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#1
03-27-2018, 11:17 AM
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Tour of Flanders Mega Thread (live discussion, may contain spoilers)
Call it Ronde van Vlaanderen if you like, but there is no denying that it is almost upon us. A few extra days of discussion never hurt.
Widely being billed as a Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Sagan thunderdome battle, I am skeptical. There is virtually no chance that Gilbert is going to win in the same style he did last year, and frankly, I'm not sure he would have won if not for a fan's jacket. These 3 are going to be marking each other so much, there is a good chance for someone else to get away. Provisional Start List Taylor Phinney is the only American on the start list as of today. Rather than try to pick winners before the startlist is finalized, let's try to predict what happens the final time up the Paterberg (aka the patisberg, for Sean Kelly fans). Who's first over the top? I think it is still a group coming into the base, maybe 15 or 20 riders. Maybe a few small breaks form on the climb, with Kwiatkowski (out of nowhere) cresting first. No one wants to work with Sagan or GvA (and Gilbert has already been dropped), so if they're not at the front, everyone is sitting in, leaving it to them to close any gaps.
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And we have just one world, But we live in different ones Last edited by MattTuck; 03-31-2018 at 09:11 PM. 
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#2
03-27-2018, 11:49 AM
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Sagan was strong at Gent but... Quickstep as a whole seems to be on form with a team full of options.
Not sure who but I think Quickstep will take it. Maybe Terpstra.
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#3
03-27-2018, 12:02 PM
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I think (or rather HOPE) this is going to be a Gilbert / GVA battle royale. I'm not a fan of Sagan but he had helluva sprint at Wevelgem which no one seemed to be able to match so he'll be a factor for sure.
Still wish they had MUUR/KAPELMUUR as a more 'decisive' climb and more towards the end but what do i know. Greatest race of the year!! (and best race to ever attend......bar none) 
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#4
03-27-2018, 12:24 PM
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I'll play:
Sep goes hard up the climb, strings thing out, and eventually is joined by both Terpstera and Stybar along with Moscon, Naesen, and Wout... but Sagan will have Oss to pull him, GVA, Stuyven, and Kwiat and the chase will be on in earnest. Maybe throw Nibali in for good measure. One of the favorites from G2 (probably GvA or Sagan) will have better legs than the rest and will end up bridging alone up to a dwindling group of leaders, making contact, and getting to play cat and mouse until the end is decided by a final big move in the last K... In this fantasy I've got money on the finale being contested between Moscon, Stybar, and GvA. GvA wins because he is cold like ice.
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#6
03-27-2018, 12:32 PM
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In reality I don't think Sagan will do it. I any scenario that gets him to the finish in the lead group has him too beat to get the W. IF GvA gets there I think it will be his race to loose, but I think he races too conservatively to get to the front as the most marked man in the field. Kwiat isn't big enough to bash it out solo, and is too dangerous to be allowed any kind of leash so I don't see him out foxing a small group in the finish. The rest of the "favorites" all need at least a bit of luck so its totally dependent on who makes which mistakes. Quickstep looks good, but will have to get lucky and end up with a finale where there are no sprinters to out do Terpstra or Stybar. The way everyone is riding this year (weather permitting of course) I kinda think the safest bet would be on a surprise win by a guy with a sprint... maybe Colbrelli or Demare this year?
Last edited by JimmyTango; 03-27-2018 at 12:45 PM.
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#7
03-27-2018, 12:50 PM
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Quote:
Greg
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#9
03-27-2018, 02:05 PM
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Quote:
Greg
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#10
03-27-2018, 02:19 PM
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Quote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YA8caLN-9M
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#11
03-27-2018, 03:03 PM
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Quote:
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And we have just one world, But we live in different ones
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#12
03-28-2018, 02:50 PM
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I will be watching while wearing my Slovak National Hockey jersey hoping for a Sagan win of course. And not that I'm a big Sky fan, but what I would really LOVE to see is Stannard sent out on an early break combined with untimely flats for Moscon and Kwaitkowski. Stannard proceeds to shed the break and ride everyone off his wheel...
Come to think of it, no matter how idiotic, this is a WAY more likely P-R scenario than a RdV, but I can dream.
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#14
03-28-2018, 04:01 PM
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Quote:
He would be the single best classics rider if thats what he chose to do. But, for now, make 500k euros a year+ racing cross, 750k euros racing both, or just 250k racing on the road for awhile. I think his dilemma ultimately comes down to value. His value in cross right now is WAY higher than anywhere else.
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