Het Nieuwsblad & KBK -- Who Ya Got?
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 6:01 PM EST
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First, this is not a Virtual Directeur Sportif thread, more like something to do with actual racing, which is still part of what we cover here. It's a big week all around, but time to refocus on the cobbles opener... not exactly a chore.
The usual caveats about it being February, of course, but the other big caveat is that we are a full five weeks from the Tour of Flanders, meaning riders who base their season around de Ronde might not want the engines overheating just yet.
The Het Volk winners' circle is happy to welcome the biggest names in classics racing, but is open to the B-list as well. Interestingly, while guys like Michele Bartoli, Johan Museeuw and Peter Van Petegem are probably the most celebrated Omloop winners in the last decade, they never won either the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix in the same year as winning Het Volk... with the exception of Museeuw in 2000. And all those years (as well as anything involving Museeuw) are pretty suspect, not a good predictor of the present.
All of this is a long way of saying that the biggest names probably won't win Saturday, but one of their top lieutenants, or a big name on a smaller team, will. On the flip, a rundown of guys to watch this weekend... and an open invitation to give us your take.
Silence! Lotto are the defenders, having bought a nice little offseason present in Philippe Gilbert. Leif Hoste is in, but neither he nor Gilbert is paid the big bucks by Lotto to overextend themselves right now. Greg Van Avermaet is a very serious contender though.
The other megasquad, Quick Step, will have Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder out for a spin, but more likely to turn Sylvain Chavanel loose, with Wouter Weylandt a dark horse.
Another big name to watch is Filippo Pozzato. Winner here two years ago, Pippo is coming off a pretty fallow year and will be hungry to get Katyusha a result. Kenny DeHaes and Gert Steegmans will make for good company, or decoys, or real threats to win.
Some other interesting names: Sebastian Langeveld, Juan Flecha, Marcus Burghardt, Gerald Ciolek, Bernhard Eisel, Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Matti Breschel, Thor Hushovd, Andreas Klier, Martyn Maaskant, Greg Rast, and an already-hot Thomas Voeckler.
While Het Volk can end in a sprint, Sunday's running of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is somewhat more likely to. Not terribly: only two of the last eight editions were true pack gallops to the line. But the race simply is not quite as hard... to ride. To predict is another matter. In recent years we have seen classics guys like Hincapie and Nuyens take the win; we've seen Boonen win out of revenge for missing the split the previous day; and guys like Sentjens and DeJongh taking advantage of being overlooked. From the Cyclingfever Startlist, a quick list of guys to watch:
Weylandt, Ciolek, Karsten Kroon, Gianni Meersman, Robbie McEwen, Steegmans, Heinrich Haussler, Tyler Farrar... and on and on.
My picks: DeHaes on Saturday, Kroon Sunday.
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De Haes eh?
The ole Everyone look at Pozzato! while Kenny slips in the back door trick.
Very plausible.
I have similar visions but with the other team, Cervelo.
Look! There’s Thor!!! Oh crap- Hammond takes the victory.
Saturdays is a crap shoot. I say Boonen. I think (I should say I hope) that he’s fired up about the season.
Yeah
But Boonen would only win if the other guys let him get near the line in position. If the race is aggressive, I don’t think he goes too hard. He can get an easier win Sunday, though again I doubt he would personally go chasing any attacks. I agree Boonen is primed to win this year, but he’s my lock for April 5.
My hunch about Kroon is that he’s not racing Het Volk, holding him back for KBK.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
Very true
I go back and forth on Boonen this year. Will he continue his long slow decline from his fantastic years or will he rouse himself after the cocaine incident and show that he’s still #1 in Belgium? I hope its the later; I suspect its the former. So I pick him to win KBK out of hope he’s back. But I more agree with your analysis.
Cervelo will be fun to watch
for exactly the scenario you note (plus I want to see how badly this race beats Rollin into the ground).
Rollin on cobbles
here.
Rollin should know some of the circuits well. He raced three years as an amateur at VC Roubaix and lived at the storied velodrome where Paris-Roubaix finishes each year.
Rollin talked to VeloNews about how he got started, what he learned about racing as an amateur under Cyril Guimard and why he dreams of winning Paris-Roubaix.
Thanks for the link
I’ve no doubt that living in the Roubaix is pretty tough.
Flashback to 2008
This is how it played out last year with time gaps. After Cance, there was a big gap, so I didn’t include any riders outside the top 12. My money is on Pozzato. He had way too many almosts last year, and I think he will cash in on a few of those, not only in this race, but throughout the spring. I think Katusha will have a big spring season.
Philippe Gilbert (Bel) FdJ 4.55.25
Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis 0.58
Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 1.06
Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r
Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas 1.12
Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel 1.13
Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto
Allan Johansen (Den) CSC 1.16
Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 1.53
Arnaud Gerard (Fra) FdJ
Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis
Michael Friedman (USA) Slipstream 1.58
Fabian Cancellara (Swi) CSC 2.07
Gilbert HAS to win. I read an interview somewhere where he said he really wanted it again.
After that, Steegmans and Weylandt MUST do well. Here’s hoping!
Silly
He killed it in February last year, and where did that get him? I have to believe Lotto are getting him to focus on the bigger Belgian races. He’s not on some French squad that can do whatever the riders feel like doing in Belgium.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions
Only 4 but some pedigree
Boonen, Ciolek, Traksel and Rabon. As long as they’re not too knackered after saturday.
Huh
Didn’t realize how Lampre-heavy i was until I found a weekend of VDS races in Belgium in February. Already playing catch-up unless \o/ decides to peak early this year with 2nd places this weekend instead of April.
Boonen Saturday(you all laugh now but 48 hours from now you will all cry as a gloat about my glorious pick)
and then my boy Ciolek Saturday, or Haussler would be nice as well, but I’m going with Ciolek…………………………………..Did I just pick Boonen to win Het Volk?….oh man I need more sleep.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
You can check out a website that links to sports streams
myp2p is probably the best place to look, the stream might not be that good but they have both Het Volk and K-B-K listed. Than of course there is cycling tv if you have it or want to pay for it.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Could someone please tell me
what time both races start in Pacific Standard Time? I have a heck of a time converting from GMT.
GMT to Pacific
Cycling.tv says they come on for KBK at 1:30pm GMT, which is 2:30 pm in Belgium and 5:30am Pacific. This is the KBK schedule; they haven’t announced the Het Volk schedule.
I now have Brussels time entered into my iPhone world clock. Very important.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
But!
When do we change our clocks??
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
In the US on March 8th in Europe on March 29th
so P-N, T-A, and MSR will be on an hour later, which means I can sleep longer, although I’ll be in Germany during MSR…but still, more sleep during P-N.
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
Don't know if my VDS team made in...
but Nuyens is my pick to hopefully move up to the top spot on the podium. If not, Cervelo Test Team has got my back, I think they will be a strong presence and Hammond will be there in the end.
You're in
I saw it.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
I won't predict anything, but I'm going to be very interested to see how Maaskant does.
I truly cannot decide whether, given Maggie’s retirement, he’s now going to be Garmin’s go-to classics guy, and thus not working hard for this yet, or whether he’s going to be so hot to prove Paris-Roubaix last year wasn’t a fluke that he’s gonna go hell for leather for the next month to win something, anything.
If its the latter, he could be dangerous in this.
Where does
Peterson fit in? Seems like kind of a hardman, after his Cali win, but I know nothing of his riding style.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 26, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
Is he riding either of these?
I didn’t notice he was. And last thing I heard / read, he’s got no sprint to speak of, but a big motor. Not a small boy either, but he can climb. You’d wonder if he could do these races. He seems to have a lot of the tools, but they don’t seem to be sending him to them.
To be honest the other Garmin rider I’m hopeful for this month is Farrar. I think there is a move afoot to try to make him a classics guy, perhaps even more than to make him a sprinter (he’s not quite up to the competition).
I have 9 in the race
With Boonen and Hushovd being tops of the group. I also have Maaskant and Hagen who I am looking for big things from. I have \0/ who can place high too.
My money is on Van Avermaet.
But it would be fun to see Svein Tuft pull some hardman shit and go Canuck psycho on the peloton and solo to the win, with Garmin blocking the chase.
Either way, I’m covered!
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
Tuft also not on the roster
JV is not sending the cali guys to Belgium this weekend. Probably wisely. This is a different Garmin crew, the one that raced Volta ao Argave, etc.
Garmin for HV/KBK
141 DEKKERS Hans Netherlands
142 DUYN Huub Netherlands
143 FARRAR Tyler United States
144 FRIEDMAN Michael United States
145 FRISCHKORN William United States
146 MAASKANT Martyn Netherlands
147 PATOUR Kilian France
148 SUTTON Christopher Australia
That's a great crew for this weekend :-)
I want to see Meatball kick some booty. He did pretty well last year, didn’t he? And no track pulling him into the hurt locker so he should be fun. I’m all smiley already about the weekend. I might even cancel the way overdue, much needed chiro appt to make sure I get to watch it all.
If we start at 7:30 am, are we done by 11 or so?
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Van Avermaet would be good.
Or Gilbert—I’ve got both. Plus Vansummeren, Weylandt, H. Dekkers, Steegmans, Boasson Hagen, Ciolek, and Haussler.
Google is my domestique.
EBH is doing the two races
lets see how his cobbling skills are
"If you go (with a break), you can either win or not win. If you don't go for it, you definitely won't win."
~ Jens Voigt
My Hot Tip
Gilbert or De Haes….
Bring it home my sweet rears
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
I think I've got this weekend covered
ON Saturday I have Cervelo (Rollin, Thor and Haussler), Rabo (Nuyens, Flecha & Langeveld), Garmin (Maaskant & H. Dekker) plus Gilbert and Ciolek. Then take away Thor, Nuyens and Gilbert on Sunday and add Barredo, T. Dekker and A. Rasmussen.
Sunday is a little weak, but I’m really hoping QS has a Het like they did last year.
Anything less than 500pts on the weekend will be a disappointment.
likewise
Saturday is Gilbert, Van A, Chav, Weylandt, Flecha, Boasson Hagen, Haussler, Rollin
Sunday is Kaisen, Barredo, Chav, Weylandt, Boasson Hagen, Flecha, Haussler, Rollin
Saturday looks stronger – should be an interesting weekend…
You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.
My hopes for the weekend
Saturday
Cancellara, Hoj, Hushovd, Rollin, Boonen, Devolder, Maaskant, Burghardt, Steegmans
Sunday
Same, minus Sparticus and Thor
I’m liking Maaskant Saturday, and Steegmans on Sunday.
I don't think so
I don’t see him on the roster for Het-FormerlyVolk (or KBK for that matter) at all…
Though, if he were
I’d imagine he’d be saving up for later races, much like I expect Boonen to be (and while I wouldn’t mind seeing Boonen win since he’s on my VDS team, I’d rather see him win the Ronde and/or P-R than either race this weekend).
yeah, I saw it too,
also, from the fansite:
Team Saxo Bank
131 ARVESEN Kurt-Asle
132 BAK Lars Ytting
133 BRESCHEL Matti
134 CANCELLARA Fabian
135 HOJ Frank
136 KLOSTERGAARD LARSEN Kasper
137 LUND Anders
138 O’GRADY Stuart
Hm, I wonder
cyclingfever has the start list as identical as that except replacing Tony with Marcus Ljungqvist (hey, there’s a good name for the thread Rolleur started). Thus, Marcus’s name is out of order, so to speak (he’d normally be between Klostergaard & Lund, I believe). So I guess he was going to race but then pulled out. If so, wonder why?
The Official SaxoBank site
Doesn’t have Fabian riding
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
I think we need to go and give him some TLC
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
I think the PdC
should send a group od lovely PdC laies over to Switzerland and take care of him.. We will send reports back…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
of lovely ladies*
Sorry one beer already and fingers aren’t working
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
I'm all excited.
Sat: Van Avermaet, Maaskant, Quinziato, Hoste, Eisel, Frischkorn, Laurent, and Patour.
Sun: Maaskant, Kroon, Hoste, Eisel, Frischkorn, Laurent, and Patour.
"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."
Not my thing .....
These first two races won’t contribute a lot to my score.
On Saturday I only have two riders starting: Pozzato and Haussler, on Sunday there will be three: Haussler, van Hummel and Leezer.
So I expect to find myself in the bottom half of the scorelist after these two days ….
K-B-K last year
de Jongh wasn’t overlooked. He was towed to the line by Langeveld. He did not have to work since Boonen was in the chase group, Boonen came in 4th eventually.
I hope Langeveld gets his revenge this year.
VDS-wise I’m rooting for Baden Cooke. A guy with something to prove on a new team. Chances are slim but I have great fun imagining him winning both races this weekend.
Not sure why he slipped of my vds team... hmm
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
i really believe
this guy could make many points for me.
by semprenaroda on Feb 27, 2009 6:20 AM EST up reply actions
and he is a hottie..
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
You see way to many Rears
to choose from, and only so many points I could use…
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
Did you all see the "Right Fit" article
over at CN? I had to laugh at the gluteal comparison between Fabian and Andy:
Fabian:
…bringing his knees to his chest revealed what was termed, “huge glute [gluteal] flexibility,” namely a right leg reading of 130 degrees and a left leg of 135. His glute strength was judged by Pruitt to be ‘bulletproof’.
Andy:
Schleck’s glute flexibility was slightly less than that of his brother, with 126 and 128 degrees being measured for his right and left sides. The strength of that muscle was found to be weak.
And yet it was the weak butt that ended up on Sweet Rears. Go figure!
Google is my domestique.
Great Comparison..
But I guess it’s all in the FEEL .. not science!!
and Fabian was a 25pt rear… as said in previous post, If i chose Fabians rear, I would have missed out on my two Hotties..
Sometimes just have to sacrifice a bulletproof Ass for a much younger one..
We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950
That's very funny.
I’m sure it’s meant to be seriously scientific and everything but sniggering was the only option ;-)
I believe it was Jens
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Now there's a reason to stay in school
You too can scientifically study cyclists’ asses!
Google is my domestique.
That's the thing about a proctologist,
They always see eye to eye with their patients.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
i had him on my list for awhile
i hope he does well this season!
You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.
Flecha on Sunday,
at least I’d like to see him win. He was aggressive last year which means, I guess, he wasn’t just going for a training ride (even though he’ll always want to peak in April). Maybe he’ll do better this time.
Still, I have no clue about his form right now…
Ô col Bayard, Ô Tourmalet, à côté du Galibier, vous êtes de la pale et vulgaire bibine !
+ 1
i hade to choose Chavanel or Flecha, and take the french…;(
by semprenaroda on Feb 27, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
I'd say Gasparotto for Het but
apparently Lampre is a no show. Since when do Astana show up to cobbled classics and Lampre not?
Better late than never:
Rollin, Burghardt and Chavanel. lnterested to see how they do, especially Rollin.
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