Countdown to the Cobbles: MSR Late Edition
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 19, 2010 7:42 PM EDT
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Just a few quick hits:
3. The King Is Dead
No repeat for Mark Cavendish appears to be in store. Last year's winner tells the media he simply doesn't have the form to make the finale. The problem? Last time he went deep into the red to stay in contact on the Cipressa, he says, and that last bit of missing form will be the difference this year between staying in the game and falling out. Never say never? I dunno, he has that "never" look right now.
2. Long Live The King!
Add Gert Steegmans to the list of guys touting Tom Boonen for the win. "I never saw him climb so easily," says the recuperating Belgian of his former teammate, who he has trained with a bit lately (can that be right? anyway...). Among those in the chorus of Boonen supporters is one Filippo Pozzato, who refers to his "friend and training partner in Monaco" as the man to win. On the sandbagging merry-go-round, Fabian Cancellara tips Boonen AND Pozzato as the strongest right now. On it goes.
1. The God of Scattered Showers
One rider in the selections fray under more dubious circumstances is Thor Hushovd. Yes, he is being picked by some based on who he normally is -- a sprinter who can handle pretty much anything -- but his run-in to La Primavera seems far less certain than his veteran cohorts. Hushovd was ill twice in January and struggled mightily in Tirreno-Adriatico, only now saying that he felt much better by the week's end. That's great, but if MSR disfavors anything, it's guys who are at all low on their normal fitness. Put Thor down as a serious Paris-Roubaix threat, but my hunch is that he's coming to form just a shade too late for tomorrow.
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Hmm, Geert
That’s an interesting pick there Tom. I’m not sure we’ve ever seen the dude climb well enough for this race, but there’s always a first. Also, he’s famous for not dealing with pressure well. Maybe Tom’s just playing with his head a bit. That would be mean, though, wouldn’t it?
Granted Boonen hasn't put it together enough to win MSR but has his
ability to climb ever been in doubt? Given his classics record, it should be obvious that he’s quite proficient at short, steep climbs and those are the only ones he has to do in this race. I mean it isn’t a GT stage we are talking about with HC climbs…
Frodo will probably get dropped on one of the latter climbs leaving the guys who can survive those….like Boonen, Oscarito, Hushovd, and others, to contend for the bunch sprint. Unless Cancellara steals another one from these guys that is..
3.7km (Poggio)
is a bit long for Boonen, whose climbing prowess is mostly under 1km (Flanders). Though, obviously, if the climbers don’t salt it away before a sprint, he is there in some fashion.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 19, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he'll manage alright....
certainly better than Frodo, who has only gone backwards in recent races.
hey wow, just noticed your pic, pretty cool
I’ve contested the CCS for some time now myself (I’m in LA). I see you sport a yellow number, so where are you riding?
"Oooh God...if there IS one, save my soul...if I HAVE one." -Eugen Weber
by Koppenberg34 on Mar 20, 2010 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Cav made much fun of Boonen last year
Before the race Boonen commented that Cav couldn’t get over the MSR climbs only to be passed by Cav on the Poggio. Doh!
I wonder if some of the weight he’s lost this year isn’t because of those smirking interviews Cav gave?
Spite
is excellent training.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 20, 2010 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Boonen's problem is RvV and MSR.
Freire/Benna/Ale Jet are peaking here.. If Boonen does that he fail in his classics
Guess that sux for HTC...
…cause velonews is saying they have No Plan B: HTC-Columbia fully behind Cavendish for Milan-San Remo.
If this is sandbagging, it’s a whole new level, isn’t it?
Head says Boonen
Heart says Eddie Mk II.
Has Big Tom ridden this well for the last four years? His victories this season have been imperious; he has taken his opponents with ease- insouciance, to quote Prof.Fignon.
Should be a grand day.
by Runitout on Mar 19, 2010 9:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Dudette...
It’s waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to early to call him Eddie Mk II
With all due respect to EBH.. But he hasn’t won anything really significant… Or maybe one.. Gent-Wevelgem
He's a dude Frinkles... dude...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
It's early for you yes? But Ruthann as a 'dudette' boggles the imagination too ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Cav for the win
Columbia has a weak team this year and they know it. So they are hiding Cav behind dental problems, knowing full well if he was on form, they would have to control the race, which they can’t this year. So Columbia gets a free ride with not one rider in the wind, then magically take over once the action heats up.
Cav wins by two bike lengths. You heard it hear first.
see, that's what I think too. A few more hours.
"Awesome! is more about what gets fans excited than what’s harder to do." - Chris...
by ZoeRochelle on Mar 19, 2010 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Cav; okay, I lie
I like to see Cav ride fast. Ever since I saw him on the track in ‘06, he’s had something special.
But I wish M-SR would revert to a strongman’s race- a race the winner of L-B-L or Flanders could win.
A Gilbert win would be nice; or Eddy; or even Boonen. I could settle for ballan too. But please no bunch sprinters. It’s not that they don’t deserve it- I would just like to see a move on the Cipressa stay away.
by Runitout on Mar 19, 2010 11:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
the Big sandbag?
you only get one of those. Use it wisely.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Mar 20, 2010 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Steephilltv live dashboard.
Link for team line ups and many stories and tomorrow’s video etc.. What a nice place.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Word from Baden Cooke and Schlecklet is that the likelihood of rain is high..
I would think that might favour Boonen.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
After all, he doesn't have to worry about the rain making his hair frizz ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
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