Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Tom Boonen will win in my opinion.

Was he the baddie in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

All over, great race! Fabian Cancellera beats Tom Boonen. Phillipe Gilbertt was third. Different class of acceleration from Spartucas on the final climb, Boonen had no answer. Some power. Lads on Eurosport reckon Cancellera is the second best bicycle rider in the world after Contador.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: Lads on Eurosport reckon Cancellera is the second best bicycle rider in the world after Contador.

Probably a fair enough comment. Will never have the legs for a Grand Tour win, but is such a great all rounder aside from that. Time-trialling, classics, stages - i'd call him a super-domestique, but that implies someone like Jens Voigt, and he is better than Voigt ever was.

I'm also a huge fan of Oscar Freire. Not the man he was 4-5 years ago, but still one of the classiest cyclists out there. Delighted to see him wn the Milan-San Remo again last month.

Yeah that was Freire's third Milan San Remo since 2004, he's one of the best classic riders around now and he's got that turn of pace that allows him to win bunch finishes, arguably only Cavendish and Farrar are faster. He's retiring at the end of the 2011 season so I believe.

Yeah Cancellera is easily the best time-triallist anywhere in the world too but he can't climb well enough to mount a challenge in any of the big Tours. But great Classics rider and could win the Paris-Roubaix next weekend, although I think the race could be more in Boonen's favour. Plus he's been the bridesmaid a few times now. And I think Sagan of Liquigas could surprise everyone again.

What is this latest row Cavendish is in with his sprinting team mate?

Yeah Cavendish and Griepel hardly get on well Patrique. The keys to the best seat on the HTC Columbia train at the Tour De France are up for grabs when Cav rides the Tour of California and Andre the Giant goes for the Giro.