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.
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Salvarani said: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.
search said: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 said:Sagan will benefit hugely from flying under the radar. He has to be considered a top favourite
I thought he implied that he was the strongest himself, just a bit too tired in the end. But maybe I misunderstood.tobydawq said:search said: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.
Lequack said:Peter Sagan: "I want to be the first mustache to win the Ronde."
Cance > TheRest said: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.
The Hegelian said: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?
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.
Red Rick said:I really don't see what GvA has done this year to be a 5* favorite for De Ronde.
Robert5091 said:The Hegelian said: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 ...
Gilbert has been pretty underwhelming this campaign.Pantani_lives said:My current stars:
*****Stybar, Sagan
****Gilbert, Van Avermaet
***Jungels, Van Aert
**Terpstra, Van der Poel, Kristoff
*Lampaert, Degenkolb, Trentin, Valverde
SaVAn?RedheadDane said:Someone with a 'Van' in his name will win this bike race.
RedheadDane said:Someone with a 'Van' in his name will win this bike race.