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I think both Vanmarcke's and Boonen's issue right now is they are both shaping races, but not winning them. Vanmarcke may be the most powerful rider out there, but is he the cleverest? He has to prove he can win.
Jimmy_Fingers-
He does, but let's not forget he's still only 26.
He's lucky in that both Flanders, especially this new finish, and Roubaix are more often than not won by the strongest rider. However, I'm minded of the story that Argentin told about his build up to the 1987 Worlds. He won one of the Italian one day warm up races, I don't recall which, by riding away from everyone in an impressive show of strength. Almost as soon as he crossed the line, his DS, Giancarlo Ferretti, came up to him and said, "Well done, no they'll be on you like fleas at the Worlds!" Vanmarcke's strength this year is evident to all, already.
andyp
But if Vanmarcke wins one when Boonen's absent, the naysayers will start the "but he didn't beat Boonen..."
I'm just hoping for some decent races in the next month.