Who is left standing?

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

For Ronde van Vlaanderen, I think we have a nice crop of riders with almost equal chance of winning: GVA, Vanmarcke, Stybar, Sagan, Thomas and Kristoff. At the moment, I'd probably rate Kristoff and Sagan slightly below the others. I think the dynamics for a very good race is there. There's no clear favorite which bodes for an open race.

For Paris-Roubaix, again we have a few riders with almost equal chance of winning: Wiggins, Degenkolb, Kristoff, Stybar, Terpstra and Vanmarcke and then a lot of outsiders like Sagan, GVA, Thomas, Stannard etc.

I know that Cancellara (or Boonen) wasn't the big favorite he used to be, but the changed dynamics without these two might lead to some very interesting and entertaining races.

It could be this way, but it could also be like Buffalo Solider said: Cance and Boonen tend to make for great racing. Without them, since the other riders will think they have a better shot at winning, they could end up racing more conservatively.

I still believe Sep has the best chance at winning it solo a la Cancellara. He tried it yesterday, was a bit unlucky. I put Stybar and G. Thomas in Tier 1 as well, at least for Ronde.

Etixx has all the cards to make both RVV and PR carnages. They're our best hope for great races.

Hmm, I don't know if I agree. Yes, they are make for great racing and I certainly admire them for that, but how great was PR 2010 and 2012? Probably some of the most boring editions in modern times to be honest. Besides, Cancellara didn't do anything in PR last year as far as I remember.

 

[jens_attacks]

don't worry, gaudins is coming!

 

[Bushman]

Re:

For Ronde van Vlaanderen, I think we have a nice crop of riders with almost equal chance of winning: GVA, Vanmarcke, Stybar, Sagan, Thomas and Kristoff. At the moment, I'd probably rate Kristoff and Sagan slightly below the others. I think the dynamics for a very good race is there. There's no clear favorite which bodes for an open race.

For Paris-Roubaix, again we have a few riders with almost equal chance of winning: Wiggins, Degenkolb, Kristoff, Stybar, Terpstra and Vanmarcke and then a lot of outsiders like Sagan, GVA, Thomas, Stannard etc.

I know that Cancellara (or Boonen) wasn't the big favorite he used to be, but the changed dynamics without these two might lead to some very interesting and entertaining races.

I think Degenkolb has a better chance than Kristoff in De Ronde. He has been working on his climbing/stamina this year and he was more fresh then Kristoff at MSR at the end and he looked better on the cobbles yesterday as well.

 

[Bushman]

Also I think Vanmarcke has a decent chance in PR just because he is so strong, but I think he will miss his team in RVV where positioning and tactics are more importants.

 

[Netserk]

Lol, Degenkolb will do as well in Ronde as Hushovd ever did. Kristoff is better on the bergs.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Lol, Degenkolb will do as well in Ronde as Hushovd ever did. Kristoff is better on the bergs.

I can't see either of them winning. If they are in the lead group after the final climb, the other riders will just attack them relentlessly - riders like Terpstra, Thomas and Vamarcke aren't going to tow them into the last 2km.

 

[goggalor]

Re: Re:

Lol, Degenkolb will do as well in Ronde as Hushovd ever did. Kristoff is better on the bergs.

I can't see either of them winning. If they are in the lead group after the final climb, the other riders will just attack them relentlessly - riders like Terpstra, Thomas and Vamarcke aren't going to tow them into the last 2km.

Can't really disagree with that, but it's worth mentioning that RVV is the race Kristoff is targeting this year, I think he'll be far stronger there than in MSR.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Any news if Langeveld is injured after his crash? He could have been a dark horse considering

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Any news if Langeveld is injured after his crash? He could have been a dark horse considering

It sounds like he's only missing this weekend, should be okay in a week.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Lol, Degenkolb will do as well in Ronde as Hushovd ever did. Kristoff is better on the bergs.

I can't see either of them winning. If they are in the lead group after the final climb, the other riders will just attack them relentlessly - riders like Terpstra, Thomas and Vamarcke aren't going to tow them into the last 2km.

Can't really disagree with that, but it's worth mentioning that RVV is the race Kristoff is targeting this year, I think he'll be far stronger there than in MSR.

If we know that, then GVA, Thomas, Vanmarcke and Stybar will sure as hell know they need to drop Kristoff. QS will race hard, and Paolini can't hold Kristoff's hand the whole way; I don't see him or Degenkolb being in the top 3-5.

 

[SKSemtex]

Sagan, Vandenberg, GVA for RVV
Vanmarke, Styby Terpstra for PR

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

Lol, Degenkolb will do as well in Ronde as Hushovd ever did. Kristoff is better on the bergs.

Hushovd's best finish was 14th, Degenkolb has already bettered that with a 9th placed finish.

Kristoff though does look like a better chance.

 

[shalgo]

Definitely a changing of the guard this year. The last time we had a Ronde with neither Boonen nor Cancellara on the podium was 2009.

For Paris-Roubaix, the last time without at least one of them on the podium was 2007; without one in the top 6, 2003.

 

[the asian]

Hoping the forgotten Frenchies, Turgot,Ladagnous,Gaudin & Offredo can be in the mix, at least in PR.

For RVV, the favourites should be, Vanmarcke,Stybar,GVA & Thomas. I'd also not rule Sagan out, specially for a podium place.

For PR-Terpstra,Vanmarcke,Kristoff & Degenkolb.

 

[Sasquatch]

RVV: Vanmarke, Stybar, Terpstra, Devolder, Boom, GVA, Thomas - Thomas will probably win
PR: Wiggins, Terpstra, Van Marcke, Degenkolb, Gaudin, Demare, Stybar, Boom

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

I don't think he will win it, but Bjorn Leukemans has finished in the top 20 of all 7 times he has won it with the best placed finish of 4th.

I have huge doubts that Sagan is in good enough form to win it but maybe he will peak perfectly.

For RVV
***** Thomas, Stybar, Van Avermaet,
**** Terpstra, Kristoff, Vanmarcke
*** Sagan, Degenkolb, Chavanel, Boom, Langeveld, Roelandts
** Leukemans, Oss, Vandenbergh,
* Pozzato, Devolder, Burghardt, Offredo

 

[Jancouver]

Edvald Boasson Hagen fractured his right clavicule at Gent-Wevelgem, ruling him out of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix

 

[TMP402]

Re:

I don't think he will win it, but Bjorn Leukemans has finished in the top 20 of all 7 times he has won it with the best placed finish of 4th.

I have huge doubts that Sagan is in good enough form to win it but maybe he will peak perfectly.

For RVV
***** Thomas, Stybar, Van Avermaet,
**** Terpstra, Kristoff, Vanmarcke
*** Sagan, Degenkolb, Chavanel, Boom, Langeveld, Roelandts
** Leukemans, Oss, Vandenbergh,
* Pozzato, Devolder, Burghardt, Offredo

I just realised how anonymous these two have been this year. Although I have ranked them highly for RVV and PR, looking at their seasons so far, I don't think there's any way for them to be in good enough form.

Neither Boom nor Langeveld rode in Omloop or KBK, both abandoned E3. Boom did nothing in the first two days of De Panne before DNFing. Langeveld's best result this year is coming 14th at MSR. We can probably discount them.

 

[Noverca]

Boom fell a couple of times, but showed something that can be considered good form in DDV (where he fell too while attacking). I have seen him trying to set up an attack in the second stage of De Panne too, it just didn't work out because everyone was on his wheel. Langeveld crashed in the E3, but he is maybe going to ride RVV to gain some form into PR. It's a little early to discount them both in my opinion, especially Boom can pull something off in a wet PR.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

I don't think he will win it, but Bjorn Leukemans has finished in the top 20 of all 7 times he has won it with the best placed finish of 4th.

I have huge doubts that Sagan is in good enough form to win it but maybe he will peak perfectly.

For RVV
***** Thomas, Stybar, Van Avermaet,
**** Terpstra, Kristoff, Vanmarcke
*** Sagan, Degenkolb, Chavanel, Boom, Langeveld, Roelandts
** Leukemans, Oss, Vandenbergh,
* Pozzato, Devolder, Burghardt, Offredo

I just realised how anonymous these two have been this year. Although I have ranked them highly for RVV and PR, looking at their seasons so far, I don't think there's any way for them to be in good enough form.

Neither Boom nor Langeveld rode in Omloop or KBK, both abandoned E3. Boom did nothing in the first two days of De Panne before DNFing. Langeveld's best result this year is coming 14th at MSR. We can probably discount them.

You are right, both are over starred in my list.