Who will win PR 2014?

[rainman]

They have to ride more aggressively. When you have the numbers, you have to attack to make the advantage count. At the Ronde all three Omega captains (Boonen, Terpstra, Stybar) hid in the bunch or in the big lead group after Taaienberg and were then dropped on the Kwaremont. Great tactics.

The problem began when they didn't place a rider in the early break meaning they had to do a huge amount of work to bring it back. When they got to the final bergs they were probably shattered. I voted Cance but Omega, with ears burning from DS, are certain to make a big impact. If Boonens form does pick up there will be serious warfare next week.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Wow only 1 vote for Sagan

I think a Degenkolb or Kristoff will win it.

 

[NUFCrichard]

It's weird the way the tables have turned. Cancellara always had to drop everyone as otherwise someone would wheel suck him and outsprint him, whereas now he knows he can just follow other attacks and outsprint them at the end!

I guess he would rather roll in with the peleton and lose a bunch sprint to a Sagan, Kristoff or Degenkolb, than put in loads of work and drag someone to the end only to be outsprinted.

Anyway, I'll take Kristoff for P-R.

 

[wayahead]

voted for sagan as dark horse(wow, I didn't actually think I will write this combination someday, but here it is):

I really like the idea of Sagan the dark horse, it's so funny - from co-favourite in Flanders to outsider a week later I'll go with him as well. I don't think he has a chance, but it's easy to be his fan when everything is going well. Time to repay.

 

[Afrank]

voted for sagan as dark horse(wow, I didn't actually think I will write this combination someday, but here it is):
1. after a dissapointing race, he usually does well the next time(doesn't mean he must win, but it raises his chances)
2. nobody will mark him here, especially after this year's RvV, so he probably won't be "played" into working as in RvV, where also his team manager said, he did work on Kruisberg where he needn't to.
3. I probably won't be able to watch, and he usually fails big time when I'm watching. Though, this point is not very scientific i know

Gotta admit, it would be pretty cool to see Sagan take his first monument in a race that probably would be hardest as well as the most unlikely monument for him to win.

Hopefully your right and he takes that rage from a sub-par Flanders performance and puts it to good use over the cobbles of roubaix.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Irrational Boonen vote.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

i learned in the other thread that sir bradley wiggins is an overwhelming favorite for pr, seeing as how he came in 32nd place in flanders. i don't see how anyone can stop him. he's a proven force on the cobbles!

 

[DirtyWorks]

Gotta admit, it would be pretty cool to see Sagan take his first monument in a race that probably would be hardest as well as the most unlikely monument for him to win.

Hopefully your right and he takes that rage from a sub-par Flanders performance and puts it to good use over the cobbles of roubaix.

I'll say it again, Sagan was riding mostly unsupported for the Tour of Flanders and he's deep into a big block of racing. He's going to be heavily covered at P-R and it doesn't look like he's getting great help from his team there either. Circumstances are very difficult for him to get a P-R podium.

I don't see Wiggo making it half-way through the cobbled sectors in the lead group. Even if he's physically capable, I don't see him having the right mind to put up with the punishment of all those cobbled sectors. Why in the world Stannard is riding supporting Wiggo is the subject for another thread. Stannard is riding really well now.

Cancellara rode Flanders brilliantly, but the cobbled sectors aren't as selective. I predict a frustrated Cancellara riding in with OPQS rider *RIGHT* behind him in the top-10.

I also predict a BMC winner, a Belkin rider second, an OMPQS rider third. I voted for Vanmarke anyway!

 

[wansteadimp]

I don't see Wiggo making it half-way through the cobbled sectors in the lead group. Even if he's physically capable, I don't see him having the right mind to put up with the punishment of all those cobbled sectors. Why in the world Stannard is riding supporting Wiggo is the subject for another thread. Stannard is riding really well now.

Stannard broke a bone in his back at G-W, Thomas has said he is supporting EBH at P-R presumably Wiggins will be doing likewise.

 

[Afrank]

I'll say it again, Sagan was riding mostly unsupported for the Tour of Flanders and he's deep into a big block of racing. He's going to be heavily covered at P-R and it doesn't look like he's getting great help from his team there either. Circumstances are very difficult for him to get a P-R podium.

I more or less agree, I don't think we'll see Sagan doing that much against Cancellara, Vanmarcke, and others. Maybe if he rides well a top 10, but he's not on my list of riders to make the podium.

But of course, doesn't mean I still wouldn't love to see him win or make the podium.

 

[Potomac]

Spartacus is just too good.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

Hopefully, there will be a OPQS onslaught from Arenberg onwards with Boonen (I wouldn't mind Degenkolb either) winning in the end. Cancellara will need more team support otherwise he'll be isolated very quickly and even him, will find it very difficult to cover every move if OPQS makes use of its numerical superiority.

 

[trevim]

Boonen! I keep my Flanders prediction: Boonen to withstand all the attacks from Canc and VanMarcke (kid can't help himself ) and outsprint them at the velodrome.

 

[Jancouver]

I would like to see Spartacus win but I'm expecting group of about 10-15 to stay together.

1. Kristoff
2. Dagenkolb
3. Cancellara
4. Phinney
5. Styby
6. Sagan
7. Boonen
8. GVA
9. Vanmarcke
10. Leukemans

 

[BYOP88]

Wiggans has this in the bag.

 

[jaylew]

I would like to see Spartacus win but I'm expecting group of about 10-15 to stay together.

Seriously? When's the last time that happened?

 

[Jancouver]

Seriously? When's the last time that happened?

I just dont see anybody strong enough to ride away from the group or even break the leading group. If there were not kickers at Ronde last Sunday, the group would stay together too. No steep climbs = larger group, unless there is a rain or some major crash.

just my opinion ...

 

[Jspear]

I just dont see anybody strong enough to ride away from the group or even break the leading group. If there were not kickers at Ronde last Sunday, the group would stay together too. No steep climbs = larger group, unless there is a rain or some major crash.

just my opinion ...

Spartacus is strong enough. I personally think the winning group will be a lot more select than 15 riders.

 

[Jancouver]

Spartacus is strong enough. I personally think the winning group will be a lot more select than 15 riders.

As much I like Fabian and would like to see him win the PR, the only reason he won the Ronde is because OPQS radios didn't work and those guys dont know how to race without radios. If they rode as a team when they made the first 10 people selection, Spartacus would have a hard time following the attacks.

Also why they sent Stijn with GVA is beyond my comprehension as that guy cant sprint and he should be the main workhorse to work for the leaders pulling the breaks backs especially when they had three leaders, which was stupid too.

 

[jaylew]

Don't see it happening but it would definitely be different to see 10-15 guys entering the velodrome together

 

[Afrank]

When was the last time we had a large bunch sprint for the win in the velodrome? Just curious.

 

[Duke_S]

When was the last time we had a large bunch sprint for the win in the velodrome? Just curious.

Guesdon in '97 if 8-man sprint is considered large for PR.

Seems '58 had 22 man sprint and '49 had 52 from bikeraceinfo.

 

[eliacodogno]

Cancellara's win would be the perfect result. But every 3-4 years there's a surprise in PR....
1997 Guesdon
2001 Knaven
2004 Backstedt
2007 O'Grady
2011 Vansummeren
What about a French win? Gaudin, Turgot, Chavanel...

 

[Flamin]

Also why they sent Stijn with GVA is beyond my comprehension as that guy cant sprint and he should be the main workhorse to work for the leaders pulling the breaks backs especially when they had three leaders, which was stupid too.

I doubt anyone considered GVA as a real threat the moment he went clear, since there were still 30k to go, so you can't really blame them for sending Stijn with him at that point. They were probably trying to put pressure on Cancellara and co to force them to the front, but Canc kept his head cool.

What didn't make sense was when they didn't respond to counterattacks (the one from Leukemans for example) or when they actually did, they just closed the gap and sat on (Stybar with EBH) that was just plain dumb.

 

[fowlyetti]

Cant see past Wiggins.

Apart from maybe Cancellara, Sagan or Boonen