"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Het Volk predictions?

Ok your thoughts on the start of the REAL classics
season.

I'm not sure, but I figure either Van Heeswyck
or Boonen.

Het Volk is so difficult to predict(for me), no idea of fitness since
its the first real classics ride.

Marty

I predict...the race won't be canceled this year, but that 's as much a lottery as trying to pick the winner of any one day race.

Lot's of riders are fit, but Gilbert has shown the best so far. He's as good a pick as any.

Boonen
Van Petegem
Gilbert

some classics coverage on cycling.tv hope you have a cable modem



2005 CLASSICS SEASON GETS UNDER WAY THIS COMING WEEKEND:



The traditional opener to the European Spring Classics and Semi Classics season is Omloop het Volk this Saturday, 26th February.



We have 3 great races LIVE and FREE in the coming weeks. We have 1 superb race that is pay to view.

Our apologies, we like to make our service free whenever possible. We would appreciate your support with our Pay to View offering, it is only 10 Euros approximately 10 Dollars or £6 Sterling. We have an awful lot of free cycling and het Volk is a very special race. You can pre-purchase access all this week and then just check back in on the day.



Our LIVE Cycling Schedule is as follows:



1. OMLOOP HET VOLK:

SATURDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 13:30 HOURS. Approximately 2.5 hours of live. Pay to View.



2. KUURNE-BRUSSELS-KUURNE:

SUNDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 13:30 HOURS. Approximately 2.5 hours live. FREE TO VIEW



3. DWARS DOOR VLAANDEREN (Across Flanders):

WEDNESDAY 23rd MARCH 13:30 HOURS. Approximately 2.5 hours live. FREE TO VIEW



4. BRABANTJE PIJL or FLECHE BRABANCONNE:

SUNDAY 27TH MARCH 13:30 HOURS. Approximately 2.5 hours live. FREE TO VIEW

What a great way to spend Easter Sunday!



COMING VERY SOON:

CYCLO CROSS:

The whole of the 2004/2005 UCI World Cup Cyclo Cross season. I can't wait for this so please, be patient, we have a lot of Cyclo Cross fans and it will be worth it I assure you.

I'm trying to decide if it's worth $10 to watch a race live on a 3x3 window.

click on the little TV mode button. to get a full screen shot, and if you have a fast connection, the feed is fantastic. If your PC has a video out, you can run the feed on your television.



(or right click and select full screen)

We have a T1 connection here at work. I watched some of their feed last week and it was still jerky at times.

Boonen was the first name that sprang to mind, but as others have said, it really is a lottery. How cool would it be if Hincapie pulled off a win to start the season?

boonen. he's got fine form and he's out to prove that he's the big dawg of flanders now that the lion is lying down with the lambs.

[did i really write that? gag!]

higherground... i think it would be pretty amazing if hincapie won anything at all this season.

McEwen
Boonen
Gordeyn

I predict...the race won't be canceled this year, but that 's as much a lottery as trying to pick the winner of any one day race.


Not so fast... (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=photos/2005/news/feb05/DSC01336)

:eek: :D

Weatherunderground says the conditions will be perfect Belgium race conditions-miserable, but not too miserable. ;)

www.weatherunderground.com/global/stations/06431.html

TOM BOONEN!

The podium's going to be all frites and waffles. Van Petegem can't have too many more Het Volks in him, and I'm sure he's looking to win a fourth. Philippe Gilbert's going to come out fighting, as another possible heir to the Lion of Flanders' throne.

In an interview with cyclingnews, Boonen adds Discovery's Stijn Devolder as a standout contender. And that makes a lot of sense, too.

Where's the dang start list?

put your money on the Belgian.............

Here's your start list:

http://omloop.sportwereld.be/omloop/deelnemers.html

put your money on the Belgian.............
Just about everyone mentioned here is Belgian. Can you just put your money on Belgium? That'd be good! Like betting on Red in Roulette!

I can't get to the Mr. Bookmaker site from where I am... Does anyone feel like cutting and pasting in the odds? I'd love to see them.

(And thanks for the startlist, Laggard!)

BAGUET Serge (BEL - DVL) - 28.00 9.00 3.00
BAK Lars Ytting (DEN - CSC) - 125.00 35.00 12.00
BETTINI Paolo (ITA - QST) - 15.00 4.25 1.75
BODROGI Laszlo (HUN - C.A) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
BOONEN Tom (BEL - QST) - 5.00 1.75 1.10
BROCHARD Laurent (FRA - BTL) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
CAPELLE Ludovic (BEL - LAN) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
CASPER Jimmy (FRA - COF) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
CHAVANEL Sébastien (FRA - BTL) - 66.00 20.00 6.50
COOKE Baden (AUS - FDJ) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
DE JONGH Steven (Ned - RAB) - 22.00 7.00 2.00
DEVOLDER Stijn (BEL - DSC) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
DIERCKXSENS Ludo (BEL - LAN) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
DUMOULIN Samuel (FRA - A2R) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
EECKHOUT Niko (BEL - JAC) - 30.00 10.00 3.50
EISEL Bernhard (AUT - FDJ) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
FLICKINGER Andy (FRA - A2R) - 125.00 35.00 12.00
GARDEYN Gorik (BEL - MrB) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
GILBERT Philippe (BEL - FDJ) - 18.00 6.00 1.85
GUESDON Frédéric (FRA - FDJ) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
HAMMOND Roger (GBR - DSC) - 20.00 6.50 2.00
HINCAPIE George (USA - DSC) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
HOFFMAN Tristan (NED - CSC) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
HUNTER Robert (RSA - PHO) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
HOSTE Leif (BEL - DSC) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
KEMNA Rudi (NED - SHM) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
KERN Christophe (FRA - BTL) - 100.00 33.00 11.00
KIRSIPUU Jaan (EST - C.A) - 20.00 6.50 2.00
KOERTS Jans (NED - COF) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
LÖWIK Gerben (NED - RAB) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
MARICHAL Thierry (BEL - COF) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
MATTAN Nico (BEL - DVL) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
McEWEN Robbie (AUS - DVL) - 10.00 3.50 1.50
MENGIN Christophe (FRA - FDJ) - 125.00 35.00 12.00
MICHAELSEN Lars (DEN - CSC) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
NARDELLO Daniele (ITA - TMO) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
NAZON Jean-Patrick (FRA - A2R) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
NUYENS Nick (BEL - QST) - 25.00 8.50 2.80
O'GRADY Stuart (AUS - COF) - 22.00 7.50 2.25
OMLOOP Geert (BEL - MRB) - 40.00 14.00 4.25
PIIL Jakob (DEN - CSC) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
PORTAL Nicolas (FRA - A2R) - 100.00 33.00 11.00
POZZATO Filippo (ITA - QST) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
PRONK Matthé (NED - MrB) - 66.00 20.00 6.50
PÜTSEP Erki (EST - A2R) - 100.00 33.00 11.00
RUSKYS Saulius (LTU - AGR) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
SCANLON Mark (IRL - A2R) - 100.00 33.00 11.00
SENTJENS Roy (NED - RAB) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
STEELS Tom (BEL - DVL) - 14.00 4.25 1.70
TRAKSEL Bobbie (NED - MrB) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
VAN HEESWIJK Max (NED - DSC) - 11.00 3.75 1.60
VANLANDSCHOOT J. (BEL - LAN) - 66.00 20.00 6.50
VAN PETEGEM Peter (BEL - DVL) - 9.00 3.00 1.60
VAN SUMMEREN Johan (BEL - DVL) - 35.00 12.00 4.00
VOECKLER Thomas (FRA - BTL) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
WAUTERS Marc (BEL - RAB) - 50.00 16.00 5.00
WESEMANN Steffen (GER - TMO) - 18.00 6.00 1.85
ZANINI Stefano (ITA - QST) 50.00 16.00 5.00
HUSHOVD Thor (NOR - C.A) n/a n/a n/a

I'm going with everyone else here and saying Boonen. Hope I'm right, Tom's the man.

Phillipe Gilbert
Tom Boonen
Serge Baguet

Weatherunderground says the conditions will be perfect Belgium race conditions-miserable, but not too miserable. ;)

www.weatherunderground.com/global/stations/06431.html

Hey, I lived in Belgium. Miserable is a VERY relative term..... :D

BTW...it looks like the weather report for Indianapolis.

Boonen
Gilbert
Hushovd

Who else than Geert Omloop?

Ludo Dierckxsens
http://www.bikecal.com/tdf99/dier-11.jpg
Then maybe Boonen

Ludo Dierckxsens
http://www.bikecal.com/tdf99/dier-11.jpg
Then maybe Boonen


geez....it's a bit early in the day to be looking at that head. :D

Ludo Dierckxsens
http://www.bikecal.com/tdf99/dier-11.jpg
Then maybe Boonen

That's a good lookin' man. It's never too early in the day to look at THAT. :p :D

Koffee

I just tried Cycling.TV, and it looks great. It was very smooth and good quality. I have a cable modem, so T1 should be even better if your machine is set right. I think it's worth the 10$, and we should all support these guys who are creating something great for the very near future. If a few of your buddies throw in a buck, the cost is less than a visit to Starbucks after the weekend group ride.

Cheers

I am trying to figure out why Gilbert is not listed on the start lists for OHV or KBK. Why is Bookmaker giving odds on him if he's not racing and if he's not racing in either of these races, where is he racing?

Dekker

I'd say Dekker if it weren't for the flu he's going through.

Gilbert is on cyclingnews.com's start list. Plus, FDJeux drew second for car position which can only help. I'd say he's a good bet to podium. I still like Hushovd as my dark horse.

I just tried Cycling.TV, and it looks great. It was very smooth and good quality. I have a cable modem, so T1 should be even better if your machine is set right. I think it's worth the 10$, and we should all support these guys who are creating something great for the very near future. If a few of your buddies throw in a buck, the cost is less than a visit to Starbucks after the weekend group ride.

Cheers

Most cable speeds are waaaaay faster than a T1. I get a solid 6MB down on mine :) T1s at work are shared network pipes and many smaller companies also run their phone system off it, so you don't get a full T1 coming into your computer! Cable is shared by however many people are on the node, but a cable connection can handle a huge amount of data and if the node isn't being hammered, you'll outstrip the T1 easily. Packet loss is another issue though!

I'd say Dekker if it weren't for the flu he's going through.

Gilbert is on cyclingnews.com's start list. Plus, FDJeux drew second for car position which can only help. I'd say he's a good bet to podium. I still like Hushovd as my dark horse.

Turns out Gilbert was a last minute replacement for Eisel. www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/feb05/hetvolk05/?id=pre/CN1363

Oh and...don't forget Nuyens. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=901302&highlight=nuyens#post901302 :D

Oh and...don't forget Nuyens. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=901302&highlight=nuyens#post901302 :D

Good pick!

It was an interesting race, wasn't it? For a while it seemed that Team Discovery was the strongest team, having good old Ekimov, Hincapie and Devolder (who was riding his a## off whole day) in a break-away, also featuring the favourites Van Petegem and Gilbert. But the QuickStep squadra once more managed a coup.

Our friend Ludo Dierckxens also showed some determination to end his career in style. Too bad he didn't have the legs to keep up with Nuyens.

It was an excellent team effort for Quick-Step. They are a good pick for tomorrow too. Rabobbank looks strong also. I was a little surprised to see Ludo so near the front, but it looks like he's going to earn his paycheck this year.

Anybody running a 128mb video card? mine is 64mb, is there a noticible difference?


going to go ride for three hours... its 60 degrees..

Good call don.

Steven de Jongh's 3rd place is an impressive showing for the weekend after his win last year at KBK.