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News :: Tom Boonen's Northern Contenders

28 March 2006

Tom Boonen's Northern Contenders

Boonen, the Rock-Star, photo: Quick-Step

Tom Boonen is the cycling god that we have all been waiting for: The complete rider that comes close to the stature of Eddy Merckx, or at least Roger De Vlaeminck. BiciRace.com would love to see him win the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix again this year in the World Champion jersey. 1) It would prove that he can handle the pressure of the rainbow jersey and 2) it gives the tifosi the "rock-star" that has been missing since the days of Mario Cipollini.

Tornado Tom will be the best rider for Flanders and Roubaix. He has the strength to hammer over the pavé and the speed after +200K to sprint. He will have the advantage of being a previous winner and the backing of an incredible Quick-Step squadra.

Ballan, Italy's Hope for North, photo: BiciRace.com

But BiciRace.com is an Italian-based website, so who can Italy hope for? Alessandro Ballan. If Ballan has the full support from Lampre-Fondital then he could win both Flanders and Roubaix. The rider from Castelfranco Veneto already showed his winning legs 14 February by winning the Trofeo di San Valentino (err, Trofeo Laigueglia). Ballan obtained victory at the hands of strong competition, a tough parcours and 183K. Then there was Milano-Sanremo. The 26 year-old put in a beautifully timed attack that formed the winning move. Bravo!

Hincapie, Always There, photo: Beth Seliga

BiciRace.com would also be very thrilled to see Disco Hincapie win one of these two monumental classics. George Hincapie is always there in the finale of Flanders and Roubaix, and is backed by a solid team. Riders like Leif Hoste, Stijn Devolder, Roger Hammond, Viatcheslav Ekimov and Max Van Heeswijk are guaranteed to put all their blood behind the American's chances. Discovery Channel has proven over and over that they know how to ride for one designated team leader, and when it comes time for the Spring Classics that leader is Hincapie.

BiciRace.com believes that Boonen will be the favorite for the first week of April but he will have knifes at his back in the form of Ballan and Hincapie. These classics, like always, are sure to be a spectacle for i tifosi. Viva il pavé!

28 March News ...