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Dwars Door Vlaanderen Discussion
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| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 09-05-2014 16:57
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Welcome to the 2014 edition of the Dwars Door Vlaanderen, the second instalment of the battle between the biggest cobblers in the Pro Continantal division. After a trip to Africa, we're back in the traditional home of the classics, Flanders.
The 191 kilometre profile sees the race cross 8 cobbled sections, where the race will probably decided. Some massive favourites make the trip to face famous climbs like the twin Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg hills. Only the strongest will be able to stay at the front.
Last year saw Kevin Peeters take a surprise win for the now defunct Japanese-Korean Cycling Project. From a early-stage attack. The year before Tom Veelers took victory for Koppert Cycling. Peeters wasn't selected by his new team, but Veelers rides again, this time for Hornbach.
Talking about those riding, here's a look at this year's startlist:
The strongest team here is almost undoubtedly  Hornbach. The Belgian squad has one of the strongest favourites in the form of Italian Franzoi, who should be right up there. Along with the likes of Trentin, Veelers, Lindeman and Wynants, they possess the cobbled talent to dominate and they really need to, as they are threatened by relegation currently.
Also looking for a big points haul are promotion-chasing  Quickstep, who also field an impressive cobble department. Baugnies is the big leader who will try and go for the win while solid support from Steurs and Vanbilsen can help him along.
Those two are probably the biggest favourites, but there are others that could definitely reach the top step of the podium on their day. Leading Continental high flyers Gazelle is new boy  Nuyens, who will try his hand for a good result.  Maes also comes from the Continental division riding for Allianz, as does  Thomas for Boeing.
As a team with two good leaders, Amexpc will hope that  Breschel and Eisel can combine like last year to form a point-scoring partnership. Another double act is present for Heineken with both  Langeveld and Gaudin decent cobblers for them who could bring results.
Riders like  Taillefour and  Machado are strong on the cobbles but lack in other areas, which means they will probably not grab the win but anything can happen in the northern classics. Smaller bets are probably the likes of  Turgot and  Del Nero.
Then you have the likes of  Joseph,  De Haes,  Ostergaard,  Aulas and  Young who all come from this year's Continental setup looking for a surprise result and some points. Some will struggle though to pull out any points in this strong field.
That's all of the main favourites, hopefully we'll see them making an exciting race.
Edited by SportingNonsense on 09-05-2014 21:50
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:05
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Directeur Sportif
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Guess it's the first time Oz got mentioned in a cobbled-race preview  Not sure though, maybe Cooke had one back in 2012..
Would be cool if Del Nero could grab a few points here. The race suits him, even though he ain't that strong except of his high FL stat and backups. Only hope is a less selective race or mid-race breakaway. Any point will do, Top-20 looks doable.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Hoping Thomas can go with the key moves and then utilize his sprinting ability to sneak a few places higher. Happy with a Top10 result from him. Behind him i'm interested to see how Grashev fairs. He was magnificent in Africa but i'm not sure if he can carry that over to a flatter route.
Anyway, should be great
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:12
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World Champion
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After Bahir Dar the least is expected is to fight for a win. Would like Baugnies to attack with less than 70km to go this time as well..
Looking forward to it, I'd really like a early classics win, but podium would be just fine.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:21
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World Champion
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Dwars Door Vlaanderen, meaning "straight through Flanders"
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:25
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And seems I should've brought Peeters here anyway 
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| jph27 |
Posted on 09-05-2014 17:25
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Team Leader
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No love for Haussler?
No expectations from me, so I can't be disappointed  |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 09-05-2014 19:04
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Protected Rider
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DDV is not ideal terrain for AMEXpc. With two solid riders we are looking for solid points. We are not likely to get on the podium. Stijn Devolder could be a surprise on this course.
Last year we had a man in the break, look for Kurth or Godet to try the break again in 2014
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Team Manager of AMEX - Navigon
Editor of the Cobbler
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| 547984 |
Posted on 09-05-2014 22:04
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5008
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Not expecting any points, originally I picked this race as a filler thinking I was going to get a cobbler at the end of transfers, but whatever. PCM AI, now is the time for you to surprise me 
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 10-05-2014 15:44
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Happy to see Ostergaard attacking out there. Other than that not very important for me as a CT team.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| jph27 |
Posted on 10-05-2014 15:46
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10th is decent, no idea why Turgot attacked though. Haussler absolutely nowhere and no one in the break. Meh. |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 12:24
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 10-05-2014 15:50
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Two guys in the top 20, can live with that as a starting team against the big teams
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 10-05-2014 15:51
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Decent, about what we expectd and the response we wanted after Bahir Dar. Asbroeck with great ride too, but no Steurs in the front group is disappointing. Overall much better.
Eisel timed that perfectly, great win.
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| maxime86 |
Posted on 10-05-2014 16:03
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Classics Specialist
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bad race for us except for the fact that abraha got into the break
great report though |
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 10-05-2014 16:39
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Said Thomas would be a threat with his sprint. Nice to see Bolivar going down the road as well. Unfortunately Grashev was clearly not having the best of days failing to make the serious cuts. Thomas is good but he can use that bit more support if he is challenge for wins. Overall i am happy with the result though.
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| roturn |
Posted on 10-05-2014 16:41
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Seeing the result here I have high hopes for Vanmarcke with a decent sprint in the PT cobbled classics.
That said PT have a much better field and riders like Boonen and Bewley with an even better sprint.
Good result for Amex and Hornbach, which will move them up a bit. Also Oz with a surprisingly well result. |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 10-05-2014 16:52
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Directeur Sportif
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Yay! Definitely better than what I was hoping for. Del Nero already with a huge result for Oz on cobbles. I told you this race suits him, but he did extremely well here
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| 547984 |
Posted on 10-05-2014 16:56
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Posts: 5008
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Incredible race. Was expecting around 40-50th place, as this was just a filler race for us, but 16th from Young (only 71 Cobble!) is quite amazing. A decent amount of points too!
baseballlover312, 06-03-14 : "Nuke Moscow...Don't worry Russia, we've got plenty of love to go around your cities"
Sarah Palin, 08-03-14 (CPAC, on Russian aggression) : "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke"
Big thanks to jdog for making this AMAZING userbar! |
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| Mhaley45 |
Posted on 10-05-2014 18:58
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Posts: 1036
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That was a big win for AMEXpc. We need to make our point on these cobble races or the season could quickly fall apart.
An almost picture perfect race. Arnaud Godet gets in the breakaway to allow Matti Breschel and Bernhard Eisel to conserve energy. Then Baugnies waits 10K but still attacks with 60k remaining.
Breschel then goes to work and pulls the rest of the contenders back to the leaders, setting up Eisel's late attack.
Bernhard Eisel wins.
Matti Breschel gets the unsung hero award and holds on for 9th.
Michael Kurth stays with the contenders pack and racks points for 17th,
and the young Frenchman Arnaud Godet has already been in two key cobble race breakaways.
(save that script maybe we can use it a couple more times this season <grin>
Baugnies seems to be getting bad advice over his headset or he is really spooked by the PCT's cadre of sprinting cobblers. Hope he gets things sorted out He is much to good to be riding like a rookie.
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Editor of the Cobbler
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| Levi4life |
Posted on 10-05-2014 20:43
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Clearly I need better support riders.
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![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
