Boonen vs. Petacchi

Two in a row for Petacchi! Looks like another sprint finish for tomorrow.

[IMG]uno.esfoto.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

PWNED! :eek:

Dead Star said:

[IMG]uno.esfoto.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

PWNED! :eek:

Wow!! Dude!!
Petacchi is smoking!
holy moly

bobke said:

More importantly I thought the initial press release said it was close.

Petacchi beat Boonen by 2, count em, bike lengths!!
Hammond tucked in for 5th, not bad.

Yes but according to Petacchi, Boonen shut it down as soon as he realized he was passed. I mean the total bike lengths probably mean very little.

Dead Star said:

[img]uno.esfoto.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

PWNED! :eek:

Checcini is doing a great job.........

MJtje said:

Checcini is doing a great job.........

yes, just look at Thomas Dekker 😄

tcklyde said:

Umm, by not chasing, Disco ruined any hope they had for GC and for Van Heeswijk winning the stage. So how is that payback?

Van Heeswijk has been ill with a cold. That's why on an earlier day, it was Roger Hammond who was trying to "sprint", even as a non-sprinter.

http://www.thepaceline.com/members/newsitem.aspx?cid=1954

As for GC, DC noted even before the race that: "With very little climbing the overall race should be contested by the sprinters, or won by one daring move that will distance that rider time-wise from the rest of the field in the General Classification with very few chances of making that time up."

http://www.thepaceline.com/members/newsitem.aspx?cid=1944

Plus, there was a breakaway that gained a lot of time on a prior stage, I think. I haven't been following this too closely.

musette said:

Van Heeswijk has been ill with a cold. That's why on an earlier day, it was Roger Hammond who was trying to "sprint", even as a non-sprinter.

http://www.thepaceline.com/members/newsitem.aspx?cid=1954

As for GC, DC noted even before the race that: "With very little climbing the overall race should be contested by the sprinters, or won by one daring move that will distance that rider time-wise from the rest of the field in the General Classification with very few chances of making that time up."

http://www.thepaceline.com/members/newsitem.aspx?cid=1944

Plus, there was a breakaway that gained a lot of time on a prior stage, I think. I haven't been following this too closely.

Do you EVER post about anything not relating to Discovery? it's getting boring now 😄.

Dead Star said:

yes, just look at Thomas Dekker 😄

Do you post anything not related to doping?
Its getting kinds boring.

he he 🙂

just keepin it real, yo

Boonen took the last stage ahead of Petacchi and Hammond.

Dead Star said:

[IMG]uno.esfoto.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

PWNED! :eek:

Interesting how those photo-finish shots make the spokes look like they're curved. Something to do with the fact that the horizontal axis is not really distance.

hombredesubaru said:

Do you post anything not related to doping?
Its getting kinds boring.

he he 🙂

just keepin it real, yo

I do actually :eek:

Compared to yesterday, this is a bit closer!

[IMG]vrtnieuws.netS 060216 ruta boonen p.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

Anything would be a bit closer compared to yesterday.

the score is....

Petacchi 2
Boonen 1

CS, a month or two ago gave a simple breakdown of Pettacchi v Boonen v McEwen. I liked it. It said that Pettachi has the fastest top end speed, McEwen has the quickest acceleration, and Boonen was the strongest. That explains why Pettacchi always wins when his train controls the race perfectly, McEwen always wins when the finish is total chaos and he just pops out with 100m to go, Boonen wins the in betweens where there is a hill before the finish or when the train dissolves and the riders have to do their own acceleration with 400 meters to go. As I replay races both on video and in my head, this makes perfect sense.

[font=Arial]Well then, after their first three showdowns it's clear we'll have interesting spring. I did expect closer sprints but they both send messages to each other. It's very important Boonen managed to win that last one, Petacchi won't be totally relaxed and confident like if he won all three sprints. And Boonen knows now what he should do in order to beat Petacchi, also this race maybe put him on the ground after several months of absolute domination, I'd say very good thing for him to lose two out of three in this time of year from his main rival.[/font]
[font=Arial]I'm looking forward to see their duels first on Petacchi's home soil and then on Boonen's, they both announced they're targeting MSR and Flanders. And when we add Zabel and Bettini... Show guaranteed. [/font]

Andrija said:

[font=Arial]Well then, after their first three showdowns it's clear we'll have interesting spring. I did expect closer sprints but they both send messages to each other. It's very important Boonen managed to win that last one, Petacchi won't be totally relaxed and confident like if he won all three sprints. And Boonen knows now what he should do in order to beat Petacchi, also this race maybe put him on the ground after several months of absolute domination, I'd say very good thing for him to lose two out of three in this time of year from his main rival.[/font]
[font=Arial]I'm looking forward to see their duels first on Petacchi's home soil and then on Boonen's, they both announced they're targeting MSR and Flanders. And when we add Zabel and Bettini... Show guaranteed. [/font]

Well said, I will start the popcorn popping.

Andrija said:

[font=Arial]Well then, after their first three showdowns it's clear we'll have interesting spring. I did expect closer sprints but they both send messages to each other. It's very important Boonen managed to win that last one, Petacchi won't be totally relaxed and confident like if he won all three sprints. And Boonen knows now what he should do in order to beat Petacchi, also this race maybe put him on the ground after several months of absolute domination, I'd say very good thing for him to lose two out of three in this time of year from his main rival.[/font]
[font=Arial]I'm looking forward to see their duels first on Petacchi's home soil and then on Boonen's, they both announced they're targeting MSR and Flanders. And when we add Zabel and Bettini... Show guaranteed. [/font]

A very good analysis.

I think that the one days races will offer up some really mouthwatering challenges.
If Boonen/Petacchi/Freire/McEwen/Zabel are all going to be in a race together at anypoint (and MSR looks to be the most likely) then it will be game on.

The tactical interplay will determine the success or otherwise.

limerickman said:

A very good analysis.

I think that the one days races will offer up some really mouthwatering challenges.
If Boonen/Petacchi/Freire/McEwen/Zabel are all going to be in a race together at anypoint (and MSR looks to be the most likely) then it will be game on.

The tactical interplay will determine the success or otherwise.

Yeah this years MSR looks very good. It could be one of the more exiting editions.

limerickman said:

The tactical interplay will determine the success or otherwise.

[font=Arial]Tactics will be decisive in MSR. Quick Step has two cards to play on. Milram also has two fantastic riders but not in way as Quick Step. I see Quick Step's advantage in opportunity to send Bettini on attack on Poggio and if he manages to stay clear - great, if not - he'll destabilize Milram's lead out train for Petacchi 'cause they'll have to chase him. And right there is position for Boonen - he doesn't need train as bad as Petacchi. There's McEwen too and about Freire, I don't think he got his legs back yet.[/font]
[font=Arial]From tactical point of view Quick Step is the team for MSR.[/font]