This Sunday all climbs slowly built up tension to a climax. The moment many months riders eagerly look forward to is there as at Bruges’ Grand Place the starting gun sounds for the hundredth Tour of Flanders. After a tour of 255.9 kilometers with a huge mass of people along the shore is waiting for the winner to eternal fame in Oudenaarde. Cycling Flash looks ahead to the Flemish High Mass .
The first Tour of Flanders took place on May 25, 1913. like many other games also stood here a newspaper on the basis of the establishment. Sportwereld, a Flemish magazine, saw with sorrow that Belgium at the time of Liège-Bastogne-Liège had one great price and it was nota bene held in the French speaking part. the wording was therefore high time too Flanders provide a cycling spectacle.
the first edition started at six o’clock in the morning and would Paul Deman first about the line to get into the velodrome of Mary Church. the course was no less than 330 kilometers long and which is still a record. the idea was to reach villages as possible. the goal of world of sports was not only aimed at increasing the circulation, but above all to form their own Flemish identity. These political, and perhaps nationalist approach, however, fell in the wrong way at the Franstalige teams, which is why the price went boycott.
that’s partly why the Tour of Flanders had hardly foreign winners in the first decades. Fiorenzo Magni was only the second in 1949 and won three editions same row. Especially his last victory was memorable. The “Leone delle Fiandre” was 75 kilometers from the end of the attack and eventually came up with five minutes and 35 seconds lead. That’s not the biggest difference ever. The record is held by – and how could it be otherwise – Eddy Merckx. His lead was a mere second bigger when he soloed to victory in 1969.
Magni and Merckx are among a select group of riders Round most often (three times) have won. Only Eric Leman, Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara knew also perform. The latter two are still active and can make history on Sunday.
Alexander Kristoff beat last year’s Niki Terpstra – Photo: Sirotti
Jan Raas is the only Dutchman with two victories in the Tour of Flanders. He headed a successful period for the Netherlands. Between 1979 and 1986 the victory even five times went to a fellow countryman, but then continued “we” dry. Adri van der Poel is still the last Dutch winner in Flanders’ Most Beautiful, though Niki Terpstra close last season to succeed him. The North Hollander jumped after the Cross along with Alexander Kristoff away but knew his Norwegian flight mate then not shake off, and he had to acknowledge in a sprint à deux.
Last ten winners
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course The course is
largely identical to last year. Only the first part of the game has a number of small adjustments. Because of roadworks around the Molenberg was the traditional triptych Rider Street, Church Gate and Holleweg redrawn. The cobble of Jagerij has taken the place of the Holleweg to still be able to take on a monument as the Molenberg in the anniversary edition. Furthermore, deletion of the first slope of last year with the Tiegemberg.
Also different is the long run to the hills of the Flemish Ardennes. From Bruges the riders along the birthplaces of some heroes of the Round ‘as Briek Schotte and Roger Decock (the oldest living winner of the Tour) to bring them a tribute.
scramble begins after 103 kilometers as the Old Kwaremont looming. This ascent is the main obstacle since the reconfiguration of the track in 2012 and must be overcome in a total of three times. The first 600 meters of the Old Kwaremont go on a paved but narrow road, where the case is good to sit forward, then follow 1800 meters on cobblestones. Halfway up, the riders reach the hardest part with gradients up to eleven percent. The last piece before the riders turn left towards the motorway, is significantly flatter.
Nine slopes will follow a second passage, after which the game goes towards the Paterberg. This climb is with its length of 360 meters, although quite short, but very steep. The Paterberg runs at an average 12.9 percent up and even includes documents of over twenty percent. Much time to recover after the riders, because six kilometers later she dished the Koppenberg. The “Hump Report” is about as steep as the Paterberg, but as long and therefore very difficult almost twice. Regularly we see congestion, and even trained professionals foot to clamber up
the Koppenberg is the first hurdle in the last round. Then drive the remaining favorites via Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg and Calvary to the final passages of the Old Kwaremont and Paterberg. Thirteen kilometers from the end, all the slopes behind it and it goes to Oudenaarde, where the Minderbroederstraat a flat and straight arrival is drawn.
Favorites
top ten has rarely surprising names of the Tour of Flanders. After seven cobbled sections and eighteen slopes are usually the strongest naturally surfaced. The list of favorites is therefore significantly smaller than for example in Milan-San Remo.
At the top of that list is Fabian Cancellara . The 35-year-old rider is in his final season and seem keen to end his impressive career appropriately. Since January, we hear sounds from the peloton on the seemingly blazing form of Spartacus. The games that followed seemed to confirm that view. Cancellara triumphed in Strade Bianche and then impressed in Tirreno-Adriatico by the final time trial with a big lead to write his name. Last Sunday the rider Trek Segafredo only showed his first sign of weakness, when he finished fourth in a sprint of four, but Cancellara can console themselves with the thought that Ghent-Wevelgem never located him. Which is clearly different in the Tour of Flanders. Not for nothing he has won three times.
Yet Peter Sagan have confidence tanked in Gent-Wevelgem. The world seemed to be there on the Kemmelberg at least as strong as Cancellara won the sprint and then with two bike lengths difference, and he finally came down the hateful zero. The only 26-year old rider finished all three times in the top five of the Tour and seems to have the right shape for another top performance. A minus is that his team does not look strong. Where Cancellara regularly deep into the finals can count on Jasper Stuyven, Sagan is usually fast alone. It is also important to quotes economical for him. The rider of Tinkoff is not averse to throwing early with his forces, but the Tour is an excellent game where you need to save energy.
That seems Greg Van Avermaet can also be learned. The Belgian has long been known for its early, impulsive attacks, but has recently become a different driving style. Sagan described it as cowardly even after he was beaten by him in the sixth stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, but it does provide victories over. Van Avermaet won the overall classification of the Italian stage race and also proved to be the best in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, again for Sagan. The Belgian had last week a minor setback when he had to pass because of stomach problems for E3 Harelbeke, but he did two days later on the way in Gent-Wevelgem to his old shape. A week should be enough to achieve that.
LottoNL-jumbo all eyes Sep Vanmarcke . The 27 year old rider this season has a different structure and made only last week his first race kilometers in Belgium. He left there immediately a good impression. Vanmarcke was in the E3 Harelbeke yet to settle for eighth place, but won in Wevelgem the nearest place of honor. The rider belonged together with Sagan and Cancellara among the best riders in the race. That promises for next Sunday.
Etixx-Quick Step holds on the other hand not a good feeling about the past classics. The Belgian team has a strong block, but lacks a finisher. The result is that they are always in pursuit must disappear on the best riders in the race and the podium like snow in the sun. The riders of Etixx-Quick Step, therefore, are not among the top favorites, but beware: the team has plenty of riders who would certainly be able to win under the right circumstances. It is especially looking forward to Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra . They left the best impression in the last few games behind. Tom Boonen again came up short jabbing too short, but should not be evened out because of his name. Also, Matteo Trentin and Stijn Vandenbergh have much to offer.
Sky can also bet on several horses. Most eyes are on the Michal Kwiatkowski after his victory in E3 Harelbeke, but also Geraint Thomas is a dangerous customer. Last season, he was even for many the favorite for the Tour of Flanders. This year, Thomas focuses on stage races. He therefore has not held any of Flanders classic, but his teammates proved that this does not necessarily have to be a problem. Kwiatkowski for E3 Harelbeke was would also implicate only his first match on cobblestones. The same applies to Ian Stannard, which was the fact that third. And Sky has also agreed on Luke Rowe. The British were among the strongest teams and be able to play this advantage.
Katusha is on the other side dependent on one man: Alexander Kristoff . The winner of last year is making a changeable season. The Norwegian started strong, with five wins in February, but then did not drive as we are used to from him. The low point was E3 Harelbeke, where he was striking a lot of effort to follow riders who normally he simply drives past. Afterwards appeared Kristoff burden to have a flu and now he’s back slowly opkrabbelen. The Katusha rider this week wrote the tricky opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne-Koksijde his name. The field had been there not great, but still: Kristoff is on the way back and on the basis of his past, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Flat so it does not matter.
Lotto Soudal the surprise of last year at home. Tiesj Benoot when finished fifth on his debut. The now 22-year-old Belgian has grown quickly become a fixture in finals of cobbled classics. Benoot can no longer use his obscurity, but with one additional year of experience in the bag is not at all inconceivable that he will improve his performance last season. The Belgian team also counting on Jurgen Roelandts. The third of 2013 although was at E3 Harelbeke, but that was because of back problems and that would be resolved in the meantime again. Lotto Soudal can not have Sunday Jens Debusschere. The unfortunate sprinter crashed in Gent-Wevelgem and the classics to miss.
In addition to the aforementioned Terpstra is also a rider Lars Boom who can provide Dutch success. The Astana rider made a good impression at E3 Harelbeke, where he finished sixth. His team mate Lieuwe Westra should also not be underestimated after his victory in De Panne. Behind the name of Sebastian Langeveld is still a question mark. The former Dutch champion could not impress due to illness and falls, but would now be back on the better hand. Langeveld, who has been three times in the top ten of the Tour ended, together with Matti Breschel the leader at Cannondale, where Dylan van Baarle hoping for a good result. The 23 year old rider is in good shape, witness nineteenth place in E3 Harelbeke.
Other outsiders Finally, Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Milan-San Remo winner Arnaud Demare (FDJ) Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge), Filippo Pozzato (Souteasth-Venezuela), Dries Devenyns (IAM Cycling) and Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energy). The chances are small that they can follow the top favorites, but with the right tactic is a podium place is not impossible.
Favorites according Wieler Flash
**** Fabian Cancellara
*** Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet
** Sep Vanmarcke, Michal Kwiatkowski and Zdenek Stybar
Niki Terpstra, Geraint Thomas, Tiesj Benoot and Alexander Kristoff
Official website
Participant List (Pro Cycling Stats)
weather
It is next Sunday determined not Flandrien weather. WeerOnline predicts a maximum temperature of less than nineteen degrees and it would also remain dry. The wind has three wind coming from the south, meaning that the riders have against the wind in the long run-up to the Flemish Ardennes.
TV
Round Flanders is by Sporza from start to finish imaged. The broadcast begins at half past ten. NIS come from 12:20 with a stream on the website for images on the television to wait until 13:30. Eurosport starts half an hour later with the broadcast.
Who wins the Tour of Flanders in 2016?
- Fabian Cancellara (33%, 140 votes)
- Peter Sagan (18%, 75 votes)
- Sep Vanmarcke (14%, 60 votes)
- someone else (6%, 27 votes)
- Greg Van Avermaet ( 6%, 27 votes)
- Niki Terpstra (6%, 24 votes)
- Michal Kwiatkowski (5%, 22 votes)
- Tiesj Benoot (4%, 15 votes)
- Zdenek Stybar (3%, 11 votes)
- Geraint Thomas (2% 9 votes)
- Alexander Kristoff (2% 9 votes)
- Tom Boonen (2%, 8 votes)
Total votes: 427
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