The Classics

Vino

Which Monument/Classic do you think is the most important? Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastonge-Liege, Milan-San Remo, Giro di Lombardia, or Ronde van Vlaandaren(Tour of Flanders)? I'd say Paris-Roubaix. Thoughts?

scottmilk9

Vino,
My two favorite are Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastonge-Liege. Now the big question, who's gonna be in top shape to win the spring classics?

Vino

For Roubaix, I'd say Hincapie or Boonen. For L-B-L, I'd say, Bettini, Schleck, or maybe DiLuca.

limerickman

Roubaix (Queen of the Classics) seems to have the most prestige (at least in terms of media coverage).

Personally I like RVV and Giro di Lombardia.
Roubaix is fascinating but I do think that it's winner does need some good fortune as well as being the best rider on the day.

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DiabloScott

M-SR: earliest, least exciting IMO, very important to riders of northern Italy.
RvV: most exciting IMO, very important to vlaandereren
P-R: most bad luck and brutal
L-B-L: oldest
Lombardia: most beautiful


BTW: There are eight official Classics - they are the 5 Monuments plus Paris-Brussels, Paris-Tour, and La Fleche-Wallone. That designation came from the Challenge Desgrange-Colombo which was sort of a World Cup/Super Prestige predecessor.

A lot of other races call themselves Classics and a lot of people refer to other races as Classics, but that's the official/original designation and the only one that has any supporting history.

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RHW

I love Lombardy, and I love the closing stages of MSR, easily the most gripping 20-30 kilometres of cycling you can see.

I think we will see Wegmann & Schumacher top 5 on at least one of the Ardennes classics, where I reckon Schleck-Sammy Sanchez-Bettini are the big three favourites, + Valverde if he chooses to peak in April.

Powerful Pete

Beyond the usual favorites, I wonder about diluca this year...

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hockinsk

I have always thought the 560km, partly motor-paced Bordeaux-Paris was perhaps the most interesting Classic. It doesn't fit in with riders who specialise for classics or even GT's these days so it is no more. It used to start at 2am in Bordeaux though and you would finish 14 hours later in the afternoon in Paris.

Also, the very first time it was raced, it was won by an Englishman who defiantly rode non-stop through the night despite the organisers always having estimated the race would last a few days and so every other winner since pretty much had to do the same thing.

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The Double Zero

I agree has to be Paris-Roubaix. The sheer suffering and brutality of it all, and seeing bikes bust into bits, definately the most exciting.

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Frigo's Luggage

I favor Boonen has to be favored for MSR, Roubaix and the Ronde. I know this predictions is like picking either the Colts or the Bears in the Super Bowl. He is just so strong and fast. He can win in a sprint or in a breakaway. The guy is scarry good.

Bettini or Valverde for LBL. Bettini, Valverde and DiLuca for Lombardia. Again, I know these are not creative choices. I will go out on a limb and predict that Koldo Gil will win a good amount of races this year. No classics-maybe grand tour stages.

I ten tp enjoy the Northern Classics the most. Flanders is probably my favorite.

Over the past two years I've grown very found of the early spring semi-clasics thanks to cycling.tv. In the past, I never paid much attention to races like Dwars De Vlandereadenenenenen, KBK and E3 Prisj. Now, I can't wait to see them. The racing is just as good as any of the Classics.

YMCA

RVV is by far the best.
Rolling Flanders fields with heavy crosswinds.
Cobbled bergs that sap the legs of any strength left in that last 100k.
And always a small group or solo win.
Plus, you don't have to be a specialist.
Little Liege type guys can win, as well as big powerful Roubaix types.

DesFlurane

Paris Roubaix for sheer drama.

No one mentioned Fabian Cancellara

Powerful Pete

I was surprised by Fabian's big win last year. Let us see how he does this year...

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Walrus

I love all the classics. Maybe RVV best...then L-B-L.

Bit of a smokey...and I'm biased cause he's Oz...but Baden Cooke is looking ok for early season form. He won a stage in the Tour Down Under and was 4th in stage 1 of the Etoile de Bessèges. As I said, he's smokey, but he joined UniBet to win a classic once he realised he was past his Green Jersey winning days.

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