107th Milano - Sanremo, 19th March 2016, 291 km, WT

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

He'll race Dwars and E3 so he can't race Catalunya.

Seems like Valverde will be starting MSR cause he was out training with the MSR squad today

I think he's made the correct decision. Winning a stage or two in Catalunya - or even the overall GC - wouldn't add much to his palmares. Experiencing new races and testing himself on the cobbles is much more interesting. I wish more riders would try to diversify; it's a bit shameful that the likes of Contador, Froome and Quintana don't even bother trying in the Ardennes these days.

I don't like Valverde new approach but hopefully that gold medal is waiting for him,no mater his chosen schedule.
Froome actually started the Ardennes classics many times.Of course his results are pretty bad so why would he bother.Expect to see him riding Roubaix more likely in the future as it's stated as his favorite race

What is behind Valverde's new approach? Did he get a taste for the cobbles last year? I can't find any interviews with him about it.

His career is winding down and he just wants to try some races he hasn't in the past, particularly the Giro and RVV. He also did Tirreno this year for the first time. He needs to get in some cobbled races before Flanders, so E3 and Dwars make since. Besides, along with those new targets, he also has the Olympics and he isn't dropping his usual goals of the Tour and Ardennes so it makes sense to do more one days in place of a couple of his usual stage races to cut his early season race days down.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Frankly i question his Giro+tour decision before olympics. No way he is going to be competitive at Olympics unless he does a Betancur at TDF.

 

[staubsauger]

Valverde probably knows very well that he and Purito are likely to destroy each others chances at the Olympics, anyway.

So he's gonna target just like every race he ain't done during his career and tries to arrive there in decent shape, first!

 

[Kwibus]

On another note. The distance is 291km. Is it just me or is the total amount of kms coming down slighty as well last years?

Sometimes I despise this new cycling trend. This is a monument and it's one because of it's distance...
(Well one of the reasons ofcourse)

 

[VanBsr]

nessuno_77 ‏@nessuno_77 11 min.
@Milano_Sanremo frana ad Arenzano #msr

Hmm..Is this on the route?

 

[Kwibus]

Tjallingi in the 10 man break

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

It is on the route indeed. Parcours change necessary (obviously)

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

It is on the route indeed. Parcours change necessary (obviously)

Do you know where exactly that is? Because usually in this part of italy it automatically gets mountainous if you leave the coast? Maybe they will have to include another climb.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

MSR meets Paris-Roubaix: That is some pretty extreme pavé.

 

[VanBsr]

Re: Re:

It is on the route indeed. Parcours change necessary (obviously)

Do you know where exactly that is? Because usually in this part of italy it automatically gets mountainous if you leave the coast? Maybe they will have to include another climb.

This is what I hope Arenzano is after the downhill of Turchino

EDIT:
This looks serious

 

[Gloin22]

Abandon the *** race. This is unsafe. Scandalous.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Arenzano, Via Aurelia (source: sporza)

 

[Savant12]

Re:

MSR meets Paris-Roubaix: That is some pretty extreme pavé.

Nibali would say that it's just a couple of pebbles and he's been looking forward to this section for weeks.

 

[Yingge]

Just East of Arenzano.

A neutralised diversion along the Autostrada probably, as its the only alternative in that area.

 

[classicomano]

Re: Re:

It is on the route indeed. Parcours change necessary (obviously)

Do you know where exactly that is? Because usually in this part of italy it automatically gets mountainous if you leave the coast? Maybe they will have to include another climb.

This is what I hope Arenzano is after the downhill of Turchino

EDIT:
This looks serious

I cant help but wonder if Betancur is responsible for this.

 

[Billie]

Tjallingi in the 10 man break

3rd year in a row. Just as Bono and Barta

 

[VanBsr]

This is the place
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.4094403,8.694518,3a,75y,58.11h,84.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGYOpFopUuwxbXxetzCjnPg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

If you look on the map it seems that the only way they can avoid this is by riding on the motorway

EDIT:
"UFFICIALE! Transito di 9 km in autostrada causa frana ad Arenzano"

 

[Poursuivant]

Re: Re:

He'll race Dwars and E3 so he can't race Catalunya.

Seems like Valverde will be starting MSR cause he was out training with the MSR squad today

I think he's made the correct decision. Winning a stage or two in Catalunya - or even the overall GC - wouldn't add much to his palmares. Experiencing new races and testing himself on the cobbles is much more interesting. I wish more riders would try to diversify; it's a bit shameful that the likes of Contador, Froome and Quintana don't even bother trying in the Ardennes these days.

I don't like Valverde new approach but hopefully that gold medal is waiting for him,no mater his chosen schedule.
Froome actually started the Ardennes classics many times.Of course his results are pretty bad so why would he bother.Expect to see him riding Roubaix more likely in the future as it's stated as his favorite race

What is behind Valverde's new approach? Did he get a taste for the cobbles last year? I can't find any interviews with him about it.

His career is winding down and he just wants to try some races he hasn't in the past, particularly the Giro and RVV. He also did Tirreno this year for the first time. He needs to get in some cobbled races before Flanders, so E3 and Dwars make since. Besides, along with those new targets, he also has the Olympics and he isn't dropping his usual goals of the Tour and Ardennes so it makes sense to do more one days in place of a couple of his usual stage races to cut his early season race days down.

Good on him, looking forward to seeing what he can bring.

 

[Yingge]

Looks like a 9km diversion along the Autostrada has been announced.

 

[claude cat]

News of the landslide on the #MSR course confirmed via race radio. Peloton will have 9km diversion on motorway.
— Cannondale Pro Team (@Ride_Argyle) March 19, 2016

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Looks like they will have to divert eastwards at the bottom of Turchino to pick up a junction for the motorway, unless there are access roads not visible on Google Maps. Unplanned, so traffic chaos: cycling will not be popular in the western suburbs of Genoa today...

 

[Eshnar]

Re:

Looks like they will have to divert eastwards at the bottom of Turchino to pick up a junction for the motorway, unless there are access roads not visible on Google Maps. Unplanned, so traffic chaos: cycling will not be popular in the western suburbs of Genoa today...

Don't worry, it never was

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

EDIT:
This looks serious

from what I read it looks like those were parked cars thankfully, but it seems 2 pedestrians were injured, one of them seriously

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Respect to Tjallingi for his efforts in the break for all these years! He will retire after the Giro; putting in some more big efforts in the classics like this is a fitting way to end his carreer.

 

[Yingge]

Seems the diversion will NOT be neutralised.