[ire]

Who do you think will take it? I think Armstrong has a good shot...200k in there is a what looks like a 5k climb. He could break and time trial to the finish Boonen really wants to win so it'll be interesting to see how the different teams try to control the race

 

[JRogers]

I'd bet on it coming down to a sprint this year. Seems like most of the strong teams have sprinters up as the primary focus- Boonen, Pettacchi, Cavendish, Hushovd, McEwen, Bennati, etc. I don't think Armstrong has too much of a shot, but maybe. The climbs just aren't that big compared to other races. That one at 200k is about 300m of vertical I think and still comes 60 miles from the finish. Then again, you never know. But I think Boonen might be a fairly safe pick.

 

[OGRipper]

Boonen is the favorite but damn it's a long hard race and the climbs near the end are always among the deciding factors. Armstrong could pull it off but I don't know if he's got the miles in him to be explosive after 300K. Kind of a bummer that Cancellara got hurt, would love to see him at top form duking it out with Boonen.

 

[sanjuro]

Mark Cavendish is talking a lot of smack. I would prefer to see Cancellara win, but we will have to see who is on Poggio (which is barely a decider).

 

[Squeak]

Cancellara may be out...


http://www.velonews.com/article/89402/injury-and-illness-lead-cancellara-and-ballan-to-pull-out

 

[SuspectDevice]

The chances of Armstrong getting away on the Poggio are freaking nil. The chance of anyone except an italian or belgian of winning are freaking nill. The only non-horsemeat eater with a the slightest chance is Cavendish, but that portly SOB couldn't light it up a hill that long to save his life...

Terrible Tom and Petacchi are the candy-ass favorites.

 

[ire]

Its live at the link below for any of you early birds

http://www.justin.tv/abdel55

 

[sanjuro]

Cavendish wins!

 

[JRogers]

I guess the boy has been working on his climbing skills and endurance. I didn't think he'd last. Wonder what happened to Boonen. He wasn't shot out the back at the end or anything, but he wasn't in contention.

 

[ire]

wow! That kid is impressive! Those races are so long and hard that I wouldn't thought he could win on his first attempt.

 

[maddog17]

good for Cavendish!! i'm impressed with him so far

 

[JRogers]

Damn, if you watch the video, Haussler got quite a jump on everyone- he said he was trying to lead out for Hushovd, but it didn't look like it went so well. Cavendish had to make up some ground there- can't believe how close it was...if the race were a few meter shorter, if Cavendish had waited a half second more to jump across...

 

[sanjuro]

I have to read a recap, but Haussler pulled off at the last second. I doubt he was trying to shake Cavendish. I wonder if he just kept his line, would Cavendish have enough to fight past him?