"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Three Days of DePanne

A Flanders tune-up of epic proportions. I swear most of the guys with a real chance to win Flanders would rather not pound it out for 3 days, but for most of them, the Classics form is so good right now, that it's hard to pass up.

I'll have to take Disco on this, as they always seem to be on for this mid-week confidence builder.

A Flanders tune-up of epic proportions. I swear most of the guys with a real chance to win Flanders would rather not pound it out for 3 days, but for most of them, the Classics form is so good right now, that it's hard to pass up.

I'll have to take Disco on this, as they always seem to be on for this mid-week confidence builder.

all part and parcel with 'de vlaamse week'. de volder was in form on saturday, so chance are you might be right.

I love this time of year!

What about Hoste?

Predictor-Lotto certainly has the manpower to help him repeat last year.

What about Hoste?


Keeping powder dry for Sunday.

Like Sunderland sez..."It's not necessarily a good thing to show your form too early int he Spring."

What's the story with de volder? Why does he spend so much energy pulling the peloton around only to burn out before the end?

Keeping powder dry for Sunday.

Like Sunderland sez..."It's not necessarily a good thing to show your form too early int he Spring."

Ah, I see. Is he racing at all?

What's the story with de volder? Why does he spend so much energy pulling the peloton around only to burn out before the end?

Because that was his only shot. His team was weak for the race and he had to work at the front to pull them back by himself. That dude is tough as nails.

At the same time, the main negative about Devolder is that he is super strong but does TOO much work. Races too much with his legs and not enough with his head. DePanne is a good race for him because the time trial (usually, what, 15min?) suits his strengths as a good time trialist, and a great bike handler over some tricky turns and cobbled sections.

Could also be he's forcing the pace with the intent to train himself for the races he considers important. Guess we'll see over the next couple of weeks.

Because that was his only shot. His team was weak for the race and he had to work at the front to pull them back by himself. That dude is tough as nails.

At the same time, the main negative about Devolder is that he is super strong but does TOO much work. Races too much with his legs and not enough with his head. DePanne is a good race for him because the time trial (usually, what, 15min?) suits his strengths as a good time trialist, and a great bike handler over some tricky turns and cobbled sections.

correct.

iirc demol said as much in a thepaceline.com interview.

Anyone see that crash of Eeckhout's this morning? He totally destroyed his Merckx but then he got up and got on a spare bike (looking pretty shaky). He must have hit something, the top and down tube both failed behind the steering tube, ouch.

yep.

in a word: n a s t y

Think Roeems can take back 15" on Ballan in the TT this afternoon?