2013 Milan-San Remo, 17 March (298km)

[royalpig180]

I think there's little doubt Sagan was confident, heck the last time Ciolek did something impressive I doubt anyone had heard of Sagan so I don't think he saw this coming. That being said I very much doubt Ciolek would've taken the lead if he was asked.

And I think Sagan took the lead in the descent because he was more confident than anyone else, I don't think that was a mistake, nor that he lost much energy there. If he made any mistake I think it was going to early expecting his sprint to be more than enough to win it.

This. In all honesty, I wonder if Sagan knew who Ciolek was given that he hasn't really done anything of note during Sagan's time as a pro and with the different kit. Sagan had enough kick to win if he hadn't gone so early. He's just gotten used to winning sprints against climbers (like Nibali and Rodriguez in T-A) and he failed to realize the strength of this group in a sprint... Lesson learned, I hope.

 

[ILovecycling]

Sagan overconfident?oh guys dont be stupid.He bring entire group to the front,caught all attacks alone because nobody wasnt riding and almost won a sprint against sprinter...bla bla ...

 

[gruppeto993]

Cancellara wasnt strong enough. Its simple. If he was he would have attacked with 1-2km to go. If he had tried to attack and failed, he would have been off the podium. Oh well, lets see what he and sagan can do later in the classics. Or lets see who will they come second and third too if they continue cancelling each other out the race

 

[boladelmundo]

Cancellara you lost my respect from today.....Sagan should have won...what a huge disappointment

How? By being pulled by Cancellara? Sagan lost and we're okay with that, just accept it.

 

[Netserk]

At least Canc didn't win

 

[maltiv]

Kristoff beating Cav in the bunch sprint? That's a first! Kind of impressed.

He beat him in a sprint in Tour of Denmark last year too.

 

[Kwibus]

He raced passively the last kms like a sprinter, yet he isn't. He even caught Sagan when he went and then nothing.

Yeah great tactics, it almost looked like his only target was to not let Sagan win. This way Cancellara will never win.

He should've attacked, but he didn't. That's his mistake. Not helping Sagan was good move for once.

 

[will10]

I think there's little doubt Sagan was confident, heck the last time Ciolek did something impressive I doubt anyone had heard of Sagan so I don't think he saw this coming. That being said I very much doubt Ciolek would've taken the lead if he was asked.

And I think Sagan took the lead in the descent because he was more confident than anyone else, I don't think that was a mistake, nor that he lost much energy there. If he made any mistake I think it was going to early expecting his sprint to be more than enough to win it.

We don't know if Ciolek would've risked someone else chasing Stannard to give himself a better chance in the sprint for whatever position. The fact remains that Sagan did not look round for help when he should've. That's where Sagan lost. You absolutely have to make the fastest guy work in a group like that. You have to force them to cover the moves. Now perhaps Sagan thought he was the fastest and thought he could beat Ciolek despite being tired from chasing. Hell, he nearly did!

There may not have been a way for Sagan to win today. He was the top favourite and yes, he was marked heavily. But he didn't do all he could have to win. A lot of his victories have come from being very smart as well as very strong. Sagan just wasn't that smart today. And that suggests he was a little too confident IMO.

 

[kingjr]

BAM!

What a race. Maybe the most exciting MSR I've seen. Sagan insanely strong but Ciolek cold as ice. Finally he lives up to his talent.

 

[HiCadence]

HAHAHA Sagan taking the sprint early because he thought he could crush his break away companions! Sucks to under estimate your rivals today Sagan! Ciolek destroyed you!

Anyone else notice Sagan start crying on the line as he felt the lead slip away?

Best race ever.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

I don't remember seeing Cancellara in an escape group and not ride. Either he had no legs (seems unlikely given his Poggio attack) or he rode against Sagan. Sagan was too confident that he could do all the work and still win.

He had to do all the work because nobody else there was going to carry him to the finish.

 

[Marco Pantani]

cancellara cannot beat sagan even if he makes him to do all the work. LOL.
and i wonder if he will make complains to ciolek for not taking tours too.
LOL.

Be patient for another 2-3 weeks.

 

[staubsauger]

It was a sprint finish out of a small group and it was won by the fastest guy in the group. Fully deserved for Ciolek.

Actually Ciolek COULD sometimes sprint faster than Sagan if he's in top shape and he did today. That's the only thing that counts.

And about his non-working. It's not his fault that all the other big guns forgot about his abillitie to be a fast man is it? They were all looking at Sagen. Even Sagan himself felt super strong and confident as he did most of the work and began the sprint that early.

Ciolek just played his card very well.

MTN is worth it's money! Nice to see ...

 

[ChewbaccaD]

To all the armchair cyclists, Cancellara had cramp all over, so he couldn't do any better and could not do a real sprint out of the saddle. Enough said about his 'tactics' towards Sagan, because there were no tactics involved.

If you are posting this, I am guessing you aren't on your bike. For armchair cyclists like you, I say excuses are easy to make either by fanboys or whiny Drama Queens like Fabs.

 

[gruppeto993]

He had to do all the work because nobody else there was going to carry him to the finish.

which is what happens in any small group or break away when you have a fast guy in there. Sagan is no exception. Had greipel/cav been in that group with no team mates they would have been doing all the pulling too since they're obviously fast.

 

[jaylew]

Do you think Ciolek would've done if Sagan had flicked the elbow? He didn't even ask anyone else to ride. Sagan led the whole descent across to the leaders, and then covered every move in the final. Perhaps slightly overconfident.

Yes, he appeared to be a bit overconfident to me. Closed someone down one too many times and didn't even look to get help.

 

[Gregory]

The fact remains that Sagan did not look round for help when he should've. That's where Sagan lost. You absolutely have to make the fastest guy work in a group like that. You have to force them to cover the moves. .

Sagan DID look for help once and it almost cost him a race. When Cancellara made his attack Sagan waited for a moment, because someone other was supposed to pull at this moment, but the gap immediately widened to a dangerous extent.
As some others, like Netserk are saying, Sagan did the right move by chasing everyone else. It's in the sprint where he lost

 

[Rocksteady]

Yeah, I forgot. Still kind-of impressed!

Instead of waiting for the sprint, Phinney beat them both... Very impressed.

 

[Museeuw]

I said it here Sagan's celebrations were stupid and dumb. That's why Cancellara rode MSR to make Sagan lose. He can't stand him.

Very easy to agree. He didn't respect other riders. Or that is what it looks like.

Very happy that Sagan didn't won. I think I'm starting to like Cancellara. Wouldn't believe to see it happens.

 

[ultimobici]

Possibly, if it's a proper jacket. Rainjackets are not that expensive.

They are......
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/curve-releases-professional-equivalent-rain-jacket

 

[Marco Pantani]

Funny how Cancellara can't do anything right.

If he does the moto, people critisize him, if he doesn't, same..........he'll win his next monument soon.

 

[theyoungest]

Sky have created another British leader, this time it's one for the classics. Difficult to know how Thomas would have done, but if he fails in the Ronde and so on Stannard should be close.

 

[ChewbaccaD]

which is what happens in any small group or break away when you have a fast guy in there. Sagan is no exception. Had greipel/cav been in that group with no team mates they would have been doing all the pulling too since they're obviously fast.

My quote was in relation to people saying Sagan was stupid for doing all the work.

Thanks for supporting my point.

 

[Lanark]

What a great final, I think my heartbeat was higher than those of the cyclists in the last 10k

Ciolek, man, when he just came in the peloton I though he would be the next Zabel, now when he was all but written off, he suddenly wins the race of Herr Mailand. Just fantastic.

Sagan was great as well, looked like he suffered a bit on the Poggio, but he rode like a champion in the last 6k. He was heavily marked, but he'll have to get used to that. It's not going to get easier from here.

Cancellara rode tactical for once, but I don't think he had the strength to do anything in the end. Still, he looks more than ready for the classics.

 

[Netserk]

Canc will get 2nd or 3rd in both RVV and PR this year.