2017 Flat Classics thread - will probs have spoilers

12357…23

Comments

  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    No Kwiat for the Cobbles - a year after winning E3. Concentrating on the Lumpy ones - wonder what he makes of the removal of the Cauberg finale now (also a former AG winner of course).

    That's a shame.

    Of the last 4 winners, only Sagan (2014) will be at E3 (presumably). Kwiat, Thomas not riding, Fabian retired. Boonen the only other previous winner likely to ride.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    No Kwiat for the Cobbles - a year after winning E3. Concentrating on the Lumpy ones - wonder what he makes of the removal of the Cauberg finale now (also a former AG winner of course).

    That's a shame.

    Of the last 4 winners, only Sagan (2014) will be at E3 (presumably). Kwiat, Thomas not riding, Fabian retired. Boonen the only other previous winner likely to ride.

    A year for an outsider to do a smash & grab, Nick Nuyens style.
    _
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    No Kwiat for the Cobbles - a year after winning E3. Concentrating on the Lumpy ones - wonder what he makes of the removal of the Cauberg finale now (also a former AG winner of course).

    That's a shame.

    Of the last 4 winners, only Sagan (2014) will be at E3 (presumably). Kwiat, Thomas not riding, Fabian retired. Boonen the only other previous winner likely to ride.

    A year for an outsider to do a smash & grab, Nick Nuyens style.

    Or Sagan to do the lot.
  • m.r.m.
    m.r.m. Posts: 3,473
    Kwiatkowski just 1 sec behind Tony Martin in the Algarve TT. Just 18 km flat course though.
    PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 2023
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Wellens looks leak this year doesn't he?


    Degenkolb looks ominous though. Woof.
    _
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    At 12-1 too..

    Might be worth a flutter...
    _
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    At 12-1 too..

    Might be worth a flutter...

    Is that Deg's odds for Flanders?
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Teams for Roubaix:

    AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
    Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
    Bahrain - Merida (Brn)
    BMC Racing Team (USA)
    Bora – Hansgrohe (Ger)
    Cannondale Drapac Professional Cycling Team (USA)
    FDJ (Fra)
    Lotto Soudal (Bel)
    Movistar Team (Spa)
    Orica - Scott (Aus)
    Quick-Step Floors (Bel)
    Team Dimension Data (RSA)
    Team Katusha - Alpecin (Sui)
    Team Lotto NL - Jumbo (Nld)
    Team Sky (GBR)
    Team Sunweb (Ger)
    Trek – Segafredo (USA)
    UAE Abu Dhabi (UAE)

    Wildcards:

    Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Fra)
    Direct Energie (Fra)
    Fortuneo - Vital Concept (Fra)
    Delko Marseille Provence KTM (Fra)
    Wanty – Groupe Gobert (Bel)
    Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise (Bel)
    Roompot Nederlandse Loterij (Nld)
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    At 12-1 too..

    Might be worth a flutter...

    Is that Deg's odds for Flanders?
    MSR
    _
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    At 12-1 too..

    Might be worth a flutter...

    Is that Deg's odds for Flanders?
    MSR

    Cheers - 14/1 with Coral.
  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    I've backed Demare for P-R @ 67.00. So he'll be crocked and out of the race within the next few days*.

    *Fun fact: when I worked in a bookies, I used to put on a couple of lucky-15s on the way to work. Mug bets, but tiny stakes and was basically a way to while away the hours while getting called all the cunts under the sun by arseholes who couldn't pick a winner if their lives depended on it**. I once managed the feat of 4 horse on the same slip who all died. One of them at least made it to the finish before collapsing (didn't actually place or owt though).

    ** I'm obviously aware of the irony of that insult given the sentence that follows, but hey ho.
    Team My Man 2018: David gaudu, Pierre Latour, Romain Bardet, Thibaut pinot, Alexandre Geniez, Florian Senechal, Warren Barguil, Benoit Cosnefroy
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,317
    How did I miss Stijn Vandenbergh going to ag2r!?
    This Quick Step team looks ripe for some even better cock-ups this year, a la Oomloop '15, though - so that's good.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Rick Chasey just over a week ago wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    No vandenbergh for quick step!

    Ah didn't know he left QS too.

    AG2R

    I know the feeling!
    _
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,821
    Guillaume van Keirsbulck is at Wanty (I think) now.

    Another "the Next Boonen"

    I think I'll genuinely be sad after Paris Roubaix
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Weather forecast for Saturday is rain, and LOTS OF WIND, especially in the finale.
    _
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Weather forecast for Saturday is rain, and LOTS OF WIND, especially in the finale.


    Ach, balls :cry:
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Weather forecast for Saturday is rain, and LOTS OF WIND, especially in the finale.


    Ach, balls :cry:

    What?

    This a great thing!


    (You're going aren't you? You do know cycling is best watched on the sofa :P I once saw a whole 10 minute bit on Dutch telly where some old, mega cycling fan, pitied the fans road side on the Tour of Flanders - maybe I'll start a thread on it).
    _
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Weather forecast for Saturday is rain, and LOTS OF WIND, especially in the finale.


    Ach, balls :cry:

    What?

    This a great thing!

    I think RR was referring to the weather protocol and what happened the last time the wind blew.
    In any case, it doesn't look so bad.
    Thursday's weather and the race would definitely get KO'd.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Blazing Saddles wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Richmond Racer 2 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Weather forecast for Saturday is rain, and LOTS OF WIND, especially in the finale.


    Ach, balls :cry:

    What?

    This a great thing!

    I think RR was referring to the weather protocol and what happened the last time the wind blew.
    In any case, it doesn't look so bad.
    Thursday's weather and the race would definitely get KO'd.

    A one day Belgian Classic is a very different kettle of fish to a sandstorm in the desert on weather protocol.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    If they start cancelling Belgian classics because of a bit of wind and rain that would be a travesty. Unless it was like, 80mph gusts, then maybe I'd have some sympathy.

    I've 3,000 words on innovation and alternative energy technologies to write this weekend so OHN and KBK will be providing welcome entertainment - especially if they're wet and windy!!
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    edited February 2017
    As long as the roadside wheelie bins are tied down unlike in the 2011 KBK i don't see an issue :D
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • Richmond Racer 2
    Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
    I freely admit that tho I'll stand around in cold and wind, rain and high wind...nah. Nearest bar with tv for frites and mayo and Chimay Blue for is my preferred option in those conditions.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    :arrow: :arrow:
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    If they start cancelling Belgian classics because of a bit of wind and rain that would be a travesty.


    This
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    If they start cancelling Belgian classics because of a bit of wind and rain that would be a travesty.

    Won't happen.
    _
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    If they start cancelling Belgian classics because of a bit of wind and rain that would be a travesty.

    Won't happen.

    agree - if it's not to some riders liking at halfway, they can pull out and those still up for it can carry on. This is what happened at G-W back in '15 (the one where Geraint ended up in a ditch) - only 39 guys finished.

    The problem is you can't pull out of a stage, in the middle of a stage race, if your team needs you for later stages. So there's more of a collective will to implement a cancellation of a particular stage if the weather isn't looking viable to race.

    The only issue I could see with 1-dayers is if extreme wind etc. means there's a risk of infrastructure injuring spectators or riders, aside from 6 ft of snow etc.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Only happens in training races, realistically, or if there is ice.
    _
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    As long as the roadside wheelie are tied down unlike in the 2011 KBK i don't see an issue :D
    Yes. Dustbins must be kept on a lead

    533177150.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=3&d=77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0611626693818A08D39C483B19E30A6B290F8CDB7AB1462A1A55A1E4F32AD3138
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • spam02
    spam02 Posts: 178
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    As long as the roadside wheelie are tied down unlike in the 2011 KBK i don't see an issue :D
    Yes. Dustbins must be kept on a lead

    533177150.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=3&d=77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0611626693818A08D39C483B19E30A6B290F8CDB7AB1462A1A55A1E4F32AD3138

    Haha, looks like my commute this morning where I was (nearly) attacked by a green wheelie bin being blown over.
  • yorkshireraw
    yorkshireraw Posts: 1,632
    KBK was cancelled in 2013(?) I think due to snow or ice.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    YorkshireRaw wrote:
    KBK was cancelled in 2013(?) I think due to snow or ice.

    Het Volk was cancelled in 2004 because of snow. I'd travelled over with a group of mates to watch it.

Categories