Scheldeprijs (1.HC), April 6th, 2016

[Cannibal72]

Re: Re:

Cav looked very, very good there compared to recent times. But Kittel is still coming back into form and beat him...

Also Cav ran out of steam right at the end. 2008-2012 Cav would have found his second kick and won that sprint. Nonetheless, that's one of the best sprints (if not the best) I've seen from Cav in the last two years

Aye, don't get me wrong, it was a very good sprint. I've always rated Cav in the top three sprinters over the past few years, even though he's declining, but I think Kittel is a class above and he'll be even better in the TdF.

Yeah that sums up my opinion on Cav quite nicely too

I also agree with this. However, Dimension Data have a potentially decent leadout train (Eisel, EBH, Cummings, Farrar, Renshaw) for the Tour, while EQS will probably only bring Sabatini - who is far from perfect, but can certainly improve - or Richeze; that's even less than Giant-Alpecin could offer, and anyway Cavendish is certainly a better freelancer and better at positioning than Kittel, so their power imbalance could be somewhat levelled.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Cav looked very, very good there compared to recent times. But Kittel is still coming back into form and beat him...

Also Cav ran out of steam right at the end. 2008-2012 Cav would have found his second kick and won that sprint. Nonetheless, that's one of the best sprints (if not the best) I've seen from Cav in the last two years

Aye, don't get me wrong, it was a very good sprint. I've always rated Cav in the top three sprinters over the past few years, even though he's declining, but I think Kittel is a class above and he'll be even better in the TdF.

Yeah that sums up my opinion on Cav quite nicely too

I also agree with this. However, Dimension Data have a potentially decent leadout train (Eisel, EBH, Cummings, Farrar, Renshaw) for the Tour, while EQS will probably only bring Sabatini - who is far from perfect, but can certainly improve - or Richeze; that's even less than Giant-Alpecin could offer, and anyway Cavendish is certainly a better freelancer and better at positioning than Kittel, so their power imbalance could be somewhat levelled.

Tony Martin followed by some combo of Trentin/Sabatini/Richeze is better leadout than anything DD can offer.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Nice win from Kittel but Cav was very good there. Should give him plenty of confidence for the rest of the season.

Though still has never beaten him head to head - might have the opposite effect to giving him confidence.

The gap he opened up on Greipel has to give him confidence though

Exactly, very few gave Cav a chance in a sprint with Greipel and Kittel this year. Today showed there's life in Cav yet.

No surprise to distance Greipel. He's coming off injury and has been focused on classics riding instead of sprinting - same as last year, he'll switch his focus after Roubaix.

 

[ItalianJoe]

I am really surprised Cavendish's tactics here. He chose to sprint on the right where there was more room. My guess is that he wanted to avoid getting pinched on the left. However, the road was bending slightly left. In the last 20 meters, Kittel had the noticeably shorter line. The outcome amazes me because it was a tactical choice and Cavendish is tuned into track racing right now. He's the pro, but I don't understand the tactic. And, before you jump on me -- yes, I have ridden enough international races to know....

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Wind?

 

[DFA123]

I am really surprised Cavendish's tactics here. He chose to sprint on the right where there was more room. My guess is that he wanted to avoid getting pinched on the left. However, the road was bending slightly left. In the last 20 meters, Kittel had the noticeably shorter line. The outcome amazes me because it was a tactical choice and Cavendish is tuned into track racing right now. He's the pro, but I don't understand the tactic. And, before you jump on me -- yes, I have ridden enough international races to know....

Think it was because of the wind. Look at those big yellow flags 50m from the line. Staying slightly to the right of Kittel's wheel gave him a better slip stream. If he'd have come around to the left, he'd have been in the wind for longer and would have got much less drafting effect.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

The race really delivered this year, what an exciting final 200 metres.