Who can stop Boonen?

[ccyclo]

After his fantastic ride in the P-R I just wonder who can stop this guy apart from Cancellara? Tom is just 31 and can dominate for many more years.

 

[phanatic]

Sagan, Peter.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

If he can repeat this years form it is only Cancellara, Pozzato and perhaps (next year ofc) Peter Sagan

 

[Spine Concept]

Maybe Pozatto, with a little bit of better luck and intuition. Would have liked to see how things would have unfolded had Pozatto and Ballan stuck it out with Boonen and Terpstra.

 

[ccyclo]

By the way, why didn't sagan race P-R?

 

[Cancellator]

From what I've seen no one can really manage 2 amazing seasons in a row these days (Cancellara great 2010, 2011 not so much; Gilbert inhuman 2011, 2012 does not seem that great yet). So, I wouldn't worry that much.

 

[The Hitch]

To the question,no one can stop Boonen, other than Cancellara, but thats enough

Well in RVV Sagan and maybe 1 or 2 other guys can stop Boonen, Gilbert, Breschel perhaps, Ballan if he stays the same.

In PR no one.

By the way, why didn't sagan race P-R?

Cos he was racing so much and he feels he can win Amstel gold.

 

[c&cfan]

To the question,no one can stop Boonen, other than Cancellara, but thats enough.

Well in RVV Sagan and maybe 1 or 2 other guys can stop Boonen, Gilbert, Breschel perhaps, Ballan if he stays the same.

In PR no one.



Cos he was racing so much and he feels he can win Amstel gold.

i've been reading your posts about the cancellara vs boonen duel..

while i believe that canc could drop boonen in RVV, i seriously believe that tom would have won roubaix anyway.

about this topic... i just can't wait to watch sagan during the next 15 years..

 

[The Hitch]

From what I've seen no one can really manage 2 amazing seasons in a row these days (Cancellara great 2010, 2011 not so much; Gilbert inhuman 2011, 2012 does not seem that great yet). So, I wouldn't worry that much.

I think Cancellara was just as good in 2011, he just had a crap team so lost Flanders on a 50k solo even though he was clearly the strongest and got tactiacally owned by Garmin in PR rendering his strength worthless.

 

[Cancellator]

I think Cancellara was just as good in 2011, he just had a crap team so lost Flanders on a 50k solo even though he was clearly the strongest and got tactiacally owned by Garmin in PR rendering his strength worthless.

Yes I did not say he had bad form, he is consistently super strong. I just said it's hard to have two excellent seasons(i.e. with many victories) in a row. Many factors come into play here, including other teams wising up to how good you are and marking you, not just form.

 

[luckyboy]

You guys are forgetting the only guy who beat him in a (proper) cobbled race this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

From what I've seen no one can really manage 2 amazing seasons in a row these days (Cancellara great 2010, 2011 not so much; Gilbert inhuman 2011, 2012 does not seem that great yet). So, I wouldn't worry that much.

Boonen 2005/2006

 

[Panda Claws]

IF Boonen is good then there are very few cyclists able to fight him.

Ronde van Vlaanderen

* Fabian Cancellara IS stronger here, Boonen will need to be able to hang on.
* An in-form Philippe Gilbert especially with the more hilly finale
* Filippo Pozzato is a bit unlucky: Stronger than Boonen on the hills but weaker than Cancellara. Stronger than Cancellara in the sprint but weaker than Boonen.
* Peter Sagan if he keeps growing like this


Paris-Roubaix

* Fabian Cancellara is probably stronger here too, but by a much smaller margin.
* Thor Hushovd if he can hang on for a sprint

 

[maltiv]

Thor Hushovd if he can hang on for a sprint

I highly doubt Hushovd can outsprint Boonen nowadays.

 

[therhodeo]

I highly doubt Hushovd can outsprint Boonen nowadays.

Especially at the end of a long classics race.

 

[Panda Claws]

I highly doubt Hushovd can outsprint Boonen nowadays.

Point Taken. Still he's a more of a threat than others this way.

 

[El Pistolero]

If he learns to not crash in Roubaix maybe...

All Boonen needs to win now is Milan-San Remo and his career would be close to perfection for someone of his capabilities. Perhaps a point jersey in the Vuelta, but then again, who gives a damn about those things!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Only boonen himself.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Too many of these. Nothing else.

 

[ccyclo]

What about Sep Vanmarcke, Edvald BH, Greg van Avermat, Stijn Devolder if he ever returns to form, John Degenkolb, Leukemans?

Matt Heyman impressed me in PR, 8th, does he ever ride for his own chance?

 

[hfer07]

Cocaine & the wrong Nightclubs

 

[staubsauger]

actually, sep vanmarcke have beaten tom boonen this year at omloop, while showing he was just the stronger boy that race. so there's no need for this question.

 

[ElChingon]

Cocaine & the wrong Nightclubs

You left out banned BOB girls, well not in Belgium

 

[Boeing]

By the way, why didn't sagan race P-R?

not sure but his little brother did

 

[42x16ss]

not sure but his little brother did

They didn't want to risk burning him out, Sagan has already done a lot of racing this year for someone so young.

I can see some of the young guns giving Boonen a closer run in the northern classics next year. Sagan, Thomas, Van Marcke, Degenkolb, Phinney, Turgot, Langeveld, Stannard and possibly even Luke Durbridge are a few of the younger guys who look like becoming real contenders in the next year or two.

Boonen and Cancellara won't have it all their way.