Going with Valverde on this one - he has the required punch needed for the group that will make it up the climb. Contador's legs are too slow. Too steep for Freire. Purito - possibly, but he's tired.
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Carols said:Spain is a powerhouse but are have to many chiefs; Purito and Valverde already saying they want the win.
Gilbert finally found his form...should be his day.
I will be rooting for my 2nd favorite rider Vincenzo The Shark Nibali. Not the most likely winner but he'll give it a shot I have no doubt!!!
42x16ss said:I see this as a Spain/Belgium showdown but there are quite a few riders capable of crashing the party. Nibali/Visconti, Gerrans/Clarke, Voeckler, Kolobnev, Albasini and possibly Sagan (if it isn't too agressive early on) Henao and Hordhaug will be looking to mix it up, they are all capable of winning on a course like this.
This should be a good open race!
Netserk said:I fear Boonen will make the same mistake he did at the Olympics, and wait for a sprint instead of attacking in the second last lap
He doesn't have to solo. Just attack before the sprint, as he would have no chance of beating Sagan and Piti on Cauberg. IMOFerminal said:Wasting Boonen early would put a lot more pressure on Gilbert. If Phil was caught with 800m to go, and Boonen wasn't closing in, he would have to keep going or end up trying to outsprint Freire/Sagan.
Better having Boonen coming up behind, ready to win if Phil is caught.
Leave the suicidal solos for guys like Leukemans.
Well, Cauberg is before the sprint.Netserk said:He doesn't have to solo. Just attack before the sprint, as he would have no chance of beating Sagan and Piti on Cauberg. IMO
I know. I also saw a similar final in the '06 Tour.Hugo Koblet said:Well, Cauberg is before the sprint.
CobbleStoner said:this parcourse is nothing like last years, a big team is kinda useless here, not much chance for echelons either in that part of NL.
equal footing for Sagan vs Gilbert vs Valverde.
Sagan will go too early, Gilbert will pull Valverde up to him, then Allesandro will jump both of them for the win (although I would love to see Sagan take it)
Really? Contador is there to help, either Rodriguez or Valverde. Contador's big goal in the WC is the ITT.brilleaben said:Will be interesting to see in what way Spain will screw things up this year. Relying on Contador's sprint?
cineteq said:Really? Contador is there to help, either Rodriguez or Valverde. Contador's big goal in the WC is the ITT.
auscyclefan94 said:I voted for Australia, it is Simon Gerrans' year. He has good form and on this course, he will be tough to beat.
brilleaben said:Yes, I would have thought so too, but according to Velonews, Bertie and Oscar will be leaders. Of course if they have any sense, that won't be the case.
Piti in a flat sprintLaFlorecita said:That can't possibly be right. Anyway I think they should put 1 or 2 (or maybe even 3) guys in the break and have Purito and Valverde in case it comes back together.
By the way in a sprint who is faster, Valverde or Gilbert?