This year's Classics campaign provided plenty of thrills and a healthy dose of surprises. Taking a closer look at some of the top performances in the 2016 Classics, Cyclingnews has put together an ideal squad for the sport's most legendary one-day races.
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) - Leader
The only rider to win more than one of the major spring one-days in 2016, Peter Sagan graduated from Classics heir apparent to cycling's man to beat on the cobblestones this year. With the monkey of winning a big one-day already off his back after the 2015 World Championships, Sagan delivered in a major way this spring.
Runner-up rides in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 Harelbeke had some worried that it might be another year of near misses on the cobblestones for the reigning world champ, but Sagan was not about to let another Classics campaign go by without a monumental victory. After taking Gent-Wevelgem with his speedy finishing kick, he proved unstoppable at the Tour of Flanders. He kept himself at the head of the race as numerous attacks whittled down the field before getting clear with Sep Vanmarcke and Michael Kwiatkowski—and then soloed away on the Paterberg. After years of close calls in the Monuments, this time, Sagan was not to be denied his big win.
ADVERTISEMENT
One of the sport's most versatile riders, Sagan is the ideal leader for a Classics squad, capable of sprinting or soloing for big victories on almost any terrain.
Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNl-Jumbo) - Wildcard
Vanmarcke has proven a worthy solo team leader with countless podiums in the Classics, but given his riding style, he might be more successful in a squad with multiple top talents. He has proven in World Championships with stacked Belgian squads that his ego isn't too big for shared leadership, either. Plus, in the crashfest that is the cobbled Classics (particularly in Roubaix, where Sagan has never been quite as strong a contender), having two leaders is never a bad idea.
Luke Rowe (Team Sky) - Super domestique
Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) - Super domestique
Imanol Erviti (Movistar) - Breakaway hunter
Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff) - Versatile workhorse
Wout Poels (Team Sky) - Ardennes leader
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) - Road captain and wildcard
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://ift.tt/2fOIHxP
No comments:
Post a Comment