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Gent - Wevelgem Discussion
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 03-09-2018 18:33
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Directeur Sportif
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 Gent - Wevelgem
First C1 rated cobbled classic of the season and it's a first indicator, of how the PCT obbles specialists may perform against each other this season. Gent - Wevelgem is one of the most prestigous one day races in the MG, going into it's 12th edition since being on the calendar from the very first MG season back in 2007. Previous race winners are world class riders such as Tom Boonen (2007, 2008, 2012), Fabian Cancellara (2010) and Sam Bewley (2013). Last year's rather surprising victory from Alexandr Nepomnyachsniy proved, that it can be a race hard to predict - with sprints from bigger groups certainly a possible outcome. The rather small amount of cobbles sectors and the quite long flat sector from the final pavé sector to the finish as the main reason for that.
The Startlist
The Favorites | Cobblers | FL | ST | CO | SP | Sprinters | FL | ST | CO | SP |  Blythe | 76 | 76 | 82 | 76 | Degenkolb | 76 | 73 | 72 | 84 |  Vanspeybrouck | 76 | 78 | 82 | 67 |  Saber | 75 | 74 | 76 | 81 |  Zepuntke | 72 | 79 | 81 | 72 |  Van Asbroeck | 75 | 75 | 74 | 80 | | Vanbilsen | 78 | 80 | 80 | 72 |  Petit | 76 | 76 | 72 | 80 |  Vanmarcke | 76 | 77 | 80 | 70 |  Rowe | 72 | 80 | 67 | 80 |  Baugnies | 78 | 80 | 80 | 65 |  Holloway | 78 | 77 | 65 | 80 |  Burghardt | 75 | 74 | 80 | 65 |  Rowe | 78 | 76 | 75 | 79 | | Nolf | 74 | 77 | 80 | 63 | Peeters | 72 | 71 | 68 | 79 | | Thomas | 75 | 75 | 79 | 74 |  Hayakawa | 73 | 75 | 57 | 79 |  Ferreira | 73 | 74 | 79 | 71 |  Nepomnyachsniy | 74 | 74 | 76 | 78 | | Fenn | 72 | 75 | 79 | 70 |  Harrison | 72 | 73 | 73 | 78 |  Maes | 80 | 79 | 79 | 62 |  Korzh | 74 | 73 | 62 | 78 |  Theuns | 72 | 76 | 78 | 77 | Theuns | 72 | 76 | 78 | 77 | | Bush | 74 | 75 | 78 | 71 | Kvist | 75 | 74 | 71 | 77 | | David | 74 | 76 | 78 | 70 | Giaux | 73 | 72 | 71 | 77 |  Van Keirsbulck | 72 | 75 | 78 | 70 |  Opie | 70 | 74 | 55 | 77 | | Jacobs | 73 | 76 | 78 | 65 | Blythe | 76 | 76 | 82 | 76 | | Breen | 77 | 72 | 77 | 73 | Kuroeda | 72 | 76 | 75 | 76 |
It's no surprise then, that we have a startlist packed with both the best cobblers of the (P)CT and several premium sprinters, who can handle cobbles pretty well. Just like Nepomnyachsniy last year, those sprinters should fancy their chances to survive in the front group - if the best cobblers fail to make it a selective race.
A big favorite has to be Blythe, in any case: he's a quite strong finisher and obviously one of the best cobbles specialists in the division this year. He does not come with the most outstanding stamina though, but he's surely capable to compete in such a long classic. The podium has to be his goal, may it come from a selective race over the cobbles or a possible bunch sprint from a reduced peloton.
Other cobblers may prefer the selective race though: Vanspeybrouck, Zepuntke, Vanbilsen, Vanmarcke, Baugnies, Nolf, Maes, an aging Burghardt.. the list of Top-3/5 contenders is pretty long. Some decent finishers amongst them, too. And guys like Vanbilsen (who won this race in 2016) stand out with great skills on flat roads and stamina: those premium roleurs (like Baugnies or Maes) can definitely benefit from the length of the course and particularly the final quarter of the race. A few more interesting guys like Ferreira, Fenn, Bush, David, Breen or Van Keirsbulck as possible Top-10 contenders at least.
And the sprinters: Degenkolb as the top guy on the startlist. He can handle cobbles and if he's in the main group until the finish, he will definitely fancy his chance to outsprint them all. Other guys like Van Asbroeck, Petit or maybe even Matt Rowe and Holloway can be threats as well, though.
Saber, Luke Rowe, last year's winner Nepomnyachsniy, Theuns or Kuroeda as those guys, who combine cobbles and sprint the best way here. Particularly Saber, Nepomnyachsniy and Theuns will most likely aim for a podium result or Top-5 at least. It's a pretty perfect profile for their skillset afterall.
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| Vien |
Posted on 03-09-2018 18:36
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
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Another filler race for us. All I can hope for is to do the same as the Minions a few days ago and join a good break. |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-09-2018 19:13
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
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Well, the second cobbles race of the year hopefully goes better than the first, though I'm not exactly excited. We have a top 5 goal here, and it's a pretty stupid goal. I anticipated getting a more sprinter type than I did, so this will be very difficult. Hopefully we can make the race really difficult and break it up to its max potential. Otherwise maybe Kvist will still be on and we can at least get a minor placing.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-09-2018 19:21
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World Champion
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A good result is needed here, despite the 7 day race clash we have a top team here. I hope Vanbilsen can repeat his 2016 win!
Thanks for the preview Tsmoha, they don't give you any rest do they?
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 03-09-2018 20:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2073
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A good startlist here, and with the long section without cobbles towards the finish, I'm not expecting much from our guys. Hopefully Breen/Van der Haar/Verbist will try something, though. Brought Korzh here as well who has a fine finish, but his 62 cobbles will probably not be sufficient to make it to the sprint.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 03-09-2018 20:16
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Classics Specialist
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Not expecting anything here after the absolute disgraceful performance from GVK in Omloop.
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 03-09-2018 20:20
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World Champion
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No idea how this will go with the brutal mid/section, I guess not well. But if Rowe can make it over, and we don't have awful sprint AI again, then we should be able to get a good result! Even if it's behind a few top favourites.
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11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
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| Bikex |
Posted on 03-09-2018 20:40
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Obviously hoping for Nepo to defend his title here, but that is extremely unlikely. First race for David as our cobbles captain, but more suiting races will come. Don't what to expect. Would be nice to have a good surprise here for a change. |
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 03-09-2018 21:24
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Grand Tour Champion
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Our cobblestone campaign kicked off to a beautiful start and I hope it continues here.
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 03-09-2018 22:38
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Grand Tour Specialist
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I expect Vanmarcke to build on his Top5 in OHN and get another one here in GW.
The team did a recognisement test in the new route, together with other rivals, and the new route is brutal and shouldn't finish in a sprint like last year, at least not in a massive one.
Blythe looks like the obvious bet for the win, cobbles and sprint, though he uses to underperform, so we'll see. I wouldn't bet again Thomas though. Like in Herning, where he has won three times, he's like always in the perfect place in this kind of races decided in a sprint between 8-12 riders
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 19:57
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| Eden95 |
Posted on 04-09-2018 02:31
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Hope the flatbeasts make it too hard for the sprinters to hang on, I doubt that’ll eventuate however. Degestache’s name is written all over this I think.
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"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett |
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| roturn |
Posted on 04-09-2018 05:52
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Let's see if Ferreira is able to fight for the top10 in C1 classics.
Blythe vs Vanspeybrouck would be the obvious duel but guess Baugnies, Vanbilsen, Vanmarcke will give them some challenge. |
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| AbhishekLFC |
Posted on 04-09-2018 06:21
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Directeur Sportif
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Can't expect much from Saber on the hard cobbles, and that'll probably be the theme of the season. Hopefully him and Per get us some points.
Thanks for the preview 
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| Booker |
Posted on 04-09-2018 11:14
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Breakaway Specialist
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C’mon Jerome, make papa Booker proud!
Not another phenomenal roleur performance leading Vanbilsen and Vanmarcke out, please.
Have to think this is Blythe’s to lose, and good lord, Iberia’s flat lineup is scary.
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-09-2018 11:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18187
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Based on the two previous cobbled races this season, i'll be happy with a Top30 :/
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 04-09-2018 16:52
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World Champion
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Would take anything in the Top 20 here. Think Kuroeda's can somewhat surprise, but we will see.
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| Vien |
Posted on 04-09-2018 18:42
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2322
Joined: 16-06-2008
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22th is 2 more points than I expected! 
Thanks tsmoha. |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 04-09-2018 18:46
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 11819
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Guess we can await a special GIF then 
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| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 04-09-2018 18:50
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Tour de France Champion
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| tastasol |
Posted on 04-09-2018 18:50
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2889
Joined: 11-09-2010
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That was a great race! Blythe should donate some of his wage to Domene and Baugnies after being really poor in the end though.
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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)
