Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[Froome19]

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

Why does he need to? We know he is the best rider in the world over hills and last year he was very influential in Flanders.
He is experienced and will easily be able to get himself into form for Flanders.

 

[Froome19]

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.

Is youre point that Cancellara wasnt anywhere near his limit then? Because i find that difficult to believe

 

[Michele]

Why does he need to? We know he is the best rider in the world over hills and last year he was very influential in Flanders.
He is experienced and will easily be able to get himself into form for Flanders.

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[Froome19]

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Why does he need to?

10 chars

 

[Anonymous]

Is youre point that Cancellara wasnt anywhere near his limit then? Because i find that difficult to believe

No, not at all.

My point is not everybody can lay down that much power in the seated position. I have read where Cancellara's telemetry showed the power he was generating when he dropped Boonen was 1700 watts. A lot of guys can generate that out of the saddle. Not very many in the saddle.

If the conditions are less than ideal then that tilts the advantage even more to FC, imo.

 

[theyoungest]

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.

I remember Mendrisio, Gilbert was holding on for dear life there as Cancellara accelerated uphill.

 

[Panda Claws]

I remember Mendrisio, Gilbert was holding on for dear life there as Cancellara accelerated uphill.

Gilbert has come a long way since 2009.

 

[will10]

No, not at all.

My point is not everybody can lay down that much power in the seated position. I have read where Cancellara's telemetry showed the power he was generating when he dropped Boonen was 1700 watts. A lot of guys can generate that out of the saddle. Not very many in the saddle.

If the conditions are less than ideal then that tilts the advantage even more to FC, imo.

1450W peak power for the Muur.

 

[Anonymous]

1450W peak power for the Muur.

Hmmm... bad memory on my part. 1450 it is.

The point is the same though.

 

[Michele]

10 chars

Let's make it clear, I hope Gilbert will be up there and make the show even more exciting with his presence but by looking at what he did in his past 5 years as n° of top10 placing till Milano-Sanremo I dont feel so confident.

2008, 13 top10 placings, of which 4 victories
2009, 1 top10 placing
2010, 4 top10 placings
2011, 8 top10 placings, of which 3 victories
2012, 0

 

[maltiv]

No, not at all.

My point is not everybody can lay down that much power in the seated position. I have read where Cancellara's telemetry showed the power he was generating when he dropped Boonen was 1700 watts. A lot of guys can generate that out of the saddle. Not very many in the saddle.

If the conditions are less than ideal then that tilts the advantage even more to FC, imo.

Actually, very few can generate 1700 watts. Cavendish only produces 1600. Only the best, large sprinters can do 1700W or over.

 

[Panda Claws]

Actually, very few can generate 1700 watts. Cavendish only produces 1600. Only the best, large sprinters can do 1700W or over.

1940 by Greipel.

 

[jens_attacks]

wow it's that time of the year.
let's see how the new route will be raced,i just hope for a good show and i expect phil to find some form.cancellara-boonen-gilbert.it will be great

 

[williamp78]

Blazin Saddles has tweeted that flecha is out of the classics this year. With geraint thomas staying home to train on the track does that mean EBH will lead team sky on his lonesome?

Does he really have a chance? I'm not convinced by his classics pedigree.

Apart from that cancallera will obviously be in the mix but if chavanel and boonen get their tactics right then i reckon OPQS could go home with the victory

 

[taiwan]

I dunno how certain this Cancellara v Gilbert battle is. BMC is boasting multiple contenders, incidentally as is Quick Step. Cancellara v Gilbert/Ballan/Hushovd v Boonen/Chavanel.

 

[hatcher]

Blazin Saddles has tweeted that flecha is out of the classics this year. With geraint thomas staying home to train on the track does that mean EBH will lead team sky on his lonesome?

Does he really have a chance? I'm not convinced by his classics pedigree.

Apart from that cancallera will obviously be in the mix but if chavanel and boonen get their tactics right then i reckon OPQS could go home with the victory

Flecha will be back for Flanders, and has targeted Roubaix all along.

EBH, supported by Eisel, Hayman, Stannard will be the main four for E3 on Friday.

 

[maltiv]

1940 by Greipel.

Yes, and that's not normal at all, which was my point. Anyway, quite irrelevant

 

[maltiv]

Blazin Saddles has tweeted that flecha is out of the classics this year. With geraint thomas staying home to train on the track does that mean EBH will lead team sky on his lonesome?

Does he really have a chance? I'm not convinced by his classics pedigree

Obviously he can't follow Cancellara or Boonen at their best, but if people are looking at each other and it comes down to a 10 man sprint or so then he has a good chance. I'd say that he has a better chance than Flecha for actually winning the race, but significantly lower probability of finishing in the top 3.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes, and that's not normal at all, which was my point. Anyway, quite irrelevant

Theo Bos: 2100 Watts.

It's actually more "abnormal" how Cav can be so fast while generating so little power. His sprint aerodynamics are really phenomenal.

 

[Froome19]

Theo Bos: 2100 Watts.

It's actually more "abnormal" how Cav can be so fast while generating so little power. His sprint aerodynamics are really phenomenal.

Bos is understandable as he races on the track in the sprint where it is all about pure speed.

 

[Panda Claws]

I dunno how certain this Cancellara v Gilbert battle is. BMC is boasting multiple contenders, incidentally as is Quick Step. Cancellara v Gilbert/Ballan/Hushovd v Boonen/Chavanel.

BMC has Ballan, who as we know is good for a guaranteed top-10 but not much more.

 

[williamp78]

Flecha will be back for Flanders, and has targeted Roubaix all along.

EBH, supported by Eisel, Hayman, Stannard will be the main four for E3 on Friday.

I must have misread the tweet; thought he meant tour of flanders not the races this weekend

 

[williamp78]

Obviously he can't follow Cancellara or Boonen at their best, but if people are looking at each other and it comes down to a 10 man sprint or so then he has a good chance. I'd say that he has a better chance than Flecha for actually winning the race, but significantly lower probability of finishing in the top 3.

How many one day races has he actually won? I can only remember a semi-classic in germany last year and that was a bunch sprint. In fact most of his stage wins have been sprints, though as you say, often from a smaller group (i think!)

 

[karlboss]

BMC has Ballan, who as we know is good for a guaranteed top-10 but not much more.

GVA has looked strong all season, Gilbert to mark Cancellara, and GVA to go early. While everyone waits to see what Cancellara does he'll solo away with it.

 

[c&cfan]

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.

yes.. forget the last 3/4 editions of MSR, the last editions of flanders, worlds etc.