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Ronde Van Vlaanderen preview
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| Smowz |
Posted on 26-11-2011 16:28
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The second monument of the year the 'Tour of Flanders' sees the cobbled riders do battle over a very demanding 251km route which includes the infamous cobbled climbs of Oude Kwaremont, the Koppenberg and the often decisive penultimate cobbled section of Muur Kapelmuur.
The cobbled season has been dominated by Tom Boonen so far this year after taking the new East Midland Cycle Classic, he managed to take the Gent Wegelum race as well. The Belgian looks peerless in a sprint and unbreakable on the cobblestones, his new team Nestle seem to be doing a quietly effective job with him. However after dominated this race in 2009 and 2010, Boonen rode pretty poorly last year never really looking like he was going to take a hattrick of victories.
2011 was really Sony Ericsson's year and it was never more so in evidence then it was at this stage of the year when Alessandro Ballan put in a remarkable performance to take the victory despite puncturing after he made his initial decisive burst. This was after his Milan San Remo triumph and coupled with stage racer Yuriy Trofimov early season burst the team never looked back. This year though Ballan struggled in the Italian Monument to 10th and has followed it up with two 8th places and very average 10th at Gent Wegelum. Something seems to be missing and most will point that Ballan is beginning to age.
Carmeuse will be asking Fabian Cancellara to make a step up, with the Swiss TT machine having never made the podium here it may be a big ask. It is hard to understand why the 2008 Paris Roubaix champion has not been able to succeed here. Last time out he made a long bid for home but found the other favourites working together to bring him back. Looks in good form though and was the only rider able to respond to Boonen's acceleration the other day at Gent Wegulum. No doubt that Tommake will see Cancellara as a big threat here.
Bacardi's cobbled star Marcus Burghardt has been unable to spark as yet this year. Burghardt has picked up a top 5 at East Midlands but is still nowhere near sort of power that he has shown in previous years notably in 2010 when he won the Paris Roubaix. He should really be getting better support from Gert Steegmans but the double threat policy does not seem to working out Bacardi's way.
Burghardt's former team Wikipedia have an American cobbler now in Danny Summerhill who gave an encouraging performance last year and will be aiming for a high position. This looks a bit too demanding for Milka's young pretender Sam Bewley, riders like Spyker pair Gusev and Devolder may be more solid bets but they both had shockers at Gent Wegelum. Jerome Baugnies was a top 10 last year as he was at Gent Wegelum so should not be discounted. The wildcard threat is down to just yellow alert with Saab Scania having Scandenavian pair Breschel and Hushovd.
Real outside bets may well be left alone in this sort of race, but at the Omloop Het Volk Stijn Joseph got in a good breakaway group and riders like he and teammate Franzoi would be best not being completely discounted along with Festina's Steurs who have shown abilities to win cobbled races of less quality.
Startlist
Spoiler Carmeuse
1. F. Cancellara
2. A. Aulas
3. B. Curfs
4. P. Jacobs
5. M. Kneisky
6. C. Lhotellerie
7. K. Peeters
8. S. Vandousselaere
Nestlé
11. T. Boonen
12. H. Aguilar
13. S. Caldeira
14. D. Kupfernagel
15. S. Lay
16. M. Machado
17. N. Portal
18. M. Sibilla
Bacardi
21. M. Burghardt
22. G. Bagdonas
23. M. Heijboer
24. J. Kocjan
25. S. Kondrotas
26. A. Kruopis
27. S. Mancuso
28. G. Steegmans
Sony
31. A. Ballan
32. K. Fouquet
33. F. Johansson
34. M. Mortensen
35. D. Muravjev
36. M. Reihs
37. V. Renäng
38. M. Öste-Macdonald
Milka
41. S. Bewley
42. L. Bret
43. Y. Hutarovich
44. L. König
45. A. Malori
46. A. Nepomnyachsniy
47. Z. Stybar
48. E. Verbist
Spyker
51. V. Gusev
52. S. Devolder
53. B. Kadri
54. M. Reimer
55. N. Scheunemann
56. M. Schreurs
57. E. Weiss
58. A. Zeits
Webeffect
61. J. Baugnies
62. D. Appollonio
63. K. Boeckmans
64. R. Bourdouxhe
65. L. Mas
66. S. Nooytens
67. C. Schmieg
68. R. Zingle
Wikipedia
71. D. Summerhill
72. B. Bookwalter
73. J. Decouttere
74. K. Eeckhout
75. T. Farrar
76. A. Semple
77. T. Van Garderen
78. T. Vangheel
Pearl
81. E. Franzoi
82. K. De Haes
83. W. De Vocht
84. S. Joseph
85. T. Leezer
86. L. Mondory
87. Y. Offredo
88. E. Popov
Festina
91. G. Steurs
92. D. Drapac
93. K. Goddaert
94. V. Reynès
95. D. Rijntjes
96. R. Sentjens
97. P. Voss
98. N. Østergaard
Pendleton's
101. G. Thomas
102. S. Cummings
103. R. Downing
104. P. Gilbert
105. M. Ladagnous
106. J. McEvoy
107. P. Mertens
108. F. Mourey
Saab
111. M. Breschel
112. N. Aistrup
113. N. Brolin
114. T. Hushovd
115. K. Ista
116. T. Larsson
117. J. Lindgren
118. A. Lund
Wiggle
121. A. Fenn
122. R. Hampton
123. A. Kuschynski
124. P. Locatelli
125. D. Ratto
126. R. Tanguy
127. J. Tiernan-Locke
128. T. Zaini
B&O
131. S. Kruijswijk
132. J. Drucker
133. R. Guldhammer
134. K. Nielsen
135. T. Riber-Sellebjerg
136. J. Sagan
137. K. Sobota
138. T. Vinter
Warner Bros
141. J. Flecha
142. K. De Ketele
143. G. De Winde
144. D. Gallego
145. K. Hulsmans
146. C. Rojas Villegas
147. J. Sergent
148. P. Sibila Romero
Jack Wolfskin
151. M. Sieberg
152. K. De Kort
153. X. Florencio
154. B. Giling
155. W. Jallays
156. S. Rosseler
157. K. Sys
158. L. Ten Dam
UBS
161. S. Schumacher
162. M. Albasini
163. S. Barrio
164. A. Kristoff
165. K. Lalouette
166. D. Lelay
167. G. Signorini
168. D. Vorontsov
Colombia
171. L. Duque
172. S. Bennett
173. H. Gallardo
174. S. Joly
175. D. Montoya
176. E. Orozco
177. W. RodrÃguez Parra
178. C. Sarmiento
Vesuvio
181. J. Hoogerland
182. C. Betancourt
183. D. Claerebout
184. S. Einsle
185. B. Gastauer
186. A. Moschella
187. A. Stauff
188. J. Wallays
Santander
191. F. Echarri
192. D. Allonca
193. A. Durán
194. A. Galdos
195. J. Gallego Martin
196. P. Merino Criado
197. J. Rienda Segura
198. R. Serrano
Edited by Smowz on 26-11-2011 16:31
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| Kami |
Posted on 26-11-2011 16:35
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Classics Specialist
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A hard racer race then the other cobbled classics, i really hope for Burghardt to get the podium here.
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 27-11-2011 15:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
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It's about time that Gusev shows he's not totally useless. |
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 16:09
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Team Leader
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Bottom of the startlist, result.
Now if we can just sneak a top 50
 [url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 27-11-2011 16:33
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8755
Joined: 29-11-2006
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If Cancellara doesn't win either this or Paris-Roubaix, well...
I may have to use the comfy chair
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| viking90 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 18:57
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3836
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Nice to race in the top class of cycling. 
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| CrueTrue |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 27880
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*facepalm*
Great report, though. Very interesting to read. |
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| Roman |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:11
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4279
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Not much impressed. 10th and 15th place. It could have been way better..
As always, nice report, Smowz.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:20
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2 finishers!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 07-12-2025 08:27
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| p3druh |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:30
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Franzoi made the splits and hung on. 5th is better than expected.
De Vocht has been disappointing this season though.
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| Pellizotti2 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:38
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 9885
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Another excellent report, Smowz. Really enjoyed reading it.
And really strong Boonen here. Impressive how he managed to win after that heavy chaseback.
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| Crommy |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8755
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Hello Continental Tour 
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 21:44
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World Champion
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We may not have a big gun for the cobbles, but 7 of our riders finished the race, something that no other team managed to achieve.
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| mb2612 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 22:05
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Team Leader
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So close to 50th, boonen is back to his best
[url=www.pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33182] Team Santander Media Thread[/url]
Please assume I am joking unless otherwise stated |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 22:14
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World Champion
Posts: 12429
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Great report Smowz 
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 27-11-2011 22:40
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Posts: 4726
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How the hell did Boonen manage that...
Awesome performance. |
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| niconico |
Posted on 27-11-2011 22:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3926
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Drucker has really been making the most of his limited talent so far
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| mattiasgt |
Posted on 27-11-2011 23:05
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2176
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Now that's more like it. Boonen was a monster though.
(Previously) Manager of Koenigsegg
Koenigsegg: ( Media)
Livin' Loud |
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| CountArach |
Posted on 28-11-2011 07:39
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8205
Joined: 14-07-2008
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Great race - Boonen in an absolutely dominating performance. Great report!
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| SotD |
Posted on 28-11-2011 13:41
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World Champion
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Happy with the result. Steurs just isnt stronger than this. Hopefully the shitty small tours isnt proving to destroy my chances for overall top 3
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