Who will win 2013 Ronde van Vlaanderen?

[SafeBet]

Pozzato to put his nose into wind for total 50 meters

The last 50.

 

[ElChingon]

I think due to the over hyping of the favorites we're due for another "One hit wonder" winning it due to the favorites thinking a bit too highly of themselves.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Cancellara easily. The new route pretty much guarantees it... assuming he doesn't go way too early, but I doubt that. I think we're in for a predictable edition. Cance to power away on the final ascent of Kwaremont.

 

[greenedge]

I voted Sagan- although Cancellara can win it too.
Cancellara to win PR anyways so...

Thomas to round out the podium.

 

[theyoungest]

Cancellara easily. The new route pretty much guarantees it... assuming he doesn't go way too early, but I doubt that. I think we're in for a predictable edition. Cance to power away on the final ascent of Kwaremont.

That reminds me a bit too much of the last time he couldn't lose this race. Tricky Nicky won.

 

[burning]

The last 50.

Exactly

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

That reminds me a bit too much of the last time he couldn't lose this race. Tricky Nicky won.

He went way too early, but of course I covered that in my post. I don't think it's likely that he'll go from that far out ever again, especially not on the new, much harder course. It's a completely different race now, IMO.

 

[Ferminal]

He doesn't need to go from as far because the course should be more selective in its own right. Some decent pacing from STIJN to get rid of the pesky Green Army by the red loop will help.

 

[theyoungest]

He went way too early, but of course I covered that in my post. I don't think it's likely that he'll go from that far out ever again, especially not on the new, much harder course. It's a completely different race now, IMO.

Yeah, if he does everything right and the circumstances turn out in his favour he'll win. But that's always the case with favourites.

If you take last year's race, it was actually pretty open for a long time. The course was supposed to be way harder, but considering the size of the group until way into the final, apparently it's not. The main thing that thinned out the group was a crash.

 

[notrolfsorensen]

Went with the Vino option, cause I think Breschel is gonna be the one to take it this year in a totally undeserved way, like Nuyens in 2011. It's gonna be great

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Yeah, if he does everything right and the circumstances turn out in his favour he'll win. But that's always the case with favourites.

If you take last year's race, it was actually pretty open for a long time. The course was supposed to be way harder, but considering the size of the group until way into the final, apparently it's not. The main thing that thinned out the group was a crash.

My point was that the new route makes it more likely that the circumstances will play out in his favor, though.

The new route makes it (even) more of a waiting game, IMO. Not the same, but more similar to Liege and the Roche aux Faucons than it used to be. That doesn't mean it's not harder. Boonen kind of proved that it is.

 

[maxmartin]

CN got it right this time