Opening Classics Weekend
02-28-19, 01:29 PM
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Opening Classics Weekend
The best racing of the year starts tomorrow with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday.
Personally I like the hillier Omloop, with a bunch of cobbled climbs thrown in for good measure, over the "Sprinter Friendly" Kuurne. It is always a great race and usually produces an unlikely winner. The best that comes to mind is Ian Stannard in 2015 out of a 5 man group with 4 Quick Step riders including Boonen.
This year? I reckon it is hard to look past Quick Step; 3 potential winners in Lampaert, Gilbert, and Stybar. If my heart had to pick, either Vanmarcke or Naesen would be top of my list.
What would your picks?
Personally I like the hillier Omloop, with a bunch of cobbled climbs thrown in for good measure, over the "Sprinter Friendly" Kuurne. It is always a great race and usually produces an unlikely winner. The best that comes to mind is Ian Stannard in 2015 out of a 5 man group with 4 Quick Step riders including Boonen.
This year? I reckon it is hard to look past Quick Step; 3 potential winners in Lampaert, Gilbert, and Stybar. If my heart had to pick, either Vanmarcke or Naesen would be top of my list.
What would your picks?
02-28-19, 04:58 PM
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I haven't watched this race in the past (maybe I'll watch some old ones tonight), but what about Van Avermaet?
Maybe Phinney will do well.
Maybe Phinney will do well.
03-05-19, 09:56 PM
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03-06-19, 09:12 PM
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9th in the Tour of Oman 2 weeks ago.
Bettering some other 100 pros like...
Tour of Oman GC
VAN AVERMAET Greg
TERPSTRA Niki
https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=195739
03-09-19, 01:44 PM
#7
Banned.
Brandon McNulty - age 20.
9th in the Tour of Oman 2 weeks ago.
Bettering some other 100 pros like...
Tour of Oman GC
VAN AVERMAET Greg
TERPSTRA Niki
https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=195739
9th in the Tour of Oman 2 weeks ago.
Bettering some other 100 pros like...
Tour of Oman GC
VAN AVERMAET Greg
TERPSTRA Niki
https://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=195739
awesome
Thanks for posting this !
03-09-19, 01:58 PM
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You are welcome. Brandon still lives in the US with parents. I'm not 100% sure if this is good or not. Go live in Europe too early and you get used up and spit out. It is hard being a foreigner. Go too late - and you are too late. The USA soccer star got millions to go play in Germany - so dad went with him - I think Chelsea just paid over $70M for him. So USA kids can succeed in Euro sports, but you can't easily move your family with cycling wages, and obviously living away from family as a teen is tough.
Brandon was a bit crash prone his first years in Europe. A cracked pelvis, and concussion from a MTB training ride within a year put a damper on performance. But that is exactly the kind of thing it is good to be living at home for. He may just be getting warmed up, but there are a lot of variables still.
Brandon was a bit crash prone his first years in Europe. A cracked pelvis, and concussion from a MTB training ride within a year put a damper on performance. But that is exactly the kind of thing it is good to be living at home for. He may just be getting warmed up, but there are a lot of variables still.
03-09-19, 08:48 PM
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You are welcome. Brandon still lives in the US with parents. I'm not 100% sure if this is good or not. Go live in Europe too early and you get used up and spit out. It is hard being a foreigner. Go too late - and you are too late. The USA soccer star got millions to go play in Germany - so dad went with him - I think Chelsea just paid over $70M for him. So USA kids can succeed in Euro sports, but you can't easily move your family with cycling wages, and obviously living away from family as a teen is tough.
Brandon was a bit crash prone his first years in Europe. A cracked pelvis, and concussion from a MTB training ride within a year put a damper on performance. But that is exactly the kind of thing it is good to be living at home for. He may just be getting warmed up, but there are a lot of variables still.
Brandon was a bit crash prone his first years in Europe. A cracked pelvis, and concussion from a MTB training ride within a year put a damper on performance. But that is exactly the kind of thing it is good to be living at home for. He may just be getting warmed up, but there are a lot of variables still.
