Professional Cycling For the Fans - Ahh cobblestones

Flanders and Paris Roubaix are upon us. Hincapie claims to be in the best shape of his life. Predictions?

Flanders:
Hoste for second.
Hincapie to win the field sprint for 5th.

The rest of the season is always such a let down after the northern classics.

both of these are goin to be both good races to watch. it will be a tough pick. quickstep,columbia, saxo bank all have great teams

It would be great to see Hincapie finally take one, but I'm not sure he is listed among the top favorites. I'm glad Versus is covering both.

Ronde Van Vlaanderen

1. Fabian Cancellara
2. Daniele Bennati
3. Mark Renshaw


Paris-Roubaix

1. George Hincapie
2. Filippo Pozzato
3. Tom Boonen

Let the racing (and flaming) begin! :lol:

I would love to see Hincapie take a win. He played such a backup role for so many years.

How's Fabian Cancellara going to win Flanders since he will not participate?

How's Fabian Cancellara going to win Flanders since he will not participate?

Sorry, I'm not his house maid with all the latest scoop. He was posted on the Preliminary Start List (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/rvv09/?id=startlist).

Pozzato wins RVV. Boonen second

I'll pick Boonen for Roubaix although after all the years of trying I'd like to see Hincapie win. He is riding right, I too am not a maid!

How's Fabian Cancellara going to win Flanders since he will not participate?

He's going to nip Cavendish at the line.

Pozzato wins RVV. Boonen second

Pozzato is a classy rider.

I haven't seen the TV listings, will VS be carrying either/both on Cyclism Sunday?

yes. I think Roubaix's on 5pm EST, and the Ronde at 4pm EST

I would love to see Hincapie win. He has been in podium position so many times in these northern classics and then lost because of mechanicals. But what I really want to know is if Cavendish is coming. If he can get over all these short steep hills and stay with the pack he will be pretty dangerous for high placement.

But usually there are a couple of big strong riders that can ride away from the peloton the last few miles of this race never to be caught again. However, Cancellara may not be up to it this year since he is not at peak due to injuries.

I would love to see Hincapie win. He has been in podium position so many times in these northern classics and then lost because of mechanicals. But what I really want to know is if Cavendish is coming. If he can get over all these short steep hills and stay with the pack he will be pretty dangerous for high placement.

I checked the link I had pasted in an earlier post and I didn't see Cavendish on the preliminary start list for RVV. I'm not sure I see him riding Paris Roubaix.

Two totally different types of races than MSR. While MSR is usually seen as a sprinters race, RVV and PR are races of attrition. There's a reason sprinters like Peta don't do or win these races. These races explode at a certain point and a select few are left at the end and it usually comes down to a sprint between two or three. They're also races where experience and knowing where to be and when is important.

Cavendish may turn into a northern classics rider someday. Who knows.

Even in the Fleche where it takes a huge effort not only to climb the Mur du Huy but to carry that attack over the top and get away. It always amazed me to watch someone like Jalabert go nearly to the top with several riders and yet he still had the explosiveness to put minutes on them after they crested the summit. It's always been a dream of mine to go to that race and be on that climb when they go by. Sadly, I don't think I'm going to ever make it.

Cavendish is not in the RVV and not in Paris-Roubaix. He was interviewed by Belgian (Flemish) television after his second De Panne stage win last Thursday and he told the reporter he'd love to race RVV but it does not fit his scedule which is aimed at being at his peak during the TdF.

Boonen is the Lion of Flanders.

Ok well i was going to go with Cancellara, i take it he's not racing. So i'll go with Boonen..

Ok well i was going to go with Cancellara, i take it he's not racing. So i'll go with Boonen..

He raced, but had a mechanical and had to walk up a portion of one of the climbs.

Yup, he decided to start to do his bit as a domestique for Karsten Kroon and Matti Breschel. Mechanical problems forced him to walk up the Koppenberg but he stayed very calm and relaxed, knowing that it was the end of a race in which he could not compete with the favourites anyway.

Good for Devolder -- He dedicated the win to his friend who died. Quick Step had strong team. On another note, Cervelo's gotta be happy with Haussler's season so far.

Why nobody talk about Ghent Wevelgem? Is it a minor race?
Honestly after Flanders, it's one of my favourite ones.

It's a step down from Flanders and Roubaix but still a fine race than any rider would love to have on their Palmares. I've never been a big fan of it since it's so often a sprinters race.

Just watched the RVV and what a great race! Devolder sure had the legs today, he was super strong on those attacks up the cobbles. Sorry to see Hincapie go down in that crash in the final sprint, but it looked like he wasn't hurt. Good luck to George next weekend in PR! :thumb:

It's scary watching Devolder and Boonen power up those cobbled climbs! :twitchy:

Quick Step is an amazingly impressive classics team. They had three guys today who were legitimate contenders.

Sylvain Chavanel was amazingly impressive! He rode so long for Cofidis but never seemed to live up to what they expected from him. I guess a team switch was what he really needed. He rode tirelessly for Boonen (and Devolder in the end).

I absolutely loved it yesterday. Devolder was a magnificent winner and I'm also happy to see Philippe Gilbert perform so well. Tom Boonen hmmmm... I hope he is more lucky in Paris-Roubaix or Gent Wevelgem.

You can watch the races (in Dutch) online at www.sporza.be. But I'll post the correct link when it's online.

i'm praying for a Hincapie victory in Paris-Roubaix. i would love to see him finally win there. can't wait until Sunday!

i'm praying for a Hincapie victory in Paris-Roubaix. i would love to see him finally win there. can't wait until Sunday!

I'll be happy if I'm wrong, but I have a hard time believing that Hincapie will perform this Sunday.

My dark horse for Sunday is Martijn Maaskant (Garmin). He finished 4th in Roubaix last year and managed to finish 4th in the Ronde van Vlaanderen last Sunday (15th last year). Seems he knows when he's got to peak.

Is it on TV?>

It's scary watching Devolder and Boonen power up those cobbled climbs! :twitchy:

I finally made it to see the Ronde van Vlaanderen in Geraardsbergen - climbed up to the church that the Mur de Graemont semi-circles about two hours before the race - must have been 20,000 people there already.

Stood right near the TV camera platform - a bunch of kids from UK let my son through and he stood on the railing - I was one row back with my youngest on my shoulders. We actually saw ourselves on the Eurosport feed.

Great spot - opposite side of the road - basically we had the exact perspective you see in the photos of riders as they curve around that big embankment.

Let me tell you - having watched pro races in Europe for years I was STUNNED at the speed these guys came through with. To see Devolder attacking that portion, and then to have guys like Flecha and Boonen come by it was amazing. They are FLYING.

What a race - got to see Devolders win last year (we were at finish in Ninove) and again this year.