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Op donderdag 5 april 2007 00:54 schreef Ereinion het volgende:[..]
Heeft Kirchen ooit wel een kassei gezien? Maar Klier, Bernucci en Eisel hebben nog maar erg weinig laten zien, T-Mobile lijkt me vooral op papier een sterke ploeg, ik betwijfel of we naast Burghardt nog een andere T-Mobile in de finale zien.
Eisel rijdt al twee jaar op rij top-20, Klier is inderdaad afwachten hoe goed die zal zijn. Kirchen geniet in ieder geval voldoende vertrouwen:
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04.04.2007 - Kim Kirchen and Marcus Burghardt spearhead an experienced T-Mobile roster at Sunday's Tour of Flanders (April 8th). The two riders have been at the top of their game in recent weeks and are well prepared for everything the 259km cobbled classic can throw at them.
Burghardt gave another glimpse of his emerging classics threat at last weekend’s E3-Prijs in Harelbeke - placing third behind reigning Tour of Flanders champion Tom Boonen and reigning Paris-Roubaix champion Fabian Cancellara after a typically fast and aggressive race over cobbles and bergs. Meanwhile, the in-form Kirchen has featured regularly on race podiums in recent weeks; Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Torino and last weekend’s Brabantse Pijl.
Kirchen leaving no cobble-stone unturned
This season, Kirchen has made ‘Flanders’ one of his top spring objectives – and he is leaving no cobble-stone unturned in his big-race preparations. The 28-year-old Luxembourg champion returns to Belgium on Thursday to recce the race’s crunch points.
"I have enjoyed a great start to the season. My result in Brabant proved to me that I am in the right form to have a shot at this classic, even if ‘Flanders’ is a completely different kind of a race," says Kirchen, who thrives on short, sharp, punchy climbs.
‘Flanders’ is coming at the right time for Burghardt – who seems to have peaked at just the right time. "My hard preparations were worth it - I'm in top shape for the Tour of Flanders," said the 23-year-old German, who has spent the past week in light training.
Team sporting director Tristan Hoffman echoed Burghardt’s comments: "Third place at the E3-Prijs was a fantastic result for Marcus. The peloton’s big-hitters are now showing him more respect . He is going to make the big breakthrough at some stage."
Klier ready to take his place
Andreas Klier is something of a ‘dark horse’ for Sunday. The 2005 runner-up has recovered enough from the fractured cheekbone and concussion suffered in a recent training crash to take his place in ‘Flanders’ – and he’s currently adding race miles at the Dreidaagse de Panne race. But it remains to be seen whether the 31-year-old can win his race against time to be fully competitive on Sunday.
"Andreas is very keen. ‘Flanders’ is the big race for him. Two years ago, only Tom Boonen could get the better of him here ", says Hoffman, who believes that Klier will be able to match the pace long enough to serve the team in the finale. "Flanders is something very special to Andreas, so despite his injuries he might be able to tap into some extra reserves on Sunday."
Rounding out the eight-strong T-Mobile Team selection are Lorenzo Bernucci, Bernhard Eisel, Roger Hammond, Bert Grabsch and Servais Knaven.
"These guys can offer a lot of experience, strength-in-depth and race knowledge - that’s critically important for this race especially, " says Allan Peiper, who will direct the team in Flanders together with Hoffman.