Greipel wins in Oman, can he win MSR?
As we all know MSR is a big aim for Cav this year, and Greipel seems to have settled in very well to the Lotto set-up and is winning all over that place atm. Following his win today where liquigas pushed it on the uphill to remove the pure sprinters only to have Greipel win the stage is he to be considered for MSR? It is the 'sprinters classic' after all and it seems he has shown that he can climb as well as sprint formidably. Or does Cav's early season form and strong support give him enough advantage to win again?
Gotta love speculation!
3 months ago
tc345
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I'm a Cav fan, but I'd be happy to see it. Of course I'm hoping Goss repeats.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
My thoughts exactly
Could be fun to watch from the sidelines!
I got 2 answers for that...
…No way & No How.
Climbing in Oman is by No means = to climbing in Italia.
Small break will happen, again, this year – sprinters toasted on Poggio,
Cancellara FTW
Soli Deo Gloria
How big was todays climb?
Do we know, i couldn’t find a profile so i don’t know how it compares to poggio etc, it did seem to be a short distance from the finish though. Although todays race but a mere 140km vs 300km…
The climbs were not too big today...like 60m in elevation, some were a bit more.
And the finishing sprint was rather gradual ramp, went up ~20 meters in the last k…so 2ish%
KRUoPIS!!!1!!
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 17, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
+1
What’s happening this week is all a big tease to get folks to “SUBMIT” their VDS teams before the deadline day and WHAM! Gorilla breaks his collarbone tomorrow. I’m not saying I hope it happens…just saying. My FSA DS Squadra is finalized. Has been for a week. But I ain’t submitting until H-hour D-Day.
Ah... sanity and succintness
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Yes
Considering he got that far last year that he was able to work for Phil-Gil on the Poggio, I don’t see how you can rule him out. It would have to be a pretty big (or unlucky) group that got to the final, for him not to be about the fastest there.
...Not particularly because he can win in Oman though.
Not as if it’s the ultimate indicator of form for MSR or anything!
Ultimate is your word
Indicator though, of form which could see him win MSR? Yes
And apart from a few (Boonen, Cancellara, Farrar) at that stage in Qatar, we haven’t seen any other Classics form indicators.
by RollinRollinRolland on Feb 18, 2012 9:30 AM EST up reply actions
he can win...........
but there are so many other riders who could too, given the right conditions. I certainly see both Cancellara and Gilbert wanting this big time. however the list of contenders given early season form is too long to bother with.
Rafa's on peds
Long time no see Marat. Hope all is well with you.
Of the non spinter classics gods, I’d put Boonen in that shakedown as well. I’ve my doubts about Gilbert as he hasn’t the sprinting power if it comes down to it.
No more regrets
He's getting kinda, sorta decent at the classics
Made the front group in MSR last year, 4th in G-W, 3rd at Worlds. 21st at Roubaix and with the Cancellara group at the start of Camphin-en-Pevele. That last one actually caught my eye the most at the time.
Not Tommeke but not just a SSR and GT stage guy anymore either.
Yes he can..! Hope he does..!
He can because he had plenty of training bringing PG to the line all last year..! Now he can get there more relaxed… The other thing is will Lotto work for him to win? There is someone else in the team with better chances?
Strava...? We are going for the TOP 10 this year...! Are you going to be part of something great or not?
The guys in Oman and Qatar are his 'guys'. They're also the early Classics men, so yes.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Griepel can win MSR, as Cav can.
Personally, I think that any attempted escape on the Poggio will be shut down by the sprinter’s teams, and it will come to a sprint finale. Too many factors (crashes, punctures, loss of form, mechanicals) to say who will be there at the shakedown.
I’d love to see Griepel win, but have a feeling that Boonen could well do it this year if his team works well and he positions himself right…
No more regrets
You know as I see this comments something cross my mind...
Does anyone else imagines a TT duel between Cance and Tony Martin? All the way to the finish line??
Strava...? We are going for the TOP 10 this year...! Are you going to be part of something great or not?
No. Tony Martin is young and strong, but as yet, he lacks Cance's panache ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
and Martin's never ridden MSR
has anyone said he’s riding this year?
"I love the classics. They are real battles, real racing," he said. "Time trials are also good, but it’s not the same as the northern classics. That’s pure bike racing."
Fabian Cancellara
pablo did
I think that makes it gospel.
by JustJoshinYa on Feb 19, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
Bringing pablo's dreams crashing down to earth is one reason
that this competition is not called Fantasy Cycling.
Another reason is that when ant1 is watching PFP it would become Fantasy, Cycling.
Maybe we should take a Poll?
Who is more likely to win MSR -
- Farrar
or - Greipel
I’ll vote Greipel
What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)
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