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Gent - Wevelgem Discussion Thread
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| roturn |
Posted on 13-03-2013 14:32
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Gent - Wevelgem is the third cobbled classic in the Pro Tour this season and the last test ahead of the two big monuments Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris Roubaix.
 Cancellara won Omloop, while  Bewley took the win in the East Midlands Cycle Classic.
No question these two will be the biggest favourites after their wins.
Spartacus probably has the stronger team here but as this classic might be the sprinter friendliest of all cobbled classics it will be hard for him to get a 2nd win. Surely not impossible as he also won the sprint finish in Omloop.
 Tom Boonen has a pretty good season so far. But in the Northern Classics it`s not working yet. A 10th and a 3rd aren`t bad. But surely he expected a bit more. With his strong team he has good chances to improve. Nolf, Kluge, Degenkolb, Van Impe, De Vocht, Dupont. All of them could do well here and it`s definitely the strongest team next to Red Bull.
 Burghardt needs to deliver after a bad last season and no podium in this years classics so far. He always is riding well until the end just to lose in the group sprint. A well timed attack would really help him.
 Pozzato is one of the surprises this classic season. A 2nd and 4th is awesome for him. If he can continue like this, he surely needs to be named as one of the big favourites.
 Summerhill is another surprise. 3rd and 5th for him so far and this is probably better than most had expected. Top 5 could be his goal here as well.
 Blythe, Rowe and Fenn will again ride as leading trio here. They have the big advantage that they like sprint finished more than several others. But will they also work together?
 Gusev,  Nuyens,  Ballan,  Franzoi and  Steurs are quite similar riders. All love the cobbles. But they are weaker versions of Burghardt. They need to attack as they won`t stand a chance in a sprint against Bewley and Boonen or even Cancellara/Pozzato. Steurs had bad luck in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and should be extra motivated to show his real strength as he missed the top 10 also in the 2nd classic.
Kruijswijk, Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet, Drucker, Trentin or Sinkeldam can all be named as outside favourites as they did well in the first two classics so far.
Seeing that there is only 6km of cobbles and only a very few hills, we could also name some pure sprinters in case the race is not very selective.
In addition to the already named favourites we must watch Van Heerden,  Croket, Forero, Kvist, Guerao,  Corioni and  Kennaugh.
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| SotD |
Posted on 13-03-2013 15:14
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No expectations. Too hard for Guerao, too easy for Steurs.
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| Kami |
Posted on 13-03-2013 15:22
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That description of Burghardt is spot on I really hope he'll start performing, but i doubt this will be his race.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 13-03-2013 15:24
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Maybe Bewley. Too easy for the pure cobblers to show themselves and too hard for sprinters with a low cobble stat. Bewley and Boonen are the favourites. |
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| dave92 |
Posted on 13-03-2013 17:44
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A tricky one for sure, hopefully there will be a selection so Summerhill can get in the top 10 or perhaps even higher again. Bewley and Boonen are far and away the favorites.
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| cio93 |
Posted on 13-03-2013 22:13
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Not a profile that cries out for selection considering earlier races' outcomes, so it will be difficult for Nuyens to get a Top10 here.
Still, that has to be the goal.
Those nasty hills are perfect to force a selection after all, positioning is surely more important than simple skill.
Maybe even Kvist can survive with his 71 COB, though that could mean even more capable sprinters will as well.
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| CountArach |
Posted on 13-03-2013 22:14
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Boonen is very tough to beat at the moment. Add in the fact that he is on home soil and that goes double.
Edited by CountArach on 13-03-2013 22:16
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| Smowz |
Posted on 13-03-2013 22:16
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If Boonen doesn't win here then he may not win on cobbles at all.
Fab and the SRB wrecking crew will be all out to stop the one million euro fat cat from taking the 'race Boonen hates'.
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| ember |
Posted on 13-03-2013 22:54
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I'm bringing my A-team speaking of cobbles, hoping for participation in the breakaway 
Hopefully it will be a thrilling fight between the big guns, and I believe Boonen finally will win on cobbles, ahead of a surprisingly strong Nuyens. |
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| beagle |
Posted on 14-03-2013 10:00
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I´m curious how the race will develop. Will be the cobbles sections selective? Or due to this will strong cobble machines (Cance, Burghardt or Boonen) show another desperate late attack? Or will this race end with mass sprint in which I´m hoping for the most? Can´t wait for exciting report! 
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| Roman |
Posted on 15-03-2013 15:29
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It will be really interesting to find out, if any sprinters like Guerao or Van Heerden can survive the cobbles in this race. Otherwise I expect a mass sprint finish, hopefully Bewley can place himself well.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 17-03-2013 11:08
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Some strange tactics here, but ultimately we came through with another very decent performance. Van Heerden surprised me a bit here, he'll be racing Paris Roubaix as well and has shown he warrents the selection I think.
Pokerstars again very much denied - it's strange though with Boonen's MSR win it perhaps doesn't matter so much to them. Their tactics made no sense to me in this race.
Bewley of course is doing the business responding to my criticism that he doesn't win the big classics. He for me starts favourite for Roubaix, I'd be surprised if he can take De Ronde but who knows.
Pozzato is giving CalGiant some very interesting points in the cobbled stuff. He hasn't raced them that much in the past but has done really well on the peliminary races before the big two, if he can survive the selections who knows.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 17-03-2013 12:52
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What a waste Gusev turned out to be... |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 17-03-2013 12:57
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Am I the only that thinks that currently cobbled races are having weird tactics? |
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| cio93 |
Posted on 17-03-2013 13:23
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This cobbles season is simply shit for us so far.
Either Nuyens tries, fails and finishes far behind what we expect, or he doesn't try and finishes a tad bit higher.
At least Wynants with one of those rides that used to work in earlier editions. Still finishing directly behind Nuyens... 
Pozzato obviously making up for every single failure of the last fews seasons in just three months. As much as I am neutral towards Heineken, that's not good at all for us.
Congratulations to Milka, Bewley being the smartest (or rather Boonen being horribly affected by the strange AI, sorry beagle) today resulting in an easy win.
Thanks roturn for the report 
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| SotD |
Posted on 17-03-2013 18:00
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Great result in another boring one-day race. Cant be unhappy with Steurs so far though, deducting the frist cobbled-crash race.
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| ember |
Posted on 17-03-2013 18:32
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Juul-Jensen is really a brilliant rider, always on the look for a breakaway. Great to see him up the road once again.
Great result for Milka, congratulations!
And Pozzato's outstanding performances are starting to worry thinking of the battle of avoiding relegation.... |
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| maxime86 |
Posted on 17-03-2013 18:43
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Bewley killed everyone, great ride by him |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 17-03-2013 19:21
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Boonen is played his cards not too cleverly in the cobbled classics. But i'm sure he will do better in the tougher monuments!
And congrats to Milka, our half-Kiwi-friends nice too see Bewley taking advantage of Boonen failing to save his energy for the sprints. Guess Bewley is going to ride for Oz in the future
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 17-03-2013 19:44
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tsmoha wrote:
Boonen is played his cards not too cleverly in the cobbled classics. But i'm sure he will do better in the tougher monuments!
And congrats to Milka, our half-Kiwi-friends nice too see Bewley taking advantage of Boonen failing to save his energy for the sprints. Guess Bewley is going to ride for Oz in the future
It's the AI fault. If any team get's through this season without problems with it, I'll be surprised. |
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