On The Rivet

A look at who’s racing hard this week…

Gent-Gent! 

The Omloop is here.  It’s a big weekend for the WFL as the allure of the cobbles promises to bring Team Volpe director sportif Patrick out of hiding.  Lots of WFL riders and lots of opportunity for points.  Here’s our line up and a few predictions.

Fujarky: BOOM Lars

Volpe: BOONEN Tom

         PHINNEY Taylor

        ROELANDTS Jurgen

Dynamic: CHAVANEL Sylvain

              POZZATO Filippo

              THOMAS Geraint

Guillaume: TERPSTRA Niki

           HAUSSLER Heinrich

            DEGENKOLB John

Taco:  HUSHOVD Thor
         VAN AVERMAET Greg

Forza:  BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
         FLECHA Juan Antonio

Wiskota Podium:

Pozzato, GVA, Flecha

Spoilers:

Vanmarch, Langeveld, Leukamans

How it could go down:

It’s cold and all the riders from south of Brussels puss out early.  It’s a Belgian affair as Van Avermaet, Van Summeren and VanMarcke form an unholy Belgian alliance and roll off to victory.

How it might happen:

It’s cold but some of these guys are real tough SOBs so it turns into a fast race.  With protected riders clearly identified a small group of support guys get off the front.  The Peloton forgets that this race isn’t quite as long as most of the other classics.  By the time Taylor Phinney is put at the front to pull Thor and company back into the race it’s too late.  Well let’s take a closer look at that break group, who’s that riding off the front to victory?  Chapeau to Chavanel!

How it will happen:

It’s cold, so what.  As expected the peloton breaks up going over some of the final bergs.  On the last berg this group splits into an elite group with Boonen, Boom and Pozzato.  GVA, Terpstra and Flecha scramble to bridge across and get in comfortably.  GVA catches the group sleeping and gets away.  Flecha takes up chase with Pozzato his constant shadow.  Boonen works with Terpstra and Boom to get back on but as the finish approaches only one man is left fresh.  Pozzato the Playboy takes the sprint victory.

Not enough WFL action on Saturday?  Don’t forget the Clasica Almeria is on Sunday.  A few of our GC riders are there.  Three climbs but the last is like 40K from the finish so it may end up a sprint.  Too bad we haven’t sent any sprinters.  A few of our hopefuls include: Gesink, Mollema, Valverde, Samu, Anton, Jerkin’, PBandJelle, Fuglsang and Janez.  May have missed some, but I think that’s it.  Race on Wiskota!