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2011 Spring Classics

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Sasquatch

Sasquatch

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Great win by Matthew Goss overnight in Milan San-Remo. First Australian to win the race and it won't be the last. Goss has showed that he can win Roubaix or Flanders in the coming years and a multiple winner of Milan - San Remo isn't out of the question.

I couldn't believe his odds were $17 last night. $$$$$$$$$$$$

Next is Gent-Wevelgem next weekend where he could probably get another win.

The Dwars Door Vlaanderen and E3 come before GW.

Perhaps a Mod can edit the topic title when the next classic comes around?
 
An absolute freak is Gossy!

Can't wait to follow his fortunes over the next couple of years as he may well be Australia's next star following Cadel in the twilight of his career.
 

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Flanders live on SBS:

Sunday 3rd April, 2011

10:35Cycling: Tour Of Flanders 2011

Held in Belgium every spring, the Tour of Flanders is part of the UCI World Tour and, along with Paris-Roubaix, the world's most important cycling race held on a single day. Live Eastern States only. (An SBS Sport Production)
 
Cancellara looking in top form after powering to a win in the lead-up race of E3 Prijs Vlaanderen. Lots of other contenders will be racing in Gent tomorrow, but Cancellara's display was intimidating.
 
Sasquatch said:
If I was riding Flanders or Roubaix I would probably admit to myself that I'm racing for second place.

Cancellara smoked everyone.
Click to expand...

I would be tempted to nudge him off the cobbles.
 
I would get a bike with an engine hidden in it...:p
 

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Wow, Flanders was amazing to watch. One of the best classics I've seen with so many in contention!
 
If you missed the Tour of Flanders, do everything in your power to get a hold of the last 60km. Was amazing, never seen as many twists, was the epitome of the word epic.

I probably counted four or five times where i changed my mind on what i thought the result would be, and that ride from Fabian, let's not forget Chavanel either, was tremendous.

Definitely one of the best events i'm ever seen.
 
last night was awesome, really wanted chavanel to win but he just couldn't get there in the end.

hanging for sunday night now.

also, sbs are showing "hell of the north" on wednesday night on SBS2, story of stuart o'grady's win in paris-roubaix, excellent doco from all reports. :thumbsu:

on yah SBS
 

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Interesting reading all the reports crediting BMC with hauling Cancellara back to the pack. To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

On the one hand it was very impressive seeing 7 BMC riders on the front of the pack that late in the race. I don't think any other team had more than 4 riders in the lead pack.

However, Cancellara's lead didn't shrink at all during the time that BMC were leading the pack. It remained pretty much constant at 1 minute. He was time trialling, dragging Chavanel in his wake, going as fast as the entire BMC team combined.

Cancellara's lead didn't come down at all until he hit the 2nd last climb - the Muur. CyclingNews has a story that Cancellara was suffering cramps on this climb - and I can easily believe it, given that his 1min lead evaporate on this one climb alone.

Are BMC claiming a victory they don't deserve? On the one hand, Cancellara's lead didn't come down one iota while they were leading the pack. If you look at things this way then they don't deserve the praises they have been receiving. On the other hand, I can see a pretty fair argument that their chase forced Cancellara to over-exert himself, resulting in the cramps which cost him his lead. On this basis, they do indeed deserve the credit for turning this into the best "Classic" race in years.
 
Vader said:
Interesting reading all the reports crediting BMC with hauling Cancellara back to the pack. To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

On the one hand it was very impressive seeing 7 BMC riders on the front of the pack that late in the race. I don't think any other team had more than 4 riders in the lead pack.

However, Cancellara's lead didn't shrink at all during the time that BMC were leading the pack. It remained pretty much constant at 1 minute. He was time trialling, dragging Chavanel in his wake, going as fast as the entire BMC team combined.

Cancellara's lead didn't come down at all until he hit the 2nd last climb - the Muur. CyclingNews has a story that Cancellara was suffering cramps on this climb - and I can easily believe it, given that his 1min lead evaporate on this one climb alone.

Are BMC claiming a victory they don't deserve? On the one hand, Cancellara's lead didn't come down one iota while they were leading the pack. If you look at things this way then they don't deserve the praises they have been receiving. On the other hand, I can see a pretty fair argument that their chase forced Cancellara to over-exert himself, resulting in the cramps which cost him his lead. On this basis, they do indeed deserve the credit for turning this into the best "Classic" race in years.
Click to expand...

From what i saw, that's wrong, once BMC got their act together with the seven riders they were dragging back Fabian, albeit slowly. His lead got out to 1:05, BMC was able to bring it down to just under 50s until Devolder busted their rhythm and attacked. The lead then went out to 1 minute again until teams started to get their act together again (including BMC). They slowly brought it down to 40 odd then came down quickly once they hit the climb.

I'm not sure whether Fabian would have stayed away as the peloton seemed to have got their act together. He had spent so much energy going early and slightly fresher riders were chasing hard. I'm not sure whether he had cramps or not but it was probably a blessing as he managed to get in a small group which was much more favourable for him than trying to stay away IMO.

No sure whether the cramps are a cover up or whether he actually did have cramps but I'd say Fabian got done because he panicked, because of the presence of Chavanel earlier on. Chavanel's lead was growing quickly when he was up the rode with a couple of riders, it seemed the favourites were marking each other, waiting for the first move. Boonen took off and Fabian had to respond, he then panicked and just set off. It was way too early, cramps or not i think he got outplayed. Didn't have enough in the tank, made a few efforts to get back and stay away which was amazing but blew too much early.

Personally, whilst they didn't get the victory, QuickStep forced Fabian's hand and made him exert too much energy.
 
boring as bat$hit race, most of the field had given up thinking Cancellara had won, til 20kms to go. Chavanel would have been the only other deserving winner. QS need a bigger budget to smash the field and get a sorting out, as it was, everyone was hiding for 250ks, almost surrendering the race to Cance.

Still think he had a motor last year. See the youtube of the mechnic running across the field with the bike.
 
That was a huge fail by BMC

They aren't worthy of a ProTour licence. They failed big time in that race. With that many riders at the business end of the race and failing to make a podium is a shocking effort. It would have been better for them if they didn't have 7 riders, then it wouldn't look so bad. But that was a poor showing and they should be given a pro conti licence next year and demoted.

Boonen will bounce back in Roubaix but I think Hushovd will take it. Without the motor, Cancellara will struggle to get away from Hushovd and Boonen.
 
blackcat said:
boring as bat$hit race, most of the field had given up thinking Cancellara had won, til 20kms to go. Chavanel would have been the only other deserving winner. QS need a bigger budget to smash the field and get a sorting out, as it was, everyone was hiding for 250ks, almost surrendering the race to Cance.

Still think he had a motor last year. See the youtube of the mechnic running across the field with the bike.
Click to expand...


Strong troll is strong. That or you lack the basic understanding of classics racing.
 
Freakie said:
Strong troll is strong. That or you lack the basic understanding of classics racing.
Click to expand...

no one wanted to win the race except Boonen, Cancellara, and Chavanel. It was a nice effort by G of Sky, he showed he will be a playa in the future. But when Cancellara went away, it seemed everyone thought game over. They though game over at the sign in. Too many mediocre riders were pulled to the finish. Seems as tho the peloton is on a lot less gear and running scared compared to other years, akin to the 2006 Tour year, with Novi shadows everywhere.

Would have been nice to see Flecha in G's equipe, versus Thomas laying it down for arrow instead.
 

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