Ok, ok, settle down now people. Take your seats please. You’re all a little bit on edge, like some cycling Gamblers Anonymous group that’s been let out for the weekend with a pocket full of bills and the name of the nearest bookie. But in your excitement, you managed to crash our server, delaying the fix you so desperately crave.
But wait no more. You’ve warmed up on the gateway races, now it’s time for the hard stuff, as grimy, rough and unadulterated as the roads of Flanders themselves.
You see, there’s this bloke I know who knows a bloke, hangs around the Velominati bike sheds, seems to know a bit about the racing game. Reckons he’s got a sure bet for the weekend. A cert. A dead-set shoo-in. Number 1 in Race 3 of the VSP at Flanders. Fella reckons you could put your left one on it. Absolutely Faboolous or something he’s called. He’s got form (and, judging by the way he shelled the nags on last week’s card, possibly a motor). But word is there could be a late plunge on the other fella, Boom Boom Boy, so maybe a bob each way might be the way to go. I’d watch out for those not-so-roughies though, the likes of Gilbert, Devolder, Ballan and Thor will be waiting to pick up any leftover chaff and could steal away the win, leaving you as frustrated as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest.
So what’s it gonna be then? Take the sure thing, or the other sure thing, or throw a dart at the board and hope it sticks? It’s time to study the form guide, search the dark recesses of your soul, throw out any logic, and pencil in your picks on the ticket provided at the bottom of the comments. Whether you’re canny, savvy or just plain tinny, the coveted Obey The Rules bumper sticker is waiting. Is your bumper worthy?
The only thing for certain is that bicycle racing will be the winner on the day.
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Ciao Marko!
It was just one of the sponsors of the race, a bit weird though...
A word on Pippo.
Pozzato has a lot talent, but to me he lacks something,
something that drive us to speak about his hair or his sunglasses instead of his win.
Cmon Garmin the curse of the rainbow jersey has been broken thanks to Cuddles/Good Cadelephant. How awesome would it be to see Thor podium? Seems they need to sort out their blended family of teams somewhat.
Every time I comment on here I'm going to have my picks listed, @frank sort it out.
@Buck_Rogers
Easy on there dude, less of the hate. JV said he didn't have the riders to pull & if you consider he only had two and BMC had seven...anyway, I asked him what happened to the rest of the team: mistakes, unlucky or just not have it. The reply was the latter. Whatever you might think of JV's motives re: radios and the future of the sport, he is nothing but honest if you ask him a question.
You might also want to consider Wilf Peeters suggestion that Cancellara was "too strong"
Boonen was unlucky to get his line cut by EBH as he was trying to close Cancellara down after the Leberg. Nuyens, Boonen and Cancellara were all lucky that Chavanel didn't ride with Cancellara, because as it turns out, Cancellara wouldn't have dropped him and would have lost the sprint.
Boonen lost the race by missing Cancellara's final move, no blame on Chavanel, he read it, he just picked the wrong wheel in the sprint.
@Pedale.Forchetta
is that pozzato's bike he's leaning on - may explain his dnf at RvV
@frank
seems you sorted it...
..oh and one more thing.
10. G. Thomas (Team Sky)
Can I just say: Told you so.
I expect as good, if not better next weekend. He did far too much work for a protected rider and was arguably better than Flecha today.
@Jarvis
Shh! I've already got Thomas penciled in as a top-five finisher for next year.
But, yes: strange race that so many of the deputies were stronger than their charges. It must be a tough call for the director: when do you drop your protected rider for the guy with the legs? Of course, in theory, that was what made Garmin-Cervelo such a compelling outfit, and that hasn't worked out so well.
@Marko
My mouth is already watering at the prospect of a sprint finish in the velodrome (this time Bauer will win!), but do you honestly not see Spartacus making up for this weekend's disappointment by crushing all comers?
@tony macaroni
Good one Tony!
@Steampunk
Spartacus was looking ropey long before they hit the Kapelmuur. I couldn't work out how Kelly's commentator mate could tell us Chav was more cooked when it was Fab's head that kept dropping. I tend to buy the cramp / dehydration story, and expect to see him feature big time at P-R. The teams who thought 'So THAT'S how you do it - just wheel suck him until he breaks' must have got a hell of a shock when he came back from the dead to feature so strongly at the finale. Am thinking he should be renamed Lazarus after that.
As for Garmvelo: far be it from me to have anything to add to whether or not JV's call to sit in was pusillanimous or realistic or both. But it was certainly a disappointing showing. Really hope they get it together for P-R.