Spring Classics 2009 [R]

Discussion in 'Cycling' started by Dead Fingers, Feb 23, 2009.

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  1. Dead Fingers Moderator

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    Omloop Het Volk (Now Omloop Het Nieuwsblad) is up this weekend.
    Dead Fingers, Feb 23, 2009
    #1
          

  2. aveslacker Member

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    Here's Velo News on Het Volk.

    aveslacker, Feb 23, 2009
    #2

  3. Moishe Moderator

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    For the 64th addition of this race it will see a name change as well with Volk being dropped for Nieuwsblad. Apparently the Volk was associated with a newspaper that was the primary sponsor until this year. This years addition will feature a total of 11 climbs with many on cobbles. This has been pretty much a Belgian dominated race over the years. Below are the teams that will be participating:

    * Quick Step
    * Silence-Lotto
    * Saxo Bank
    * AG2R-La Mondiale
    * BBox Bouygues Telecom
    * Cofidis
    * Française des Jeux
    * Milram
    * Liquigas
    * Astana
    * Rabobank
    * Katusha
    * Garmin-Slipstream
    * Team Columbia
    * Agritubel
    * Elk-Haus
    * Landbouwkrediet
    * Mercator-Topsport Vlaanderen
    * Skil-Shimano
    * Vacansoleil
    * Cervelo
    A very good field of teams to start with although I'm still looking around to see which riders will represent the teams. If you follow any of the betting sites, Tom Boonen is the odds on favorite to take this years addition.
    Moishe, Feb 23, 2009
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  4. Moishe Moderator

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    Moishe, Feb 23, 2009
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  5. aveslacker Member

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    I'll bet there will be a variety of streams on myp2p.us. I think Eurosport does a lot of coverage of the classics. Maybe they'll show it and someone will stream it.
    aveslacker, Feb 24, 2009
    #5

  6. Dead Fingers Moderator

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    I do have to say I was impressed with the Tour of California's coverage on their web site: streaming and just about everything else. Whereas Vs. was really off, to put it nicely.

    Vs. will be doing several of the Spring Classics.
    Dead Fingers, Feb 24, 2009
    #6

  7. aveslacker Member

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    The ToC website was pretty good. The GPS thing was neat, shame that the weather sometimes messed with the GPS units. I doubt we will see such a sophisticated web presence from any other race. Maybe the Tour?
    aveslacker, Feb 24, 2009
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  8. aveslacker Member

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    Here's some video from the Omloop to whet the appetite:

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yiq3g2xcqZ8&feature=related"]Classic![/ame]
    aveslacker, Feb 24, 2009
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  9. aveslacker Member

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    Here's the Omloop course:

    [IMG]
    aveslacker, Feb 26, 2009
    #9

  10. aveslacker Member

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    aveslacker, Feb 28, 2009
    #10

  11. Moishe Moderator

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    Moishe, Feb 28, 2009
    #11

  12. Dead Fingers Moderator

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    Dead Fingers, Mar 2, 2009
    #12

  13. aveslacker Member

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    I don't know why, but Boonen never did much for me. He's a fantastic racer obviously, but I just don't like him.

    Maybe it's because I admire climbers and superdomestiques more than sprinters.
    aveslacker, Mar 2, 2009
    #13

  14. Dead Fingers Moderator

    Member Since:
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    I don't mind Tom. Not a fan, but not a hater either. He does deserve the respect. I was hoping that Devolder (His team mate) would have been in better contention to win Roubaix last year. He just highlights how much I like Hincappie and how much bad luck he has had with the Classics, whether mechanical or a weak(er) team.
    Dead Fingers, Mar 2, 2009
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  15. aveslacker Member

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    Big George has had horrible luck in the classics, particularly Paris-Roubaix.

    I think I'd like to see him win Paris-Roubaix as much as I'd like to see Vandevelde on top of the podium at one of the Grand Tours.
    aveslacker, Mar 2, 2009
    #15

  16. Dead Fingers Moderator

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    It's the stuff of Greek tragedy. I semi-kid, but I would imagine for him that it has to eat at him a lot. I would love to see some more Americans compete at the classic a bit more as well.

    I think a rider like Christian has it in him, but others on Garmin are really going to need to step up.
    Dead Fingers, Mar 2, 2009
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  17. aveslacker Member

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    Highlights of the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Commentary in Dutch.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqTG3mbYgQ8"]Tommeke!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqTG3mbYgQ8[/ame]
    aveslacker, Mar 2, 2009
    #17

  18. aveslacker Member

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    ...and the finish of the Omloop. Commentary also in Dutch. There's a funny little bit when one of the Cervelo riders does a farmer blow and the commentator says something like, "now that he's gotten all of his snot out, he's ready to go" or something like that. Anyway.

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgB2wRE2Mtc&feature=related"]The Mighty Thor![/ame]
    aveslacker, Mar 2, 2009
    #18

  19. aveslacker Member

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    Yeah, they haven't exactly gotten off to a great start this year, other than the TOC.
    aveslacker, Mar 2, 2009
    #19

  20. Moishe Moderator

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    And tomorrow brings us the 67th edition of Paris-Nice. The race will feature a total of eight stages for 1250 km with the opening stage being an ITT. The course is fairly hilly for the most part once the time trial is completed. This appears to be a strong field but the consensus is that Alberto Contador is the favorite to take this years race.

    http://www.velonews.com/article/86993/2009-paris-nice-route-and-teams-announced-ventoux-s-little

    http://www.letour.fr/2009/PNC/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html
    Moishe, Mar 7, 2009
    #20

  21. Moishe Moderator

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    Congratulations to Alberto Contador for taking the top spot in the opening time trial for Paris/Nice. The second place rider finishing sevens seconds down was Brad Wiggins a TT specialist and gold medal winner so somewhat of a statement from Contador.

    In the second stage, a 121 mile sprinters stage was won by...well you guessed it, a sprinter from Cervelo Heinrich Haussler. Also during stage two with 3km to go a pile-up occurred involving Alberto Contador and Franck Schleck. Neither rider was hurt and due to where the crashed happened their times were already locked. Yesterday also saw Christian VDV lay it down. Astana as a unit looked very good today carrying on the form from the AToC with very different riders.
    Moishe, Mar 9, 2009
    #21

  22. aveslacker Member

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    Looks like Chavanel won the stage and the yellow and green jerseys today. Wonder how Contador will respond.
    aveslacker, Mar 10, 2009
    #22

  23. Dead Fingers Moderator

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    I think the next few stages will be more to Contador's liking. :p
    Dead Fingers, Mar 10, 2009
    #23

  24. aveslacker Member

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    No doubt. I imagine he'll want to make a pretty clear statement about who's in charge over at Astana.
    aveslacker, Mar 10, 2009
    #24

  25. Moishe Moderator

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    I would think so. Below are the profiles for the next two stages. A rider to look out for could be today's White Jersey winner Kevin Seelsbrayers from Quick Step who is supposed to be a very good climber. It will be interesting to see how aggressive he'll be. Anyways here's the profiles.

    Stage Four

    [IMG]

    Stage Five

    [IMG]
    Moishe, Mar 10, 2009
    #25
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