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Opening weekend 2018
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-02-2018 09:19
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Yes, the season only starts now. We begin today with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, previously known as Omloop Het Volk. It's a World Tour race since last season, but unfortuantely a lot fo riders are absent. Don't look for Sagan, kristoff or Degenkolb, they're skipping this race. The other top riders are present though. We'll start with Greg van Avermaet, last year's winner. His team only got stronger with adding Roelandts.
Belgian teams Quickstep and Lotto will challenge him with their full force. Quickstep has Philippe Gilbert, Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra, but can also suprrpise for Lampaert, Devenyns or even Gaviria. Lotto brings Tiesj Benoot, Jens Debusschere and Tim Wellens, who might surprise some people here.
Another challenger is Oliver Naesen, with Vandenbergh in support. The 2012 winner Sep Vanmarcke joins forces with the 2011 winner Sebastian Langeveld. There's also Arnaud Demare who you'll need to drop before the finish. Don't forget about Matteo Trentin after his transfer to Michelton.
So many people who can win this race. Edvald Boasson Hagen maybe, or Jasper Stuyven, maybe Edward Teuns? They're all riders who can handle a race like this and still have a good sprint. Finaly the wildcard team, I'm looknig forward to see how far cyclocross world champion Wout Van Aert can get in this race.
The route looks very different from last year, in fact it's mostly a recycled old Ronde Van Vlaanderen with the Muur and the Bosberg in the final and the finish in Meerbeke. Another change is that teams will only consist of 7 riders, making it harder to control the race.
My top 3:
1) Vanmarcke
2) Van Avermaet
3) Naesen
The next day we have Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne, still only a .HC race. Most riders will do the double, but this race is more sprinter friendly. There are less hills and the cobbles are earlier in the race. Based on the last years, there's 50/50 chance it will come down to a mass sprint.
S aside from the guys mentioned above, we get a few more race favourites. Dylan Groenewegen already has a few wins this season and can definitely handle cobbles well enough. Sonny Colbrelli will also ride the Omloop, but this race should suit hem much better. Ben Swiftis known for a strong sprint after a hard race as well. The same can be said about Sam Bennett. But if it comes to a sprint, I'd still be betting on Fernando Gaviria.
My top 3:
1) Gaviria
2) Groenewegen
3) Demare |
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 24-02-2018 09:21
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Time for Laporte to do the double! 
Also interested in Trentin and Van Aert to see what they do and Swift and Colbrelli in Kuurne, interesting podium options.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| roturn |
Posted on 24-02-2018 09:26
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| SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 24-02-2018 09:28
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World Champion
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opening weekend whilst it's not january nor may 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:20
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Tour de France Champion
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Hoping for a win either in KBK or Omloop by GVA, Naesen or Gaviria, why not. Finally cobblez are here, best time to watch cycling.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:21
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Tour de France Champion
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Only you consider the Giro the beginning of cycling season, that's hardly enough to call it a norm
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:25
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I don't know what to expect of Omloop with the new route. I guess that everyone will wait for the Muur/Bosberg to make their moves, instead of previous years where the attacks came from 50-80 kms from the finish. GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
In KBK, i think/hope Groenewegen takes it
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:34
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https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-a...ign=buffer
Some words of GVA yesterday, saying that he might struggle as Sagan isn't here to take all the focus, so everyone will be watching him
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Pretty sensible statement by GVA since Sagan and he are oftentimes the only ones strong enough to stay away from the bunch.
"For me, it's not an advantage that Peter is not here. I like to race with Peter. He opens up the race and rides with me full gas," Van Avermaet said at BMC's pre-race press conference in Sint-Martens-Latem on Friday.
"It's strange to say, but sometimes it's easier to have a guy like that next to you, rather than being the favourite everyone is looking at. So it's going to be more difficult, I think."
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Kiserlovski01 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:48
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Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 16:32
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| Forever the Best |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:51
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The season starts now. O_o
Go Phil!
The user formerly known as 'The Schleck Fan'
Gracias Alberto.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 24-02-2018 10:53
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Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:00
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Posts: 4191
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Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
Uuuups, i was checking only the last stage of each year in Eneco, but it looks like that year was the only one that Geraardsbergen stage wasn't placed in the last day 
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:01
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trekbmc wrote:
Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite.
You might be disappointed to know that Laporte isn't riding Omloop
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| Kiserlovski01 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
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trekbmc wrote:
Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite.
Oh come one, how could I forget about Lutsenko?
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| Kiserlovski01 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:05
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4055
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Aquarius97 wrote:
trekbmc wrote:
Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite.
You might be disappointed to know that Laporte isn't riding Omloop
F̶r̶o̶o̶m̶e̶ Laporte always wins.
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:08
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Posts: 7366
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Aquarius97 wrote:
trekbmc wrote:
Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite.
You might be disappointed to know that Laporte isn't riding Omloop
Damn, didn't see that he got gastro, terrible as he was looking really promising here. 
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 11:08
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Aquarius97 wrote:
trekbmc wrote:
Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Aquarius97 wrote:
GVA should take it to make 3 in-a-row, but given he has never excelled in the Geraardsbergen stage in Eneco Tour (although he has been consistent the last years with several top8 finishes in that stage), maybe he can't drop everyone as he should, and a rider like Stuyven (as he did in Eneco last year) makes a late attack to take the win.
Still think he's the only real favorite for the Omloop. He's already proven he can do well there by winning the 2014 Eneco Tour stage.
There's one other really big favourite.
You might be disappointed to know that Laporte isn't riding Omloop
I think he is? But if not:
Saving him for the massive finisseur attack to win in Kuurne is an interesting move - we'll see how it pays off. Also keep him under the radar a little - if he keeps his wins to mostly France nobody expects the Gent-Wevelgem solo and E3 reduced sprint wins to announce him to the WT on the cobbles (obviously he already did it in '16 Tour in sprints and mountains).
EDIT: I've been told by our #1 Laporte correspondent trekbmc that he has gastro. A shame
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 24-02-2018 12:05
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They currently have a 4-minute gap when the breakaway is starting the first hilly of the day. And ofc it's Iljo Keisse pulling in the bunch
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 24-02-2018 13:04
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Start of the classics season, what a time to be alive. Hoping for some nice racing today, curious to see who will be the new outsiders on the cobbles for 2018. |
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