Three days of de Panne - 29th to 31st March

[Roland Rat]

Of course. Michael Barry is a domestique. There, I said it again. And he isn't strong enough to win a race like this.

OK, I should have specified domestique "for this race".

To everyone laughing - there is method behind the apparent madness. He's said at the start of the season he would be targetting shorter stage races, and I'm sure you'd all have dismissed David Millar in exactly the same way before last year's event.

 

[boomcie]

OK, I should have specified domestique "for this race".

To everyone laughing - there is method behind the apparent madness. He's said at the start of the season he would be targetting shorter stage races, and I'm sure you'd all have dismissed David Millar in exactly the same way before last year's event.

Millar actually won some races prior to winning De Panne.

 

[Lanark]

I'm sorry but when David Millar says he is targetting small stage races, that's something to take serious, because he is an average climber and a great time trialist. When Michael Barry says the same there is no reason to take that seriously.

 

[roundabout]

OK, I should have specified domestique "for this race".

To everyone laughing - there is method behind the apparent madness. He's said at the start of the season he would be targetting shorter stage races, and I'm sure you'd all have dismissed David Millar in exactly the same way before last year's event.

While Barry is not horrible, Millar is a much better time trialist which makes him a more credible threat in races like De Panne or other flatter races with a TT

 

[Anonymous]

Atleast it's for a good cause..

Matter of opinion. Not sure why the world is donating to the 3rd largest economy in the world. Charitable donations would be better put to use elsewhere. But anyway, thats all im saying before i get told off.

race is being covered in spain, france and belgium. Loads of feeds will be available. Spanish feeds are already up and running but no cycling for 2 hours, just tennis. :/

 

[woodie]

Matter of opinion. Not sure why the world is donating to the 3rd largest economy in the world. Charitable donations would be better put to use elsewhere. But anyway, thats all im saying before i get told off.

race is being covered in spain, france and belgium. Loads of feeds will be available. Spanish feeds are already up and running but no cycling for 2 hours, just tennis. :/

I agree, i didn't put enough full stops.

When do the feeds go up?

 

[search]

its eurosport. I doubt they know whats going on.

just checked, the japan charity game is due to kick off at 12.30 cet. So seems like thats the correct time. Looks like the football game was brought forward 5 hours and so cycling gets pushed aside.

kick off was ~15 minutes ago, so they should be able to show cycling. schedule still says 13:30-16:15 uk.

 

[Jamsque]

The vast majority of charities that are taking donations 'for Japan' actually put that money in to the same big pot as all their other donations. The Red Cross has a disclaimer on their site saying there is no guarantee that money donated to their Japan appeal will be spent on aid for Japan, and groups like Medicines Sans Frontiers don't even take targeted donations.

Enough de-railing. The Sporza ticker is up: http://live.sporza.be/cm/lmc/wielrennen/voorjaar/Comp_Driedaagse

Nothing happening yet, of course.

 

[theyoungest]

OK, I should have specified domestique "for this race".

To everyone laughing - there is method behind the apparent madness. He's said at the start of the season he would be targetting shorter stage races, and I'm sure you'd all have dismissed David Millar in exactly the same way before last year's event.

The difference is, of course, that Millar is one of the best time trialists in the world who can also handle hills very well.

 

[The Hitch]

I would like WIggins to perform, but last i checked this race isnt in France, and judging by the comments of Henderson and Wiggins himself, Sky dont seem to like that idea.

Maybe hell perform if he can be fooled into thinking its Paris Roubaix.

Could anyone give me what in their opinion is a ranking of the stages. Cos im going to have to miss one or two and a little assistance in deciding which one to miss would be handy.

cheers.

 

[boomcie]

Fast pace in first hour: 50 km/h.

 

[boomcie]

Jos van Emden on the ground. Fell on his hip. Still riding though.

 

[MADRAZO]

The way he has been riding lately Westra must be the biggest favourite.

Malori could surprice and Thomas, Flens, Gusev and Rosseler should also have a decent chance. And also Wiggins can not be counted out.

I suppose the often here favourised Hoste and Devolder will take it easy.

With Chavanel in the race and motivated I suppose he is now the topfavourite especially if Westra is not 100%

 

[William H]

Looking at Sky's website, they say that "Geraint Thomas (number 68) will be joined by a seven-man squad including 2009 stage-winner Bradley Wiggins (61)..." which would suggest that Thomas is the leader for this race.

 

[Lanark]

I would like WIggins to perform, but last i checked this race isnt in France, and judging by the comments of Henderson and Wiggins himself, Sky dont seem to like that idea.

Maybe hell perform if he can be fooled into thinking its Paris Roubaix.

Could anyone give me what in their opinion is a ranking of the stages. Cos im going to have to miss one or two and a little assistance in deciding which one to miss would be handy.

cheers.

Today's stage will shake up the bunch, and there will be 3 or 4 guys left who can win this. Tomorrow will be a bunch sprint most likely (or a small group that isn't dangerous for the GC surviving untill the end), the same for thursday morning, and the last stage is the time trial. Today's stage is by far the most exciting.

 

[Anonymous]

Looking at Sky's website, they say that "Geraint Thomas (number 68) will be joined by a seven-man squad including 2009 stage-winner Bradley Wiggins (61)..." which would suggest that Thomas is the leader for this race.

Which is further confused by the official startlist not showing Thomas. Have contacted Sky. Their startlist is almost certainly wrong.

Should be
61 Wiggins
62 Sutton
63 Downing
64 Barry
65 Swift
66 Appollonio
67 Henderson
68 Kennaugh

Downing NOT Thomas. Russ is most definately in Belgium right now.

 

[Sasquatch]

Nah I read somewhere that Thomas isn't riding. That's why I didn't back him at odds of 126.

 

[Sasquatch]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/520498/thomas-returns-to-the-northern-classics.html

There we go. He's training in Manchester.

No need to contact Sky. Just do a google search. If CN doesn't have something, someone else certainly will.

 

[Euskaltel!]

After the other week it'd be nice to see Thomas go for something again... I guess he's waiting for this weekend though? It's lush to see a Sky that is more than Wiggins... Can't wait to see what Hagen and Lofkvist can do later this season!

 

[Anonymous]

On a related note, Sky's squads for April are out.
http://www.teamskyfans.com/schedules.html

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/520498/thomas-returns-to-the-northern-classics.html

There we go. He's training in Manchester.

No need to contact Sky. Just do a google search. If CN doesn't have something, someone else certainly will.

Wasnt contacting Sky to ask, was contacting to let them know of the error. I knew G wasnt riding as Russ was. They are changing the website now.

 

[The Hitch]

DIm. You think there will be Spanish feeds?

 

[Winterfold]

I would like WIggins to perform, but last i checked this race isnt in France, and judging by the comments of Henderson and Wiggins himself, Sky dont seem to like that idea.

Maybe hell perform if he can be fooled into thinking its Paris Roubaix.

Who won the De Panne TT in 2009?

He specifically mentioned it as one of the races he wished he'd done last year but didnt, along with P-R.

 

[hrotha]

DIm. You think there will be Spanish feeds?

In theory, Teledeporte will be on it at 15:15 local time, but they're showing tennis before it, and tennis devours everything with its gluttony.

 

[TeoSheva]

any news from the race?