Ronde van Vlaanderen: April 7th, 2019

[Valv.Piti]

I think Wout's chances increase the harder the race gets. The harder the race, the bigger chance of dropping guys at Kwaremont/Paterberg like Styby and Sagan IMO.

 

[Salvarani]

Re:

It is hard to tell where Sagan is...

Last year "bad" in E3.

Then won GW.

Not at his best in Flanders.

Then won PR with a solo attack. Looking super strong.



This year bad luck in E3 with the gears and then was in a long break in GW. So who knows where he is really at.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

It is hard to tell where Sagan is...

Last year "bad" in E3.

Then won GW.

Not at his best in Flanders.

Then won PR with a solo attack. Looking super strong.



This year bad luck in E3 with the gears and then was in a long break in GW. So who knows where he is really at.

I feel like Sagan is almost flying under the radar for the first time in many years and it could help him. Many times in the past he's been hindered by everyone looking to him to chase down the attacks and I don't see that happening this time. It blows me away that there are three or four riders more favoured than him in the betting.

 

[Sciatic]

I'm going to assume today's headline in my local paper is a definite omen for Sunday:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/a-wolf-pack-moves-into-western-washington-for-the-first-time-in-decades/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BNA_040419201908+Wolf+pack+living+in+Western+Washington_4_4_2019&utm_term=Registered%20User

And, in fact, at first quick glance, I thought this was an update to my twitter feed from one of the cycling pages

 

[search]

hard to say were Sagan stands, yeah. Pöstlberger said he is the favorite, and he may know a bit more about his shape, I guess.

But on the other hand, in the same (post Dwars door Vlaanderen) interview he also (basically) said that he was the strongest rider in the front group, so who knows what it's worth

 

[PremierAndrew]

Sagan will benefit hugely from flying under the radar. He has to be considered a top favourite

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

hard to say were Sagan stands, yeah. Pöstlberger said he is the favorite, and he may know a bit more about his shape, I guess.

But on the other hand, in the same (post Dwars door Vlaanderen) interview he also (basically) said that he was the strongest rider in the front group, so who knows what it's worth

Didn't he say that it wasn't the strongest rider who won, and that he wouldn't say he himself had been the strongest? I thought it was implied that he thought Jungels had been the strongest.

 

[movingtarget]

Pretty difficult for someone like Sagan to fly under the radar, next to impossible. Kristoff has been flying under the radar but not anymore.He and Degenkolb are back on track.

 

[Lequack]

Peter Sagan: "I want to be the first mustache to win the Ronde."

 

[THEORYY]

Re:

Sagan will benefit hugely from flying under the radar. He has to be considered a top favourite

he is under the radar for many fans, but not for the riders...

 

[search]

Re: Re:

hard to say were Sagan stands, yeah. Pöstlberger said he is the favorite, and he may know a bit more about his shape, I guess.

But on the other hand, in the same (post Dwars door Vlaanderen) interview he also (basically) said that he was the strongest rider in the front group, so who knows what it's worth

Didn't he say that it wasn't the strongest rider who won, and that he wouldn't say he himself had been the strongest? I thought it was implied that he thought Jungels had been the strongest.

I thought he implied that he was the strongest himself, just a bit too tired in the end. But maybe I misunderstood.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Peter Sagan: "I want to be the first mustache to win the Ronde."

Dr. Phil is racing the Ronde? Go home, Tafi. :lol:

 

[Pantani_lives]

My current stars:

*****Stybar, Sagan
****Gilbert, Van Avermaet
***Jungels, Van Aert
**Terpstra, Van der Poel, Kristoff
*Lampaert, Degenkolb, Trentin, Valverde

 

[Velolover2]

***** Stybar, Van Aert, GVA
**** Sagan, Van Der Poel, Jungels
*** Naesen, Benoot, Terpstra
** Gilbert, Wellens, Lampaert, Trentin, Kristoff, Degenkolb
* Stuyven, Pedersen, Van Baarle, Rowe, Matthews, Valverde, Bettiol, Langeveld, Keukeleire, Teunissen

 

[SemirS]

Ten days ago I was thinking that Sagan timed his spring-peak perfectly but I just watched the highlights of Gent-Wevelgem and seeing him suffer on the last Berg when Trentin accelerated is making me rethink that.

There are many contenders, but if I would have to put my money on someone it would definetly be Greg.

 

[Red Rick]

I really don't see what GvA has done this year to be a 5* favorite for De Ronde.

 

[red_flanders]

Re:

Naesen and Stybar has impressed me the most in 2019, but I am sure that Greg that Never Met will meet up to the occasion and spoil the party. GVA is the most solid of the top favourites, and with Sagan below his best, GVA is the only rider we can absolutely trust to deliver a top result.

I hope you're right! I'll be rooting for GVA!

 

[The Hegelian]

Yeah, would be nice to see GVA finally take a Rhonde.

Wouldn't mind seeing Bling win as well - he has a touch of the pre-Olympic year GVA's about him. i.e. always close to a big one day win, but never quite on the top step.

I reckon Naesen is the man most in form, but then I heard he got sick this week?

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Yeah, would be nice to see GVA finally take a Rhonde.

Wouldn't mind seeing Bling win as well - he has a touch of the pre-Olympic year GVA's about him. i.e. always close to a big one day win, but never quite on the top step.

I reckon Naesen is the man most in form, but then I heard he got sick this week?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/blo...-down-with-illness-ahead-of-tour-of-flanders/

Naesen, who has finished on the podium in Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem in recent weeks, is suffering from bronchitis.

Naesen identified the chief suspect for his illness as the champagne on the podium at Gent-Wevelgem. He and winner Alexander Kristoff both sprayed bubbly in each other's faces during the post-race ceremony and Naesen believes that has contributed to the respiratory problem.

Champagne causes bronchitis? Mmm ...

 

[Flamin]

Re:

I really don't see what GvA has done this year to be a 5* favorite for De Ronde.

E3 Harelbeke. And because the longer and harder the race gets, the better for him.

But, in my case, it's equally well a gut feeling combined with the hope that he finally wins it.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Yeah, would be nice to see GVA finally take a Rhonde.

Wouldn't mind seeing Bling win as well - he has a touch of the pre-Olympic year GVA's about him. i.e. always close to a big one day win, but never quite on the top step.

I reckon Naesen is the man most in form, but then I heard he got sick this week?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/blo...-down-with-illness-ahead-of-tour-of-flanders/

Naesen, who has finished on the podium in Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem in recent weeks, is suffering from bronchitis.

Naesen identified the chief suspect for his illness as the champagne on the podium at Gent-Wevelgem. He and winner Alexander Kristoff both sprayed bubbly in each other's faces during the post-race ceremony and Naesen believes that has contributed to the respiratory problem.

Champagne causes bronchitis? Mmm ...

I heard the champagne was brought from Lidl, who obviously co-sponsor a certain team. :lol:

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

My current stars:

*****Stybar, Sagan
****Gilbert, Van Avermaet
***Jungels, Van Aert
**Terpstra, Van der Poel, Kristoff
*Lampaert, Degenkolb, Trentin, Valverde

Gilbert has been pretty underwhelming this campaign.

 

[RedheadDane]

Someone with a 'Van' in his name will win this bike race.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Someone with a 'Van' in his name will win this bike race.

SaVAn?

I like it.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Someone with a 'Van' in his name will win this bike race.

Alejandro Vanverde.