Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2012

[Rechtschreibfehler]

What? The only place where Boonen was stronger than Pozzato and Ballan was in the final sprint. I think certainly Pippo might be able to drop him.

The only place where they were stronger than Boonen was up very steep hills. I don't see any of those in Paris Roubaix. They have to drop him on the cobbles or on the flat. I don't see this happening, especially since Pippo doesn't like to race, really. But PR luckily is a bit more complex than this.

 

[El Pistolero]

Do you think he has a chance for the World, he can get over the Cauberg, he's proven that and I don't think the course is harder than the AGR

Boonen? Hmm, don't think so, but I think he can go a long way and help the Belgian team.

If you're talking about Cancellara then yeah, he's already a favorite now.

 

[Red Rick]

BTW, I was switching a bit between NOS and Sporza, when Ducrot suddenly comes up with :"do you what Sagans hobby is? Drinking loads of beer". At that moment I was lmao. The way he puts hyperboles on stuff is just so funny. Then, when i want to know what happens in the race i just switch to sporza.

 

[the pope]

Do you think he has a chance for the World, he can get over the Cauberg, he's proven that and I don't think the course is harder than the AGR

the rainbow jersey already has gilbert's name on it.

 

[Richeypen]

Nonsense. There are plenty of great cobble riders fit for next Sunday. If anything, it removes the predictability of Fabians tactics and his competitions response to them.

P-R is my favourite race of the year mainly because there isnt a hiding place. Its the best versus the best. Without Canc it just wont be the same. May still be a great race but will just feel incomplete.

 

[MartinGT]

Was it Brian Smith co-commentating on British Eurosport today?

I found some of his remarks very odd I must say. One of first ones was how Spartacus was a lot stronger at the moment than Boonen and then another was how Boonen looked tired when at the time Boonen looked relaxed and chilled out.

I was rather annoyed with British Eurosport and how it was interrupted for motorsport, why couldnt they put it on another channel?

 

[thehog]

The sweet taste of success!

 

[Richeypen]

Was it Brian Smith co-commentating on British Eurosport today?

I found some of his remarks very odd I must say. One of first ones was how Spartacus was a lot stronger at the moment than Boonen and then another was how Boonen looked tired when at the time Boonen looked relaxed and chilled out.

I was rather annoyed with British Eurosport and how it was interrupted for motorsport, why couldnt they put it on another channel?

Because that would interupt the other motor sport they were showing on British Eurosport 2

 

[MartinGT]

Because that would interupt the other motor sport they were showing on British Eurosport 2

Ah, we wouldnt want that would we?

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Was it Brian Smith co-commentating on British Eurosport today?

I found some of his remarks very odd I must say. One of first ones was how Spartacus was a lot stronger at the moment than Boonen and then another was how Boonen looked tired when at the time Boonen looked relaxed and chilled out.

I was rather annoyed with British Eurosport and how it was interrupted for motorsport, why couldnt they put it on another channel?

To be fair, he was right. Boonen admitted that he wasn't feeling great for most of it.

 

[dlwssonic]

The sweet taste of success!

two good looking pretty boys and one.........

 

[Kvinto]

Was it Brian Smith co-commentating on British Eurosport today?

I found some of his remarks very odd I must say. One of first ones was how Spartacus was a lot stronger at the moment than Boonen and then another was how Boonen looked tired when at the time Boonen looked relaxed and chilled out.

I was rather annoyed with British Eurosport and how it was interrupted for motorsport, why couldnt they put it on another channel?

I can't say that Cancellara looked stronger than Boonen, simply because he crashed before he might have (or have not) shown his real strength. But it was well seen that Boonen didn't feel great (I think it was on the Koppenberg when he was too far back and then on the Patterberg when he almost got dropped by Pippo and Ballan) and he admitted to it after the race. But that was a great win anyway.

 

[MartinGT]

To be fair, he was right. Boonen admitted that he wasn't feeling great for most of it.

I hid it rather well tbh. He didnt look like the race was hitting him as hard as some of the others.

 

[El Pistolero]

He was still good though, he was the only one in the peloton that could follow Pozzato. Give him credit where credit is due. He didn't wheelsuck either on the flat... He followed on the hills because the other two were better there.

And LOL @ Ryo still claiming this new Ronde is too hard for him.

 

[LaFlorecita]

two good looking pretty boys and one.........

Who are the pretty boys?

 

[MartinGT]

BTW, Whats the SP with Canc? I know he crashed out in the feedzone, but whats the situ with him?

Also, the Green Edge guy that hit that pedestrians leg, how is he? Broken Collar bone by the look of how he was holding his arm? I forgot who it was now.

 

[Kvinto]

He was still good though, he was the only one in the peloton that could follow Pozzato. Give him credit where credit is due. He didn't wheelsuck either on the flat... He followed on the hills because the other two were better there.

Yeah, he was good, because not being good he wouldn't have won

 

[El Pistolero]

BTW, Whats the SP with Canc? I know he crashed out in the feedzone, but whats the situ with him?

Also, the Green Edge guy that hit that pedestrians leg, how is he? Broken Collar bone by the look of how he was holding his arm? I forgot who it was now.

Langeveld, outsider for the victory, so a pretty big name. Yeah, collarbone.

 

[killswitch]

The peloton was even more nervous this time - a combination of good weather + new route

 

[spalco]

Nonsense. There are plenty of great cobble riders fit for next Sunday. If anything, it removes the predictability of Fabians tactics and his competitions response to them.

I don't see how Boonen can be stopped now. He has one leg on the top step of the podium already.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't see how Boonen can be stopped now. He has one leg on the top step of the podium already.

Pozzato is on form, so you never know... All it takes is a flat tire or a mechanical anyway.

Only one rider in history has won G-W, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix in the same season by the way. Who knows his cycling?

 

[MartinGT]

Langeveld, outsider for the victory, so a pretty big name. Yeah, collarbone.

Bah, gutted for him, it looked like it could of caused a hell of a lot more damage.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Yep. 'Glad' he 'only' broke collarbone. Looked a nasty crash that. Could have had a much worse outcome.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Wow, almost 1500 posts and not all of them by El P.

Just caught up, watching in episodes.
Don't like the new route much, although it was a pretty good race.
If those 3 had come to the old finish, I reckon Pozzato would have had Boonan.
To me, he looked the strongest, but he's also conservative.( or cagey, if you prefer.)
At the 2-3km mark, he should have countered, after Boonan caught Ballan.

Should be an interesting return match, next weekend.

 

[jens_attacks]

one of the images of this ronde: