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The Hilly Classics 2015 - Liège - Bastogne - Liège
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| Wilier |
Posted on 14-04-2015 17:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Hilly Classics 2015
Now that the cobbled classics are behind us, it's time for the puncheurs! The races are long and have lots of short steep climbs, suited for those riders with lots of endurance and explosiveness. The first classic to come up is the Brabantse Pijl, followed by Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège - Bastogne - Liège.
Brabantse Pijl (15/04/2015)
First off is the Brabantse Pijl. Won lost year by none other than Philippe Gilbert (photo), this race is used by a lot of favourites as preparation for the three following World Tour classics. At the same time there are some riders from the cobbled classics, using their high fitness level from the previous weeks to try and grab the win.
Many great riders have won this race. Record holders are Belgians Edwig Van Hooydonck and Johan Museeuw with 4 wins. Out of the currently active riders, only Philippe Gilbert has won this race more than once (2011 and 2014). This year he'll be one of the favourites for the win again as BMC brings a strong team to this race.
Previous winners:
Spoiler 2014  Philippe Gilbert
2013 Peter Sagan
2012 Thomas Voeckler
2011 Philippe Gilbert
2010 Sébastien Rosseler
2009 Anthony Geslin
2008 Sylvain Chavanel
2007 Óscar Freire
2006 Óscar Freire
2005 Óscar Freire
The route is hilly of course, with 25 categorized climbs. In the past years we've seen both solo wins (remembering Voecklers epic win in 2012) and sprints with small groups (like last year) and even an early breakaway take the win (2010). The favourites of course will either a good puncher or a sprinter with good climbing legs.
Favourites:
 Michael Matthews
 Philippe Gilbert
 Fabio Felline
 Tony Gallopin
Gianni Meersman
 Paul Martens
Jonathan Hivert
Julian Alaphilippe
Nathan Haas
 Ramunas Navardauskas
Teams and notable riders:
Spoiler BMC Racing Team (Gilbert, Hermans, Dillier, Teuns)
Ag2r La Mondiale (Bardet, Bakelants)
Etixx - Quick Step (Meersman, Alaphilippe, Lampaert)
IAM Cycling (Chavanel, Devenyns)
Lotto - Soudal (Gallopin, De Gendt, Van der Sande, Vervaeke)
Orica - GreenEDGE (Matthews)
Team Cannondale - Garmin (Haas, Navardauskas)
Team Giant - Alpecin (Waeytens)
Team LottoNL - Jumbo (Kelderman, Martens)
Trek Factory Racing (Felline, Devolder)
Androni Giocattoli (Taborre)
Bardiani - CSF (Colbrelli, Battaglin)
Bora - Argon 18 (Huzarski)
Bretagne - Séché Environnement (Hivert)
CCC Sprandi - Polkowice (Rebellin, Bole, Paterski)
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (Simon)
Cult Energy Pro Cycling (Gerdemann)
MTN - Qhubeka (Pauwels)
Team Roompot - Oranje Peloton (Hoogerland)
Southeast (Gavazzi, Ponzi)
Team Europcar (Voeckler, Arashiro)
Team Novo Nordisk (MegÃas)
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise (Jacobs, Sprengers)
UnitedHealthcare (Canola, Reijnen)
Wanty - Groupe Gobert (Leukemans, Eijssen, Marcato)
Full startlist:
https://www.procyc...93&c=3
Edited by Wilier on 23-04-2015 07:15
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2015 17:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Oh please let the Hilly Classics be much more exciting than last year!!!!
Looking forward to it, but I'm afraid for another few boring long--peloton-sprints towards the final hill  |
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| Wilier |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:10
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5405
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@ Ian fully agree with you, though I fear the worst.
My predictions BTW:
Brabantse Pijl - Michael Matthews
Amstel Gold Race - Philippe Gilbert
Flèche Wallonne -  Sergio Henao
Liège - Bastogne - Liège -  Michal Kwiatkowski
What are your predictions? |
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:20
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7702
Joined: 24-07-2009
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My prediction:
Brabantse Pijl - Phil
Amstel - Kwiatek
Fleche Wallonne -  Purito
LBL -  Rui Costa
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
Joined: 27-07-2011
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My predictions:
Babrantse Pijl: No one cares
Amstel: Dan Martin
Fleche: Dan Martin
LBL: Dan Martin
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 20:07
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:25
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Posts: 5075
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AGR - Gilbert
Fleche Wallone - Henao
L-B-L - Valverde
I dno what the think of the ardennes. I used to love L-B-L, but the last couple of years have been disappointing for me watching second tier rider winning. I just dont wanna see Gerrans snatching the win again..
Edited by Riis123 on 14-04-2015 18:25
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7702
Joined: 24-07-2009
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Riis123 wrote:
AGR - Gilbert
Fleche Wallone - Henao
L-B-L - Valverde
I dno what the think of the ardennes. I used to love L-B-L, but the last couple of years have been disappointing for me watching second tier rider winning. I just dont wanna see Gerrans snatching the win again..
Dont worry Gerrans is out so no camping in the peloton until the last corner in Ans
Edit: Oh he is in  . Zubeldia'd his way in the Pais Vasco. Hopefully he wont get the form allowing him to survive
Edited by Kirchen_75 on 14-04-2015 18:31
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:31
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Posts: 5075
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I just got worried since i read on CQ that he felt fine after Pais Vasco and expected to be in good shape come ardennes... please god no 
Matthews could be a good outsider pick for AGR I feel. He is only at 10 at various bookmakers which I wouldnt play tho, but he has really stepped up again this year. Dumoulin at 23 the money back seems tempting for me, or maybe even GVA at 67. Guess Ill have a look at that. |
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| asoutar |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:38
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Junior Rider
Posts: 40
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Mine:
BP: Philippe Gilbert
AGR: Kwiatkowski
FW: Rodriguez
LBL: Gilbert (Was going to go for Gerrans but let my heart rule my head) |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:43
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Riis123 wrote:
I dno what the think of the ardennes. I used to love L-B-L, but the last couple of years have been disappointing for me watching second tier rider winning.
I love L-B-L too, but the past few years have been a largely dull affair. By now I've given up most hope of getting exciting full on racing. Still the finish of the Ardennes is always worth the watch.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 18:49
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World Champion
Posts: 10497
Joined: 23-06-2011
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Maybe I'll write a preview for Amstel if everyone is okay with it.
Anyway, if Gilbert wins Brabantse, I fully believe he'll win Amstel again. |
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 14-04-2015 19:00
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
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Kirchen_75 wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
AGR - Gilbert
Fleche Wallone - Henao
L-B-L - Valverde
I dno what the think of the ardennes. I used to love L-B-L, but the last couple of years have been disappointing for me watching second tier rider winning. I just dont wanna see Gerrans snatching the win again..
Dont worry Gerrans is out so no camping in the peloton until the last corner in Ans
Edit: Oh he is in . Zubeldia'd his way in the Pais Vasco. Hopefully he wont get the form allowing him to survive
Wtf Gerrans was racing in Pais Vasco? That is some impressive Zubeldia'ing there; watched quite a lot of the race, looked through the PCS results yet seemingly never saw him or even heard him mentioned 
Anyway, predictions. Frankly I don't give a damn. Might go and purchase some Dulux and stare lovingly at it this week to provide me with some entertainment.
Brabantse Pijl: A toss up between the transcendental  Yukiya Arashiro and the great  Eugert Zhupa (I mean he's from Albania for god's sake!)
Amstel Gold Race: Hard to look past a CCC 1-2-3 with Rebellin, Schumacher and  Grega Bole
Fleche Wallonne: Gerrans with the 200km solo
Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Apparently  Froomedawg is racing here, hope he's recovered from his canine cold
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| Omloop |
Posted on 14-04-2015 20:16
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Domestique
Posts: 433
Joined: 08-01-2014
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AGR-Matthews
FWL-Valverde
LBL-Vanendert(Longshot) |
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| Paul23 |
Posted on 14-04-2015 20:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4411
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AGR
Expect: Gilbert
Hope: Gilbert, Kwiatkowski
Fear: Valverde
FWL
Expect: Valverde
Hope: Kwiatkowski
Fear: Dan Martin
LBL
Expect: Dan Martin
Hope: everyone but Dan Martin
Fear: Dan Martin
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 14-04-2015 22:53
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Team Leader
Posts: 7366
Joined: 11-07-2014
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Marc de Maar to do the triple + BP, Maybe with an attack from 200km out, in each race?
My predictions for 2nd place:
BP: De Maar wins of the 6-rider break, ahead of Sarmiento, Bono, Bonofazio or Marcato, Mathews and Degenkolb have a close sprint in the bunch.
AGR:  Matthias Brändle, follows de Maar's early attack, but can't hold on to his wheel near the end, if he doesn't win then Vanendert is my prediction, but Gilbert is more likely.
FW: Anthony Delaplace and Yuikiya Arashiro will work with De Maar, but he will escape them, so second will go to one of them, if they get caught then Valverde or Moreno are good picks for me.
LBL: Marc De Maar to take another win and do the triple, but this time in a solo attack, Thomas Voeckler and Vincenzo Nibali makes an attack for second, with Michal Kwiatkowski winning the waiting game in the bunch. |
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| canojuancho |
Posted on 14-04-2015 23:10
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 917
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Brabantse Pijl: 1° Matthews 2° Felline 3° Gilbert
Amstel: 1° Valverde 2° Kwiatkowski 3° Gilbert
FW: 1° Valverde 2° Purito 3° Henao
Liege: 1° Kwiatkowski 2° Valverde 3° Purito |
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| MartijnVDD |
Posted on 14-04-2015 23:38
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 801
Joined: 26-06-2012
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I read somewhere that LBL will be harder than last years with more climbs.
Unfortunately, more climbs means less racing...
Anyway,
BP: Gilbert;
AGR: Gallopin;
FW: Henao;
LBL: Kwiatkowski. |
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 14-04-2015 23:46
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I forgot about Gallopin, I think either he or Vanendert will take a win. |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-04-2015 08:56
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World Champion
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Matthews looks stronger than last year, so I think he'll beat Gilbert. Watch out for Felline though.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| gargatouf |
Posted on 15-04-2015 11:21
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Posts: 320
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Not sure who will win the Brabantse Pijl but don't think it will be one of the favourites (Gilbert or Matthews). I went for Alaphilippe in the fantasy betting, but not sure he will.
AGR: Kwiatkowski
FW: Valverde
LBL: Gallopin |
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