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Gent-Wevelgem Discussion
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:10
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Sorry for the lack of sprinter overview, but didn't have time to do it :(
 Gent-Wevelgem
A true classic of cycling, this season we'll see the 79th edition of Gent-Wevelgem. It's not at the top level anymore but some of the world's best will be here nevertheless. It's sometimes called the sprinter's classic due to that flat final 40km but what that doesn't convey is the tough cobbled climbs that precede it. Indeed sometimes there's a reduced bunch sprint but with gaps everywhere just last year it's far from a guarantee.
It's not just the cobbles that will test the riders here: this race is long, and usually windy and rainy. The first 120km across the Flandrien plains exist not just as a nice meander to the Kemmelberg and Kasselberg, but as an opportunity for the wind and rain to batter the riders and test their mettle. Plenty of opportunites for any pure cobbled riders looking for a solo or a small like-minded breakaway come in the latter half of the race before the flat run-in, where any of those left behind can claw their way back, and any sprinters can gather their thoughts if they hung on to the pack.
We could see wins from two different types of riders really, with some hybrids. For the more cobbles-inclined:
| Rider | COB | STA | SPR | Rider | COB | STA | SPR |  Burghardt | 82 | 77 | 67 |  Nolf | 80 | 77 | 63 | | (LIE) Vanbilsen | 80 | 80 | 72 |  Polanc | 78 | 78 | 67 |  Daniel | 80 | 76 | 76 |  Drucker | 77 | 75 | 74 |  Teunissen | 81 | 77 | 69 |  Van Keirsbulck | 78 | 75 | 70 |  Wisniowski | 79 | 75 | 73 |  Bush | 78 | 75 | 71 |  Kamyshev | 82 | 81 | 58 |  Albert | 78 | 76 | 63 |  Altur | 80 | 75 | 72 | Domene | 76 | 73 | 74 | | Thomas | 79 | 75 | 74 |  Lindeman | 76 | 72 | 74 |
From this kind of situation it's obvious that Burghardt, (LIE) Vanbilsen and Daniel are probably our favourites. They all are pretty good in a sprint (Vanbilsen won here last year from a sprint of three), particularly Daniel, and are obviously stellar cobbled riders. The German has probably the best support, especially with Thomas (4th last season) as a very dangerous #2 behind him. Next to them are Wisniowski, Altur and Kamyshev. The former two are good in a sprint for the end, the latter decidedly isn't.
Looking to the second row and it's nice to see half of them as CT riders. The main riders who could surprise here would be Nolf as a very good cobbled rider, and Drucker as a good cobbler-sprinter. The similar CT rivals of Van Keirsbulck and Bush probably can't overachieve but in a tough race could top 10. To finish a couple of less able cobbled riders who are decent in a sprint: Altur's friend Domene and CT rider Lindeman.
We could also see some of the sprinters present be winning... if they can hang around long enough. These men are a mix of CT hopefuls, leadouts, domestiques and second options to cobbled leaders. Likely to be mixing it up in any major dash to the line here are:
| Rider | SPR | COB | STA | Rider | SPR | COB | STA | | (LIE) Van Aesbroeck | 80 | 74 | 75 | Breschel | 76 | 76 | 75 | | Kump | 80 | 73 | 76 | (LIE) Peeters | 79 | 68 | 75 | | Rowe | 79 | 75 | 76 | Tsatevich | 75 | 75 | 74 |  Havik | 79 | 75 | 74 | Giaux | 77 | 71 | 72 | | Nepomnyachsniy | 78 | 76 | 74 | Matthews | 76 | 73 | 70 | | Theuns | 77 | 76 | 76 | Kennaugh | 82 | 58 | 74 | | Harrison | 78 | 73 | 76 | Brus | 78 | 64 | 74 | | Farrar | 78 | 70 | 74 | Tronet | 75 | 71 | 72 |  Gatto | 78 | 72 | 71 | Boonen | 75 | 73 | 67 |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:30
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Obviously rooting for Burghardt to win, even though I doubt this is the best course to do so. I think one of those sprinters will take it, but of course there's a chance for the premium cobblers to make it an elimination race at the crucial sectors.
Would have brought Ewan here  But Podium Ambition with Burghardt/Thomas should be strong anyway. Don't fear the fail 
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| Atlantius |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:39
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Hoping for a tough race with a small group coming to the finish without too many sprinters.
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:50
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Hoping for a slow train comming, with Gatto having diamond in a mass sprint finish.
thanks for the preview jandal.
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| tastasol |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:55
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Very excited about this one. A maxed Wisniowski for the first time, so hoping he can do good. Rowe is not doing a full cobbl season, but this should be one of his better chances. Burghardt the main man, interesting to see how he will go.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 06-11-2017 08:56
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First race for Albert, let's see what he's up to.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 09:50
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Go Maxime!
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 06-11-2017 10:25
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Historically one of our better races, thank you G! A very different expection though this season. With the duo Marcus/G we have to be contending for the race win. January was a shocking month for us, already dropping a ton of points. Being off the podium here would be nother major set back on our best terrain.
Marcus has the skills to make this a tough race from the front. Thomas can play foil and force a chase, or he can sit in a save energy for a late burst to the line. Matthews could also be an outside option if a big group comes into the finish together.
Ewan's schedule was too much dictated by XP gains to bring him here, but it was considered.
Lets go and win this boys!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 14:14
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 10:42
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Go Kump! The Arrow from Doljenska in one of his more sketchy race days, but he could be a nice factor here - will depend a lot on the race. !b option of course is Polanc, who looks set nicely for an attack.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 06-11-2017 12:00
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Hey, we do have microjerseys now!
A big race for us, as we won last year. Also Van Asbroeck should like this race, I just hope we ride a bit smarther than Omloop.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 06-11-2017 12:12
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Our shot among the big boys! Be gentle
Gonna be content seeing Drucker in amongst the top 15/20 come the end. A top 10 would be amazing! This will also be an indication of how our support for Drucker will be through the season.
Nice preview Jandal
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 13:36
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Really hoping the team is strong here. A top 10 would be nice, but depth points would serve just as well as a sprint will be difficult. We need to score here, bottomline.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Scorchio |
Posted on 06-11-2017 14:45
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For WCC the kick-off for our puncheur group was pretty anonymous, and the sprinters didn't even make it to the proper start line, here's hoping for a bit more from the cobbled department on season debut! Our leader Bush is not in the top department of riders with the PCT competition present, but an outside chance at scraping into the top 10 or 12 if a hard race. Hopefully he works well in combo with Harrision if it instead comes down to a sprint, where with luck a good result is possible, but of course a dose of luck would still be required.
Really need the points to start ticking over after the big fat zero of GoR in Oz, but after Het Volk this morning, excited to see the cobbled classics starting up.
Manager of ISA - Hexacta in the MG |
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 14:48
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First chance for Grand to test himself against the big boys here. I'm hoping to get a point out of it at least, and to see how he would fare if we promote, as it will help decide if he gets training in the future or not.
Slightly disappointing to not be mentioned in the preview, which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence about his chances of scoring something.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 06-11-2017 15:07
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I really hope Teunissen can redeem himself here where the field is a bit weaker. There's also (a lot) less points on offer, but I guess a top 5 could really satisfy me after all, or a good result in the top 10 by both Theuns and Teunissen could be acceptable, too. You do you guys, as long as we score like we'd deserve. I'd probably go for Vanbilsen or Wisniowski for the win.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 06-11-2017 15:35
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The real season kicks off for Goldcorp in this race hoping for GVK to go top 10 but this startlist is a bit tougher than expected. Nice preview!
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 06-11-2017 15:56
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I was sure we were in this race. Probably got it mixed up with some of the other cobbles races we obviously shouldn't be in. Although this would've been a cool use of those final 2 RDs Vantomme had which I couldn't work out how to use.
I do love these cobbles/sprinters profiles, would love to see the sprinters just win if Kump or Van Asbroek can (maybe Havik can steal points for Poland  )
Thanks for the great preview Jandal, looking forward to the race!
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 06-11-2017 19:13
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Nothing against my CT colleages, but i hope you don't score too much from this race, as it seems like every team that i'm supoused to fight with for the top10 in rankings is here
I'll go with Daniel or Kump for the win in this one. And good preview Jandal!
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| Yellow Jersey |
Posted on 06-11-2017 22:04
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Classics Specialist
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Really nice preview thanks SN!
Honestly a much better startlist than I expected, Flaksis certainly won't have any chances of winning. Maybe a not-so.agressive race enough for Kireva to remain in front and try to sprint for some points would be the best chance for us to score anything.
Anyway it's very exciting to start our cobbled classics campaign, it'll be great throughout the season I can see it.
Although not very hard, I see the race leaving the cobbles/hills with a very reduced group in front and in that case I see Burghardt winning. If a slow race, I'd bet on Marko Kump he's been great so far.
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| viking90 |
Posted on 07-11-2017 08:17
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Well not the podium I would have guessed... |
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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)
