Recently on Cyclingnews.com
|
Mont Ventoux Photo ©: Sirotti
|
|
|
Tales from the peloton, March 18, 2009
Bartoli holds court on the Classics
Michele Bartoli wins Flèche Wallone
Photo ©: AFP
|
Michele Bartoli's name is synonymous with success in the Classics during
the late 1990s. Victories in de Ronde, Liège and Lombardia give him a
unique perspective on the sport's biggest one-day races. He tells Cyclingnews'
Gregor Brown how he thinks this season's momuments may unfold and who to look
for at the head of the field.
One of Italy's best Classics riders, Michele Bartoli has remained involved
in cycling since his retirement
in 2004. He keeps a keen eye on the latest developments and trains with
some of those riders who maintain his legacy of succeeding in the sport's monuments.
It's no surprise then, that the 38-year-old has strong views on who will perform
well in 2009's one-day events.
The man from Pisa has the stats to back his opinions, with wins in three of
cycling's five Monuments - the Ronde van Vlaanderen (1996), Liège-Bastogne-Liège
(2002 and 2003) and the Giro di Lombardia (2002 and 2003). Add two World Cup
titles (1997 and 1998) to the mix and you've got a man well-qualified to comment
on the best of this season's strongmen.
Bartoli examines the possibilities for Milano-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen,
Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège
according to the routes, his memories of these races and those riders who are
suited to winning a one-day battle.
Alessandro Petacchi won Milano-Sanremo
in 2005
Photo ©: Sirotti
|
La Primavera - Milano-Sanremo (March 21)
Bartoli's best: Fifth in 1995 behind winner Laurent Jalabert
Michele's observations: "The first year I rode it seemed
most adapted to my characteristics, in 1995. It is a very fast parcours.
It's not too demanding or difficult, but if there are riders who want
to have a hard finale, like Danilo Di Luca or Philippe Gilbert, then the
race could end differently. A little like we saw in 2008 with Fabian Cancellara,
without a bunch sprint.
"They can make the difference on the Cipressa or Poggio with a high
rhythm. This year, I don't see teams that are overly strong and who can
control the finale. I think that Gilbert, especially seeing what he did
in the last two years. If he has matured well, he will be a protagonist.
"Petacchi is the favourite out of the sprinters. He is going
well in the climbs and will have the legs to have a sprint."
Last year's results
|
Quick Step Classics campaigner
Tom Boonen
Photo ©: ISPA
|
De Ronde - Ronde van Vlaanderen (April 5)
Bartoli's best: First
in 1996 by 55 seconds over Fabio Baldato and Johan Museeuw
Michele's observations: "Flanders is the hardest classic
out there. It is not only because of the climbs; it is also the stress
of dealing with the wind, the curves, the pavé. You have to stay
alert and not fade too far back in the group you have to be 100
percent.
"The Belgians are the favourites now more than before. In the past,
when there was Andrej Tchmil, Max Sciandri, Rolf Sørensen, Andrea
Tafi and me.
"I think it will be a Quick Step dominated race with Boonen winning,
like he did in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
The other favourites will be Stijn Devolder, Fabian Cancellara and Alessandro
Ballan.
"Ballan will have a little extra pressure with the world champion's
jersey. He is a calm guy, though, and the responsibility won't weigh him
down. He will wave Italy's flag there because I think it will be difficult
for Filippo Pozzato."
Last year's results
|
Robbie McEwen could be the man
in Wevelgem
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
|
Gent-Wevelgem (April 8)
Bartoli's best: Ninth in 1993 behind winner Mario Cipollini
Michele's observations: "The course is more or less simple:
there is always the wind from off the coast mid-race, an escape goes clear
and then the Kemmelberg.
"Right after the start, you won't know who will win, but you will
know who will lose. There are usually 30 or 40 riders who form a big move
and it is those riders who go on to contest the win.
"I think that it is the only one of these Classics where the sprinters
can shine. Maybe Robbie McEwen, Thor Hushovd or Danilo Napolitano; it
is open to the non-Classics specialists."
Last year's results
|
The perennial question: Will this
be George's year?
Photo ©: Emory Ball
|
L'enfer du Nord - Paris-Roubaix (April 12)
Bartoli's best: 21st in
2004 behind winner Magnus Backstedt
Michele's observations: "I did it only one time, in 2004,
the last year I raced. I know that Bernard Hinault only did it once, and
won it, but he was a different breed. There are only two riders like that
- Hinault and Eddy Merckx.
"In Carrefour de l'Arbre, the last hard sector with 15 kilometres
to go, we were in sixth. I blew first, then Museeuw... If I could have
stayed in there then I could have gone for the win.
"It is hard for me to give advice on Roubaix because I only did
it one time. Everyone says it is a massacre and you remain in pain for
a week, but for me it was not that way.
"It is a race that only four or five guys can win due to natural
selection, luck and strong legs. It is hard to say this early on, but
there will be Boonen, Cancellara, Ballan, Juan Antonio Flecha. Of course,
maybe there will be some guys going strong around that time; like Thor
Hushovd.
"CSC tore it up
in 2007 and delivered Stuart O'Grady to the win, though it is not
typically a team race. I will be happy if Hincapie wins because he is
a true professional he would deserve it. He has been unfortunate
in the race with incidents that have prohibited him from finishing."
Last year's results
|
The evergreen Davide Rebellin
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
|
Amstel Gold Race (April 19)
Bartoli's best: First in
2002 over Serguei Ivanov and Michael Boogerd
Michele's observations: "I like it a lot because of the crazy
roads. There are parts where two riders have trouble riding side by side
because they are so small. You have to know the roads well.
"Flanders, Roubaix and Amstel are very particular races that you
will never see anywhere else in the world. It makes the race very intriguing
and fun for the fans.
"In the finale the roads are up and down. The Cauberg comes each
time in the three final circuits; it leaves you with no energy. The hard
climb is the 'Antenna climb' or the Eyserbosweg. The year I won, I attacked
there and every year the race really develops from there. It is short,
but it starts off with a steep gradient of around 20 percent.
"The favourites will be Damiano Cunego, Davide Rebellin, Thomas
Dekker and the Schleck brothers - particularly Fränk - who are all
suited to the Ardennes races."
Last year's results
|
An Ardennes win is vital for Damiano
Cunego
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
|
Flèche Wallonne (April 22)
Bartoli's best:: First in
1999 by 14 seconds over Maarten Den Bakker
Michele's observations: "This is the race of the Mur de
Huy, it is the hardest climb I have done in the Ardennes. Normally a mountaintop
arrival is hard, but that one doesn't ever finish. However, it is the
most beautiful finish of the Classics.
"They will do it three times, up until the second time there are
no real dangers. The true race happens after the second time and beyond.
The decisive point is Côte de Ahin; it is the launch pad to make
a difference.
"I think, like normal, there will be 15 riders that make it to the
last kilometre. Up until the last metres anything can happen because the
speed is so slow and the finish never arrives never.
"The favourites will be Kim Kirchen, Alejandro Valverde and Cunego.
Cunego has to do well in the Classics, which is where he excels as rider."
Last year's results
|
Alejandro Valverde is flying
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini
|
La Doyenne - Liège-Bastogne-Liège (April 26)
Bartoli's best: First in
1997 and 1998
Michele's observations: "Liège-Bastogne-Liège
is a beautiful and very hard race. It is not that difficult to race, but
you have to have a good team to control it up until the Côte de
la Redoute.
"The years I won favourites went à bloc early on,
but in the last years everyone seems to go more tranquillo and
wait for Côte de Saint-Nicolas. I preferred to go all out on Redoute
and to have less rivals.
"I think Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Flanders and Roubaix
are the three most important races; if you win one of these you are part
of cycling's story.
"I am curious to see if Lance Armstrong races; if he does Giro del
Trentino it will be hard, almost impossible to race Liège the next
day. Ivan Basso will do it, though; he is taking
a private plane that night after Trentino.
Valverde will be the favourite again, or maybe his teammate Joaquím
Rodríguez. The others are Thomas Dekker, Cunego and, if they can
race, Di Luca and Rebellin. The Grand Tour men, like Nibali and Sastre,
handle the long climbs well, but in the Classics you need explosiveness.
Last year's results
|
PhotographyFor a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
Images by
Sirotti/www.sirotti.it
Images by
ISPA/www.ctm-images.com
Images by
Mark Gunter/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph
Images by
Emory Ball/www.emoryball.com
Images by
AFP Photo
More Cyclingnews features
|
|