Pro-cycling thread

very loss, much pity!

now EQS only have 3 leaders for P-R and Flanders instead of 4...

exactly what I was thinking, should mean those other riders get a bit more backing than (the unfair amount, imo) Boonen has had in recent years

He's won 4 Roubaix, 3 Flanders and 3 Gent-Bubblegum, he's not exactly let them down with regards to the backing he's had.

@andyp

recent years

he's won k-b-k in the last 2 years and that's it

It's a shame. Then again it should be interesting to see Stybar and Terpstra 'working together'.

He had a serious infection in his elbow at the beginning of 2013 that basically scuppered the start of his season, then crashed in both Gent-Wevelgem and Flanders.

Last year his partner miscarried their first child two weeks before Flanders, yet he still finished in the top ten in both cobbled monuments.

Gutted he's out. Whether he's the same force he has been in the past the early season classics aren't the same without. He didn't win either but arguably he animated both OHN at k-B-K more significantly than any other rider, Vanmarcke aside. His attacks will be missed.

Agree, he's had a pretty torrid couple of years, but he's not shown any real promise elsewhere, not the sort that would deserve the level of backing he's had in the classics, over the rest of team.

Still, means Vanmarcke has a higher chance of a monument win, and we all want that :)

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.

haha, true

MSR is looking very good, will be interesting to see if Cav a) makes it b) has the legs for the sprint. There's so many people that could win it depending on how it pans out

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.

Which is exactly what makes it so compelling. That last hour, as the race builds to a crescendo on the Poggio, is one of the highlights of the season for me.

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.

Vanmarcke is overdue a win. He had plenty of bad luck this time last year. He really needs more pitstop in his tyres!

He looked a bit lonesome at Strade Bianche. Now Boom isn't on the team does he have many strong allies in the classics?

Kelderman's going to be in the same boat in the mountains.*

Yeah, despite not winning anything Vanmarcke is so heavily marked. At the Omloop EQS were so terrified of him to the point they let Stannard give them a fingering unawares. I think like Stannard he's got to show he has more than pure power to force selections, he has the race nous and weapons to win from those selections. He's a level above Stannard, up there with the very best, Canc, Boonen, Sagan, Terpstra, but he needs to start winning.

*although Ten Dam and Gesink went pretty well at the tour last year if I remember correctly...

He's been out-sprinted by Cancellara a few times recently.

Stannard keeps winning his sprints. Who knows what will happen if Biggins gives Ian the nod at Roubaix :-)

Yeag Stannard's been mugging people on the line, says something for his legs, if he gets to the sharp end of long races, especially in bad conditions, his sheer power propelled him to the line ahead of people more fancied. Importantly he's learn how to win. Winning becomes a habit, something Vanmarcke needs to learn.

Lampre leaving MPCC so they can keep hold of Ulissi.

Chris Horner not currently available for comment.

Got to feel for him. Sucks.

Personally don't think Boonen has got the legs any more anyway.

If you asked me to pick my top five most likely winners for Flanders and Roubaix, I don't think a fit Boonen would be in there this year.

This is the first year in three years he's had a decent prep for the Classics and he couldn't match Stannard with the help of two team mates. Tactical mistakes or not, he didn't look as strong.

Phenomenal (and really stylish) rider at his peak and his 2012 Roubaix win was up there with one of the best for me, but his best days look to be behind him now.

Strade Bianche last Saturday: Jered Gruber really has the talent of being in the right place at the right time...

Rabo/Blanco/Belkin/Lotto-Jumbo team tactics are always a bit mysterious and seldom lead to stage wins or good overall classifications. Indeed Vanmarcke seems so much stronger in the classics than the rest of the team, not looking like they're able to help him out much atm

A great set of pics all round....

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2015/03/strade-bianche-in-photos-2/

^ indeed, makes me want to go there!

and this, not by Gruber (who was probably hiding behing Stybar's left sock at this moment) but Joolze Dymond

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