Who will win 2015 Ronde van Vlaanderen?

[Flamin]

Who will win 2015 Ronde van Vlaanderen?

 

[Flamin]

Ah, poll still not working? might as well change this into the offical race thread then.

 

[Netserk]

SEP

 

[SeriousSam]

Geraint is going to be the strongest. Whether he can turn that into victory as a heavily marked man remains to be seen.

 

[DFA123]

I think Van Avermaet has a good chance. He's been relatively quiet in the last few weeks, but had great form earlier in the season and has the sprint to win from a small group. BMC have looked strong as well as a team. Not sure if he will be fully recovered from his crash though.

Vandenbergh will be there at the end, but obviously won't win. Etixx will have to hope that he has brought Stybar with him this time, because Terpstra basically looks like a weaker version of Thomas at the moment, whereas at least Styby can sprint a bit.

 

[MartinGT]

Would like to see Degonkolb win it. Vanmarcke will no doubt make another tactical f@ck up but would be chuffed to see him take it.

 

[Flamin]

Quick Step to pull it off this time. Styby FTW. 2nd choice is Niki.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Styby I think

 

[SKSemtex]

Let the best win. I just do not want to see another magical PaoliniKristoff´s miracle.

 

[lemon cheese cake]

The strength of Thomas will put him as a marked man. Everyone will follow him while some unheard of rider will attack on the Oude Kwaremont. The peleton will let him go before attacks from the main protagonists on the Paterberg. The lone rider from the Oude Kwaremont will extend his lead on the Paterberg descent. The favourites will forget about him and only realise he's out their with 4kms to go. A frantic chaotic and unorganised chase will precede. The lone rider will cross the line when the chasers have a Km to go.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Kristoff will take it.

 

[DBotero]

Vanmarcke or G.

 

[Lexman]

I'd say Vanmarcke but he seems always running short at the end Thomas will be neutralised by Etixx, might be in favour of Vandenbergh when Styby or Terpstra are on Thomas wheel...

Given the weather we have these days it seems for the first time since the parcours has been changed we will have a real hard RVV

 

[SafeBet]

Roelandts for me.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Given the weather we have these days it seems for the first time since the parcours has been changed we will have a real hard RVV

On Sunday the wind won't be anywhere near as strong as now..

 

[Sasquatch]

Demare has to do something eventually (top 3, not win), but I think that will be PR that he will podium!

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Worst case scenario: Thomas or one of the Quicksteppers (especially Stybar or Terpstra).
Best case scenario: it's Sagan or Vanmarcke.

Most likely: it will be GVA. He has Oss, Burghardt on his team and he's strong on Paterberg. Also he has found out how to actually win a race with his Tirreno stage-win.

 

[Sasquatch]

As for the winner, I'm going with Lars Boom!

He will probably do the double. Flanders and Roubaix

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Sagan

darkhorse: Burghardt

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Thomas is the strongest. But it would also be quite nice to see Degenkolb win 3 monuments in a single season, something no one but Merckx has ever done

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

Thomas is the strongest. But it would also be quite nice to see Degenkolb win 3 monuments in a single season, something no one but Merckx has ever done

I would rather someone won the first 3 monuments of the year who has at least some chance in the other two.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Thomas is the strongest. But it would also be quite nice to see Degenkolb win 3 monuments in a single season, something no one but Merckx has ever done

I would rather someone won the first 3 monuments of the year who has at least some chance in the other two.

Greg Van Avermaet then?

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re: Re:

Thomas is the strongest. But it would also be quite nice to see Degenkolb win 3 monuments in a single season, something no one but Merckx has ever done

I would rather someone won the first 3 monuments of the year who has at least some chance in the other two.

Greg Van Avermaet then?

I don't think he has a realistic chance at the last two either and is simply not good enough. Gilbert at his peak is probably the closest in recent times. I don't think there is anybody at the moment.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Thomas is the strongest. But it would also be quite nice to see Degenkolb win 3 monuments in a single season, something no one but Merckx has ever done

I would rather someone won the first 3 monuments of the year who has at least some chance in the other two.

Greg Van Avermaet then?

I don't think he has a realistic chance at the last two either and is simply not good enough. Gilbert at his peak is probably the closest in recent times. I don't think there is anybody at the moment.

Gilbert is a good pick indeed. Kwiatkowski has the talent to do it in the future. However, Van Avermaet is actually the active rider with the lowest overall score in all five monuments (1 point for 1st, 2 point for 2nd etc.).

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Van Avermaet is a rider who goes close to winning but doesn't actually do so. Gerrans is an example of a lesser rider who actually wins things.