2014 Milan-San Remo, Mar 23rd (294 Km)

[hfer07]

After Cavendish defeat today- can we conclude that his 09 victory was a fluke?

 

[contessador]

Between Nibali's attack and last km
-His great descent of course
-The Nibali chase, at a certain moment he got almost a full minute ahead
-Enter the poggio!
-Nibali caught
-Rast attack (Canc lieutenant!)
-That one Italian attacks (forgot his name)
-Most disappointing part: no big names follow
-Well, Gilbert tries, at least
-But in the meantime, it is never boring, it is always really exciting to see who can hang on, who gets dropped.
-For example: Greipel gets dropped, is able to catch up again during descent, but gets dropped again just after
-Attack GVA
-Everything (group of 20) together
-WTF, final k already

This is how I underwent the final of this race. I am sorry if it was boring for you, but I definitely liked it.

Very much the same, here - how it went for me. And yeah, this is such a long race ... only the toughest and the one with enough wits left in the end, wins. Definitely not boring. But I did not think this was going to be Sagan's or a day for the favorites. By the end, I was very happy for Kristoff - deserving winner and great ride - also by the other Katusha rider up front - Luca Paolini, was it?

 

[Kokoso]

Who said super talented EBH?

 

[VeloHuman]

Hopefully, now that he has won Milan-San Remo, Katusha will start giving Kristoff the support he needs to pick up stages in stage races, rather than forcing him to do it all on his own.

 

[wayahead]

Sagan

Sagan wouldn't win even without that Stybar's move, way too slow (he'd be maybe top5, but who would care). He siply wasn't a favorite for sprint, lost his top-sprint in favour of endurance. Wevelgem '13, Montreal '13 (Ronde '13 and Strade Bianche '14 very similar, though without win) - sprint is not his biggest weapon anymore. So personally no problem with this outcome. If Cav is able to hang on = not a race hard enough for Sagan.

Kristoff great win! Really enjoyed it!

 

[podunavac]

I'm waiting for Sagan's impressions. Not exactly the result and ride everybody expected.
Did we already know that Kristoff has humongous engine?
To finish such a long race, in weather conditions like they were today, with that convincing sprint, you have to posses extraordinary endurance ability coupled with superior explosiveness.
He presented himself today like a candidate for the Classics' ruler.

 

[jens_attacks]

I'm really wondering what could have happened if Nibali had attacked on the Poggio

same question as why did pantani attacked on cipressa and not on poggio in 1999?
he could have get 10 seconds maximum and brought back in the last kms in my opnion.
of course "if"

congrats to kristoff, deserved winner. paolini rode like a beast

 

[theyoungest]

Norway's best rider gets his first really big win. Pretty similar race to last year, actually. Same kind of winner, although this one will probably get more results throughout the year.

 

[hektoren]

I really must say Canc's new tactic, because he's tired of schlepping better sprinters to the finish, really paid off! ;-) I can't understand why anyone would find this years' edition boring. Nibali's attack on cipressa, his descent, lots of small attacks towards the end, Kristoffs massive win, no, this years edition was entirely satisfactory.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully, now that he has won Milan-San Remo, Katusha will start giving Kristoff the support he needs to pick up stages in stage races, rather than forcing him to do it all on his own.

Kristoff would be up against Cav, Greipel and Kittel on soft flat stages, not sure he can win many of those. Gotta say I prefer he focus on the tough classics.

 

[mr. tibbs]

[...]

I'm as gutted for him as I am for Degenkolb getting a puncture just before the Poggio.

Was wondering where he was. I must have missed the puncture while I was running back and forth to the kitchen, making breakfast for the GF.

 

[Jspear]

After Cavendish defeat today- can we conclude that his 09 victory was a fluke?

No he was simply stronger back then. That was probably one of his greatest years.

I sure was surprised by today's results. I'm happy for him, but man!- I wish Cav had won. Fabian with another podium...

 

[Boardslide]

After Cavendish defeat today- can we conclude that his 09 victory was a fluke?

For someone not scheduled to do this race a month ago and on a slow season start I think he did remarkably well and no to the original question.

 

[BYOP88]

No he was simply stronger back then. That was probably one of his greatest years.

I sure was surprised by today's results. I'm happy for him, but man!- I wish Cav had won. Fabian with another podium...

Cavendish is on the decline

 

[SKSemtex]

Todays fail of Sagan has nothing to do with tactics or the mental pressure on him to win the first Monument. He just does not have the lags for races >250 km yet.
In AGR and MSR 2012 he was not marked and he could relax in peloton. Last year MSR was considerebly shorten.

Last year in AGR he was in the top form ( 4 days after brutal win in Brabantse Pijl ) but he finished out of gas in the finale.

No tragedy he is still so young.

 

[spanky wanderlust]

opqs were the big losers today. after all the hype about how strong they are, they just got ridden off. all of them.

apparently, the trick to beating them is to ride really fast for 300km.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Ah, Bennati touched wheels in the sprint and was out of it. Was wondering, as was super strong on the poggio, closing three attacks.

 

[Roude Leiw]

opqs were the big losers today. after all the hype about how strong they are, they just got ridden off. all of them.

apparently, the trick to beating them is to ride really fast for 300km.

How so? Cav and Stybar were both there in the group which sprinted it out?? They got 5 & 7 which might be a disappointment for them, but a lot of teams would probably be happy with such a result

 

[trevim]

Great race from BMC, I specially loved the bit when Gilbert himself chased down Van Avermaet. Overall great exhibition

 

[maltiv]

Kristoff has won the bunch sprint in all the long classics he has done since summer 2012.

- Won the sprint for 3rd Olympic road race (2012)
- Won the sprint for 8th in MSR (2013)
- Won the sprint for 4th in RVV (2013)
- Won the sprint for 9th in P-R (2013)
- Won the sprint for 1st in MSR (2014)

The guy is pretty much unbeatable in a sprint after 250+ km.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Kristoff has won the bunch sprint in all the long classics he has done since summer 2012.

- Won the sprint for 3rd Olympic road race (2012)
- Won the sprint for 8th in MSR (2013)
- Won the sprint for 4th in RVV (2013)
- Won the sprint for 9th in P-R (2013)
- Won the sprint for 1st in MSR (2014)

The guy is pretty much unbeatable in a sprint after 250+ km.

Yep, this seems to be his sweet spot. Now Katusha needs to continue to try and control the race in the upcoming classics. More big results might be on the cards.

 

[maltiv]

Yep, this seems to be his sweet spot. Now Katusha needs to continue to try and control the race in the upcoming classics. More big results might be on the cards.

Unfortunately they only have Paolini who's strong enough to be there at the end in the classics. In the future he could also win races like RVV, but then he needs to have a stronger team than Katusha is today imo.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kristoff has won the bunch sprint in all the long classics he has done since summer 2012.

- Won the sprint for 3rd Olympic road race (2012)
- Won the sprint for 8th in MSR (2013)
- Won the sprint for 4th in RVV (2013)
- Won the sprint for 9th in P-R (2013)
- Won the sprint for 1st in MSR (2014)

The guy is pretty much unbeatable in a sprint after 250+ km.

Too bad for him that Vattenfall Cyclassics 2013 was only 249,9 kilometres.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Too bad for him that Vattenfall Cyclassics 2013 was only 249,9 kilometres.

lol, indeed,
jkjj

 

[pastronef]

the constant rain and cold took its toll on the riders. on the Poggio nobody could make the difference. and on the Cipressa just Nibali tried his chance. I was surprised no other was trying to bridge to him.
great 3rd for Swifty, he started his sprint way back and had to go round some riders.
let's see if next year they add Pompeiana or bring back the Manie