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Cobbles 2018: De Panne - E3 - Wevelgem - Dwars Door - Scheldeprijs
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 19-03-2018 13:42
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World Champion
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A new format this year, the evil Flanders Classics organisation decided to kill off the competition and moved Dwars Door Vlaanderen to the Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde's spot on the calender, effectively killing the race. De Panne was forced to move to the week after Milan - San Remo, where it could not remain a stage race. After trying to cut it to 2 two days, there still wasn't much interest in the new format, so the organisation decided to make it a classic.
On Wednesday 21/03 we will have the new Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne (and Thursday 22/03 for the ladies race). It's a 202 km classic in West-Flanders, meaning cobbles and probably a lot of crosswinds. It's hard to find a startlist at this point, but I'm guessing none of the big guys will show up this year.
Friday 23/03 we move to the E3 Harelbeke, the race that probably comes closest to the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. The cobbled hills will certainly be selective and we can already draw the first conclusion in this race. Expect everybody to be there!
Then Sunday 25/03 there's Gent - Wevelgem. We follow last year's edition, which increased the distance to 250 km and added 3 plugstreets. The final is a bit easier compared to the other classics, so a sprint isn't unlikely. The Kemmelberg will be the toughest part of the race.
The final preparation for the Ronde is on Wednesday 28/03 with Dwars Door Vlaanderen. It's a WT race nowadays, but it's still lacking in name and so close to the Ronde, I doubt that many of the big names will show themselves. Only 180 kilometres, which makes a surprise winner more likely.
The monuments deserve thir own topics of course, but in between Ronde and Roubaix there's the Scheldeprijs on Wednesday 04/04. This race changed a lot this year, moving the first 100 km to Zeeland, making the wind play an important role. This might tough up the race a little, as the lack of hills and easier cobble sections usualy make this race a sprintfest. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 19-03-2018 13:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Let's go Naesen and GVA, one or both of them to be the answer I hope. Also excited to see how Gilbert will fare this season, he was sorta the breakthrough star last year after he has missed so many appearances bc of BMC.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 16:34
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 19-03-2018 14:32
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World Champion
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I have my doubts on Gilbert, he's focussing on Roubaix for his monument quest, but in my opinion it's the race that suits him least.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 19-03-2018 16:53
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7702
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Oh wow just noticed that Driedaagse became a classic. Surely should be called Eendaagse now? 
This is the Yves Lampaert breakout year. Calling it now |
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 19-03-2018 17:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
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Same.
Haven't seen the startlists yet, I sure do hope Naesen can finally rack up a nice win this year.. Really rooting for Belgian outsiders this year, would love to see van Aert and Allegaert with a top result.
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| df_Trek |
Posted on 19-03-2018 17:37
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3rd in Strade Bianche is already a top result  , and maybe that was the best race for him, with mud and not so long distance
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 19-03-2018 21:28
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2809
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df_Trek wrote:
3rd in Strade Bianche is already a top result , and maybe that was the best race for him, with mud and not so long distance
yes absolutely, and I do say in the logic that these might not suit him as well as Strade.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 21-03-2018 10:26
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World Champion
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Names to watch today: Quick Step with Viviani (or Jakobsen?), Debusschere and Keukeleire for Lotto, Durbridge, Coquard, Van Aert and some semi fast sprinter who might hold on. As you can see, they really destroyed this race.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 21-03-2018 12:17
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With that startlist likely to be a quick win
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 21-03-2018 12:56
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World Champion
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Quick Step seems to be aiming for a sprint. Viviani's race to lose then.
Interesting poll result as well, no one sees GVA repeat his 2017 season.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 21-03-2018 15:37
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World Champion
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Viviani wins, my new favourite rider Philipsen is 3rd!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 21-03-2018 15:39
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World Champion
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Friendly reminder that he only turned 20 earlier this month and just beat, in PCM terms, a whole bunch of 75-76 sprinters.
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-03-2018 23:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Ollfardh wrote:
Interesting poll result as well, no one sees GVA repeat his 2017 season.
So far his form really doesn't indicate he will reach those heights again. i wish it for him that he is in super peak for Ronde but last season took its toll.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 21-03-2018 23:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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Yellow Jersey wrote:
Same.
Haven't seen the startlists yet, I sure do hope Naesen can finally rack up a nice win this year.. Really rooting for Belgian outsiders this year, would love to see van Aert and Allegaert with a top result.
Naesen was soo good last year. I hope too that he gets a big classic win this season, especially because he was fairly unlucky last year (Ronde crash, Roubaix punctures 4-5 times just to fight back each and every time). Easily one of my fav riders.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Tafiolmo |
Posted on 22-03-2018 12:13
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Sprinter
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I think this season's big cobble races will be some of the most interesting in years largely due to a bunch a uncertain favourites for different reasons.
Firstly there is Sagan which is a problem and race in itself, nobody will work with him and he now will not tow anybody along with him. GVA's form clearly doesn't indicate that he is on the form of the last two years. Vanmarcke has been beaten too many times and lacks the ability to stay clear when he attacks. Gilbert will be closely watched this season and will not have the same freedom as last year. Stybar and Terpstra I see more as podium contenders even though they have the ability to land a big one. Kristoff past his best but could surprise especially at PR which suits an older rider (I know he's only 30 but seems much older) Degenstache Possibly could land a big victory and if on form the rider that most matches Sagan with power and sprint.
For the romanticist then clearly Benoot after his victory at Strade, clearly on top form and super strong and coming good luck wise after a few season of bad luck in these races. Skybots of Stannard and Rowe I think will be workers as the most likely will be Van Baarle and Moscon and I do think Sky will land a victory. Naesen similar to Vanmarcke and I think more likely to succeed after a his breakthrough over the last year and a half. I also expect Michelton now a big team to do well with strongmen like Hayman and Durbridge with the leader really being Trentin and also the bots of Astana will be ones to watch as well
Overall I do think these races could well be decided by lesser favourites and given the Sagan watching going on, a breakaway or a long attack could well succeed. I expect riders of the calibre of Valgren to get some good results.
Btw as for the poll done by Olifardh I chose Benoot
Edited by Tafiolmo on 22-03-2018 13:47
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 22-03-2018 14:16
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World Champion
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Driedaagse was good by the way. Some hills and cobbles early on, but by going to De Moeren 3x in the local laps, the field got really scattered and we had a reduced sprint. I'm a fan!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 23-03-2018 13:29
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It's really odd to see the cobbles season start without Boonen and Cancellara. Their combined stats are just insane (especially if you consider both had some bad luck throughout their careers).
E3: 8 wins + 2 podiums + 4x top 10
Wevelgem: 3 wins + 1 podium + 6x top 10
Ronde: 6 wins + 3 podiums + 3x top 10
Roubaix: 7 wins + 6 podiums + 6x top 10
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Tafiolmo |
Posted on 23-03-2018 13:42
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Sprinter
Posts: 1962
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Ollfardh wrote:
It's really odd to see the cobbles season start without Boonen and Cancellara. Their combined stats are just insane (especially if you consider both had some bad luck throughout their careers).
E3: 8 wins + 2 podiums + 4x top 10
Wevelgem: 3 wins + 1 podium + 6x top 10
Ronde: 6 wins + 3 podiums + 3x top 10
Roubaix: 7 wins + 6 podiums + 6x top 10
As you say it is insane, because without the bad luck of crashes and injuries they were good enough for at least another couple of monuments each especially in the case of Cancellara and certainlty more victories in the other cobbled classics
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| cio93 |
Posted on 23-03-2018 13:51
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Bert de Backer is a very handsome man.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 23-03-2018 14:30
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World Champion
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I hope Gilbert and Benoot crash out of contention for this disgrace of a strategy.
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