Tour of Flanders Predictions

[cineteq]

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Boasson Hagen
4. Breschel
5. Vanmarcke
6. Haussler
7. Chavanel
8. Sagan
9. Rojas
10. Gilbert

 

[El Pistolero]

Who is mimo??

Chava. Mimosa is a French film character Chava likes to imitate and that's why he's called Mimo(sa).

 

[Lexman]

Cancellara, Boonen, Chavanel

Sagan & Vanmarcke might be a bit too young for this RVV

Pozzato, Breschel, Devolder, Ballan, GVA & perhaps Gilbert for top 10 place...

Gilbert downplays his chances today on Sporza and says he won't be in contention since he won't change for the better that much this week

I suppose Vanmarcke goes more for PR but don't see Hausler at all, he hasn't done a thing this year...

 

[search]

I suppose Vanmarcke goes more for PR but don't see Hausler at all, he hasn't done a thing this year...

van Summeren will try to defend his title of course, so Vanmarcke's first objective will be the Ronde

I predict an outsider to win it, Boonen and Cancellara to neutralize themselves for too long

Vanmarcke/Leukemans - Boonen/Cancellara/Pozzato

 

[skidmark]

van Summeren will try to defend his title of course, so Vanmarcke's first objective will be the Ronde

I predict an outsider to win it, Boonen and Cancellara to neutralize themselves for too long

Vanmarcke/Leukemans - Boonen/Cancellara/Pozzato

Why do you think it's obvious that Van Summeren will 'defend his title'? I disagree, he won because he was a wildcard that was allowed to go and was good enough to hold off his breakaway companions while the chase behind played games, he understands that and the team does too, so I don't see why they'd ride for him over a better rider in Vanmarcke.

Also, I'd suggest that if an 'outsider' won, it wouldn't be one of the two you'd mention, as Boonen and Canc would chase them down, it's not like they're just going to 'neutralize themselves' for the sake of it. If a teammate of either is up the road and the other one doesn't want to lead the chase, that's when they'd neutralize each other. If there are genuine threats attacking, they will follow and both chase.

 

[meat puppet]

1. Cancellara
2. Boonen
3. Vanmarcke
4. Sagan
5. Chavanel

Hoping for Vanmarcke to win or Breschel. But in the final instance I think Cance was sandbagging a bit in both E3 and G-W and will drop the others on the last ascent up the Oude Kwaremont. If not, then on the Paterberg. Tommeke takes the sprint for second. Should anyone be able to go with Canc, I think he shall be the winner.

Also I don't think that Boonen and Cancellara will mark one another out, though I wouldn't mind that either. Would be dramatic in and of itself.

Hope this plays out in an exciting fashion, though, and if this boring prediction is wrong then all the better. I mean, on paper at least, OPQS, BMC and also Garmin should have the numbers (as in many possible threats or winners even, depending on how it plays out) and there are obviously many teams with strong candidates some of whom have also been nominated in this thread.

Bring it on

 

[barmaher]

I have a sneaky feeling that this will be Sagan's first monument.

I recognise that Spartacus and Tom are more likely winners, but something about Sagan suggests to me that he is a blood drinking beast, and blood drinking beasts are suited to this race.

 

[meat puppet]

I have a sneaky feeling that this will be Sagan's first monument.

I recognise that Spartacus and Tom are more likely winners, but something about Sagan suggests to me that he is a blood drinking beast, and blood drinking beasts are suited to this race.

the logo kinda agrees with you, about blood-drinking at least

 

[dlwssonic]

I expect Gilbert to surprise a few. I believe he can top 10. But this time he might have to be a domestique. Thor will fail.

 

[Red Rick]

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
the rest

 

[search]

Why do you think it's obvious that Van Summeren will 'defend his title'? I disagree, he won because he was a wildcard that was allowed to go and was good enough to hold off his breakaway companions while the chase behind played games, he understands that and the team does too, so I don't see why they'd ride for him over a better rider in Vanmarcke.

it has been mentioned by Farrar a while ago - Sanremo for Haussler, Gent-Wevelgem for him, Ronde for Vanmarcke, Roubaix for van Summeren. It might turn out different but it wasn't just luck which made him win the race last year, in my eyes it's just fair to give him the chance to prove exactly that.

Also, I'd suggest that if an 'outsider' won, it wouldn't be one of the two you'd mention, as Boonen and Canc would chase them down, it's not like they're just going to 'neutralize themselves' for the sake of it. If a teammate of either is up the road and the other one doesn't want to lead the chase, that's when they'd neutralize each other. If there are genuine threats attacking, they will follow and both chase.

ok, might not have been the best examples, it's just that I can't imagine someone like Terpstra or Gallopin win the Ronde, I was searching for riders which are good but a bit under the radar. Vanmarcke might be too good to be included in there

 

[ooh_25mm]

I have a sneaky feeling that this will be Sagan's first monument.

It seems Sagan's one weakness is in-race recovery. At E3 he said his attacking earlier in the race cost him in the sprint, at GW it appears chasing Canc affected his ability to produce his typical sprint.

He is an amazing rider but probably needs a few more classics and GTs in the legs. I would love to be wrong

IMO.
If Dry.

1. Chav (a la Devolder)
2. Canc (leaves late to chase Chav, but Chav is too strong)
3. Sagan (Wins the sprint from group of 10)
4. Pippo
5. Sep
6. Boonen (can't be bothered to spring for podium places)

If Wet. Only the strong will survive

1. Boonen (from two up sprint, canc too cooked to drop him in the run in)
2. Canc
3. Sep
4. Pippo

Tor and Phil don't factor in the race.

 

[Museeuw]

I have strong feeling that Cancellara is not able to drop Tommeke if Boonen don't has bad luck (flat or mechanical at wrong time). Chavanel is marked man so he won't get the opportunity. Though if Tommeke can't win I really hope that Chava would.

1. Boonen
2. Vanmarcke
3. Sagan
4. Cancellara
5. Breschel
6. Pozzato
7. Devolder

 

[nvpacchi]

The only thing worrying me about a Boonen/Canc showdown is there will be a mass sprint for 3rd-40th place like in 2010. I really hope someone like vanMarcke, Degenkolb, or Sagan can follow the two heavy favorites and deliver a more exciting race.

1. Boonen
2. Cancellara
3. Degenkolb
4. Pozzato
5. van Marcke

 

[webbie146]

Cancellara is gonna kick so much *** it's gonna be amazing

Edit: Well at-least my money thinks that's gonna be the case. I put 100,- Euro on Cancellara at a online bookmaker lol..

 

[DirtyWorks]

?. Boonen
?. Vanmarcke
?. Sagan
?. Chavanel
5. Cancellara

Hoping for Vanmarcke to win or Breschel. But in the final instance I think Cance was sandbagging a bit

Cance wasn't sandbagging. He's got no team for the classics so he's more or less alone slugging it out with a Boonen's crew at the sharp end of the race.

Cance's situation is tragic. He is the strongest guy on the course most days with no team to help set him up for the win.

I like your other choices, however I don't know who will get onto the podium's top step.

 

[Richeypen]

Canc to attack time after time but be unable to shift Boonen. Small group comes home together won by Sagan

 

[ak-zaaf]

1. Chavanel
2. Langeveld
3. Ballan

 

[mr. tibbs]

Lots of love for Sagan in here. I know he's been on great form, but I can't see him taking Flanders off the shoulders of Cancellara or Boonen. I think even Chava or Pippo would give him serious trouble. He might win it in a few years, but not yet.

I also think that many of you are right about the potential for Boonen and Cancellara to mark each other out of the race--right out the front of the lead group with no one else following. /joke

I don't think Cancellara can out shine OPQS on his own, but I know he's not going to stop trying. Top six in alphabetical order:

Ballan
Boonen
Cancellara
Chavanel
Pippo
Sagan

 

[analo69]

Breschel
Cancellara
Pippo Pozzatto
Boonen
Thor Hushovd

You heard it here first and I will bookmark this post to show you Sunday at 1730ish.

 

[Froome19]

Breschel
Cancellara
Pippo Pozzatto
Boonen
Thor Hushovd

You heard it here first and I will bookmark this post to show you Sunday at 1730ish.

I am tempted to use it as my signature until then....

Seriously ;Breschel & also Hushovd, I guarantee you wont see him until Roubaix

 

[Gloin22]

I am tempted to use it as my signature until then....

Seriously ;Breschel & Hushovd I guarantee you wont see him until Roubaix

Breschel is not riding PR, he's focusing on Ardennes after Ronde

 

[Froome19]

Breschel is not riding PR, he's focusing on Ardennes after Ronde

Yeh I know i was reffering to Hushovd

 

[Swede1]

1 Cancellara
2 Boonen
3 Pozzato
4 Sagan
5 Breschel
6 Chavanel
7 Terpstra

 

[Froome19]

1 Cancellara
2 Boonen
3 Pozzato
4 Sagan
5 Breschel
6 Chavanel
7 Terpstra

Hard to imagine 3 OPQ's in the top 7, it would probably mean a big fail on their behalf, yet when considering which of the 3 doesnt deserve to be in their its difficult to come up with an answer due to Terpstra's perfomance at Dwars doors.
I agree with your placing of Pozzato though but i think people are overrating Breschel a bit.