The classics thread
rick_chasey
Posts: 75,661
So through a few connections I've heard that Cancellara is producing consistently better numbers over this time last year...
I think (separately) that Terpstra will be peaking too soon for QS.
I think (separately) that Terpstra will be peaking too soon for QS.
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Nah, Just come off the Boards like last year and Qatar was repeated. His team mate won today in Europe.Rick Chasey wrote:I think (separately) that Terpstra will be peaking too soon for QS.
Clasica de Almeria
1 CAVENDISH Mark 04:36:19
2 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose +0
3 RENSHAW Mark +0Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
Rick Chasey wrote:So through a few connections I've heard that Cancellara is producing consistently better numbers over this time last year...
Don't they always say that sort of thing?0 -
Isn't Terpstra peaking at exactly the same time as last year? Won Qatar like last year and had a good track season like last year.
Isn't it time Thomas shows his classics potential with Sky now actually focused on winning at the classics? It's not as if he's going to get a shot at Roubaix with wiggins bowing out. so he might have to take his chance at Flanders.
Sagan at Tinkoff might also be worth a punt.
12 days to Omloop het Nieuwsblad.0 -
timben83 wrote:Isn't Terpstra peaking at exactly the same time as last year? Won Qatar like last year and had a good track season like last year.
Isn't it time Thomas shows his classics potential with Sky now actually focused on winning at the classics? It's not as if he's going to get a shot at Roubaix with wiggins bowing out. so he might have to take his chance at Flanders.
Sagan at Tinkoff might also be worth a punt.
12 days to Omloop het Nieuwsblad.
As we all know SKY are rubbish at one day races but have three good shots at P-R. They just need a bit of luck.0 -
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ddraver wrote:Gee is a lovely guy but I don't believe he has the personality to win for himself...
Do you mean in the team or on the road?
Can see Sky putting a plan together for Stan and Wiggo and G willingly taking the helper role.
But if the race doesnt go to plan, which it more than likely won't, and G is presented with his chance you don't think he will take it?0 -
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Cancellara and Boonen are trading primarily on their reputations these days. The likes of van Avermaet and Vanmarcke know that and I think will be making bold moves this spring. I would put Sagan in there but he's yet to make a bold move of any tactical sense.
Sky are the wildcard. Stannard and Thomas could be a real threat, especially if everyone is looking at Fabu and Boonen. Thomas showed real class in last year's E3-Harelbeke.
I can only see Degenkolb and Kristoff winning Flanders if it is a very conservative race. Plus the course is even harder this year on paper. Roubaix for those two.
Bring on the racing (and the beer)!0 -
A lot of Flanders and PR chat already, but not much love for MSR?
Any reason?
It's a classic '90s and '00s course, one which we haven't seen in a while.
Expect a bunch finish this year, even in bad conditions.
Boonen isn't sprinting that well, so I suspect QS will through it all behind Cav.
Would be surprised if cancellara can make the podium again - though he can turn in a decent sprint.
Degenkolb, Sagan, Kristoff are the obvious candidates.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:A lot of Flanders and PR chat already, but not much love for MSR?
Any reason?
I was going to post the MSR odds yesterday, but thought better off it.
Got the impression this was a cobbles only thread.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Personally never seen an MSR finish on the Via Roma. Intrigued. Glad the Pompeiana idea was dropped (for now at least).0
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EKIMIKE wrote:Cancellara and Boonen are trading primarily on their reputations these days.
Are you serious? I mean you could make that kind of argument for Boonen, but you think Cancellara is relying on his reputation? Last year he was 2nd in Milan San Remo, won Flanders and was third in Paris Roubaix.
Everyone always gets excited for MSR because it's the first monument of the year but lets face it Flanders and Paris Roubaix ARE the cycling season for a lot of people.0 -
I think that Cancellara could win three of them if he has a bit of luck.
Only Liege and Amstel seem beyond him.
It will be the team that it his Achilles if anything.
Etixx seem to have too many options. But if all went well they could win the lot.
Cav M-SR, Boonen RVV, Terpstra or Stybar P-R, Alaphillippe L-B-L and Amstel...0 -
jimmythecuckoo wrote:I think that Cancellara could win three of them if he has a bit of luck.
Only Liege and Amstel seem beyond him.
It will be the team that it his Achilles if anything.
Etixx seem to have too many options. But if all went well they could win the lot.
Cav M-SR, Boonen RVV, Terpstra or Stybar P-R, Alaphillippe L-B-L and Amstel...
Not to forget the current WC0 -
I'm going all out and saying Sagan will be to the classics what farrar is to sprintingeating parmos since 1981
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www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=130387990 -
I'm not sure you can argue Boonen is past it either... Won the Ronde in 2013 and still had OK placings despite a bad injury and a personal tragedy.
Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
disgruntledgoat wrote:Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter
More of this info please.
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I disagree.ddraver wrote:Gee is a lovely guy but I don't believe he has the personality to win for himself...
I visited the 2009 Dwars door Vlaanderen and from memory he got away on the Nokereberg with a Belgian and they worked well together to open a gap.
They were well clear as they passed the pub on the corner with one K to go and the Belgian outsmarted G in the sprint.
He had personality that day.
Oh, the Belgian was Kevin Van Impe (retired 2012 aged 30) who was Rudely asked for an out of competition Drug test while at a crematory for his deceased son. (remember that)
Now if the peloton did decide to watch Wiggo and not G or Ian then it could happen like it did for lucky old Stijn Devolder twice.Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 19720 -
Rick Chasey wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter
More of this info please.
I'm riding the last 100km of Omloop on Saturday so I'll report after that"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
disgruntledgoat wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter
More of this info please.
I'm riding the last 100km of Omloop on Saturday so I'll report after that
The flat bit at the top or the actual slope? I remember it being a great climb last yearWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
ddraver wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter
More of this info please.
I'm riding the last 100km of Omloop on Saturday so I'll report after that
The flat bit at the top or the actual slope? I remember it being a great climb last year
The steep section just after you hit the cobbles, by the first set of houses. The rain and constant traffic had made them a bit loose and "stepped" in parts."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
yep. Ardennes maybesjmclean wrote:jimmythecuckoo wrote:I think that Cancellara could win three of them if he has a bit of luck.
Only Liege and Amstel seem beyond him.
It will be the team that it his Achilles if anything.
Etixx seem to have too many options. But if all went well they could win the lot.
Cav M-SR, Boonen RVV, Terpstra or Stybar P-R, Alaphillippe L-B-L and Amstel...
Not to forget the current WC0 -
deejay wrote:
I disagree.ddraver wrote:Gee is a lovely guy but I don't believe he has the personality to win for himself...
I visited the 2009 Dwars door Vlaanderen and from memory he got away on the Nokereberg with a Belgian and they worked well together to open a gap.
They were well clear as they passed the pub on the corner with one K to go and the Belgian outsmarted G in the sprint.
He had personality that day.
Oh, the Belgian was Kevin Van Impe (retired 2012 aged 30) who was Rudely asked for an out of competition Drug test while at a crematory for his deceased son. (remember that)
Now if the peloton did decide to watch Wiggo and not G or Ian then it could happen like it did for lucky old Stijn Devolder twice.
Outsmarted or wanted it more?
I do not doubt Gee has personality, but not an induvidual winning oneWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
disgruntledgoat wrote:ddraver wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:disgruntledgoat wrote:Cobble watch: They've relaid the roughest bit of the Kwaremont over the winter
More of this info please.
I'm riding the last 100km of Omloop on Saturday so I'll report after that
The flat bit at the top or the actual slope? I remember it being a great climb last year
The steep section just after you hit the cobbles, by the first set of houses. The rain and constant traffic had made them a bit loose and "stepped" in parts.
Booo! That was where an MTBer could make up some groundWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
Milton50 wrote:EKIMIKE wrote:Cancellara and Boonen are trading primarily on their reputations these days.
Are you serious? I mean you could make that kind of argument for Boonen, but you think Cancellara is relying on his reputation? Last year he was 2nd in Milan San Remo, won Flanders and was third in Paris Roubaix.
Everyone always gets excited for MSR because it's the first monument of the year but lets face it Flanders and Paris Roubaix ARE the cycling season for a lot of people.
Perhaps I should qualify what I meant. I worded it very carefully. Primarily.
Lets face it, neither have been as dominant as they were during their pomp and neither can claim to be ultimate favourite for Flanders or Roubaix. On last year's showing, Vanmarcke and van Avermaet each looked capable of hanging with them. Plus both are at the age where their powers could wain significantly (see Sven Nys).
What separates Cancellara and Boonen from Vanmarcke and van Avermaet (based on last year's showing)? Their palmares. Hence trading, primarily, on their reputations.
That said, they are both still top favourites and neither are past it, so to speak. I'm hoping they can break records. I'd love to see Cancellara take a fourth Flanders and Boonen a fifth Roubaix.0 -
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By mere metres. He couldn't distance them, as he did everyone in the past. Vanmarcke and van Avermaet (and arguably Sagan) are in the ascendancy. That should make for confident, attacking racing. Vanmarcke certainly doesn't appear intimidated by Cancellara and has been willing to go toe-to-toe over the past two seasons (Roubaix 2013 and Flanders 2014). Should be entertaining.
I also don't expect Wiggins to be telling the media that he'll 'just be happy to be amongst the likes of Cancellara and Boonen in the finale' this time around. He will be going for it at Roubaix.0 -
EKIMIKE wrote:I also don't expect Wiggins to be telling the media that he'll 'just be happy to be amongst the likes of Cancellara and Boonen in the finale' this time around. He will be going for it at Roubaix.
http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/sp ... /1.2235924
Sorry to be a pain, but that's basically what he's saying here.0
