Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem, and Paris-Roubaix. The week where cycling's hard men come out and carbon wheels are replaced with tied and soldered wheels from the 1980's. The first race, the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders,) is this Sunday. With 18 hellingen (short, steep, cobbled climb) 259 kilometers, and cold, windy, and rainy conditions, it doesn't take long to sort out the favorties.Boonen will be going for his 3rd straight Flanders victory, and he looks to be the favorite again this year after a strong showing in Milan-San Remo, and his crushing performances in last weeks Belgian semi-classics Dwars door Vlaanderen, and E3 Prijs. Should Boonen faulter, his Quick-Step team has 3 other contenders in Boonen clone Gert Steegmans, 2 time winner Peter Van Petegem, and World Champion Paolo Bettini. Predictor-Lotto has last year's runner up Leif Hoste, while CSC has perennial powerhouses Stuart O'Grady and Fabian Cancellara. Riders like Flecha and Freire from Rabobank, Ballan and Bennati from Lampre, Pozzato from Liquigas, Nuyens from Cofidis, and Devolder from Discovery could all be in the mix for victory.
So everyone, who will it be? Will Boonen do it again, or will some unknown Belgian all hopped up on pot Belge pull the upset?
3 comments:
I am going with Paolo Bettini. After his gritty ride at M-SR he has had a few weeks to recover and he has looked and will be strong.
Filippo Pozzato also will be in the running. He seems really up to it. And cuz he is riding a Cannondale that just makes him an instant favorite! Oh and Bill Dance is still my dark horse. Oh and poor January, I feel for him!
we do know that bill dance likes his speedballs.
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