By: Andrew Kappes

The spring classic season is in full swing, and it continues this Sunday with the Tour of Flanders. The riders have had a bit of rest since Milan-San Remo, and many of them have been keeping their legs fresh by riding in some of the Belgian races last weekend. The Pro Tour/Race organizer rift continues to not affect the season, both Unibet and Astana in this ProTour race.

Another weekend of Pro Tour cycling has fans all over the world jumping for joy once again. If you aren't available to watch the race this sunday on your local TV set, you can catch the action live on www.cycling.tv. The Tour of Flanders should be a good one, we could be crowning the first three-peat winner in this race since 1951.

Success at Paris-Roubaix last year has Cancellara thinking about the Tour of Flanders/Paris-Roubaix double.
 Photo by Greg Parks Photo/Design  

2007 Ronde van Vlaanderen
Brugge to Ninove
256 kilometers

Teams and Riders
Quickstep/Innergetic
1 Boonen Tom Belgium
2 Bettini Paolo Italy
3 De Jongh Steven Netherlands
4 Van Petegem Peter Belgium
5 Van Impe Kevin Belgium
6 Steegmans Gert Belgium
7 Rosseler Sébastien Belgium
8 Hulsmans Kevin Belgium

As usual, a long list of contenders headlines this year's race. You don't have to look farther than the man that has won this race two years in a row, Tom Boonen. Boonen is certainly thinking three-peat this weekend, and his Quick-Step team is behind him. Anyone who has said Boonen is out of form hasn't been watching cycling, all year. Boonen has been great so far, and he shouldn't let up this weekend. One of those Quick-Step teammates riding is world champion Paolo Bettini, who has told reporters that he is fully committed to Tom. Also on that Quick-Step roster is Peter Van Petegem, who won this race in 1999, and again in 2003.

Predictor-Lotto
11 Hoste Leif Belgium
12 Van Avermaet Greg Belgium
13 Van Summeren Johan Belgium
14 Sentjens Roy Belgium
15 Roesems Bert Belgium
16 Leukemans Björn Belgium
17 Vansevenant Wim Belgium
18 De Vocht Wim Belgium

Predictor's Leif Hoste has just missed out on a victory in two of the last three years. He finished second to Boonen last year, and second to Wesemann in 2004. He will lead a Robbie McEwen-less team, which will provide him with 8 domestiques who will do everything in their power to ensure a Leif Hoste podium place.

Unibet.Com
21 Wilson Matthew Australia
22 Ten Dam Laurens Netherlands
23 Eichler Markus Germany
24 Pronk Matthé Netherlands
25 Gardeyn Gorik Belgium
26 Coyot Arnaud France
27 Cooke Baden Australia
28 Casper Jimmy France

The fore mentioned Unibet squad will bring two big guns to this year's Tour of Flanders. Former Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke will lead the team this year. Teammate and 2006 Tour de France stage winner Jimmy Casper could pull off a surprise, he has been in great form so far.

Team CSC
31 O'grady Stuart Australia
32 Kroon Karsten Netherlands
33 Ljungqvist Marcus Sweden
34 Breschel Matti Denmark
35 Cancellara Fabian Switzerland
36 Klostergaard Larsen Kasper Denmark
37 Johansen Allan Denmark
38 Michaelsen Lars Denmark

If your looking for a team other than Quick-Step that will try to control the race, look no farther than CSC. Once again they come with their one-two punch. Both Stuart O'Grady and Fabian Cancellara are lined up for Sunday.

Caisse D'epargne
41 Rojas Gil Jose Joaquin Spain
42 Berthou Eric France
43 Brard Florent France
44 Erviti Imanol Spain
45 Garcia Acosta José Vicente Spain
46 Reynes Mimo Vicente Spain
47 Sanchez Gil Luis Leon Spain
48 Portal Nicolas France

Caisse D'Epargne bring in a squad capable of bringing home the bacon to Spain. Luis Leon Sanchez appears ready to break out, and what better place or time than this weekend's Tour of Flanders.

Euskaltel/Euskadi
51 Aranaga Azkune Andoni Spain
52 Uribarri Unai Spain
53 Perez Lezaun Alan Spain
54 Mayoz Ivan Spain
55 Lafuente Andoni Spain
56 Irizar Aranburu Markel Spain
57 Iriondo Uranga Iban Spain
58 Fernandez Koldo Spain

Saunier Duval/Prodir
61 Millar David United Kingdom
62 Belohvosciks Raivis Latvia
63 Pagliarini Mendonca Luciano André Brazil
64 Gomez Gomez Angel Spain
65 Alarcon Garcia Raul Spain
66 Del Nero Jesus Spain
67 Mori Manuele Italy
68 Ventoso Alberdi Francisco José Spain

Ag2r Prevoyance
71 Usov Alexandre Belarus
72 Poulhies Stéphane France
73 Mondory Lloyd France
74 Riblon Christophe France
75 Mangel Laurent France
76 Elmiger Martin Switzerland
77 Krivtsov Yuriy Ukraine
78 Dion Renaud France

Bouygues Telecom
81 Jerome Vincent France
82 Renier Franck France
83 Labbe Arnaud France
84 Claude Mathieu France
85 Gene Yohann France
86 Geslin Anthony France
87 Pichot Alexandre France
88 Martias Rony France

Cofidis Le Credit Par Telephone
91 Nuyens Nick Belgium
92 Minard Sébastien France
93 De Weert Kevin Belgium
94 Elijzen Michiel Netherlands
95 Farrar Tyler United States
96 Heijboer Mathieu Netherlands
97 Moreni Cristian Italy
98 Scheirlinckx Staf Belgium

Cofidis will bring in a solid roster as well, headlining for the team will be former Boonen teammate Nick Nuyens. Young American prospect Tyler Farrar will also ride for Cofidis.

Credit Agricole
101 Hinault Sébastien France
102 Laurent Christophe France
103 Lemoine Cyril France
104 Hushovd Thor Norway
105 Engoulvent Jimmy France
106 Dean Julian New Zealand
107 Bonnet William France
108 Bodrogi Laszlo Hungary

Française Des Jeux
111 Gilbert Philippe Belgium
112 Auger Ludovic France
113 Chavanel Sébastien France
114 Detilloux Christophe Belgium
115 Patanchon Fabien France
116 Mengin Christophe France
117 Guesdon Frédéric France
118 Marichal Thierry Belgium

Gerolsteiner
121 Lang Sebastian Germany
122 Wegmann Fabian Germany
123 Haussler Heinrich Germany
124 Kopp David Germany
125 Gatto Oscar Italy
126 Krauss Sven Germany
127 Strauss Marcel Switzerland
128 Stamsnijder Tom Netherlands

The two big German squads are also fielding nice rosters to Flanders. Gerolsteiner's will include German time trial specialist Sebastian Lang, Fabian Wegmann, and Heinrich Haussler. T-Mobile will suit up Kim Kirchen, Bernard Eisel, and the British Bruiser Roger Hammond. A suprise winner could come out of Francais des Jeux. Phiippe Gilbert, Sebastien Chavanel, and Paris-Nice champ Frederic Guesdon are all expected to race.

T-Mobile Team
131 Grabsch Bert Germany
132 Knaven Servais Netherlands
133 Klier Andreas Germany
134 Bernucci Lorenzo Italy
135 Burghardt Marcus Germany
136 Kirchen Kim Luxembourg
137 Eisel Bernhard Austria
138 Hammond Roger United Kingdom

Lampre/Fondital
141 Corioni Claudio Italy
142 Baldato Fabio Italy
143 Ballan Alessandro Italy
144 Bennati Daniele Italy
145 Righi Daniele Italy
146 Mori Massimiliano Italy
147 Fornaciari Paolo Italy
148 Franzoi Enrico Italy

Liquigas
151 Pozzato Filippo Italy
152 Petito Roberto Italy
153 Willems Frederik Belgium
154 Da Dalto Mauro Italy
155 Quinziato Manuel Italy
156 Paolini Luca Italy
157 Kuschynski Aleksandr Belarus
158 Fischer Murilo Brazil

Milram will bring Erik Zabel who surprisingly never has won this race, but Zabel wouldn't mind taking home the crown, later is better than never. Liguigas brings a few contenders in their mean green jerseys, Filippo Pozzato and Luca Paolini are both confirmed in the race. Pozzato should make a run at Boonen, he has looked pretty good this early season. Their Italian counterpart Lampre brings in a decent squad as well. Alessandro Ballan, Daniele Bennati, and Claudio Corioni will wear the pink and purple flag of Lampre/Fondital.

Team Milram
161 Zabel Erik Germany
162 Sieberg Marcel Germany
163 Sacchi Fabio Italy
164 Sabatini Fabio Italy
165 Lancaster Brett Australia
166 Dyudya Volodymyr Ukraine
167 Grabsch Ralf Germany
168 Cortinovis Alessandro Italy

Rabobank
171 Freire Gomez Oscar Spain
172 Hayman Mathew Australia
173 Boogerd Michael Netherlands
174 Horrillo Munoz Pedro Spain
175 De Groot Bram Netherlands
176 Van Bon Leon Netherlands
177 Boven Jan Netherlands
178 Flecha Giannoni Juan Antonio Spain

Rabobank is coming off a great performance in Milan-San Remo, and they bring MSR champ Oscar Freire with them. Supporting Freire will be a couple of contenders themselves, Michael Boogerd and Juan Antonio Flecha.

Astana
181 Abakoumov Igor Russia
182 Mikhailov Guennadi Russia
183 Rast Grégory Switzerland
184 Kemps Aaron Australia
185 Joachim Benoît Luxembourg
186 Ivanov Serguei Russia
187 Muravyev Dmitriy Kazahkstan
188 De Kort Koen Netherlands

Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
191 Devolder Stijn Belgium
192 Padrnos Pavel Czech Republic
193 White Matthew Australia
194 Gusev Vladimir Russia
195 Cummings Steven United Kingdom
196 Cruz Antonio United States
197 Bileka Volodymyr Ukraine
198 Vaitkus Tomas Lithuania

Discovery Channel, who bring in a very young squad. The team will look for a contender to replace the injured George Hincapie, who isn't expected back until the Tour de Georgia later this month. Possible leaders for Discovery could be Stijn Devolder, Vladimir Gusev, or maybe even Tomas  Vaitkus.  

Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen
201 Eeckhout Nico Belgium
202 Ghyllebert Pieter Belgium
203 Verbist Evert Belgium
204 Veuchelen Frederik Belgium
205 Coenen Johan Belgium
206 D'hollander Glenn Belgium
207 Hovelynck Kurt Belgium
208 Renders Sven Belgium

Landbouwkrediet/Tonissteiner
211 De Waele Bert Belgium
212 Vanlandschoot James Belgium
213 Amorison Frédéric Belgium
214 Boucher David France
215 Cappelle Andy Belgium
216 Kuyckx Jan Belgium
217 Neirynck Kevin Belgium
218 Meirhaeghe Filip Belgium

Team Wiesenhof Felt
221 Wesemann Steffen Switzerland
222 Wagner Robert Germany
223 Musiol Daniel Germany
224 Van Dijck Stefan Netherlands
225 Odebrecht Felix Germany
226 Pollack Olaf Germany
227 Ludewig Jörg Germany
228 Giling Bastiaan Netherlands

Tinkoff Credit Systems
231 Ignatiev Mikhail Russia
232 Chernetskiy Ilya Russia
233 Weigold Steffen Germany
234 Trussov Nikolai Russia
235 Aggiano Elio Italy
236 Commesso Salvatore Italy
237 Rovny Ivan Russia
238 Mindlin Anton Russia

Skil-Shimano
241 Den Bakker Maarten Netherlands
242 Vierhouten Aart Netherlands
243 Van Hummel Kenny Robert Netherlands
244 Tjallingii Maarten Netherlands
245 Müller Christian Germany
246 Meschenmoser Christoph Germany
247 Goesinnen Floris Netherlands
248 Deroo David France