Panache

This week’s panache is coming at you live from the Ardennes region of Belgium. This is the big daddy of the week. Sure Amstel/Cauberg is cool, yes Fleche Wallone/Mur de Huy are epic, but the big daddy starts and finishes in the town of Liege. Liege-Bastogne-Liege is known as La Doyenne or “the oldest”. Its known for its many long steep climbs and wicked finish up the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. Team Wiskota is well represented at Liege so here is the “bootlegged” version of On the Rivet.

Gregario: The Tifosi knows that Gregario Forza is the clear favorite to win this race. Let’s start with favorite to win it all on Sunday. Mr. Walloon, Mr. Liege, Mr. Ardennes, Phillipe Gilbert. I really feel like he will win on Sunday. With his form slowly returning and building I think we will see a dominant performance from the current champion. Thomas Voekler was at his home in the Vendee region of France resting after his stellar performance at Amstel. Le Chouchou would like to do well at Liege and his form looks good. Mollema, or Balki Bartokomous, has been getting “sneaky” points in the Ardennes. I like that to continue. Nibali was also there at Fleche so I feel like he too will be in the top ten at Liege. Chris Horner attacked at the Arrow and likes the longer climbs of Liege. He will be protected on Sunday so maybe the Hornet can climb himself into a good finish.. Michele Scarponi just finished the Giro Trentino so he will have lots of climbing in his legs for this classic. Finally, does anyone want to trade for L.L. Sanchez? I would love a good result at liege, but that is just wishful thinking.

Team Volpe: Pat brings the Irish sensation, Daniel Martin to the final Spring Classic. Liege fits Martin the best and he could potentially have a high finish in this race. Jurgen Van den Broeck is a question. I like Hand in Cock but I never know what to expect from him. I have a feeling he will be riding for peanut butter and Jelle, as he has shown the best form so far.

Team Wiskota Dynamic: The Commish likes his chances but J-Rod has his spring classic so I expect El Purito to take it easy on Sunday. Spaniards do this, easily satisfied. Really J-Rod has to be a favorite again. He was clearly the strongest rider on Wednesday. Alejandro Valverde would like a high finish as his spring classics have not gone as well as one would have thought from his early form. The Green Bullet is still one of the punchiest of climbers so he also cannot be ruled out for this race. Unless it’s cold, in which case the race will prove to be too hard.  My favorite from Wiskota Dynamic is Damiano Cunego. Il Piccolo Principe crashed himself out of Amstel and then rode Trentino instead of the Arrow.

Mikey McKieth: Has anyone else noticed that the Schlecks talk a lot? Well, Frank has stated that he is in good form, that his lil’ bro is ready and that he will be there at the end. So we will see. Sammy Sanchize is always good and if he wants it he will be a contender. Gesink has had a couple of high finishes in the Ardennes. The Condor of Varsseveld has a 3^rd at Amstel and 4^th at the Arrow. Can he be there at La Doyenne?

Bill the neo pro: Anny Schleckanical has also been talking this week. He has stated that Frank is ready to go and he will be an animator. I expect Andy to attack near the end in an attempt to soften up the favorites. We will probably hear his name a bunch and then he will coast in at 42^nd.

Wiskota Podium:

Gilbert, Horner, Voekler.

All right, that have been a little biased- Here is the real podium.

Gilbert, Cunego, Rodriguez