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Ronde van Vlaanderen 2014
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 08:10
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A thread to discuss the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) for this year. Always a competitive race, will the old guard of Boonen and Cancellara have another year to celebrate, or will the new group of cobblers like Sagan and van Avermaet come to the fore this year? Or, it could be an outsider, like Zdenek Stybar to surprise everyone, hell it could be Tyler Farrar - such is the unpredictability of this great race.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-04-2014 09:00
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Sagan vs. Cancellara vs. Stybar. Enough said... 
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| Shonak |
Posted on 03-04-2014 09:03
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Tour de France Champion
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Cycleman123 wrote:
hell it could be Tyler Farrar - such is the unpredictability of this great race.
Did I miss something? And does "unpredictable" imply that the Muur makes a last-minute comeback?
Anyhoo, here's the course for this year for anyone who missed it:
Two times Oude/Paterberg, in between Koppenberg and Steenbeekdries.
Edited by Shonak on 03-04-2014 09:03
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| kubys |
Posted on 03-04-2014 09:07
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Domestique
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Cancellara looks really strong so far, but he was only plagued by unluck. I consider him as top favourite here, but I really hope for something that would make him weaker. On the other hand - Boonen didn't show anything so far on cobbles (except KBK), but I see him as gaining energy for his main goals, he is very unpredictable for me.
Desired top 5, without order: Boonen, Sagan, Terpstra, Å tybar, Degenkolb.
More real top 5 (considering latest performances): Cancellara, Sagan, Terpstra, Å tybar, Thomas.
Edited by kubys on 03-04-2014 09:09
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 03-04-2014 09:21
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Sagan has to go into this as the top favourite imo.
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| depeche92 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:11
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Sagan? He can't follow Cancellara on Paterberg, like everyone else.. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 07:57
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| bjornini |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:14
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Omega Pharma has a big advantage of having several (semi-)favorites. Boonen, Stybar, Terpstra...
In my opinion, OPQS can only do one thing sunday: Win. |
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:15
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Their best tactic is pacing with their domestiques over the cobbled sections until there is a small group up front with hopefully those 3 mentioned riders. Then they can control the race.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:23
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Cancellara is the obvious favourite again, but we've seen in 2011 that you can hurt him. He does have a strong Devolder this year though, I think he'll be the key rider in the race.
Sagan will need to follow on the cobbles, and I don't see him do that. I do see him as the main challenger though.
Quick Step is obviously the strongest team, but they need to play it well with. Slowpokes Terpstra and Vandenbergh need to finish alone. Boonen hasn't been top yet, but he'll be ready. Stybar would do best to shadow Cancellara I think, he's really good at that.
Then we have the outsiders. Vanmarcke will be there, and he should have good support if they don't crash. Van Avermaet can get a podium, but he's not a winner. Thomas is looking good, but can he handle the distance?
Then there's a few guys you can never rule out to do something special. Chavanel, Vansummeren, even Pozzato or Paolini.
But most of all, I'm hoping we don't have favourites crashing out early this year 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:26
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Don't forget Langeveld 
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:29
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I didn't forget him actually, I just don't remember seeing much of him this year.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| kubys |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:40
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Domestique
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Ollfardh wrote:
Then we have the outsiders. Vanmarcke will be there, and he should have good support if they don't crash.
Nobody consider Degenkolb as outsider? He can be very dangerous, RvV really suits him imo.
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:40
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Favorites for me:
*****
Cancellara
****
Boonen, Sagan, Terpstra, Stybar, Vanmarcke
***
Chavanel, Roelandts, Vandenbergh, Turgot, Wynants, Langeveld, Keukeleire, Degenkolb, Thomas, Gaudin, Devolder, van Keirsbulck, Gatto
**
Rast, Phinney, Boom, Le Bon, Amador, Nuyens, van Summeren, Pozzato, Hayman, Cousin, EBH, Paolini, van Asbroeck, de Vreese, Leukemans
*
GVA |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:44
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Ollfardh wrote:
He does have a strong Devolder this year though, I think he'll be the key rider in the race.
Devolder did a lot of work so far (especially at E3), but I don't think he's particularly strong this year. He paces when no one else wants to (or Cancellara orders him to) but it didn't look like he makes much of a difference.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Cycleman123 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:47
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Ollfardh wrote:
I didn't forget him actually, I just don't remember seeing much of him this year.
Nah, just an Orica fanboy joke
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-04-2014 10:57
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kubys wrote:
Ollfardh wrote:
Then we have the outsiders. Vanmarcke will be there, and he should have good support if they don't crash.
Nobody consider Degenkolb as outsider? He can be very dangerous, RvV really suits him imo.
If you crack on the Karnemelkbeekstraat, you're not going to survive 3x Kwaremont and Paterberg 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-04-2014 11:01
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Degenkolb? He would need rocket fuel to follow likes of Spartacus and Sagan.
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| kubys |
Posted on 03-04-2014 11:07
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Domestique
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You'll eat your words guys. I don't say he will win, but he'll surprise you...or have puncture. 
Die hard fan of Tom Boonen and Quickstep since 2004.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-04-2014 11:11
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Depends what is a "surprise" from Degenkolb. Top10 would not surprise me, top3 would.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-04-2014 11:54
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I agree Cycleman, obviously a Tyler Farrar victory.
Nah I think it's about time for Canc's first win and I think that's here.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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