Zürich Metzgete

cyclingheroes said:

3 more Pro-Tour races to go. On Sunday: Zürich Metzgete.

Any thoughts about who might win the race?

Startlist is here:
cyclingstartlists.com01Zurich.htmOpen ↗

My guess is that Bettini will defend his title....

Dark horse: Samuel Sanchez

Paolo, nella maglia nuova sua.

Ballan.

Eldrack said:

Ballan.

Yes Bettini now owes some favours to his Italian mates so he will have to help Ballan........

whiteboytrash said:

Yes Bettini now owes some favours to his Italian mates so he will have to help Ballan........

Hmm i don't know... no i don't think he will. The question is how much Lambrusco did Paolo drink after Salzburg? How is his form, motivation?

cyclingheroes said:

Hmm i don't know... no i don't think he will. The question is how much Lambrusco did Paolo drink after Salzburg? How is his form, motivation?

Well, I would be very much motivated on my first rainbow jersey showing + defending title. And I don't think Bettini will help anyone, he'll ride for himself.

Andrija said:

Well, I would be very much motivated on my first rainbow jersey showing + defending title. And I don't think Bettini will help anyone, he'll ride for himself.

Ballan has already stated that his attack on the final lap at the WC was to soften the Spanish for Bettini..... Bettini although riding for QS owe these boys.... he's not going to burn his bridges....

whiteboytrash said:

Ballan has already stated that his attack on the final lap at the WC was to soften the Spanish for Bettini..... Bettini although riding for QS owe these boys.... he's not going to burn his bridges....

Bettini will help Ballan, he'll repay him for help on the world's, but not on this race... Probably on some of foregoing Italian races.

I like Ballan, but I also think that my 2 other favorites would be Shleck and of course Bettini.

Outside favorites I thinkif he can still maintain his form this long be Vino, Wesemann.

Capt.Injury said:

I like Ballan, but I also think that my 2 other favorites would be Shleck and of course Bettini.

Outside favorites I thinkif he can still maintain his form this long be Vino, Wesemann.

Hmmm Schleck i forgot about that one.... I felt sorry for him, starting alone for Luxembourg at the worlds, could be that he has some strong worlds revenge feelings...

cyclingheroes said:

3 more Pro-Tour races to go. On Sunday: Zürich Metzgete.

Any thoughts about who might win the race?

Startlist is here:
cyclingstartlists.com01Zurich.htmOpen ↗

My guess is that Bettini will defend his title....

Dark horse: Samuel Sanchez

Weather conditions last year at Zürich Metzgete were miserable and Bettini won there.
I think his form will depend on how much he celebrated his world title win!

Arversen and Kroon might podium.

Just to mix it up - I will nominate Davide Rebellin for overall victory.
He pedalled well at Salzburg.

CSC looking really impressive in this race, 2 riders in the front group, 3 in the second. Guess we better start placing our bets on one of them to win it.

Eldrack said:

CSC looking really impressive in this race, 2 riders in the front group, 3 in the second. Guess we better start placing our bets on one of them to win it.

Sanchez; legend.... what a ride.. O'Grady sat on the back hoping to win the sprint but Sanchez took the bit between the teeth a attacked on the final climb.... Cancellra yo yo'd off the back trying to help O'Grady but to no avail.... it was pissing down rain all day.. Bettini got off his bike once he was 7 minutes back.... he was spent..... Evens was also chasing the lead group with no help....

And so begins the curse of the world champion upon Bettini...........

Agreed Eld & CH : CSC were superb today - Cancellara seemed to yo-yo quite a bit in the final 25kms.
At one point, I thought that when he was dropped by Rebelli/Boogerd/O'Grady that he was finished : but somehow he came back.

Great move by Sanchez to win overall.

But the weather!
Like Ireland.

Eldrack said:

And so begins the curse of the world champion upon Bettini...........

My thought exactly!!
But I hope not...
Bettini is a rider I think everyone enjoys watching perform, like Zabel.

Sanchez was a great winner of a great race (were i was wet, wet and even more wet and felt sorry for the guys on the bike). Here a pic just after he finished when he started to cry and it took a while before he stopped. Later at the press conference he told he was very motivated and came here to win.

cyclingheroes said:

Sanchez was a great winner of a great race (were i was wet, wet and even more wet and felt sorry for the guys on the bike). Here a pic just after he finished when he started to cry and it took a while before he stopped. Later at the press conference he told he was very motivated and came here to win.

Great photo.

Yes as he crossed the line it was apparent how much the win meant to SS.

limerickman said:

Great photo.

Yes as he crossed the line it was apparent how much the win meant to SS.

Here is another one i took: Bettini's new helmet...

The Zürich picture gallery will be online (cyclingheroes site) on Wednesday (as well as a picture gallery of tomorrows Sparkassen Münsterland Giro).

After that 2 more races to go and than... holidays!🙂