Hi everyone
Here is an article about the upcoming Pro Tour races this month. Who is the favorite in different races, and things like that, lets get started.
Ronde van Vlaanderen:
The 2nd of the momentums has the last two years finished with Belgian Tom Boonen as winner. This year he will try to make it three times in a row, but he will be challenged by several strong riders. His teammate, the Olympic and world champion Paolo Bettini is one of them.
The Ronde consists of many short hills and many of them with paved cobble sections. It’s often compared to Paris-Roubaix, but considering the many short hills it often have a different outcome.
Some of the other favorites except Boonen/Bettini and there strong Quickstep team is, Leif Hoste (Predictor-Lotto) 2nd place lat year, Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) 6th last year and winner of Paris-Roubaix after that, Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) Helper of Boonen last year, but showed great talent by winning Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne then, Andreas Klier (T-Mobile) 9th place last year, Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile), 3rd in E3 after Tom and Fabian, Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) has showed some great form the last weeks, and Stefan Wesemann (Wisenhof), won the race in 2004.
Tom hasn’t been as impressive this year as before, but he still the favorite, especially with his team.
Personal guess:
1st: Tom Boonen 2nd: Michael Boogerd 3rd: Fabian Cancellara
Vuelta ciclista al Pais Vasco:
This stage race has a lot of climbing stages and therefore a good climber will probably win. There is a really strong field fighting for this one, almost all teams has someone that can do something. The main favorites are Alberto Contador (Discovery), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) and Frank Schleck (CSC). Last year Gomez Marchante (Saunier9 won, the question is if he can defend the win for all strong competitors.
Personal guess:
1st: Alberto Contador 2nd: Alejandro Valverde 3rd: Danilo di Luca
Gent Wevelgem:
Also a race with cobbles, it’s regarded as the nr.3 after Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. It usually ends with a mass sprint and Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) won last year and he has the chance to do it again, he will be challenged by riders like Pozatto (Liquigas) and Eisel (FDJ), if it don’t end with a bunch sprint a rider that could surprise with a late attack is for example Cancellara (CSC).
Personal guess:
1st: Fabian Cancellara 2nd:Thor Hushovd 3rd: Bernhard Eisel
Paris-Roubaix:
Ahh, the Hell of the North, filled with dangerous cobble sections with chances for nasty falls . Last year we saw Cancellara (CSC) win after an amazing solo; it also had a scandal in it with a train stopping several riders including Boonen, not something we want to see this year (or is it?).
The favorites are similar to Ronde van Vlaaderen with Boonen and Cnacellara as the ones everyone will have there eyes on, but also a warning for Flecha, Eisel and Hoste to name a few.
Personal guess: 1st Fabian Cancellara 2nd Leif Hoste 3rd Tom Boonen
Amstel Gold Race:
The first of the three races of the Ardennes week, last year won by Frank Schleck (CSC) after a solo attack in the end. This race features many small short hills and also has an uphill finish. As many of the one day races it’s hard to see any big favorites but Schleck is one of them. Another one is Paolo Bettini (Quickstep), and also Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) will be a man to watch out for, and you can never forget Michael Boogerd (Rabobank).
Personal guess:
1st Paolo Bettini 2nd Kim Kirchen
3rd Michael Boogerd
La Fleche Wallonne:
The Wallonne arrow, held in between Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It has a similar profile to the other races, but is a bit shorter. To make up for that the finish is up for the Mur de Huy. Last year it was won by super rider Alejandro Valverde (Caisse) that also managed to win L-B-L just a few days later.
The favorites are the same as in Amstel Gold Race with the difference that some riders with less stamina could manage to keep up in this shorter race. I would like to give a slight warning for Oscar Freire (Rabobank).
Personal guess:
1st Michael Boogerd 2nd Paolo Bettini 3rd Oscar Freire
Liege-Bastogne-Liege:
La Doyenne, the last of the Ardennes classics, and with the same sort of profile as the previous two but with over 260km in length it’s the longest of them. Last year like I said earlier Alejandro Valverde succeeded in taking a double in the Wallonne Arrow and this race. He is also among the favorites this year, but there are as always other riders with good possibilities. All the riders I mentioned in the AGR part of the article for example.
Personal guess:
1st Paolo Bettini 2nd Davide Rebellin 3rd Patrik Sinkewitz
Tour de Romandie will come with the May Report.
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