The Ardennes classics, 3 races, 100 hills, 1000’s of points, 1 week, Kilograms of honour but only 3 winners (probably)
Anyway, here are the teams who will be in action Teams Auber 93 – Look
Startlist
Sinkewitz is the undisputed leader, and will be aiming for 3 top ten placings, with dreams of sneaking a top 5 if he gets lucky, some solid support from Mehr-Wenige and Boom, but they will leave him solo well before the finish
Valverde is back, and after dominating the Continental tour last year he’s ready to take on the best in the world, and he’ll do so with the rainbow jersey on his back. That said, he only got 12th place in
Liege last year so he will be out to prove that weak competition hasn’t made him go soft. Support is non-existent so flying solo is the order of the day, and I think he will struggle to live up to the hype.
Carmeuse Cyclisme
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Brandt
Brandt
Brandt
Casar
Casar
Casar
Di Gregorio
Di Gregorio
Di Gregorio
Aulas
Aulas
Aulas
Lhotellerie
Lhotellerie
Lhotellerie
Jacobs
Jacobs
Jacobs
Camier
Kneisky
Cancellara
Fenn
Fenn
Fenn
Move along, nothing to see here. Except, maybe, Cancellara might just spring a surprise in L-B-L. I wouldn’t bet on it, but I wouldn’t bet against it either.
Domina Vacanze
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Vanendert
Vanendert
Vanendert
Eibegger
Eibegger
Eibegger
Naibo
Naibo
Naibo
Pauriol
Pauriol
Pauriol
Schröder
Schröder
Schröder
Deroo
Deroo
Deroo
Frei
Frei
Frei
Speirs
Speirs
Speirs
Vanendert punched well above his weight last year and will be looking to do so again, however I feel he should be happy with one top ten, especially given the lack of serious support.
Energie-Diesel
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Sanchez Gil
Sanchez Gil
Sanchez Gil
Zaballa
Zaballa
Zaballa
Soler
Soler
Soler
Vicioso
Vicioso
Vicioso
Colom Mas
Colom Mas
Colom Mas
Pires
Cardoso
Vital
Cunha
Cunha
Cunha
Rojas Gil
Rojas Gil
Rojas Gil
Only one top ten in three races was a disappointment for Sanchez Gil and I expect him to perform much better, he has solid support, and is a strong all round rider, I expect him to be around the top ten in all three races
Festina - Corona
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Sánchez Gonzalez
Sánchez Gonzalez
Sánchez Gonzalez
Ulissi
Ulissi
Ulissi
Denifl
Denifl
Denifl
Morabito
Morabito
Morabito
Dees
Dees
Dees
Kvist
Kvist
Madrazo
Vingerling
Schädlich
Kvist
Li
Vingerling
Vingerling
Here we have 2 leaders, both of whom look good for top 5 finishes, and who will be expecting to reach two podiums between them, I suspect this will too much, however expect to see a Festina shirt in the front at all times.
Jack Wolfskin
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Gesink
Gesink
Gesink
van der Hugenhaben
van der Hugenhaben
Ten Dam
Ten Dam
Ten Dam
Martens
Giling
Martens
Kreder
Rabou
Vaugrenard
Giling
De Kort
Kreder
Sys
Poels
Giling
Poels
Van Emden
Sys
Cooper
Gesink, will be looking to Amstel Gold to give his home fans something to cheer about, and while 9th last year may not be something to write home about, 3 9th places will give a nice points haul for Jack Wolfskin
La Gazzetta dello Sport
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
De la Fuente
Cunego
Cunego
Dowsett
De la Fuente
De la Fuente
Bono
Dowsett
Dowsett
Santambrogio
Bono
Bono
Mugerli
Santambrogio
Santambrogio
Wielinga
Mugerli
Mugerli
Maisto
Wielinga
Wielinga
Possoni
Maisto
Maisto
No Di Luca, No Cunego for Amstel, this isn’t the La Gazzetta we say last year, however Cunego claims to have worked hard on his Hilly riding over the winter break, and he will be 2nd favourite in both the races he rides in
Lafarge
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Gautier
Gautier
Gautier
Jeannesson
Jeannesson
Jeannesson
Rangel
Rangel
Rangel
Minard
Minard
Minard
Van Zandbeek
Van Zandbeek
Van Zandbeek
Bret
Bret
Bret
Korzh
Korzh
Korzh
Peeters
Peeters
Peeters
Gautier will try but his best result last year was 39th, expect to see Lafarge in the breakaways.
Lipton Ice Tea
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Di Maggio
Di Maggio
Di Maggio
Ghisalberti
Ghisalberti
Ghisalberti
Arroyo
Arroyo
Kashechkin
Ratiy
Ratiy
Arroyo
Stundzia
Stundzia
Ratiy
Brizuela
Brizuela
Stundzia
Petrie-Armstrong
Petrie-Armstrong
Brizuela
Bontenackels
Bontenackels
Rowe
Lipton pull out all the stops here, however they lack a clear leader, and while this could be handy if the race breaks up with a long way to go, I suspect the riders will get in each other’s way and Lipton will not appear at the business end of the race.
Pearl Adidas
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Bakelants
Bakelants
Bakelants
Weening
Weening
Weening
Walker
Walker
Walker
Leezer
Leezer
Leezer
Vitoria
Vitoria
Vitoria
De Haes
De Haes
De Haes
Mondory
Mondory
Mondory
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Bakelants will have been looking forwards to this all year and after 2 top 20’s while working for Gesink watch as the pupil becomes the master and he beats Gesink in at least two of the classics on his way to a podium place. The scary thing is, he still has room for improvement.
Philips - TDC
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Rodriguez Oliver
Rodriguez Oliver
Rodriguez Oliver
Schreurs
Schreurs
Schreurs
Bellotti
Bellotti
Bellotti
Pecharroman
Pecharroman
Pecharroman
Reimer
Fuglsang
Reimer
Fuglsang
Cohnen
Fuglsang
Cohnen
MartÃnez de Esteban
Cohnen
Mørkøv
Mørkøv
Lund
Every year from now on the going will get harder for Rodriguez Oliver and if he matches last year’s 5-10-13 he should be very pleased with himself
Sony Ericsson
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Trofimov
Trofimov
Trofimov
Anza
Anza
Anza
Mori
Mori
Mori
Marzano
Marzano
Marzano
Muravjev
Muravjev
Muravjev
Fernández Oliveira
Fernández Oliveira
Fernández Oliveira
Pauwels
Danacik
Danacik
Reihs
Reihs
Pauwels
Can Sony’s amazing start to the season continue? No. Will it last until Romandie? Possibly. Trofimov has beaten all comers so far and after not riding last year, expect him to get a podium, although the top step of the podium might be just that, a step too far.
Team B&O
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Hagen
Hagen
Hagen
Klemme
Klemme
Klemme
Kruijswijk
Grivko
Grivko
Steensen
Kruijswijk
Kruijswijk
Hacecký
Steensen
Steensen
Sagan
Sagan
Mestre
Christensen
Stenersen
Sagan
Drucker
Hegreberg
Hegreberg
Hagen will win one of these Classics, he sprints well, climbs well and with a solid team behind him I expect him to go all the way this year.
Team Nespresso
Di Luca may not be the force he once was, but last year he podiumed so expect solid performances, with perhaps a top ten or two just to tide Nespresso over
Team Starbucks-Radioshack
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Visconti
Visconti
Visconti
Kiserlovski
Koren
Amador
Koren
Ospina
Koren
Ospina
Lowe
Ospina
Lowe
Ciccarese
Lowe
Ciccarese
Jaramillo
Ciccarese
Jaramillo
Fajt
Jaramillo
Fajt
Bacquet
Fajt
Visconti may not have ridden last year, and he may not perform well this year, but he has a nice team, so should a break make it, Starbucks will be the team with the best chance of benefiting from it.
Vesuvio-Accumalux
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Schleck
Schleck
Schleck
Iglinski
Iglinski
Iglinski
Gastauer
Gastauer
Gastauer
Einsle
Einsle
Einsle
Kvasina
Kvasina
Kvasina
Kelly
Kelly
Kelly
Faiers
Cabreira
Merino Criado
Hopman
Faiers
Galimzyanov
Number 1. Schleck is favourite for the Ardennes, one person beat him in three races last year and while he probably won’t have that form again, I expect him to win 1 of these races, possibly 2 if he gets lucky, anything less than that would be a massive disappointment for him. That said, his armour has a chink in the form of his team mates, and so if he gets pressured early he may find himself out of options.
Warner Brothers
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Spilak
Spilak
Spilak
Talabardon
Talabardon
Barredo
De Ketele
De Ketele
Talabardon
Facci
Facci
De Ketele
Perez Fernandez
Perez Fernandez
Facci
Van Houts
Van Houts
Perez Fernandez
Castro Rodriguez
Castro Rodriguez
Castro Rodriguez
Giraldo
Giraldo
Giraldo
He may not have ridden last year, but Spilak is at home on these hills, and will push for a top 5 in one race, although will probably have a bad race where he fails to make an impression
Wikipedia
Startlist
Amstel Gold Race
La Fleche Wallone
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Van Garderen
Van Garderen
Van Garderen
Burghardt
Burghardt
Busche
Busche
Busche
Ivars
Eastman
Eastman
Eastman
Brandt
Brandt
Mai
Eeckhout
Eeckhout
Brandt
Broers
Broers
Eeckhout
Sebright
Sebright
Broers
Van Garderen has no team mates, no experience but he does have talent, expect to see him at the front of the races, battling it out in the sprints for the secondary riders.
Wild Cards
Amstel has Bacardi, with Ricco and Kirchen both strong, expect them to get a top 5 placing and don’t be surprised if Bacardi win the team classification
Fleche has LEGO and between Monfort and Claeys, they will also be spoilers to the big teams, although they won’t get the podium which Bacardi will be looking for
L-B-L has Ponzi, who will be battling it out with Bakelants to find out who will dominate in the years to come, while Ginanni will also be there, also expecting to fit right in, although both of their stamina will probably let them down this year. I see them fading as the race goes on.
The races
In this section there will be a brief run down of the races as well as a prediction about which riders will do better in this race than the others
Amstel Gold
The most hilly of the three, also, due to the final 30km, the easiest one to spring a surprise, expect riders like Hagen, Ulissi and Sanchez Gil to do well here due to their strength on the flat just before the finish.
Fleche Wallone
The shortest and least hilly of the three, riders who will be stronger here include Sanchez Gonzalez, Bakelants and Vanendert.
Liege-Bastonge-Liege
The longest, most difficult and most prestigious of the classics expect this to be where Schleck, Valverde and Cunego really shine.
[url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182]Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Stupid LBL crashing on finish, anyway, Rather than leave you waiting I just wanted to explain that Amstel Gold will only come after Euskal Bizikleta is finished
[url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182]Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
8th is pretty good for Gesink even though this one was his best chance to get a top 5 from the Ardennes because of the national bonus.
Edited by alexkr00 on 06-10-2010 21:07
