Who can stop Boonen?

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Well, John Fahey's spent years wasting his talents on the Tour, but if he tried the cobbled classics I think he could really give Tom some trouble.

 

[Wallace]

Well, John Fahey's spent years wasting his talents on the Tour, but if he tried the cobbled classics I think he could really give Tom some trouble.

A couple years ago when I signed up for these forums, I promised myself that when I reached the magic number of 500 posts I'd stop posting and visiting these forums, as that seems like about the right amount of time to have spent/wasted/enjoyed chatting about the sport I love and have loved for a good 30 years now. There are a lot of very knowledgable posters here--the extent of depth of what some of the regular posters here know about the teams, the riders past, present and up-and-coming is truly amazing. Hugo Koblet, Dekker_Tifosi, even The Hog (with whom I have enjoyed bickering) and many others--I don't know any other forum where so many people know so much about the sport. It's been fun.

But--and here the mods can feel free to give me a life-time ban from the place, because I'm done here anyway--self-righteous *** like Waterloo Sunset (great song though) and Pipo whatever, etc., who insist on coming into the race discussions and sneering and launching their little ****-bombs, I ****ing hate those people. The clinic regulars need to accept that the people who post in the Professional Road Racing area know more than they do, are every bit as informed about the garbage that comes with the sport, but have chosen to focus on the races and the racers. But some people always feels obligated to **** on any parade they see, because they just hate the sight of people having a little fun. *******s. I won't miss them.

Bye all.

Wallace.

 

[Machu Picchu]

../..I won't miss them.

Bye all.

Wallace.

Bye Wallace and good post, feel free to return cause it helps even out the ratio of dipsht posts by the likes of Waterloo :/

 

[Froome19]

A couple years ago when I signed up for these forums, I promised myself that when I reached the magic number of 500 posts I'd stop posting and visiting these forums, as that seems like about the right amount of time to have spent/wasted/enjoyed chatting about the sport I love and have loved for a good 30 years now. There are a lot of very knowledgable posters here--the extent of depth of what some of the regular posters here know about the teams, the riders past, present and up-and-coming is truly amazing. Hugo Koblet, Dekker_Tifosi, even The Hog (with whom I have enjoyed bickering) and many others--I don't know any other forum where so many people know so much about the sport. It's been fun.

But--and here the mods can feel free to give me a life-time ban from the place, because I'm done here anyway--self-righteous *** like Waterloo Sunset (great song though) and Pipo whatever, etc., who insist on coming into the race discussions and sneering and launching their little ****-bombs, I ****ing hate those people. The clinic regulars need to accept that the people who post in the Professional Road Racing area know more than they do, are every bit as informed about the garbage that comes with the sport, but have chosen to focus on the races and the racers. But some people always feels obligated to **** on any parade they see, because they just hate the sight of people having a little fun. *******s. I won't miss them.

Bye all.

Wallace.

Wow....
But how is that going to stop Boonen

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Meh, 1 or 2% of my posts are in the clinic.

No point calling him back - quite clearly far too in to the grandeur of retiring on a round number of posts.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Sad that wallace is leaving..i always remember this post

It's impossible to compare the two because Lance in his prime was on such a huge amount of drugs--so much more than riders can take today, what with the bio-passport and all. Today riders have to micro-dose and work around the testers. In Lance's prime, you could take all the drugs you wanted, whenever you wanted. Ah, those were the days... If you put Contador on the program Lance was on in his prime, it would be like watching a bicycle duct-taped to the space shuttle go up the alps. You have to factor all that in when figuring out which one is the most talented.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It's how you tell 'em, it really is.

 

[c&cfan]

Sad that wallace is leaving..i always remember this post

so true. anyway, anyone that cannot understand that this is an internet forum with 0 importance for one's life isn't worth a "goodbye".

 

[Zam_Olyas]

It's how you tell 'em, it really is.

"presentation" is the shiznit

 

[Caruut]

Meh, 1 or 2% of my posts are in the clinic.

No point calling him back - quite clearly far too in to the grandeur of retiring on a round number of posts.

That wasn't why he called you an SRP, though, but feel free to burn down that strawman and prove him right.

 

[42x16ss]

Things that can (possibly) stop Tom Boonen:

 

[offbyone]

I think we agree Cancellara needs a team. Desperately.

Maybe I didn't write it clearly enough. It wouldn't be the first time!

I don't know. While I agree Radioshack doesn't have a proper classics support team, it seems like the team doesn't matter so much on the pave. Boonen had a teammate in the perfect position to assist him but the second they hit the pave he dropped him like a rock. When Cancellera was hot a couple years ago he did the same thing, he won on his own.

 

[42x16ss]

I don't know. While I agree Radioshack doesn't have a proper classics support team, it seems like the team doesn't matter so much on the pave. Boonen had a teammate in the perfect position to assist him but the second they hit the pave he dropped him like a rock. When Cancellera was hot a couple years ago he did the same thing, he won on his own.

Terpstra assisted Boonen alright. He was the reason Stannard was left to hang on the front by himself, not letting Hayman come around to take his turn for so long. Don't underestimate what he did just because he wasn't on the front pulling for Boonen.

 

[Mellow Velo]

So, maybe the police have the answer......
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/police-strike-threatens-amstel-gold-race

 

[BroDeal]

A couple years ago when I signed up for these forums, I promised myself that when I reached the magic number of 500 posts I'd stop posting and visiting these forums, as that seems like about the right amount of time to have spent/wasted/enjoyed chatting about the sport I love and have loved for a good 30 years now. There are a lot of very knowledgable posters here--the extent of depth of what some of the regular posters here know about the teams, the riders past, present and up-and-coming is truly amazing. Hugo Koblet, Dekker_Tifosi, even The Hog (with whom I have enjoyed bickering) and many others--I don't know any other forum where so many people know so much about the sport. It's been fun.

But--and here the mods can feel free to give me a life-time ban from the place, because I'm done here anyway--self-righteous *** like Waterloo Sunset (great song though) and Pipo whatever, etc., who insist on coming into the race discussions and sneering and launching their little ****-bombs, I ****ing hate those people. The clinic regulars need to accept that the people who post in the Professional Road Racing area know more than they do, are every bit as informed about the garbage that comes with the sport, but have chosen to focus on the races and the racers. But some people always feels obligated to **** on any parade they see, because they just hate the sight of people having a little fun. *******s. I won't miss them.

Bye all.

Wallace.

 

[greenedge]

you guys are forgetting Boom, especially in roubaix.

If he had went with Boonen it would have been better for him ( rather than having to chase ).

He is still young and is so talented- he is strong/ good at short ITT's with a good finishing kick.

 

[greenedge]

Another young prospect to keep an eye on is Adrien Petit

He could win M-SR in the future but he might need to go to a team that gets an invite.

 

[Angliru]

All things being equal I can't see Cancellara win Roubaix against Boonen.
They had finished together in 2008. Fabian tried several attacks no to avail.
A fit Boonen is able to follow anybody on the cobbles.

Of course mechanicals/crashes can put him out of contention.
Or tactical errors, but he will not let Fabian ride away anytime soon, you could bet on that.

In Flanders Fabian can drop him, no question about that.
Altough what he did in 2010 was against a not so super Boonen. (Quite possibly it was his worst season)

Anyhow, the coulda/woulda/shoulda makes waiting for next year all the more exciting.

+1
Boonen at his best can't be dropped on the cobbles. The only way he can be defeated is by an opponent's domestique (or his own) in a break that Boonen's team or another team can't reel in or potentially by Hushovd should he ever make it into the velodrome with Boonen. Paris-Roubaix is Boonen's race until his inevitable decline due to age as long as he has luck on his side and is able to avoid pre-race injury, crashes or punctures/mechanicals. Of course someone could rise from the ranks of the up and coming riders to challenge him too. Nevertheless his battle next year with Cancellara should be exciting to watch if they're both in top form.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Boonen possibly targeting Amstel Gold Race.

 

[Angliru]

Aside from the obvious (Cancellara)

In RVV - Peter Sagan, the guy is 22 and already at an incredible level as seen in this years Flanders. He has the speed in a sprint as well..He can beat Boonen in the future (in RVV). Sep Vanmarcke obviously, if he peaks for Flanders.
In PR - this is harder. But I would say Boom if he keeps improving. And Phinney who didn't do bad at all this year. But they still both have to improve a lot. And again Sep Vanmarcke as the most obvious one if he peaks later.

The Europcar rider (Turgot?) was extremely strong, attacking at least twice and eventually beating Ballan for 2nd. He is 27 so maybe he's a late bloomer?
I'm wondering though what ever happened to Martin Maaskant? He was able to get 4th place quite early in his career with a strong RVV also, but hasn't been heard from since.

 

[will10]

The Europcar rider (Turgot?) was extremely strong, attacking at least twice and eventually beating Ballan for 2nd. He is 27 so maybe he's a late bloomer?
I'm wondering though what ever happened to Martin Maaskant? He was able to get 4th place quite early in his career with a strong RVV also, but hasn't been heard from since.

Injuries and illness have cost Maaskant a couple of years unfortunately.

 

[Machu Picchu]

If he had went with Boonen it would have been better for him ( rather than having to chase ).

He is still young and is so talented- he is strong/ good at short ITT's with a good finishing kick.

Boom wasn't in the group when Boonen & Terpstra left the others (Pozzato/Ballan/Turgot)

Boonen possibly targeting Amstel Gold Race.

He'll possibly ride AGR but I don't think he'll be a major factor in the race.

 

[El Pistolero]

He hasn't touched his bike since Sunday and he feels sick, so he's not sure yet if he'll ride the Amstel Gold Race.

 

[Panda Claws]

He hasn't touched his bike since Sunday and he feels sick, so he's not sure yet if he'll ride the Amstel Gold Race.

Did he say that in the newspaper today?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Boonen not riding AGR ..rest and he will ride ATOC http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120411_boonen_amstel?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it