2012 Montepaschi Strade Bianchi thread

[cleverhans]

Sat March 3. Seems like there should be a thread for this one...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2012/strade-bianche/preview

I'm looking past Gilbert and seeing Sagan

 

[Panda Claws]

1. Gilbert
2. Cancellara at 0:04
3. Sagan
4. Ballan
5. Visconti

 

[hfer07]

I'm in love with this race- the scenery is absolutely breath taking- i'd dare to say is as equal in beauty as Flanders-but just with Italian flavour

I wish we can see a winner apart from Gilbert-I hope Ballan gets this one at last-or somebody else. So looking forward to this race.

Edit: the past editions haven't had live broadcasting-are we getting the same this Year?

 

[LugHugger]

I'm in love with this race- the scenery is absolutely breath taking- i'd dare to say is as equal in beauty as Flanders-but just with Italian flavour

I wish we can see a winner apart from Gilbert-I hope Ballan gets this one at last-or somebody else. So looking forward to this race.

Edit: the past editions haven't had live broadcasting-are we getting the same this Year?

Sport-livez is showing a live feed according to their schedule. Happy day!

 

[roundabout]

It should be live on Eurosport 2.

 

[dolophonic]

Great race. Looking forward to this one.

 

[maltiv]

Don't think Gilbert has the shape actually, although he doesn't need much shape to win a race like this. Would be funny if BMC remains winless at least.

I think Cancellara will get it, although he'll probably need a gap before the last hill. Either way, I'm really excited for this race. One of the best races of the season and it's live on Norwegian television (but since the organizers decided Sky/EBH didn't deserve an invite it won't get many viewers!).

Oh, and please let there be rain, although it will be awesome nonetheless!

 

[birthmark]

Should be a great race, looking forward to it.
Watch out for Dan Martin, but BMC are clear favourites with Gilbert and Evans

 

[LugHugger]

It should be live on Eurosport 2.

I had a brief check of the listings, it's such a shame that they've only scheduled one hour of coverage. Surely, this race warrants at least another hour to help set the scene?

 

[The Hitch]

Cunego ftw.

Theres not much that can surprise me from Sagan but I would be surprised to see him win this.

As for skiing, well at least its not some 10th tier tennis event.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

i wonder how young battaglin goes.

 

[saunaking]

gazetta dello sport is streaming live worldwide unrestricted starting 14:30CET

Should be great

 

[The Hitch]

Are Aqua doing this? If not what the **** are they going to do all season. TA and Lombardy, is that all?

Last year they were even doing Oomlop and E3 Prijs.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Are Aqua doing this? If not what the **** are they going to do all season. TA and Lombardy, is that all?

Last year they were even doing Oomlop and E3 Prijs.

maybe we presume too much with strade bianchi. Whilst it no doubt has a great parcours and promises to become a great race, it is still early days. I'm sure the other semi-italian races are of greater importance for a team like Aqua. As much as we fans love this race, I doubt it is as significant for most teams.

 

[woodenswan]

looking forward to this! it will be my first time following this race. i don think either Gilbert or Evans will have the legs to take this. Cancellara FTW

 

[spalco]

gazetta dello sport is streaming live worldwide unrestricted starting 14:30CET

Should be great

Awesome, thanks for the info.

 

[jens_attacks]

i think ballan will get this,there still is time for phil to prepare for poggio.

the dark horse and the rider i will cheer for is di luca of course.he looks fit already and ready to attack.he might as well win

anyone knows how the weather will be?

 

[Eshnar]

Sat March 3. Seems like there should be a thread for this one...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/strade-bianche-2012/strade-bianche/preview

There was a thread indeed
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=16417
And it had also the right race name

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Cunego ftw.

+1, I hope!

 

[Red Rick]

Cunego ftw.

Theres not much that can surprise me from Sagan but I would be surprised to see him win this.

As for skiing, well at least its not some 10th tier WTA event.

I don't mind watching an ATP tournament when the big guns show up, like dubai, but Eurosport has only got a contract with the WTA, which is why there's such an incredible load of crappy tournaments that are broadcasted.

Besides, Eurosport blows big time, their favourite sport is snooker

 

[taiwan]

I like Colli as an outsider FTW.

 

[greenedge]

Gilbert/ someone else from BMC to win. Cancellara looms as the main threat, whilst Sagan will have to use his team to help him a lot.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gilbert/ someone else from BMC to win. Cancellara looms as the main threat, whilst Sagan will have to use his team to help him a lot.

Why would Sagan need more team help than the others?

 

[maltiv]

Cunego ftw.

Theres not much that can surprise me from Sagan but I would be surprised to see him win this.

As for skiing, well at least its not some 10th tier tennis event.

EBH was 4th here in 2009, so I don't think the climb is too hard for Sagan either. But Sagan didn't exactly impress on Green Mountain so he might not have good climbing form at the moment. He's probably quite good on the dirt though.

 

[greenedge]

Because everyone knows he would be the fastest at the finish line so he will need Liquigas to chase down moves/ bring him back if he struggles.