Rocky Highway: a Cobbles PowerPoll

Simply to type my very own thoughts and get in gear for the upcoming barrage of cobbles goodness within the coming weeks right here’s a fast and soiled PowerPoll of the groups as we go into the holiest of holy intervals of the yr. We’ve had a ton of racing already and as for cobbles we’ve seen opening weekend, Nokere and a few assorted small scraps to offer us some pointers as to who’s the place this yr

1. Visma-LeaseABike

What have we seen? Nicely opening weekend, and all different races appear to be a continuation of 2023 which is fairly rattling excellent news for somebody who had a yr like that they had. They received double and did it in some spectacular vogue. They raced with a democratic a number of pronged assault the place Wout van Aert was merely one of many awe inspiring weapons. Similar to early final yr there may be nothing that means that they received’t dominate the cobbled Monuments and you must suppose that a corporation this sensible received’t need to be repeating no matter errors that stopped that from occurring final yr.
What’s new? An already insane lineup is now bolstered with Jan Tratnik, who has accomplished his transformation into classics wizard, and an ever improing Matteo Jorgenson who brings one other dimension to the roster. Additionally they have a stronger Kooij as a severe choice for the sprintier races which supplies them much more playing cards (though it might put extra of a query mark on which function Laporte is to play in all of this).
What’s their downside? It’s all about profitable one of many large ones this yr, particularly for Wout, and there are loads of indications that this can be as troublesome for them as final yr. Their finest weapon is after they trip musketeer type, all for one and one for all, like they do within the smaller races however when it turns into extra the “setting issues up for Wout”-team then instantly they don’t look as terrifying anymore. And Wout one on one in opposition to MvdP all of us agree just isn’t going to work out for Visma fairly often, don’t we?

2. Alpecin-Deceuninck

What have we seen? There’s good trigger to name this the most effective classics staff on the planet proper now and there’s an inexpensive probability they may transfer up on this rating as we get some extra races with Van der Poel on the beginning line. With Philipsen now a confirmed classics beast and just about accepted as the highest sprinter on the planet they’ve the 2 sharpest weapons of anybody. Add to that some terrific assist and you’ve got a staff with only a few chinks within the armor. They’d probably the most depressing opening weekend of all the highest groups however they didn’t deliver their a-team, it was actually solely Jasper who upset and we’ve seen him come into his actual type since then.
What’s new? Jasper Philipsen. There’s no denying the distinction a yr makes in how we, and most significantly how the opposition, view him as a classics chief. The double risk they now possess make the calculations a lot tougher for everybody else to make as soon as we come deep within the finales.
What’s their downside? Theoretically a management complication between the 2 now that Jasper has risen in standing however that’s simply hypothesis. What we now have seen signifies the other actually. A few of their key lieutenants have had some harm points although and if Visma begin taking part in playing cards left and proper then Alpecin may come to want all of the wholesome legs they will discover as a way to not get tactically examine mated.

Photograph by Ilario Biondi – Pool/Getty Photographs

3. Lidl-Trek

What have we seen? As normal Trek had a really informal method to opening weekend, they actually appear to be probably the most hardcore subscribers to the previous “can’t each crush Omloop and Ronde” line of thought. However they definitely didn’t embarrass themselves and had some optimistic indicators even when the large outcomes weren’t there. With Pedersen entering into the lineup they need to be formidable once more.
What’s new? Most significantly they’ve added Tim Declerckq to supply working muscle however there’s additionally loads of pleasure on the prospect of Jonathan Milan including one other sharp dimension to their recreation, In Omloop/KBK we noticed Toms Skuijns being an enormous weapon however sadly he’s too good at too many issues and received’t be part of the cobbles lineup within the coming weeks.
What’s their downside? Very similar to in Sanremo the opposite day the overall really feel is that Stuyven/Pedersen are very excellent, simply not the very best when it comes right down to it. And so they don’t fairly have a viable plan on methods to overcome that hole. Pogacar’s absence in Flanders could also be higher information for Lidl-Trek than for anybody else, the supersonic Kwaremont climbing hijinx actually hit their possibilities greater than anybody else and a extra “regular” Ronde ought to work of their favor.

4. Workforce UAE

What have we seen? Shocking issues actually for a staff we don’t fairly see as one for April until Pogacar decides to parachute in and dominate. Politt and Wellens have been main elements in opening weekend and the brand new child Antonio Morgado has been spectacular within the smaller midweek races. Even with out The Tufted One they could be a issue on the cobbles.
What’s new? Nils Politt provides large energy, if not a lot brains, to UAE’s cobble line-up. That alone elevates them to relevancy, particularly within the large monuments, however additionally they now have a stable dash set-up for races like Brugge and Scheldeprijs so they’re fairly full now.
What’s their downside? Nobody ever mentioned Tim Wellens was reliable. He was nice in Omloop and on paper he’s a hazard man in any race with sufficient hellingen however he may additionally simply as simply disappear in races. And like Politt he actually struggles to search out that final bit of the puzzle that enables him to win the necessary races. For that they might have wanted Pogi, with out him it’s simple to see loads of sturdy placings and no wins.

Photograph by Luc Claessen/Getty Photographs

5. Lotto-Dstny

What have we seen? A fluctuating efficiency curve from Arnaud De Lie who’s the crux of their classics squad. Flashes of brilliance but additionally indicators that issues aren’t working 100% clean this yr. After the gamble of skipping Kuurne and aiming for his native race Le Samyn backfired and led to a crash it’s been a grumpy bull. Fortunately for Lotto the season has in any other case been splendid however the Belgians need to De Lie to meet his promise.
What’s new? The expectations and stress on Arnaud De Lie. The squad is analogous in any other case with stable assist for the cobbles, Campenaerts to liven issues up and Menten to grind out some unglamorous however important dash wins and podiums in smaller races. However that is the yr everyone seems to be on the lookout for large issues to occur from De Lie in large races and that’s a primary for him. Rather a lot hangs on how he can deal with it and deal with a bit adversity.
What’s their downside? They’re primarily a one man present. Campenaerts will want some small miracle to drag off a win from his escapades, as pleasant and admirable as they’re, and the remainder of the squad is nice for some honorable high 15s usually. So miracle boy must ship in some unspecified time in the future.

6. Movistar

What have we seen? Pigs fly? Movistar in a cobbles powerpoll? Okay perhaps they’re a bit bit right here as a lark, however not likely. Oier Lazkano’s Kuurne (and Clasica Jaen) kinda give them a deserved spot up there. And there’s first rate folks round him too in Garcia Cortina, Jacobs and Norsgaard so it is a actual factor now.
What’s new? Spain may need a brand new classics ace in Lazkano if issues proceed the best way they’re going. Plus they’ve executed the hip factor and picked up an Italian monitor man with classics potential in Manlio Moro. Add a Belgian DS in Roelandts who is aware of how the sauce is made on this a part of the world and you’ve got one thing.
What’s their downside? That is primarily a one-man staff aside until you price Gaviria’s possibilities within the sprintier races (I don’t anymore, I gave up) since Cortina for no matter cause isn’t doing the approaching cobbles races which appears an odd selection. Sadly Lazkano is seemingly nonetheless fairly uncomfortable with the stress and expectations that include all that promise but when they will get him in the precise headspace it may very well be a unbelievable spring in Flanders for Movi.

7. Intermarche-Wanty

What have we seen? Biniam Girmay appears to be someplace close to his 2022 self once more and so they’ve been visibly current in many of the classics. Prime result’s Rex profitable Le Samyn which is a giant one for a neighborhood staff even when it may not be a lot of an indicator for the most important races to come back.
What’s new? Vito Braet has come on from the Flanders expertise program and appears to be making a direct influence, he’s already prepared for these races. Aside from that it’s primarily the identical previous gang and the important thing appears to be discovering new methods to have Girmay match coaching, racing and travels again residence work extra seamlessly as a way to deliver extra consistency.

Photograph by Luc Claessen/Getty Photographs

What’s their downside? They’re nonetheless primarily a moneyball squad of plucky outsiders combating to supply an entire that’s greater than the sum of its components and in todays excessive octane World Tour that’s a tricky ask. They really want their diamond within the tough Girmay to be at the easiest we all know he’s able to to achieve the true heights. And thus far they will’t fairly appear to get him there.

8. Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale

What have we seen? Consider it or not, Oliver Naessen again close to the entrance of motorcycle races. Not a trajectory anybody was anticipating. Possibly a bit more room with out previous Greg round served him effectively? Both means he led a plucky band of franco-belgians to some first rate early outcomes.
What’s new?Twentyone yr previous Pierre Gautherat is strictly talking not new since he in his second yr at Ag2r however he clearly seems to have made large strides ahead. Whereas the burden remains to be on Naessen, many eyes could be on him to see the place the Decathlon classics future could be heading.
What’s their downside? Oliver Naessen doesn’t win you the large races. He doesn’t even win you the medium sized races frankly and probabilities of that instantly altering are slim, particularly when the Galacticos present up in full type. So Decathlon are probably on the lookout for some honorable high 10s in actuality.

9 Groupama-FDJ

What have we seen? They’ve had one in all this spring’s revelations in Laurence Pithie even when it hasn’t fairly paid off in precise outcomes. In the meantime Stefan Küng is kind of clearly slowly working up his diesel to be primed for early April so it’s arduous to evaluate primarily based on that. The proof can be within the Monument Pudding.
What’s new? Primarily that their youth motion is edging ever nearer to maturity. Their largest younger aces Gregoire and Martinez actually aren’t going to be of any assistance on the cobbles although so they’re relying on the following tier guys like Pithie, Askey and Watson to take steps from being terrific Coupe de France sharks to being elements within the classics
What’s their downside? Küng is a beast however nobody thus far has any earthly concept methods to truly convert that into getting him that first large large race win. Madouas will probably parachute in to supply some sturdy putting like he often does. The kiddos talked about will probably do effectively, they’re just too good to not. However, and it’s a giant however I can not lie, there actually is not any sense that there’s somebody at Groupama with some grasp plan to make all these items match collectively into what may very well be a classics powerhouse to problem the Bigs. Not but anyway.

10 Soudal-QuickStep

What have we seen? I’ll inform you what we haven’t seen, which is Pat Lefevere’s head exploding (or him not less than spewing a gallon of acid in a newspaper column) however that actually says far more about how the main focus of this staff has shifted than it does concerning the staff’s efficiency. They’d their normal disappointing Omloop however then didn’t bounce again in Kuurne, actually they have been maybe much more of a non-factor. Merlier is basically saving their bacon with the promise of extra dash wins in semi-classics. It’s not the glamorous means nevertheless it will get the job executed. Type of.
What’s new? Quick children. Like all the time at QuickStep, when issues appear to be they’re going downhill Pat pulls some loopy abilities out his Mallorca tanned bottom and instantly issues begin to look kinda scorching once more. Luke Lamperti is the classics related man this yr and all indications are it’s panning out effectively. The opposite traditional Lef-style gamble made this yr is bringing Gianni “The Jerk” Moscon and see if they will do the previous QS magic and rejuvenate a fading star’s profession with a carrot / bull-whip of a low wage/excessive bonus one-year contract. How effectively that’s working remains to be TBD however I’ll say it’s not trying like a miracle resurrection thus far. Ronde van Vlaanderen is on Easter Sunday although so…….
What’s their downside? They only don’t have the most effective or the strongest classics guys on their roster anymore. They’ve first rate second tier guys, a bruised confidence and maybe a bit little bit of an identification disaster relating to methods to take races on now on this new actuality they’re dwelling. How that develops relies upon an ideal deal on if their scorching new children could make them rise from the ashes like they’ve executed earlier than, and in that case how briskly? Huge wins and podiums (outdoors dash wins for Timmy in doubtful races like Scheldeprijs) this yr looks like a stretch.