Who will win 2015 Ronde van Vlaanderen?

[mrhender]

My "dark horse" is Devolder....

 

[Jspear]

1. G
2. GVA
3. Sep

 

[King Boonen]

Sep deserves a big win, I'm hopeful it's him, G or Sagan.

 

[Jspear]

Sagan needs to hope that a group of around 10 gets away from everyone else. If he is in a smaller group he won't win because he has to contribute so much energy to maintaining the gap...To many things have to go right for him to win. I would love it if he did win but I really don't think he'll manage.

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

Sagan needs to hope that a group of around 10 gets away from everyone else. If he is in a smaller group he won't win because he has to contribute so much energy to maintaining the gap...To many things have to go right for him to win. I would love it if he did win but I really don't think he'll manage.

Sagan only has to contribute a lot if others are up the road. If he's in the lead group he can easily play the game of "You guys do it and go for the win, I can hang on or wait for the bunch and still have a shot". If others are up the road from the same team then no one will drag him there, so he needs to make sure he picks the right group.

It's Flanders, not Milan-Sanremo, at most it's going to be a small bunch sprint at the end and Sagan will always be one of the favourites for that. He needs to ride smarter than he has been doing but really this is probably the monument he has the best chance of winning.

 

[Wallenquist]

Everything depends on.... Etixx. If they will send a guy like Terpstra or Vandenbergh to a group of five six riders over the Paterberg we can even get a sprint from 20 guys because they won't ride no matter what. But it could also end with Thomas, Vanmarcke and Stybar riding away from everyone else and fight for a win. GVA is not that strong on bergs, he has to seek for opportunities other then following big guys on Paterberg, same with Kristoff.

 

[wayahead]

I hope Sep, GVA, Sagan or G will take this for the good of cycling. No Degenkolb, Kristoff, Stybar or any other smart rider.

 

[Tommy79]

Thomas has got to be red hot favourite now so wouldn't be surprised if someone pulled a Paolini while etixx are watching him.

Looks like the wind is going to drop

 

[hfer07]

Either "G" or GVA will be very pleasant
Terpstra would be OK in my book.
Stybar is OK too.

Sagan will be a relieve & the most needed win of his career at this moment.

but must of all -I'd love to see an outsider win it to screw up the bookies

 

[The Barb]

Terpstra is my pick. I thought he was incredible in Ghent-Wevelgem. He was the last man to join the successful break, having to bridge a 49 second gap to do so, which he did over only 4.5km. Then he was first over the Kemmelberg (only Thomas could stay with him). Then flatted he with 18km to go and lost 20-25 seconds, which he regained in only 1.5km. Then as soon as he did catch the lead group he immediately attacked (only Paolini following him). Then he outsprinted Thomas for second place.

Everyone seems to be (understandably) so impressed with how strong Thomas was, but overlooking how good Terpstra was.

 

[GP Blanco]

I hope Vanmarcke will take it. He deserves a win after his racing this campaign. But the riders who deserve it won't win in most cases.

 

[Miburo]

G Thomas will be the strongest, he'll win it too.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Either "G" or GVA will be very pleasant
Terpstra would be OK in my book.
Stybar is OK too.

Sagan will be a relieve & the most needed win of his career at this moment.

but must of all -I'd love to see an outsider win it to screw up the bookies

To screw the bookies (certainly uk based ones) I think a Thomas win would be most damaging. I can imagine they've taken a fair few bets on him winning over the past few days. When an outsider wins it's usually a great day for the bookies.

 

[The Barb]

I'd love to see an outsider win it to screw up the bookies

To screw the bookies (certainly uk based ones) I think a Thomas win would be most damaging. I can imagine they've taken a fair few bets on him winning over the past few days. When an outsider wins it's usually a great day for the bookies.

I hope you're right. I got Thomas at 33-1 after E3 Harelbeke. Couldn't believe the price.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I'd love to see an outsider win it to screw up the bookies

To screw the bookies (certainly uk based ones) I think a Thomas win would be most damaging. I can imagine they've taken a fair few bets on him winning over the past few days. When an outsider wins it's usually a great day for the bookies.

I hope you're right. I got Thomas at 33-1 after E3 Harelbeke. Couldn't believe the price.

Damn that is nice I got G at 21:1 and that was after Paris Nice

 

[jens_attacks]

alejandro valverde belmonte will win this bike race.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

alejandro valverde belmonte will win this bike race.

That would be something! Anyway I think Thomas will be heavily marked, I don't see him winning. Terpstra or Stybar for my money

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I'm going with Sep

 

[trevim]

I hope Ettix figures out Vandenbergh's position on the team: if he's not a winner like Lefevere says, please just don't send him in late breaks. Just use him as a superdomestique for Terpstra, Stybar or maybe even Trentin.

 

[hfer07]

I hope Ettix figures out Vandenbergh's position on the team: if he's not a winner like Lefevere says, please just don't send him in late breaks. Just use him as a superdomestique for Terpstra, Stybar or maybe even Trentin.

.......but I thought he was already doing that though............

BTW I believe he should "work with the designated leader(s) & have a free role too" instead of wasting valuable energy in a breakaway and then burn himself for others not capable of finishing the job.

He should be sent to "win the race" instead

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Is the poll as broken for you guys as it is for me?

 

[Netserk]

Yep...

 

[greenedge]

Tried to vote for Sagan, but couldn't Other big favourites are Stybar, GVA, Vanmarcke and Thomas.

Roelandts and Kristoff if they feature will be really dangerous too.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

alejandro valverde belmonte will win this bike race.

Anyone but him!!!

At the Ronde (or PR for that matter), being a marked man isn't that big a deal, really. So Thomas has a really good shot. I hope Sagan gets the big win he so desperately needs. Dark horse: Gallopin. Question mark: Philippe Gilbert: if (big but hopeful if) he can have a good day, he can beat anybody. Not a shot: Boonen.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Is Gilbert even racing?