Ronde van Vlaanderen 2016

TheBlaaMan

The Tour of Flanders takes place on Sunday next.

As ever, there are lots of questions. Is the Ronde the best monument race, or is that Paris-Roubaix (we only have to wait another week for that)? Is Boonen past it, or can he become the only 5-times winner? Will Van Avermaet or VanMarcke finally land a big one? Can Kwiatkowski follow up from E3 or maybe Edvald B-H can capitalise on his good form so far this year? Is it going to be the turn of one of the up-and-coming young guns?

I'm sure the tragic deaths of Antoine Demoitié (and Daan Myngheer) will hang over the event and the two guys will be recognised by some ceremonies, but I doubt that the UCI will have implemented any changes such that we will see much difference in the number or behaviour of the motos at the event.

Last year's winner, Alexander Kristoff will be back to defend, but hasn't maintained the form of the earlier part of the season into the more recent races. The favourites tag will surely reside with three times winner Cancellara in his final year and off very strong performances in recent weeks or with Sagan after his win in Gent-Wavelgem, whose course shared some of the same climbs.

The finale of the Ronde is far tougher than GW and features the iconic climbs of Oued Kwaremont, Koppenberg, Paterberg and Taaienberg all in the last 45km....ensuring that the winner will be a worthwhile one for sure!

https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/714557237591732224?s=09

The technical guide is worth having, if only for the real detail of the event, download it here https://t.co/BXCmNuvA6J

One interesting snippet from the Guide is the prize money, not as much as you might think Total : 50.000 euro.
This amount will be divided as follows: 1) 20.000 euro – 2) 10.000 euro – 3) 5.000 euro – 4) 2.500 euro – 5) 2.000 euro– 6) 1.500 euro – 7) 1.500 euro – 8) 1.000 euro – 9) 1.000 euro – 10 to 20) 500 euro.

It's still nearly a week away, and the weather forecast already suggests calm and dry conditions, but a lot can change on the front.

The race starts at 09:15 and live TV coverage should be available from around 11:30. it is scheduled to end around 3:45, so everything is a bit earlier than a lot of races. The women's race is taking place at the same time and TV coverage from that is expected to be provided during the live broadcast period - hopefully. I have the Leffe in the fridge and the family warned, it just remains to hope that the morning is a decent one to get in a good spin before settling down in front of the telly......

Pudsy33

Super write up! It's between Sagan and Cancellera for me. I would include GVA but he was ill recently so that'll stifle his chances.

Koobcam

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Is the Ronde the best monument race...?

Yes, though I think Paris Roubaix was better last year. In general though, I'd say Flanders is no. 1.

pelevin

Seems like Kristoff is back in the mix having won a hard-raced first stage of 3 Days of De Panne. Does anyone know if Kwiatkowski raced GentW? I'm presuming he didn't, expecting otherwise he'd have been in the mix.

TheBlaaMan

I'm not sure what happened in DePanne today, but saw yesterday's stage... what an absolute shambles Astana made of that finish. Watching the two of them arguing with each in the finale while Kristoff turned them over was comical.

pelevin

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I'm not sure what happened in DePanne today, but saw yesterday's stage... what an absolute shambles Astana made of that finish. Watching the two of them arguing with each in the finale while Kristoff turned them over was conical.

Didn't see it myself. Must give it a look if I can.

sy

Best race of the year and my favourite....and looks like a lot of in form cyclists too. Cancellara Sagan Michal K. GVA Thomas Terpstra Vanmarcke Benoot all look impressive at the moment and as mentioned earlier Kristoff is looking like he is just hitting form. His sprint behind Vivianni and Kittel was impressive and won't be beaten if he comes to the finish with anybody. However there is the small matter of the Paterberg to deal with and I think Sagan and Cancellara can drop the rest at this point. Looking at Sagan on the cobbled climbs in GW when Cancellara put the hammer down..it might be his year to win his first monument depriving Cancellara of his 4th win. Sagan Cancellara and Kwaitkowski are my picks. Thanks for write up TheBlaaMan

sy

Best race of the year and my favourite....and looks like a lot of in form cyclists too. Cancellara Sagan Michal K. GVA Thomas Terpstra Vanmarcke Benoot all look impressive at the moment and as mentioned earlier Kristoff is looking like he is just hitting form. His sprint behind Vivianni and Kittel was impressive and won't be beaten if he comes to the finish with anybody. However there is the small matter of the Paterberg to deal with and I think Sagan and Cancellara can drop the rest at this point. Looking at Sagan on the cobbled climbs in GW when Cancellara put the hammer down..it might be his year to win his first monument depriving Cancellara of his 4th win. Sagan Cancellara and Kwaitkowski are my picks. Thanks for write up TheBlaaMan

MPFGLB

Fabs to do it one last time for old times sake

TheBlaaMan

Charlton Kirby and the 'Kenny De V' taking the piss..........

https://twitter.com/EurosportUKTV/status/715521454427639808?s=09

pelevin

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I'm not sure what happened in DePanne today, but saw yesterday's stage... what an absolute shambles Astana made of that finish. Watching the two of them arguing with each in the finale while Kristoff turned them over was comical.

Just watched the finish of that stage. Abysmal from Astana - didn't deserve the overall after that display!

Brian?

Koobcam wrote: »

Yes, though I think Paris Roubaix was better last year. In general though, I'd say Flanders is no. 1.

Liege is a better race most of the time, IMO.

Pudsy33

Brian? wrote: »

Liege is a better race most of the time, IMO.

Liege was poxy last year, along with the rest of Ardennes week. Hope the new cobbled hill 3km out will spice up LBL this year.

Brian?

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Liege was poxy last year, along with the rest of Ardennes week. Hope the new cobbled hill 3km out will spice up LBL this year.

Agreed. Wasn't great.

I've my fingers crossed for rain on the next 2 Sundays, that really makes P-R and Flanders something special.

JK.BMC

In 2013, Canc. Sagan, Roelandts and Kwiat were the last 4 men left standing at the foot of the Paterberg. It wouldn't at all surprize me to see these same 4 in a similar situation tomorrow. In fact, Roelandts could actually do it- podium in MSR and clearly in good form. He got dropped eventually in 2013 after being up the road for ages beforehand. More experienced now. Worth an each way punt at least

Eamonnator

1) Sagan.
2) Cancellara.
3) Van Avermaet.

JK.BMC

Over 90km done in the first 2 hours; seems like the weather is fine and light breezes

ThisRegard

Are the RSA funding Tinkoff's kit and bikes for the race this year?

ThisRegard

Big crash and a team car drives over a mechanic and he's belting the crap of it to get it to move off him.

DominoDub

Looks like the rain is going to stay to the south east of the race.


http://www.weathercast.co.uk/radar/belgium.html

MPFGLB

Sean Kelly sounds like he under pressure to speak quickly...someone tell him there are 4 hours to go

funnights74

Mr Kelly just on TV "those bloody cobblestones" 😁😁

Pudsy33

Benoot out, no

MPFGLB

Gosh this race is stringing them out and there are lots of abandons already

MPFGLB

OMG all of BMC down it looks ...hope they are ok

neris

Bmc ****ed

Brian?

Looks like a collarbone gone for GvA.


Balls, he was in serious form. Had money on him.

neris

Van avermants gone by the looks of it

Pudsy33

My heart broke seeing him burst into tears. Get well soon GVA. Is Phinney still upright I wonder?

MPFGLB

Sad to see GVA crying...imagine all the work and hope that went into this season

neris

Did he chuck his helmet at the photographer or the photographer just happened to be in the line of the flying helmet

MPFGLB

Photographer was just in the line

longshanks

Threw it at the ground, just bounced towards photographer.

Brian?

MPFGLB wrote: »

Sad to see GVA crying...imagine all the work and hope that went into this season

He's absolutely flying this Spring. He had a serious chance today and in the rest of the Spring classics.

JK.BMC

Whoever doesn't crash will win... as Kelly has said it's goin to be a real, real hard race this year

MPFGLB

Pity Tony Martin is riding for others as for me he is a rider who can stay to the end

But looks like it could be one for Sagan...he rarely crashes

neris

MPFGLB wrote: »

Pity Tony Martin is riding for others as for me he is a rider who can stay to the end

But looks like it could be one for Sagan...he rarely crashes

id say if it was pan flat martins would have had the race won already

neris

good to see orica up at the front of the peleton love to see them in there at the end contesting

Pudsy33

neris wrote: »

good to see orica up at the front of the peleton love to see them in there at the end contesting

Kuekeliere, or however it's spelled, must be feeling good.

Inquitus

Good win for Lizzie Armenstead in the womens RVV despite the epically **** coverage offered of the finale.

TheBlaaMan

Inquitus wrote: »

Good win for Lizzie Armenstead in the womens RVV despite the epically **** coverage offered of the finale.

Fcukin coverage on the App I was using crashed just as they opened the spirit

neris

is it eurosport of the local broadcaster that caused the crappy coverage of the womens race?

dastardly00

Inquitus wrote: »

Good win for Lizzie Armenstead in the womens RVV despite the epically **** coverage offered of the finale.

The sprint seemed to go on forever!! Very exciting.

dastardly00

Getting a few attacks now. Stannard is gone off the front.

dastardly00

Sagan, Kwiatkowski and Vanmarcke in the lead. This is serious.

Pudsy33

dastardly00 wrote: »

Sagan, Kwiatkowski and Vanmarcke in the lead. This is serious.

Not quite, still a group up the road.

dastardly00

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Not quite, still a group up the road.

Oh yeah, forgot about them

Pudsy33

dastardly00 wrote: »

Oh yeah, forgot about them

Easy to do consider they've got practically no air time

neris

Bora & the Israeli tourist board must be keeping Eurosport afloat single handilidly with all their advertising over the last couple of years

dastardly00

Bad move by Cancellara deciding not to bridge the gap to Kwiatkowski and Sagan when he had the chance?

ILIKEFOOD

neris wrote: »

Bora & the Israeli tourist board must be keeping Eurosport afloat single handilidly with all their advertising over the last couple of years

and yet im still not convinced it's 'the land of creation'