2009 Season Begins!

sy

Yes I know we had the Tour down Under and the Tour of California but the real racing starts this weekend. See Raam's post. I just love March and especially April which bring us the great classics of cycling. I can't wait

Sorry if this has been posted already but...
2009 World Calendar:

February 28: Het Volk( Sorry cant accept the new name!)

March 8-13: Paris - Nice;
March 11-17: Tirreno-Adriatico;
March 21: Milan-San Remo;

April: 5: Tour of Flanders;
April: 6-11: Tour of the Basque Country;
April 8: Ghent - Wevelgem;
April 12: Paris - Roubaix;
April 19: Amstel Gold Race;
April 22: La Flèche Wallonne;
April 26: Liège - Bastogne - Liège;
April 28 - May 3: Tour of Romandy;

May 9-31: Giro d’Italia;
May 18-24: Tour of Catalonia;

June 7-14: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré;
June 13-21: Tour of Switzerland;

July 4-26: Tour de France;

August 1: San Sebastian Classic;
August 2-8: Tour of Poland;
August 16: Vattenfall Cyclassics;
August 19-26: Eneco Tour UPT
August 23: GP Ouest France;
August 29-Sept 20: Vuelta a España;

October 17: Tour of Lombardy.

I know it is very early in the season but any predictions for the earlier races?

smithslist

sy wrote: »

Yes I know we had the Tour down Under and the Tour of California but the real racing starts this weekend. See Raam's post. I just love March and especially April which bring us the great classics of cycling. I can't wait

Sorry if this has been posted already but...
2009 World Calendar:

February 28: Het Volk( Sorry cant accept the new name!)
March 01: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

March 8-13: Paris - Nice;
March 11-17: Tirreno-Adriatico;
March 21: Milan-San Remo;

April: 5: Tour of Flanders;
April: 6-11: Tour of the Basque Country;
April 8: Ghent - Wevelgem;
April 12: Paris - Roubaix;
April 19: Amstel Gold Race;
April 22: La Flèche Wallonne;
April 26: Liège - Bastogne - Liège;
April 28 - May 3: Tour of Romandy;

May 9-31: Giro d’Italia;
May 18-24: Tour of Catalonia;

June 7-14: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré;
June 13-21: Tour of Switzerland;

July 4-26: Tour de France;

August 1: San Sebastian Classic;
August 2-8: Tour of Poland;
August 16: Vattenfall Cyclassics;
August 19-26: Eneco Tour UPT
August 23: GP Ouest France;
August 29-Sept 20: Vuelta a España;

October 17: Tour of Lombardy.

I know it is very early in the season but any predictions for the earlier races?

You forgot the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (another classic race, all riders doing the Omloop Het Volt will do this one also, and it is also a good wend of racing if your are planning to go over for it, Omloop Het Volt on Saturday, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday in or around the same area in Belgium.

http://www.bikeworldnews.com/index.php/2009/02/23/kuurne-brussels-kuurne-2009-provisional-start-list/

Caroline_ie

You also forgot le Tour de l'Irlande -

Dura Ace

This weekend, apart from Boonen, Devolder, Gilbert, Hoste, I could also see Steegmans possibly doing well, now that he has been freed from the shackles of Quick Step. I reckon Cavendish could possibly win a classic. I think he's got the ability to get over the Poggio in Milan- San Remo with the bunch, and he will probably be favourite for Ghent-Wevelgem.

Roche for Top 10 in Paris-Nice?

Also, I don't understand why Boonen doesn't take part in Fleche Wallonne or Amstel Gold. The hills in these races aren't that much more difficult than those in Flanders. Liege on the other hand is a different matter.

Chips Lovell

There's been a bit of interesting tit for tat between Cavendish and Boonen in the press recently. They've both been utterly polite to one another, but the subtext seems to be Boonen saying he's more than just a sprinter and is an all-round classics rider and Cavendish saying he's going after that crown. Will be very interesting to see how Cavendish does at Milan - Sanremo. It's rare that a sprinter will get his leadout with him to the finish, and Cavendish has gone on and on recently about how important it is for his team to put him in the right position.

Re: Boonen doing the Ardennes races, I'm wondering if it's more a matter of holding form. You rarely see guys being competitive both on the cobbles and later in the Ardennes. I think he plans his season around two peaks, Milan Sanremo to Paris Roubaix and then the Tour.

sy

smithslist wrote: »

You forgot the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (another classic race, all riders doing the Omloop Het Volt will do this one also, and it is also a good wend of racing if your are planning to go over for it, Omloop Het Volt on Saturday, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday in or around the same area in Belgium.

Thanks smithslist, this has been discussed in another thread by Raam and el tonto


The list is by no means comprehensive so feel free to add your favorites

@ caroline_ie Silly me, I forgot the big one:o

sy

el tonto wrote: »

.
...You rarely see guys being competitive both on the cobbles and later in the Ardennes.

Interesting point, I think the last cyclist to master both in one season was Kelly. Can't remember anybody else since then? I think cyclists now have to be more selective as the standard of competition has gone up in the last 15/20 years.

Re Cavendish, not sure if he has the ability for 294 kms just yet. It takes years to build the stamina required to cover these impressive distances so he may have nothing left by the time he reaches the Poggio.

Dura Ace

Michele Bartoli managed to win Het Volk, Flanders, Liege, Amstel and Fleche between '96 and '02.

As you say, it's possibly too long a time to try and hold your form, and it's easier for an Italian to aim for the Ardennes classics in a particular year and not peak for Flanders. That's not an option for Boonen. I've noticed his "I'm not a sprinter" angle recently alright. I think everybody except Bennati might be bowing to Cavendish being the fastest at the moment.

Chips Lovell

A straight up bunch sprint and its hard to bet against Cavendish. But, like sy, I think he could really be made suffer before the hit the streets of Sanremo. He's never been the best of climbers and since everyone knows he's dangerous I'm sure Quick Step and co. will be trying to blow him out the back on the Cipressa and Poggio.

Anyone remember the year Petacchi won it? Apparently, he dropped so much weight in order to get over the hills that a lot of people didn't recognise him on the start line.

RobFowl

Dura Ace wrote: »

Michele Bartoli managed to win Het Volk, Flanders, Liege, Amstel and Fleche between '96 and '02.
.

Puerto anyone :eek:

Chips Lovell

Sansone

Funkyzeit

el tonto wrote: »

A straight up bunch sprint and its hard to bet against Cavendish. But, like sy, I think he could really be made suffer before the hit the streets of Sanremo. He's never been the best of climbers and since everyone knows he's dangerous I'm sure Quick Step and co. will be trying to blow him out the back on the Cipressa and Poggio.

Anyone remember the year Petacchi won it? Apparently, he dropped so much weight in order to get over the hills that a lot of people didn't recognise him on the start line.

Would put your mortgage on Cav not winning the MSR or indeed getting a podium position - As you say I can't imagine him sticking with any of the punchy 1 day specialsts particularly on the Poggio...

Gotta love the spring classics.

sy

Dura Ace wrote: »

Michele Bartoli managed to win Het Volk, Flanders, Liege, Amstel and Fleche between '96 and '02.

Thanks, forgot about Bartoli but I was referring to the last person to win Roubaix/Flanders and Liege in same year. 1984 Kelly won Roubaix & Liege and was second in Flanders and that was after winning Lombardy at end of 2003. Incredible range when you think about it.

smithslist

Anybody know if either the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne or the Omloop Het Volt are on live tv (except of course cycling.tv)???

Pinarello

I can't wait to sit down and watch it live on Sporza,the host broadcaster.I'm really looking forward to it.Also then to see all of these riders in the flesh at Amstel Gold a few weeks later will crown it for me.Enjoy the race.Prediction for the win, Gert Steegmans or Slyvian Chavanell...:D

smithslist

Pinarello wrote: »

I can't wait to sit down and watch it live on Sporza,the host broadcaster.

is this channel on sky? or can you watch live internet streaming via there website

Pinarello

It's not available on Sky.It's on 19.2e, and the Sky set up is on 28.2e.AFAIK you can watch it live via the Sporza website,i'm almost 100% certain that they do live streaming.If you give me a while i'll try and come back with a link.My friend in Holland will translate the website for me.I'll try and get back with a link before the race tomorrow...;)

Pinarello

smithslist wrote: »

is this channel on sky? or can you watch live internet streaming via there website

Try this tomorrow,my knowledge of flemish/dutch is extremley limited.If it works you'll be able to watch Kurne-Brussels-Kurne on Sunday as well.Sporza are tipping Greg van Avermert big time for the win.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/lmc/wielrennen/voorjaar/Comp_omloop_HNB/1.469714

Hope this is a help to all on boards here.....;)

smithslist

Pinarello wrote: »

Try this tomorrow,my knowledge of flemish/dutch is extremley limited.If it works you'll be able to watch Kurne-Brussels-Kurne on Sunday as well.Sporza are tipping Greg van Avermert big time for the win.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/lmc/wielrennen/voorjaar/Comp_omloop_HNB/1.469714

Hope this is a help to all on boards here.....;)

Great stuff Pinarello, i will try it, thanks.

Pinarello

smithslist wrote: »

Great stuff Pinarello, i will try it, thanks.

Your very welcome smithslist.I think i'll create another thread so that everyone knows about where to watch the racing live...:D