Ronde van Vlaanderen Pick 'Em

[MattTuck]

Ok, who's your pick for Sunday?

Legends of the Tour of Flanders (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41lbl6q12Kw)

“The new generation is already there,” Cancellara said. “It’s a new inspiration. I don’t want to get my butt kicked by young riders.”

Sagan, Boonen and Cancellara are the favorites. I'll be pulling for Sep Vanmarcke and Iljo Keisse. Here are the betting odds. (http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cycling/tour-des-flandres)

[regularguy412]

Ok, who's your pick for Sunday?

Legends of the Tour of Flanders (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41lbl6q12Kw)



Sagan, Boonen and Cancellara are the favorites. I'll be pulling for Sep Vanmarcke and Iljo Keisse. Here are the betting odds. (http://www.paddypower.com/bet/cycling/tour-des-flandres)

Vanmarcke not a bad pick. Very close 2nd to Cancellara in last year's P-R.

Sagan could be 'due'. Climbing the cobbles will tell.

Mike in AR:beer:

[aaronf]

Stijn Devolder is my pick. Quietly building and may have the opportunity if/when Fabian is marked out.
Cut his post-race interview short at Gent-Wevelgem to go ride two more hours behind his father's derny. This after 233km and driving the three man break from 20k to go until being caught at the red kite. Tough as a coffin nail.
Oh, and he's won it twice before.

[azrider]

Stijn Devolder is my pick. Quietly building and may have the opportunity if/when Fabian is marked out.
Cut his post-race interview short at Gent-Wevelgem to go ride two more hours behind his father's derny. This after 233km and driving the three man break from 20k to go until being caught at the red kite. Tough as a coffin nail.
Oh, and he's won it twice before.

Much respect.

However I think he's FC first lieutenant and will be used as such

Spartacus for the W

[bheight1]

Someone from Omega Pharma, I'll go with Zdenek Stybar.

Good odds!

[don compton]

Tomeke!

[gianni]

Someone from Omega Pharma, I'll go with Zdenek Stybar.

Good odds!

Ditto but I like tommeke I the finale.

[Admiral Ackbar]

i know a lot of people are rooting for fabs, but man, I'm tired of watching him win and podium! boonen seems a decent (obvious) pick but I'm not sure of his form after the past few unfortunate weeks. sagan of course, always a contender - not sure why but I'm quite partial to him, hopefully he can get enough help from his team and isn't stuck all by his lonesome to battle it out. id love to see z.stybar get a good result, i have a feeling OPQS will have a strong presence throughout the day. i don't think he has much of a chance but after his rather impressive performance (at P-R) last year id like to see Damien Daudin put in a good effort for a top spot, i love watching him ride the cobbles like some sort of beast "rides like a bag of spanners" as said on eurosport last year

but in the end, it aint over til its over

and on a related note, f#ck betting on a cycle race! wayyyyy too many variables at play for me to put my money on such a thing

[harlond]

However I think he's FC first lieutenant and will be used as such

Spartacus for the Wwasn't he Boonen's lieutenant for both of his victories?

[jpw]

Wiggo

[ultraman6970]

Wiggo? That would be something I would love to see happening, not saying is a bad pick, wiggo wants this one for a very long time, good pick. A bad pick would be cheer for Andy Schleck if he was in this race.

To me, if all goes ok sagan should be in the top 3, FC should go for it ALONE.

Would love to see Taylor P... to do something in this one.

[nooneline]

Stijn Devolder is my pick. Quietly building and may have the opportunity if/when Fabian is marked out.
Cut his post-race interview short at Gent-Wevelgem to go ride two more hours behind his father's derny. This after 233km and driving the three man break from 20k to go until being caught at the red kite. Tough as a coffin nail.
Oh, and he's won it twice before.

Stijn's an interesting pick. I'm sure Trek is happy that he's on form. Cancellara's had a bunch of dedicated domestiques in the past but generally they do a little bit of pace-setting and then they're gone.

By comparison, OPQS has four or five riders who could conceivably podium and it's been a big part of their strategy these past couple years. Now, Trek's on board too, and that strategy is going to be pretty damn valuable in beating Sagan. If Devolder is up the road with Terpstra (or Stybar, or Vandenbergh) - Sagan's gonna have to light a bunch of matches to affect a reshuffling and you can bet Cancellara or Boonen will be resting and eating gels while that's happening.

[Lewis Moon]

I'd like to see Mini-Phinney on the podium but I only see that happening if something chaotic occurs. Stybar would be cool, but I think weather would be his ticket. Boonen and Sparkle Pony will be marked like they've been painted neon orange and Sagan will be an opportunistic wild card, which means I pick him...except he doesn't seem to have the snap he had last year.
So it's Devolder...or anyone who has "that special day".

Wiggo will get taken down, quit and throw a hissy.

[wallymann]

for his maiden monument!

[MattTuck]

I'd like to see Mini-Phinney on the podium but I only see that happening if something chaotic occurs. Stybar would be cool, but I think weather would be his ticket. Boonen and Sparkle Pony will be marked like they've been painted neon orange and Sagan will be an opportunistic wild card, which means I pick him...except he doesn't seem to have the snap he had last year.
So it's Devolder...or anyone who has "that special day".

Wiggo will get taken down, quit and throw a hissy.

Sagan should be marked too. He's not flying under the radar anymore, he has to be considered a contender and even a favorite. Whether riders can follow his wheel when he does attack is another thing, but I don't think he can race as an opportunist anymore if he wants to win.

[Shortsocks]

Wiggo

I'll second that. Far far far from win. But I'll be rooting for my favorite Mod knight. :banana:

[Lewis Moon]

Sagan should be marked too. He's not flying under the radar anymore, he has to be considered a contender and even a favorite. Whether riders can follow his wheel when he does attack is another thing, but I don't think he can race as an opportunist anymore if he wants to win.

More than anything, I meant that he has a lot of tools, which means a lot of opportunities. The guy really is an "all rounder", which makes him very dangerous. He will be marked, but the peloton is going to have to watch him on a lot of different fronts.

[El Chaba]

Sacha Modolo.....He's riding like a motorcycle right now....

[Lewis Moon]

I'll second that. Far far far from win. But I'll be rooting for my favorite Mod knight. :banana:

I just don't see it. In the past Wiggo has shown that he doesn't cope very well with "spanners thrown into the works".
Those spanners are what make the Classics "classic".

[bluesea]

My fav as usual is a good race, although I will say a Boonen double would be nice. Haven't been impressed with Spart's actions re the defection to the idiotic Lux team, and a few other stuff. Seeing him fail would be worth an insignificant chuckle.

Lastly, Wiggo on top of the podium would be a total gas!

[bcroslin]

Stybar just because it would be awesome.

[ceolwulf]

Stybar just because it would be awesome.

seconded :banana:

[azrider]

so hard to imagine (ultra) skinny dude doing well on cobbles. Whats his best result to date on any of the Spring classics, anyone know? All i could find were his 1st place results

http://37.media.tumblr.com/4bh9iE0E6mbv2vt38XiIHRfIo1_400.jpg

[MattTuck]

Stybar just because it would be awesome.

After the luck, or lack thereof, that OPQS had in the closing KMs of Paris-Roubaix last year, they are probably due some good karma. And it seems atleast half their team has a legitimate shot at a win.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Stybar or Devolder, in that order.

[mistermo]

Where's the best place to watch this? Is there a preferred streaming source?

[torquer]

If Devolder is up the road with Terpstra (or Stybar, or Vandenbergh) ...
Don't forget Van Keirsbulck.
Can a team have too many contenders?

[GregL]

Someone from Trek (Cancellara or Devolder) or QS (Terpstra, Boonen, et. al.). QS has so many arrows in their quiver that they certainly look like the front runner to me. Remember Paris-Roubaix in 2001 when Knaven won? When your team has so many options, you can even pick up the win with a "non-star."

- Greg

[54ny77]

I'm going to put my $ on the guy with the most vowels in his last name.

[Shortsocks]

I just don't see it. In the past Wiggo has shown that he doesn't cope very well with "spanners thrown into the works".
Those spanners are what make the Classics "classic".

Oh I agree. I don't see him pulling it off....but I'll still cheer for him. It would be cool, but you don't see many tour winners win classics anymore. Those days see to be slowly fading away.

[ultraman6970]

What is going to happen (not tomorrow) sunday is a super high pace the 1st 3/4th of the race to control cancellara and to keep the favs clear in case of an attack from cancellara. If that's accomplished I would think that no more than 15 riders will go for the sprint. If that's the case and if sagan and bonnen are still in that group then the sprint will be between those two.

Cancellara has to go full gas tomorrow and cut the guys off his wheel or he is not going to win this one.

[enr1co]

What is going to happen tomorrow is a super high pace the 1st 3/4th of the race to control cancellara and to keep the favs clear in case of an attack from cancellara. If that's accomplished I would think that no more than 15 riders will go for the sprint. If that's the case and if sagan and bonnen are still in that group then the sprint will be between those two.

Cancellara has to go full gas tomorrow and cut the guys off his wheel or he is not going to win this one.

Not sure about "tomorrow" but for Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen , Im with GregL's call of Terpstra or Boonen.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

What is going to happen tomorrow is a super high pace the 1st 3/4th of the race to control cancellara and to keep the favs clear in case of an attack from cancellara. If that's accomplished I would think that no more than 15 riders will go for the sprint. If that's the case and if sagan and bonnen are still in that group then the sprint will be between those two.

Cancellara has to go full gas tomorrow and cut the guys off his wheel or he is not going to win this one.

Tomorrow?

[ultraman6970]

Sorry... is not tomorrow, did not even notice that I wrote tomorrow, sorry :(

[mistermo]

Bump. Whether tomorrow or Sunday, where is the best source for one to tune in to watch this?

[CunegoFan]

Pulling for Boonen. Betting on Cancellara.

[MattTuck]

Bump. Whether tomorrow or Sunday, where is the best source for one tune in to watch this?

cyclingfans or steephill.

I think NBC Sports covered this live in the past, no idea if they are this year.

[choke]

Whats his best result to date on any of the Spring classics, anyone know? All i could find were his 1st place results23rd in Gent-Wevelgem, 25th in Paris-Roubaix...both 2009. http://www.cyclingbase.com/Bradley-Wiggins.html

[Elefantino]

OPQS will try to get someone out front, early and then throw the book at it in the last 50k.

I like Terpstra. But I thought Modolo in Milan-Sanremo so what do I know.

[ultraman6970]

Looks like pettachi is the guy that has won more races ever. 161 wins.

Wiggo has 28 wins but this guy has several world championships

Little schleck has 11

Contador 53...

Sagan 63

Interesting site.

23rd in Gent-Wevelgem, 25th in Paris-Roubaix...both 2009. http://www.cyclingbase.com/Bradley-Wiggins.html

[1centaur]

cyclingfans or steephill.

I think NBC Sports covered this live in the past, no idea if they are this year.

Next race for NBC Sports in Paris Roubaix streamed live from 7am EST on that Sunday morning and then shown on TV the following day.

If anybody gets an English speaking link for Flanders, please post it here.

[jpw]

find a British Eurosport link. steephill usually has it.

the live TV broadcast starts on British Eurosport at 11:30 GMT Sunday morning.

what's the weather forecast?

[azrider]

what's the weather forecast?

high 64* and only 20% chance rain

[enr1co]

high 64* and only 20% chance rain


Hope it gets even warmer and drier for PR! :banana: :cool::hello:

[alessandro]

high 64* and only 20% chance rain

Hmm? 64F in Brugge maybe, but for Oudenaarde it's 'sposed to be 54 and 60% chance of rain after noon.

Hope it gets even warmer and drier for PR! :banana: :cool::hello:

Why? If it's warm and dry you want, there's the Tour of Qatar, any number of races in Spain, Oz, the Tour of California. This is northern Europe in April. Dust is all very well, but we haven't had a really wet and muddy Hell of the North since 2002. That would be something to see.

[Admiral Ackbar]

those 2001/2002 editions of P-R were immense. johan and domo ff, rain, epic mud. damn i miss those years

[enr1co]

Why? If it's warm and dry you want, there's the Tour of Qatar, any number of races in Spain, Oz, the Tour of California. This is northern Europe in April. Dust is all very well, but we haven't had a really wet and muddy Hell of the North since 2002. That would be something to see.

...because I dont want to wear my rain cape or booties when riding around Flanders and Roubaix next week :banana::hello::banana::hello:

[alessandro]

Now I understand all those dancing bananas! Good luck on the kasseien.

[thwart]

If you're not already jazzed about tomorrow's race, read this article:

http://inrng.com/2014/04/tour-of-flanders-preview-2014/

Winner? The way this Spring has been going, I'd have to pick a dark horse… is Devolder really not one of the favorites… ?

[Fixed]

From peloton mag
Main Favorites
Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
Twice in the last four years the 33-year-old Swiss time-trial and classics expert has done the Tour of Flanders-Paris-Roubaix double and he will rightly be considered the favourite once again. The only thing that might hamper Cancellara’s chances seems to be how closely he is marked by the rest of the field, or whether he and Tom Boonen cancel each other out. But with three victories in Paris-Roubaix, two in De Ronde (Flanders) and one at Milan-San Remo, Cancellara has a hugely impressive record in these races. He also finished second three times and third once at Milan-San Remo, and second twice on Paris-Roubaix. If there is one certainty in cycling it is that Cancellara will be there or thereabouts when the victory is decided. He was second behind Alexander Kristoff at Milan-San Remo last month but only ninth at E3 Harelbeke, which he has won three times, last Friday which perhaps suggests he is less a favorite than previous years.

Peter Sagan (SVK)
Although not quite the one-day specialist that Cancellara or Boonen are, Sagan’s all-round racing ability and current form suggests he is the one to watch this time around. Last year the 24-year-old came into the two Northern Cobbled Classics as the clear favorite having triumphed at Gent-Wevelgem and taken second at both Milan-San Remo and E3 Harelbeke. But a second placed finish at Flanders was all he managed. This time there will be fewer eyes on the Slovak who finished only 10th at last month’s Milan-San Remo, although his win at E3 Harelbeke and third-placed finish at Gent-Wevelgem, not to mention an ‘accidental’ win on Tuesday’s first stage of the Three Days of De Panne (before withdrawing early on Wednesday’s second stage) shows he has the legs in the finale to do damage. Already twice a winner of the Tour de France green points jersey and tipped to one day compete for overall Grand Tour victories, Sagan is yet to triumph in one of the ‘Monuments’ and will desperately hope to end that record at either Flanders of Roubaix.

Tom Boonen (BEL)
The only man with a better classics record than Cancellara, Boonen is a true legend of these races. Four times a winner in Roubaix, three times at Flanders, like Cancellara the 33-year-old has twice done the cobbled double. But this is no longer the all-conquering Boonen of two years ago when he did the Gent-Wevelgem-E3 Harelbeke double before coming into the Northern Classics and adding the Flanders-Roubaix double as well. He was the first person ever to achieve that feat but his 2013 campaign was ruined by a broken hip. He was 11th at E3 Harelbeke and improved to finish fifth at Gent-Wevelgem, although he insisted he would have won it by several bike lengths had he not been blocked in the final sprint. The next two races will show whether or not Boonen really can recapture his form of 2012.

John Degenkolb (GER)
He may not be a one-day specialist but in winning Gent-Wevelgem, Degenkolb proved that if he can stick with the pace right the way to the end, then he has the power in a sprint to upset the favorites. Flanders and Roubaix might be beyond him but he could feature in the Ardennes Classics which have a slightly weaker field. The German announced himself to the world with five stage wins at the Tour of Spain in 2012, the same year he finished fifth in Milan-San Remo and sixth at E3 Harelbeke. And should any of these races come down to a bunch sprint, 25-year-old Degenkolb will suddenly rise up the favorites rankings.

Niki Terpstra (NED)
A lot has been expected of the Dutchman these last few years and this could finally be the season he delivers following overall victory at the Tour of Oman, a win at Dwars door Vlaanderen and second place at E3 Harelbeke. What’s more, the 29-year-old will be the main foil for team-mate Boonen and likely try to get himself in a breakaway up the road. In the last 18 editions of Flanders and Roubaix since 2005, only three have not be won by Cancellara, Boonen or one of their teammates. So either Terpstra or Cancellara’s team-mate Stijn Devolder – winner of Flanders in 2008 and 2009 – would be good bets to be in the reckoning if their teammates are marked out of it.

Countdown till Sunday
Cheers












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