Early Season Impressions.

by Maratsafin on Mar 7, 2011 7:25 AM EST

Now I know it is very early season with only a couple of proper races completed. But I wondered what peoples' impressions of the season so far were? Anything really except rehashing the Contador/Ricco sweetie story which has been done to death and is frankly depressing.

So to start off, what about the big winners of the season so far? In my book it has to be Radobank, who after a quiet 2010 have hit the ground running this year with wins all over. And by a number of riders both new and old(er). Bos, Boom, Freire, Gesink and Langeveld at the Omloop.

Other winners would be Sky, who apart from getting some wins have been very well placed in others. Henderson won the bunch sprint in stage 1 of Paris Nice yesterday too. Liquigas have started where they left off with wins from Sagan and Basso. They look strong all through the team. Best race? For me Saturday's Strade Bianche finishing in Sienna. Big names, great race with Gilbert just holding off Ballan (good to see him back) and Cunego through the tight cornered finish.

Losers? well apart from Jens's showing yesterday, Team Leotard, sorry Leopard haven't exactly set the world on fire. Probably because they can't work out who's who! Same with Garmin-Cervelo so if you see Fab leading out Thor or Millar leading out Bennati you know why. Other losers in a small way have to be Cav, who's picked up a lot of scar tissue for little gain so far. Boonen for missing the break in Qatar.

Apparently the UCI have no rules regarding shirt design only logo size, which I find amazing given their uber retentive stance on every thing else. I mean Garmin-Cervelo/Leopard, Geox/ISD what were you thinking, open your eyes!

Design winners have got to be HTC, Radioshack and Liquigas (leery but you can see it can't you?).

Riders, well the young ones are coming through now aren't they? Sagan, Boom, Velits and of course my own personal tip for the top Jack Bobridge - the man cometh.

Closer to home the sportive season has started well with the brutal weather passing. It's still cold but not achingly so and the Hell of the Ashdowns was a challenge rather than an ordeal this year. Next up is the Spring Onion next Sunday all part of the build up to the inaugeral Paris-Roubaix Challenge. Are any of you doing the Paris-Roubaix or in fact want to go? If so let me know.

Cheers all!

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Comments

nice piece and I agree with your

Assessment. On the P-R Challenge, I won’t be in Europe this spring, but have that ride targeted as a future goal. Would love a nice summary when you complete it. Good luck.

"It's crazy. In Belgium they would have stopped the train"
-Peter Van Petegem, April 2006-

by Mr Van P on Mar 7, 2011 8:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

I’m planning on being at P-R but won’t be doing the Challenge. But I also wish you good luck with it!

by Le Comte on Mar 7, 2011 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

early season impressions

thanks for your feedback Van P. happy to write a summary of the paris-roubaix sportive. did one for flanders last year which went down well. cheers.

by Maratsafin on Mar 7, 2011 8:36 AM EST reply actions

I did the Ronde one too (150k version) last year

Which was an absolute blast. Although I love both Roubaix and Flanders, Roubaix interests me the most especially since I’m a non-climber. I did ride a couple secteurs of the Roubaix course last year (the Forest and Haverluy) and decided riding the full course is on the short list of things that I MUST do.
4 and 5 star secteurs are a world apart from Belgian cobbles.

"It's crazy. In Belgium they would have stopped the train"
-Peter Van Petegem, April 2006-

by Mr Van P on Mar 7, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

i'm doing the p-r sportive too

not been riding sportives in prep but have been getting out and getting the miles in (and riding through rather than round potholes to get the feel for it). two more weekends only for though unless i get a ride in the day after i get back from a ski trip. looking forward to it and intend to sport the pdc jersey if conditions allow (i only have a short sleeved one) so look out for me. will try and do a video of it and the pro-race the day after and post it up here.

by thebongolian on Mar 7, 2011 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

MARAT

I wanted to speak to you, i hear you know a bar/bike shop in London that will be showing the Classics season’s, i’m so up for meeting up for one or two if you fancy?

Feel free to email me on Millsy_pdc@hotmail.co.uk and i’ll give you my proper one if your interested?

Great thread as well, and i’m so envious of the P-R sportive your doing, my longer term goal is to do one next year, maybe an Ardennes one first though, really like the idea of riding L-B-L, suits my body type better, i’m a 5’8 flyweight ;)

by Millsy_1989 on Mar 7, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I think Movistar is a winner in the design department too

If only because their fluorescent helmets make them incredibly, incredibly easy to spot at the front of the peloton. It’s like they’re always there, because you always get that flash of fluo in the sea of bland.

I like tinkering with the boys.
- majope

by tgsgirl on Mar 7, 2011 2:27 PM EST reply actions