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

[The Sheep]

wearing the jersey backwards

 

[TourOfSardinia]

final 7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChDguabXQB8

thanks - I was out of the "office"


Edit - sound is great the video is a bit jerky though

 

[TeoSheva]

Well, Sagan could possibly get time bonuses on the next three stages which the others can't.

I'd consider Greipel a chance too.

only two...and I don't think he will win both the stages.. and if he will do it, 20 seconds over Wiggins and 14 over Westra could be not enough...

 

[cineteq]

final 7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChDguabXQB8

Thank you, but it's too choppy...

 

[TeoSheva]

So Feillu won the sprint from the peloton. Renshaw seems to be HTC's sprinter.

Degenkolb was there too... just two places behind

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I'm not writing off Westra's chances, he has a great opportunity to win here. Seven seconds over the pack is a very slender lead, though, and there are plenty of capable ITT riders in that bunch, Wiggins included.

My point being, Westra is a ITT-er himself who kept on par with Tony Martin in a much longer ITT than this one...

Yes he did worse in PN, but that was by being in the break all day in a an uphill-downhill day. Not comparable with attacking today in the last 50k, and having tomorrow and the morning stage to recover (because they are flat and nothing will happen).

Plus it's clear Westra seems to have super legs at the moment.

 

[The Hitch]

Hang on Greipel got 10 seconds bonus + 3 seconds (should have pushed on imo))

Because if he wins another thats 23 seconds. + say 3rd in the other sprint thats 27 seconds.

I can see Greipel holding on 27 seconds. Unlikely but possible. Hes a goodish tter on a short course. This course might just could be short enough.

 

[TeoSheva]

My point being, Westra is a ITT-er himself who kept on par with Tony Martin in a much longer ITT than this one...

Yes he did worse in PN, but that was by being in the break all day in a an uphill-downhill day. Not comparable with attacking today in the last 50k, and having tomorrow and the morning stage to recover (because they are flat and nothing will happen).

Plus it's clear Westra seems to have super legs at the moment.

Wiggo in PN was really close to Martin in a long TT... it will be an exciting fight between them... but before they have to keep the peleton close in the next two stages...

 

[Anonymous]

thanks - I was out of the "office"


Edit - sound is great the video is a bit jerky though

will be better sporza rip up shortly. spanish feed wasnt brilliant. There were onscreen signs apologising for the breakups

 

[theyoungest]

My point being, Westra is a ITT-er himself who kept on par with Tony Martin in a much longer ITT than this one...

Yes he did worse in PN, but that was by being in the break all day in a an uphill-downhill day. Not comparable with attacking today in the last 50k, and having tomorrow and the morning stage to recover (because they are flat and nothing will happen).

Plus it's clear Westra seems to have super legs at the moment.

Westra lost a very good position on GC in the second stage last year. I believe it was due to crosswinds. Those are expected for tomorrow as well.

 

[Jamsque]

Hang on Greipel got 10 seconds bonus + 3 seconds (should have pushed on imo))

Because if he wins another thats 23 seconds. + say 3rd in the other sprint thats 27 seconds.

I can see Greipel holding on 27 seconds. Unlikely but possible. Hes a goodish tter on a short course. This course might just could be short enough.

He certainly has a chance but he needs every bonus second he can get.

If there is even a gust of breeze over the next two days Sky will try to split the pack and shed the Gorilla, I'm sure.

 

[TeoSheva]

don't forget MURAVYEV: he's just two secs behind Westra

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't see Muraviev as any sort of threat to the likes of Wiggins, Westra and others.

 

[Barrus]

Great rides by the young guys of Topsport Vlaanderen and Ligthart, I had not expected them to remain in the front for that long and keep on driving it.

Although Westra was probably the strongest today, I do like the fact that Greipel won, he really rode with guts today

 

[TeoSheva]

I don't see Muraviev as any sort of threat to the likes of Wiggins, Westra and others.

for the podium can be an outsider...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think Gusev is a better tt-er than Muraviev, and behind that there are still a lot of ITT specialists in contention due to the peloton coming back

 

[roundabout]

Shack has been verry impressive in the TT's this year and Muravyev seemed quite strong today. Top 5 overall is possible

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Appearently United Healthcare is also riding:

119 Scott ZWIZANSKI Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:01:24

157 Karl MENZIES Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:12:14

164 Boy VAN POPPEL Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:12:43
166 Jake KEOUGH Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:12:43

174 Jonathan CLARKE Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:15:33
175 Hilton CLARKE Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:15:33
176 Andrew PINFOLD Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis 0:15:33

ABANDON Adrian HEGEVARY Unitedhealthcare Presented By Maxxis Abandon

 

[Mellow Velo]

My point being, Westra is a ITT-er himself who kept on par with Tony Martin in a much longer ITT than this one...

Plus it's clear Westra seems to have super legs at the moment.

I must admit that I had discounted Westra, after someone on here (you maybe?) had said he wasn't feeling great.
I certainly fancy his chances more than Wiggins if there is any wet weather about.
Last years ENECO Tour ITT springs to mind.

I bet the young Shack trialists will be eyeing another 3 day GC, too.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed that today's stage didn't end with the usual peloton break ups.

 

[search]

Appearently United Healthcare is also riding:

and I was even surprised to see a Colnago rider on the resultlist

 

[TeoSheva]

I must admit that I had discounted Westra, after someone on here (you maybe?) had said he wasn't feeling great.
I certainly fancy his chances more than Wiggins if there is any wet weather about.
Last years ENECO Tour ITT springs to mind.

I bet the young Shack trialists will be eyeing another 3 day GC, too.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed that today's stage didn't end with the usual peloton break ups.

who? Sergent?

 

[search]

I bet the young Shack trialists will be eyeing another 3 day GC, too.

Jesse Sergent? He lost 12 minutes today, got to have a good day on friday to win this

 

[Mellow Velo]

Jesse Sergent? He lost 12 minutes today, got to have a good day on friday to win this

OK.
Hadn't seen the GC. Just catching up.
He left his legs in Apeldoorn, clearly.

 

[TeoSheva]

Jesse Sergent? He lost 12 minutes today, got to have a good day on friday to win this

could be a scooter enough for him to win? I don't think so

 

[ScottinPhilly]

I don't know if this has already been asked so,

Does anyone know why Garmin chose not to defend their victory? It would seem with such a deep classics line-up De Panne would have been a good opportunity to get some of their guys besides Farrar,Hushovd and Haussler some racing kms.
Also, speaking of last year's race, where the f is David Millar? Has he raced yet this season? I think Westra has to be the favorite know, he went hard for this against Millar last year if my memory is correct.