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

[Norbea]

Re:

Kristoff was underwhelming.
.

Katusha messed it up at the end. Kristoff was waiting for Guarnieri to make the last pull or give him a signal if he couldn´t make it, he thought he was right around him and realized too late that he had to do it himself. Just another victim of the tactical mess the race ended up in.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

But for me, personally, Demare's win was overshadowed by the crash in the end. I'm not expecting otters to feel the same way, but I can't feel a bit dissapointed with the finish

This typo

 

[del1962]

OK just watched it on record abd hevent read any comments, after being out all day, you have to feel for Gavira

Great ride from Demare in a chaotic finish, you feel that there where far too many riders going int the Cipressa

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

But for me, personally, Demare's win was overshadowed by the crash in the end. I'm not expecting otters to feel the same way, but I can't feel a bit dissapointed with the finish

This typo

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Fdj killing it in TT, winning MSR, what's next, Tour de France?

Yes please !

Why can't some here be happy for Demare? Gaviria coudda, Bouhanni Shoudda, rubbish. Demare's sprint was disrupted by the fall, he put up a monster effort, he was the strongest: period. Overrated? What ? What's next? He was sucking wheels?

It was indeed a really inpressive win, powerful sprint he rode. But you cant deny the fact that the same riders (Demare, Swift) wouldnt have contested for the win if not for the crash. I had really been hoping for Sagan to end his monument drought (if not for Cancellara) and he rode the perfect race I think so I'm a bit pissed that the crash screwed his chances.

We can re-do all the races then. The fact is that Swift and Demare were in the mix, Demare (who had come back from a fall himself) had to break his effort and circle around Gaviria, he made up the gap and won. That's what happened. Who knows if he could have won anyway. He was really strong today. It's completely unfair to make him a winner "by default" because one guy can't stay on his bike, and another one can't shift gears. That's the biggest win of Demare's career. Coming up, he was better than Bouhanni. He had struggles, injuries, doubts, but I think his big sprint/win in PN unleashed his potential. He's no Marcel or Gorilla, but he's a formidable sprinter. All I'm saying is: give the guy his props.

I'm definitely not taking anything away from Demare, he did a tremendous effort to get back and sprinted really well too. Neither at I arguing that it was an undeserved victory.

But for me, personally, Demare's win was overshadowed by the crash in the end. I'm not expecting otters to feel the same way, but I can't feel a bit dissapointed with the finish

I hear you. I would have loved to see Gav, Sagan, Bouhanni, and Canc able to fully participate in the sprint.

Who do you think would have won if Gaviria had not crashed? Gaviria himself?

My opinion is he would have won and Sagan, Bouhanni (also assuming he doesn't have the mechanical issue), and Démare would have fought it out for the podium. Actually, I forgot 2nd is reserved for Sagan so Bouhanni v Démare for the podium.

 

[rehy90]

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

But for me, personally, Demare's win was overshadowed by the crash in the end. I'm not expecting otters to feel the same way, but I can't feel a bit dissapointed with the finish

This typo

Typing with a keyboard in a foreign language

 

[The Barb]

Re:

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

As I saw it Bouhanni was not sprinting hard out until the problem. I thought it was the extra power of his first 100% effort pedal stroke that caused the problem. But, like Bushman, I defer to whatever the otter consensus is. Those guys know their cycling mechanics.

 

[MortiroloForever]

Re:

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

Totally agree with you.

 

[maltiv]

Regarding my favourites, I'm happy to see Hagen performing at the sharp end of a (easy) monument. If my memory is correct it was the first time it happened in his career.

He was 10th here last year too and amongst the first over poggio, but he did indeed look better today. Looks like the days where he couldn't handle the distance are over.

I'm also happy to see he attacked instead of going for a safe 5th place or whatever. At this point of his career he needs victories, not placements.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

No, he wasn't.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

No, he wasn't.

I think he just means the favorite for the sprint in that scenario, not the pre-race favorite.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

I think Demare would beat Bouhanni even if Nacer didnt have that shifting problem. They were both already sprinting before Bouhanni's problem and Demare was a little faster...it would probably be close though...and when it comes to Gaviria's crash, yes he was the favourite, but we dont know how fast he would go after such a long distance...so I think Demare is a deserving champion, especially after his awesome comeback from the crash

No, he wasn't.

I think he just means the favorite for the sprint in that scenario, not the pre-race favorite.

Well until I actually see his sprint after 250-300km of a hard race, he's no favorite to me in the company of Sagan, Bouhanni, Kristoff, Demare...

 

[jaylew]

I got you. Wasn't a hard race though to hear the riders tell it. Several have mentioned it being an easy edition and how everyone was still relatively fresh.

 

[sir fly]

Re:

I got you. Wasn't a hard race though to hear the riders tell it. Several have mentioned it being an easy edition and how everyone was still relatively fresh.

Makes sense... Cavendish was dropped.

 

[elfed68]

It's not my type of race, bit like a Tour sprinter stage, but that's not taking anything away from the winner, Chapeau Arnaud Demare!

 

[IndianCyclist]

I think every body was so scared of losing that they decided not to attack except Sky

 

[movingtarget]

Nice win by Demare. Terrible luck for Bouhanni and of course falls effected some riders chances. Typical MSR.

 

[sir fly]

Deserved win for Demare.
Fair share of the bad luck for everybody.

I believe he's a definite factor from any angle you look at the cobbles, now.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

I got you. Wasn't a hard race though to hear the riders tell it. Several have mentioned it being an easy edition and how everyone was still relatively fresh.

Makes sense... Cavendish was dropped.

Cav might have dropped, but other sprinters could have still been relatively fresh.

 

[luckyboy]

Anybody know what happened to Betancur? Pretty sure he was in the peloton on Cipressa but he's down as DNF

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Anybody know what happened to Betancur? Pretty sure he was in the peloton on Cipressa but he's down as DNF

Stopped by on gelato.

 

[jaylew]

Slo-mo of Canc and Sagan avoiding Gav's crash:

https://gifs.com/embed/wpZWlm

Nice drift from Spartacus.

And those reflexes from Sagan! I'm going to go ahead and say I go down if that's me.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Slo-mo of Canc and Sagan avoiding Gav's crash:

https://gifs.com/embed/wpZWlm

Nice drift from Spartacus.

And those reflexes from Sagan! I'm going to go ahead and say I go down if that's me.

Thanks for posting. Wow! Great bike handling skills by both Cancellara and Sagan.

 

[Jagartrott]

So, several riders claim Démare held on to the team car while climbing Cipressa.
Capecchi said that 'he flew past us at 80 km/h'.