[All this week we will be featuring different angles on playing our year-long fantasy game, the FSA Directeur Sportif. Remember, deadlines for submitting your teams are Feb 22 for the women and Feb 24 for the men. Don't miss out! Let's start with -- what else? -- the cobbled classics.]
One rite of winter in my family is when my brother starts emailing me with his team and asking me if I think it's Belgian enough. Mr Van P knows the various strategy choices and has tried a few over the years. But like the moth to the flame, he can't not stack his team with Belgians. Cobbles addicts are like that. Trust me, I know.
I don't usually engage too much in these dialogs. Maybe I'm a lousy brother, but I have trouble settling on my own strategy, and something inside me tells me not to look at Pete's team. Sure, I'd love to follow my heart and go all-in on the classics, but stacking a squad full of Belgies -- what happens to them after Brabantse Pijl? Last year he went completely off the rails and built a team of 25 Belgians. Hell, it was almost entirely Flemish, except for Gilbert, Monfort, Amorison and Baugnies. It's like setting an April 12 expiration date on your team's season. Meanwhile, I quietly built a nicely rounded team stacked to compete through October. Needless to say, in our field of nearly 700 teams last year he finished... 148th. Exactly 210 spots higher than me.
Should you be like Pete and build a Cobbles Team for your FSA DS entry? First, let's define what the Cobbles Strategy looks like. "Classics" can be defined various ways -- if you include the hilly classics, the fall classics, etc., but for me it centers around the fourteen events that define the Cobbled Classics:
Yes, I know, Milano-Sanremo and the Strade Bianche are not cobbled classics. Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico are not classics at all. But I bunch these events together because the guys who want to win in Flanders are doing these earlier events, because they are hard, their place on the calendar make them ideal for polishing one's classics form, and MSR is a destination race in its own right. So you get a lot of the same top guys competing for points in this grouping.
Fourteen events on a calendar of some 200 days of racing is nothing much. You could ignore them at little peril, maybe picking up some surprise points en route to your grand tour strategy or whatever you've got cooking. But they are fun, and the three monuments are big point pickup opportunities, so they are probably worth getting involved in. Among last year's top 30 riders, there were ten guys who made or should make an impact at the races I just listed. But pick any one of them and you'll see that a "cobbles strategy" is only half true. Fabian Cancellara was wildly successful in his spring campaign, and scored 1300 of his 2091 points in the classics calendar. Greg Van Avermaet scored 260 of his 1200 points in spring. Bjorn Leukemans was even better, but his 485 was still barely a third of his season's points. The second-best cobbles rider in the world right now, Tom Boonen, scored all of his 580 points on the cobbles, and was one of the worst bargains in the game.
The point is simple: finding guys who win in spring is fine as long as they don't pack it in as soon as the daffodils start to bloom. To win on the infernal stones AND win for you, a rider has to be a bit more evergreen than, oh, Peter Van Petegem. The other part is, he has to be reliable in Flanders. Winning the classics is one of the sport's great crapshoots, but secondary finishes in a monument can add up quickly, so if there's anything resembling consistency to a rider's spring game, that's worth knowing.
Let's quickly run through the top 15 classics guys from 2011, in no particular order...
Reliable? Like a Swiss watch. His triple win in 2010 would be a record for cobbles points if we tracked such things.
Got any other tricks? He's always good for a few results, especially in time trials and double-especially at the Tour de France time trials. But the world championships are his best point haul post-spring.
Reliable? At this point he's had a couple strong runs at Flanders, but he never does Paris-Roubaix. I suspect he will try for Gent-Wevelgem again. And at Brabantse Pijl he's essentially unstoppable.
Got any other tricks? Um, you do follow cycling, don't you?
Reliable? Absolutely. See Ursula's article.
Got any other tricks? Hm... see Ursula's article. He used to own the sprint world, and scored massive points in 2005-06, but at this point he isn't interested. Now? He still picks low-hanging fruit in his back yard.
Reliable? Like a Belgian watch. Following an interruption in his career in 2009, he's been a stalwart in Flanders and Roubaix. Bound to score a big win one of these days. He's also a good illustration of Brabantse Pijl's importance: a lot of guys have cashed in their chips after Paris-Roubaix, but the climber types can score some nice points in this last classic.
Got any other tricks? He keeps going into the Ardennes, finishing 7th at Amstel and 9th at Liege. And he's likely to grab some small-race points in Belgium later on (Ronde van Belgie or what have you).
Reliable? Hm, tough call. Van Avermaet has looked fantastic two years running, but he hasn't scored big in the two monuments. No idea why, as he keeps getting better. He's a wild card, especially with Gilbert joining BMC. But in 2011, he paid big dividends to teams like my brother's.
Got any other tricks? Summer classics, smaller Belgian stuff. He's likely to enter the World Championships as a dark horse. More uncertainty there too though, since he'll still be on Gilbert's team, but that could simply mean he'll unleash his awesomeness a month later in the season. Either way, points are points.
Reliable? Er, maybe at this point, yes. He had some off-years along the way but most of the time he can be counted on for a high finish at de Ronde and some other nice results.
Got any other tricks? I wouldn't count on much. Amstel Gold is a target, and he's done well there at times. Elsewhere, he falls into handfuls of point but that's it.
Reliable? Yes -- his CQ points have been between 419 and 641 for ten years, except for one bonanza run in '04. But he hits 35 this year and was nothing special last spring after losing a heartbreaking Omloop finale. That sell-by date may be approaching.
Got any other tricks? Funny, he usually shows up for at least one stage race a year, somewhere up north. Last year it was the Tour de Luxembourg, the year before the ENECO Tour, he won the Circuit Franco Belge in 2008. If his owners are lucky, this year's splurge won't be confined to the Tour of Qatar.
Reliable? He's limped through two consecutive spring campaigns now, but before that he won Gent-Wevelgem, and before that... he was a teenager. So who knows? Also, his classics ceiling is hard to predict. Can he win the Tour of Flanders? In its new incarnation, he seems like an ideal candidate, but I've been worked up about budding superstars before.
Got any other tricks? Trying to control myself here... he's technically not great at everything just yet. But his repertoire keeps getting longer and longer, with Tour de France stages and the ENECO Tour added last year.
Reliable? I suppose so. He fared poorly with the rainbow bull's eye on his back last year, but part of that was his crash in MSR, which deprived him of one of his two regular almost-Monument-winning points -- a pretty good haul most years.
Got any other tricks? Defo. Tour de France stages have become a mortal lock. The Norwegian nats, a sprint win here and there. He's money, probably for another season or three.
Reliable? I'll say yes. He didn't show in the classics before joining Quick Step four years ago, but in three years since he's been outstanding on the cobbles. If Boonen weren't Flemish or Chava were, they'd be co-leaders by now. Changes to de Ronde should keep him very relevant, and if he were to make the finale of Paris-Roubaix, well, that would be so freaking cool.
Got any other tricks? The only truly predictable one would be the French nats, road race or time trial. After that, he always bags something, with a Tour stage being the most dramatic and the ENECO Tour the pointy-est.
Reliable? Only unless you think the Mantova investigation is going to rear up again. Or cytomegalovirus. Last year was the first time in three years that he looked fantastic on the cobbles, but even if the landscape has changed, it's still encouraging that he rode like the guy who was glued to Boonen and Cancellara in the 2008 Hell of the North. They were the Three Kings of the Cobbles back then, with Ballan just the slowest sprinter. I loved his fourth in MSR last spring; if that's part of his repertoire now, his value goes up.
Got any other tricks? Hard to predict, like a lot of the guys on this list. But his signature wins, the '07 Ronde and '08 Worlds, were presaged by victories just prior. He gets hot, he's gonna win a race or two.
Reliable? Eeehh, no. I mean, everyone on this list is going to show up somewhere in spring, but compared to the top guys Langeveld spends too many classics anonymously. When he's good, he's quite good. But the transition to GreenEdge is another wildcard.
Got any other tricks? Nope. Less so than anyone here. It's all or nothing in the classics for Seb.
Reliable? Well, last year was his breakout season in the classics, with a dashing performance in de Ronde coming on the heels of a near-miss in Dwars door Vlaanderen. He has the pedigree, so he should be considered reliable in a few years' time... BUT! For 2012 he's pledged his season to Olympic track events and is skipping the classics this year. I knew the British obsession with track was ugly, but I didn't know it was this bad. Unless Thomas is pulling the ultimate sandbag here, it's a shame.
Got any other tricks? Yeah, track. Seriously, what is wrong with you people?
Reliable? As far as his teammates are concerned, absolutely. Summie is one of the great teammates you could have: big motor, blocks a ton of wind. But Paris-Roubaix is his only real specialty, and nobody, not even the reigning champion, is assured of a good day on that (ahem) road.
Got any other tricks? Nope. Well, if Garmin win a TTT someplace (maybe even the worlds) then that's something. Otherwise, forget it.
Reliable? At long last, no. His last top ten in Paris-Roubaix, his most beloved race, was in 2008. Flanders he's hung in with the leaders, looking threatening right to the end last year, but the guy is 38.
Got any other tricks? Finishing the Tour, where he will set the all-time record this summer, if things go well. Also, the plethora of American stage races is a boon for his owners. However much we love those events here, they aren't contested at the same level as their more established Euro cousins, which means winnable stages for home-nation all-rounders like Big George. Not many points in that cache, however.
This list omits all the sprinter types -- Cav, Greipel, Freire, Farrar, etc. They obviously win all year round, and their reliable classics hopes are limited mostly to MSR, Gent-Wevelgem and the Scheldeprijs. Nothing to sneeze at. But for the sake of brevity, well, you know who they are. It also omits a lot of lesser-heralded riders like Jurgen Roelands (another one of Pete's big scores last year), Lars Boom, Bernie Eisel, and on and on. The classics are stacked with talent these days, which makes them even tougher to predict. A lot of Classics guys are priced very low or very high, depending on whether last year's Classics Crapshoot worked out well for them. Your job is to figure out which is which. Good luck!
Photos by Chris Fontecchio for the Podium Cafe
0 recs | 132 comments
Going for the all Belgian team
makes the picking easy too. Couldn’t go 100% without being a number of points short. Some nice late season results included GVA (Paris Tours) and Jurgen Roelandts (Worlds). Oddly though I didn’t take Van Summeran and P-R was maybe my worst race of the year.
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
I mean to say couldn't go 100% Flemish..
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
I almost love the
FSA (V)DS pre-season more than the actual racing season. All these great posts about strategies and ideas and ways to approach building a team.
With every one that I read I know with just that little more certainty, that I am going to absolutely fucking suck again this year.
It’s so awesome.
omnevelnihil - February 13, 2012
How much more certain
than “dead certain” can you be?
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
It's all about the track record
I did well last year to crack the top 600; the year before that I was 400-and-somethingth out of 400-and-not-many.
Wherever there is a ranking, I am certain shall be placed firmly at the bottom of it. Dead certain.*
(*Every rule has an exception, and WVDS last year is the exception.)
Drongo - February 14, 2012
All dead certain?
As opposed to mostly dead certain?
omnevelnihil - February 14, 2012
+1
I’m right there with you.
paisley - February 14, 2012
Sad
that the state of affairs is that Martijn Maaskant doesn’t even deserve a mention in the cobbled top 15.
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
I had such hopes for him last year and he got injured...
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
In 2010 he wasn't injured and he didn't score then, either.
sebastiandeluded - February 13, 2012
Sigh. Just beefed up my Classics squad...
majope - February 13, 2012
I know: the Curacaoan (did I spell that right?)...
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
A sure 200 points is hard to pass up!
majope - February 13, 2012
I almost took him too...might still.
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
I'm struggling - lost count of how many changes this makes:
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
I'm too embarrassed to even put mine up.
Chris, I know Matti Breschel has essentially had a year off, but his form might be interesting. I have this weird feeling about Gregory Rast too. I’m not saying he’ll win P-R, but he may well give it a nudge.
Seahorse - February 13, 2012
A work in progress...cheap australians for sale.
target="winVDS">
<a href=“http://www.podiumcafevds.com/riders.php?mw=1&y=2012&nat=AUS” title=“Australia”
Seahorse - February 13, 2012
heh
broerie - February 13, 2012
And who even knows how THAT got there? Not me :(
Seahorse - February 13, 2012
Apparently,
you did not copy and/or paste all of the code from the text box. Clicking inside the text box should select all of the code. So, no need to manually select, just click on the text box and copy the code by pressing Ctrl-C or Cmd-C, or by right-clicking it and choosing ‘Copy.’
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
He could get injured
Or I might decide to give the Curaçao nationals another go ;-)
Lopex - February 13, 2012
Cool.
If you’re no more than 2 points, you’re on my team.
majope - February 13, 2012
chris, i won the bet.
I said it would take Ted less than 5 posts to mention Maskaant….
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Ha ha
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
Hushold could pick up a stage or two at the Giro as well.
Uphill - February 13, 2012
Meh
Doesn’t he take a rest after the classics?
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
Nope, Giro then TdF
No mention of how many Giro stages he does though.
Jens - February 13, 2012
who knows, it could be just a couple of stages.
Dragging some Norwegian tourists down.
Uphill - February 13, 2012
hm
Well I guess he can just go home and soak in oil to stay fresh for a couple weeks.
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
just the open ceremonies
Willj - February 13, 2012
It's in Denmark
That’s 3 days of smørrebrød, beer and aquavit. He’d be lucky to be back in shape for the Champs Elysée stage of the Tour.
Jens - February 13, 2012
My biggest worry about the classics
is that some riders will suddenly think they’re classics riders, and commit more to that, and ignore their rather obvious sprint talent. I’m thinking of 2 in particular.
Also, I have far too many 1-pointers. There ought to be a mini-game where you pick 8 1-pointers and see who really unearths the most gems…
Far too many riders, and I’m only 9 points over budget!
ike2112 - February 13, 2012
Ha, I'm looking at that and thinking - I picked a Russian?! wtf?!
ike2112 - February 13, 2012
Ha.
I got 2 Russian 1 pointers at the moment. The idea of Zabel coaching them up is enticing.
ursula - February 13, 2012
Ja, by next year, Katusha will be a podium machine in the sprints
Vlaanderen90 - February 13, 2012
Ha :)
That’s too many boys you’ve got there Ike.
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
STOP!
You people keep reminding me of riders I don’t have room for!How can I leave off George?!
New one’s I have not heard of “Oh,he looks interesting”.
Or the riders themselves Write or Tweet something cute and I think"He should be on my team!"
I should just submit now so I can relax.
Dustbunny8 - February 13, 2012
In my dreams, I want 30 riders...300 points...
I guess I want to be BMC.
majope - February 13, 2012
except they are like 23 riders and 900 points...
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
Nah
They’re a near perfect fit for a complete FSA DS team, except for that pesky “Elite 24+” rule: http://www.podiumcafevds.com/riders.php?y=2012&mw=1&uci=BMC
26 riders and 145 points, lose either Phil or Thor => 25 riders for 109 -119 points.
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
I was being extra snarky
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
I know
but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to link the website :)
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
Shameless promotion SuperDooperTed (I am trying to get "Dooper" to stick)
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
I saw a groupon at podiumcafevds.com
Pick 7 Flemish riders and get Broerie thrown in for free
Willj - February 13, 2012
These magnificent "to good to be true" deals
are undoubtedly what made Groupon report a loss.
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
Maybe it was a dutch broerie?
(I’ll be nice now)
Jens - February 13, 2012
does that come with or without the ice beard?
JustJoshinYa - February 13, 2012
Lousy deal IMO
broerie - February 13, 2012
The VDS gods are now sending me messages during my commute
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
Ha!
The VDS gods think you needed help here?
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
I know!
Couldn’t they have spelled out the TdF winner to me instead?
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
M E N C H O V
sebastiandeluded - February 13, 2012
what does the top one say?
(old eyes)
Willj - February 13, 2012
Van Marcke :)
Camera phone from inside a car, not super quality
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
You really shouldn't drive and take pictures at the same time gs
didn’t your mama teach you that?
broerie - February 13, 2012
I was at a stoplight, Broerie
Took me two weeks to be first in front of that red light, in the right lane
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
+1
for the dedication
broerie - February 13, 2012
This passes for fun in Belgium?
ursula - February 13, 2012
It passes for 'driving to work'
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
Where does it say "fire..."
“…because he’s way overpriced”?
Ed K - February 13, 2012
You are so lucky I don't own
a banhammer
tgsgirl - February 14, 2012
Lucky, or just well informed about the ownership of banhammers?
You decide.
Ed K - February 14, 2012
Just you wait
I got my hands on a rather salacious picture involving Chris and sex wax. I’ll have my own banhammer in no time.
tgsgirl - February 14, 2012
Forget it
He uses that one as his FB profile pic
Jens - February 14, 2012
Ha, small world, did not expect to see that here
I recognize where this photo was taken, used to be on my commute years ago.
bvl - February 13, 2012
Before this blog is finished
Every part of Flanders will be photographed and displayed.
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
This photo also has Keukiwhatsit
papyrus - February 14, 2012
Oh, bah
Instead of waiting for two weeks I could’ve just google mapped it.
tgsgirl - February 14, 2012
And for the record. Chris is a good brother.
He goes above the call of duty dealing with an obsessive compulsive older brother..
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
"I really don't think I got a *Perfect* cone of frites here...?"
“Why don’t you run along and get some more golden, crispy ones.”
Jens - February 13, 2012
And that Broadwurst
is not sitting symmetrical in the bun either…
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
Chris!
You are stealing my concept of a nearly all-Belgian (Mostly Flemish) team!
CelticPride - February 13, 2012
I'm not seeing much Celtic Pride
Jens - February 13, 2012
Rajon Rondo is his designated climber.
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
Can Someone please explain how to cut and paste the flags again?
I am yet to figure it out and I know there have been some instructions on this.
But for the record, my 2012 team has a Swiss Flag, Norway, Spain and 22 Belgian Flags.
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
Just go the VDS page
And then under “my team”, copy the bit after “copy the flags to show off your team on PdC”. So, the entire body of text that starts with <a href= . It’ll be very long and should end in < / a > (but without the spaces). Just ctrl+c, ctrl+v that into the comment box here, et voila.
The end result should be:
tgsgirl - February 13, 2012
Go to
the My Team page, there’s a text box with the necessary html code under the Roster header. Click inside it, the text should be automatically selected, copy it by pressing ctrl-c or cmd-c, paste here.
The text box is only there if you have not yet submitted your team.
tedvdw - February 13, 2012
"The text box is only there if you have not yet submitted your team"
Ahhhh, that’s where it is. I thought I was just retarded. Now I know I’m just being punished for being an early submitter… ;-)
Douglas Ansel - February 13, 2012
I believe in Diversity
2 Aus
1 Austria
4 Belgium
2 Colombia
1 Czech
1 Denmark
1 Estonia
4 French
1 Germany
3 Italian
1 Dutch
1 Swiss
2 GBr
1 USA
Douglas Ansel - February 13, 2012
yeah, I'm submitted too...
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
Like this:
ursula - February 13, 2012
Needs fewer Belgians.
ursula - February 13, 2012
Ted taught me how to......
…
Tyler counts as a Belgian, doesn’t he?
LooseHorse - February 13, 2012
Er,
Forgot Pippo Pozzato. How? Why? Something about scanning 2011 results… His equivalent here is probably Flecha: looks threatening in spring, can’t be counted on for anything after 4/15.
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
And just broke a collarbone...?
Douglas Ansel - February 13, 2012
Ah, right!
Thanks, that must have been why.
Chris Fontecchio - February 13, 2012
But since he's at Farnese Vini, I suspect they will have him riding plenty
in the summer and autumn in Italy – and he’s definitely good for some wins. I think a major reason for his move was to beat up on some patsies in early August, to rebuild his hype.
Plus collarbone isn’t a disaster – he ought to be riding T-A, and missing the early cobbles can set you up well for RvV (see Nuyens last year, skipping opening weekend).
ike2112 - February 14, 2012
Pippo
needs a perfect spring to be competitive. I suppose returning at TA might be enough, but we’ll see.
Chris Fontecchio - February 14, 2012
Yep
It’s a really tough call at this point. Pippo needs to be healthy for MSR to justify his price.
jsallee00 - February 14, 2012
There is a certain body type/riding style
that best suits the cobbles. I remember seeing a photo of Cancellara’s bike computer after he won P-R in 2010 and his average cadence was 72 rpm’s (or something very low like that). That is pushing one massive gear for 6 hours. Compare this to your typical Euskie spinning away at 110 rpm’s finishing 20 minutes down (sorry Albertina, not trying to pick on your boys here, just making a point as to why climbers don’t do well on he cobbles). You have to be comfortable pushing a gear and keeping your weight on your feet. Cobble guys are all about power. Cance backs it up with a freakish time trial and just general freakishness. Tommeke had a fast sprint when he was in his mid 20’s. Thor backs it up too with some fine sprinting and versatility, but it really is a specialty. Not surprised a lot of guys cant really follow it up. But who cares… Cobbles are the best.
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
Well, to be fair, that average RPM includes coasting
So, when Cance soloed away 2 years ago, he was TTing at 100-110rpm. But you’re right, a lot of guys don’t have the muscular force to crank those kind of watts in a higher torque / lower RPM situation where you simply can’t shift down any more because you’re crawling up the Paterberg at 6mph.
Douglas Ansel - February 13, 2012
I was thinking more of Roubaix than Flanders
Since Roubaix really has no hills to speak of. but the cobbles are much worse than in Flanders. Flanders cobbles are harsh and certainly command your attention and most (not all) of them are on steep short hills which seems to take some of the bite out of them, if not most of the speed. Chris and I rode exactly 1/10th of the cobbled secteurs at Roubaix (4 and 5 star secteurs) and it’s easy to see that they are all about survival. But riding the cobbles of P-R was the only time of the week that I wasn’t struggling to hold Chris’ wheel. No one will mistake us for the Schleck brothers, but lets just say I have a few extra gnocchi’s on Chris. But you pay no real weight penalty at Roubaix, and in some ways it’s advantageous. Especially if your a masher. Some guys seem to do well in both races, but I could see Gilbert winning Flanders, but would give him very little chance if he saddled up for Roubaix.
Mr Van P - February 14, 2012
Kittel's 85kg...a big P-R future perhaps?
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
That's what people said before he started sprinting like a madman
Jens - February 14, 2012
The two aren't mutually exclusive, although perhaps like others before him, Kittel may 'graduate' from sprints to
the Classics when he ‘grows up’.
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
Oh absolutely not
I’m just saying if he hadn’t started winning sprints, being a P-R talent is what people would be talking about him as. Now he has another dimension too.
Jens - February 14, 2012
He's exciting isn't he? I gather he's an above average TT'er as well.
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
World Champion TT junior 2005, 2006
German Champion TT junior 2006, U23 2007, 2010
European Champion TT U23 2009
From http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Kittel
tedvdw - February 14, 2012
He was stuck in a mold during his U23 years with all the TT success he had and was told at Thuringer Energie
that he would be a TT man the rest of his career…lo and behold, he goes to SKIL and they change up his workouts and he is a sprint machine in place of his TT prowess
Vlaanderen90 - February 14, 2012
True
Pete dropped me on the Secteur Bernard Hinault. I hadn’t thought about it at the time but this makes some sense.
Chris Fontecchio - February 14, 2012
or maybe a week of drinking
Ename Dubbel made me stronger and all that Jupiler and Primus you had was weakening you.
Mr Van P - February 14, 2012 via mobile
“Chris, have you been up all night drinking Jupiler?”
“I think I’m blind.”
Chris Fontecchio - February 14, 2012
And I'm glad you include Monte Paschi as a "cobbled classic"
That race is near and dear to me since we are both Italian by name, but Flemish at heart.
Mr Van P - February 13, 2012
And it is cobbled!
And it is broadcasted on the Belgian tv! So we are going to see a looot of dust. Let’s hope for it.. And that the Dutchie again can conquer the world of white cobbles
Frinking - February 13, 2012
Very first draft.. LEt the shuffle begin
Frinking - February 13, 2012
Looks more like it.
Frinking - February 13, 2012
Awful, awful team
heh
ursula - February 13, 2012
Wiggins is getting him nowhere.
And I see he ditched EBH?
Oh, the speculation is way too much fun. Even when it’s totally wrong.
Douglas Ansel - February 13, 2012
But it is totall right!
Frinking - February 14, 2012
What? You fired Dag Otto Lauritzen?
It’s gonna come back and bite you in the ass.
Holdenmate - February 14, 2012
25p for every time he beats Rolf Sørensen in the stagepreview rides
Jens - February 14, 2012
latest rendition
umwolverine - February 13, 2012
Just so I feel included, my fleabitten crew
EdredonBrowny - February 14, 2012
Ok.. The game is to discover the team..
Cav, Martin, Rojas, Breschel, Poels, Kocjan, Monfort, Tuft, Hoogerland, Martens, Rogers..
Assuming you sorted them by points.. But well. there is no point. I just project my thought of the riders on the flags. So Maybe i’m completely off
Frinking - February 14, 2012
I think the Aus flag is for Haussler.
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
Sorted by points, yeah
0/1, Seahorse, 2/11, Frinking.
EdredonBrowny - February 14, 2012
2? Ah. The last time I guessed
Frinking - February 14, 2012
So, how many people have submitted with Roelandts on their roster?
cause he’s not going to race this spring.
broerie - February 14, 2012
This is why I never submit until the last minute.
majope - February 14, 2012
+1
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
And I started out really wanting him
ursula - February 14, 2012
Ouchie. Oh well, I have him and have submitted.
Here’s to a speedy recovery regardless of his results.
Mr Van P - February 14, 2012
So you have 1 rider fresh and rested after Roubaix
Jens - February 14, 2012
He was injured so early in the TDU I never really considered him. Mitch Docker is my biggest disappointment.
Seahorse - February 14, 2012
fuck
I haven’t submitted, but still- fuck
jsallee00 - February 14, 2012
fuck fuck!
That sounds awfully grim. Poor lad.
Chris Fontecchio - February 14, 2012
Latest version of 'UASD'
ELVISGOAT - February 14, 2012
Unimpressive Athletes Slowly Disintegrating?
majope - February 14, 2012
I like it, not to late for a name change..
:-)
ELVISGOAT - February 14, 2012
My latest:
majope - February 14, 2012
this is mine. hopefully the last rendition. of course, won't know until next friday.
umwolverine - February 14, 2012
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