Ronde van West Flanders

[Ryo Hazuki]

40 SUTHERLAND Rory UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLIN 0:00:32
41 BOUCHER David FDJ-BIG MAT 0:00:33
42 VEILLEUX David TEAM EUROPCAR 0:00:33
43 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis SKY PROCYCLING 0:00:33
44 BOIVIN Guillaume SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 0:00:33
45 SLIK Ivar RABOBANK CONTINENTAL TEAM 0:00:34
46 SOHRABI Mehdi LOTTO BELISOL TEAM 0:00:34

not badt at all. especially not from henao. faster than fuglsang

51 FUGLSANG Jakob RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 0:00:36

 

[Fetisoff]

looking at the sprinters behind KWIATKOWSKI, I will say that the most dangerous is Wagner: he need one 2nd and a 3rd place to reach Michael. More difficult is for Farrar that need one 1st place and a 2nd one. But I think that Galim, Demare', Fenn, Chicchi, Petit are good enough to overcame Wagner...

What about intermediate sprints?

 

[The Hitch]

Don't know how about Cancellara, but Michal's current form is pretty impressive: Algarve, Le Samyn and now West Flanders. I even can't imagine the reaction of commentators on the Polish Eurosport if it were broadcasted there.

I think they only have 1 commentator.

 

[Kvinto]

I think they only have 1 commentator.

well, maybe one, since the first (and so far the only) time i saw cycling on polish eurosport is this years Algarve, stage to Malhao and Kwiatkowski was among the most mentioned names during the ascent (and the stage in general). last year i got to see Tour de Pologne on polish television (tvp polonia) but it has nothing to do with eurosport...

 

[FF'Wilco]

There are at least five plus some experts (f.e. current or ex pro's like Baranowski or Zamana) on Polish ES.

 

[The Hitch]

There are at least five plus some experts (f.e. current or ex pro's like Baranowski or Zamana) on Polish ES.

Last i saw Polish Eurosport was the TDP back in I think 2009 or 10 and I was sure there was only 1 commentator.

You are saying there are 5 commentators? never heard such a thing.

 

[TeoSheva]

What about intermediate sprints?

you are right, I forgot them! But usually there is an escape, so the bonus from the intermediate sprint are spread between those riders. Of course OPL will choose who let go and who not.

 

[FF'Wilco]

Last i saw Polish Eurosport was the TDP back in I think 2009 or 10 and I was sure there was only 1 commentator.

You are saying there are 5 commentators? never heard such a thing.

Exactly. And im sure of that coz im watching Polish ES quite often.

 

[The Hitch]

Exactly. And im sure of that coz im watching Polish ES quite often.

lol obviously you are right, Im just saying Im surprised to hear that there are 5 commentators as ive never seen more than 3 commentators in any sport.

Thats good though. Must be pretty fun to listen to.

 

[FF'Wilco]

lol obviously you are right, Im just saying Im surprised to hear that there are 5 commentators as ive never seen more than 3 commentators in any sport.

Thats good though. Must be pretty fun to listen to.

You get me wrong. Ive just said that Polish ES have more than one commentator as someone stated. Never said five of them are commentaiting together

 

[greenedge]

Nice ride by Michael to win/ Julien to come 2nd.

It puts them in a strong position. Are there time bonuses because if so Wagner could foreseeably win???

 

[El Pistolero]

Think QS has the overall in the bag. Number 4 already, beastly.

Bring on Paris-Nice for number 5

P-N podium

1. Tony Martin
2. Levi Leipheimer
3. Sylvain Chavanel

Mapei for the short stage races *

* DISCLAIMER: not a serious post.

 

[filipo]

Is it just me or is Rasmussen running SRAM on his bike?

Thought they were last year's sponsors...

 

[Herr Katt]

They're independent of components sponsors so they can run whatever they want. However they choose Shimano Di2 and bought all their sets.....

 

[TeoSheva]

Are there time bonuses because if so Wagner could foreseeably win???

yes there are: 10", 6" and 4" at the end, 3", 2" and 1" at the intermediate sprints

 

[will10]

Last year there was a fairly selective last stage, what's the parcours look like this year? Two bunch sprints or...?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Last year there was a fairly selective last stage, what's the parcours look like this year? Two bunch sprints or...?

no. todays stage ends on a hill and it's quite a ard stages on cobbles

 

[rghysens]

no. todays stage ends on a hill and it's quite a ard stages on cobbles

Cobbles of relative good quality (easy) and a shallow hill with an altitude gain of merely 20m. I think the weather will be more decisive than the parcours.

 

[TeoSheva]

any news here?

 

[Christian]

Here is a live ticker in french.

http://direct.directvelo.com/live-course/1272/driedaagse-van-west-vlaanderen-etape-1.html

Baptiste Planckaert (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), Stijn Neirynck (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Jeffry Louder (UnitedHealthcare) have 1:51 advantage to the peloton, less than 40 km to go

 

[Christian]

Galimzyanov DNS due to illness

 

[Christian]

Amir Zargari (AG2R) dropped by the peloton

 

[Kvinto]

Francesco Chicchi wins

 

[rghysens]

Francesco Chicchi wins.

Arnaud Démare 2nd, Nacer Bouhanni 3rd

 

[roundabout]

I am sooooo surprised.