race hard, not necessarily the parcours.

Dim at teamskyfans has done a remarkable job on his site, so no need to re-create the wheel;

http://teamskyfans.com/flanders.html

The descending finishing loops;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kUjmW91FmKc

More details on the bergs;

http://rvv.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/525/original/rvv2012-elite-men-map-profile.pdf?1328114157



Alrighty then.... Predictions:

Don't know who's going to stop Cancellara except bad luck.

Cancellara FTW. He will attack from a smallish elite group probably the second time up the Paterberg and solos for the win.

 

[Froome19]

Don't know who's going to stop Cancellara except bad luck.

Cancellara FTW. He will attack from a smallish elite group probably the second time up the Paterberg and solos for the win.

Its called the Gilbert....


Still think that Canc will win but Gilbert is only guy who will be able to challenge.

 

[Parrulo]

should be an epic fight btw boonen, canc and gilbert. i can't even pick one from those 3 but i honestly favor boonen and canc over gilbert because i can't see him hold solo for 11k after the patenberg.

 

[Froome19]

should be an epic fight btw boonen, canc and gilbert. i can't even pick one from those 3 but i honestly favor boonen and canc over gilbert because i can't see him hold solo for 11k after the patenberg.

He doesnt need to hold solo he can Canc in a one on one sprint and looking at Vanmarke he can also beat Boonen in a one on one sprint.

 

[thehog]

Don't know who's going to stop Cancellara except bad luck.

Himself....

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Its called the Gilbert....


Still think that Canc will win but Gilbert is only guy who will be able to challenge.

Change will be able to to could be able to and I'm in agreement. Gilbert didn't look bad in San Remo, and he was held up in the crash, but still, I'm not sure enough to say "will" just yet...

 

[Froome19]

Change will be able to to could be able to and I'm in agreement. Gilbert didn't look bad in San Remo, and he was held up in the crash, but still, I'm not sure enough to say "will" just yet...

Well of course Canc "could" win so could any rider (bar Kasechkin) but there is no fun to predict without pretending to be certain. Its not certain but if Canc gets his tactics (when he attacks) right then he should win.
Hopefully BMC will reel in all the attacks before, otherwise he might find it hard going though.
But in such a case where he gets his tactics right then I can see it being 80% that he will win which is closer to 100 than 50 so he gets my "will".

 

[dolophonic]

Sorry but that race map blows.
Should be a great race. Boonen is fit.. he could factor.

 

[Panda Claws]

I wonder if Cancellara could outmatch Gilbert's acceleration on a cobbled hill.

 

[DominicDecoco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqNt0kNPWqw

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Well of course Canc "could" win so could any rider (bar Kasechkin) but there is no fun to predict without pretending to be certain. Its not certain but if Canc gets his tactics (when he attacks) right then he should win.
Hopefully BMC will reel in all the attacks before, otherwise he might find it hard going though.
But in such a case where he gets his tactics right then I can see it being 80% that he will win which is closer to 100 than 50 so he gets my "will".

Sorry, I was referring to the "Gilbert will challenge" will .

I agree, with you on Cancellara, its his race to lose.

 

[Wallace]

If Cancellara arrives at the finish with Boonen and Gilbert, then he's looking at the second or third step of the podium. I'd love to see Boonen win, because I'm a big fan, but I have a strong suspicion that his best days are behind him (mind you, I'd love to be proven wrong on this), so what I'd really like to see is a Cancellara/Gilbert duel, which is long overdue. Since Cancellara is never going contest LBL or Lombardia, and P-R isn't on Gilbert's agenda now, Flanders is the one monument where we could really see them go head to head. That would be totally exciting.

 

[Wallace]

Sorry, I was referring to the "Gilbert will challenge" will .

I agree, with you on Cancellara, its his race to lose.

Funny, but lately when a monument has been Cancellara's "race to lose," that's exactly what he's done.

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if Cancellara could outmatch Gilbert's acceleration on a cobbled hill.

Excellent question.

If is is anything other than completely dry I don't think anybody can do what Cancellara can do, seated. When he drops Boonen, he is seated and that part of the Muur is 20%.

The Paterberg is 20%.

Watch at 2:33.

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=vygkaL1uEo8&feature=related

I don't see Gilbert doing that while seated. I reserve the right to be wrong however.

 

[Panda Claws]

If Cancellara arrives at the finish with Boonen and Gilbert, then he's looking at the second or third step of the podium. I'd love to see Boonen win, because I'm a big fan, but I have a strong suspicion that his best days are behind him (mind you, I'd love to be proven wrong on this), so what I'd really like to see is a Cancellara/Gilbert duel, which is long overdue. Since Cancellara is never going contest LBL or Lombardia, and P-R isn't on Gilbert's agenda now, Flanders is the one monument where we could really see them go head to head. That would be totally exciting.

Yeah, I would love that too. Despite the thread pitting them against each other, we still have barely any examples of duels between the 2 riders.

Tour de France 2011, stage 1 is the only one that springs to mind. But that was on Phil's terrain of course.

 

[Froome19]

Sorry, I was referring to the "Gilbert will challenge" will .

I agree, with you on Cancellara, its his race to lose.

Sorry I should have read your post more carefully
But I cant imagine Gilbert not challenging, when i try and draw up a list of excuses in my mind of why he wouldnt be able to they also seem to be wrong.
Whether he will be the only one who can challenge is another question....
I would be inclined to say Boone and Chavanel as well, just can they both truly hold on to Cancellara's wheel......

 

[The Sheep]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqNt0kNPWqw

Will they have cameras in the cars again?

 

[Panda Claws]

Excellent question.

If is is anything other than completely dry I don't think anybody can do what Cancellara can do, seated. When he drops Boonen, he is seated and that part of the Muur is 20%.

The Paterberg is 20%.

Watch at 2:33.

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=vygkaL1uEo8&feature=related

I don't see Gilbert doing that while seated. I reserve the right to be wrong however.

Still, when Cancellara tried to drop Chavanel on the Muur in 2011 Gilbert was still following.

I honestly don't know either. Cancellara seemed to have the upper hand for me but then I rewatched FW 2011. Of course that race isn't cobbled but still.

 

[Froome19]

Excellent question.

If is is anything other than completely dry I don't think anybody can do what Cancellara can do, seated. When he drops Boonen, he is seated and that part of the Muur is 20%.

The Paterberg is 20%.

Watch at 2:33.

http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=vygkaL1uEo8&feature=related

I don't see Gilbert doing that while seated. I reserve the right to be wrong however.

I think the whole "seated" thing is over rated it doesnt make much difference some riders always ride seated and just ride tempo while others dont.
From what I have seen Canc generally rides seated when putting in attacks as he doesnt accelarate but rather more like he just riders at incredibly high tempo, see the worlds or even when he bridged to Nibali.
Also Boonen isnt much of a hill guy compared to Gilbert..

 

[Lanark]

I think the whole "seated" thing is over rated it doesnt make much difference some riders always ride seated and just ride tempo while others dont.
From what I have seen Canc generally rides seated when putting in attacks as he doesnt accelarate but rather more like he just riders at incredibly high tempo, see the worlds or even when he bridged to Nibali.
Also Boonen isnt much of a hill guy compared to Gilbert..

Boonen shouldn't be underestimated on cobbled hills, just look at his yearly demonstration on the Taaienberg. I don't think anyone in the current peloton has a better track record of attacking on the hills in Vlaanderen.

 

[Panda Claws]

Boonen shouldn't be underestimated on cobbled hills, just look at his yearly demonstration on the Taaienberg. I don't think anyone in the current peloton has a better track record of attacking on the hills in Vlaanderen.

Boonen is of course pretty explosive but if it comes to tempo riding he is probably not at the same level as a Cancellara or even a Gilbert on cobbled hills.

 

[Froome19]

Boonen shouldn't be underestimated on cobbled hills, just look at his yearly demonstration on the Taaienberg. I don't think anyone in the current peloton has a better track record of attacking on the hills in Vlaanderen.

Yeh but Gilbert is on a whole different level

 

[DominicDecoco]

Will they have cameras in the cars again?

Hopefully!

 

[Michele]

Yeh but Gilbert is on a whole different level

Gilbert in 2011 version, not 2012; he didnt show anything till now to demostrate hes a candidate for races like De Ronde.

 

[Anonymous]

I think the whole "seated" thing is over rated it doesnt make much difference some riders always ride seated and just ride tempo while others dont.
From what I have seen Canc generally rides seated when putting in attacks as he doesnt accelarate but rather more like he just riders at incredibly high tempo, see the worlds or even when he bridged to Nibali.
Also Boonen isnt much of a hill guy compared to Gilbert..

I think the whole "seated" thing is over rated it doesnt make much difference some riders always ride seated and just ride tempo while others dont.

You may think this but have you ever tried to ride the Paterberg when it's wet? It's 20% at the steep point and the cobbles are not very good.

If it's wet, there's no other way. So, it can be a big deal.