2015 Milano - Sanremo, March 22nd, 293 km

[eljimberino]

They're off.

 

[Asero831]

But Sky train is strong enough to neutralize the break so I do not know. If not for Sky ,I am certain that this would not be a mass

 

[Beacon Hill]

Bit of a deja-vous. Tjallingii and Bono in the break. Pirazzi there too

 

[DBotero]

Time for this guy to return to glory:

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

All the hype about Wonder Boy Sagan in Milan-San Remo makes nice press; he's done very well in tour events due to his ability to make breaks and score points, thus taking the points jersey. I'll be shocked if he wins tomorrows event. Either Spartacus, Kristoff, Gilbert or a sprinter (Cav, Greipel) will take it.

Sagan will win

 

[Kwibus]

Apparently it rain pretty hard so that's good news! More attrition, all we miss now is le manie.

Oh well.

 

[burning]

11:30:59 CET
The break covered 43.8 kilometres in the first hour of racing, incidentally. The wind hasn't been much of a factor so far, but ahead of the worse, the word was that there would be a stiff breeze on the coast this afternoon. Crucially, perhaps, a headwind is anticipated on the Poggio, meaning that any would-be Giorgio Furlans will have their work cut out if they are to get clear and stay clear. Good news for the sprinters - if the forecast is indeed correct.

Wait, what? I thought the wind is from NE in San Remo?

 

[De Snelle Duif]

If this wind tuing is true then some teams are really going to need a harder race, IAM for example, and Movistar.

 

[Akuryo]

Time for this guy to return to glory:

Terpstra is not starting today.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

So apparently headwind is expected on Poggio. Lame.

 

[Flamin]

Cav sounded miserable in the pre-race interview, still not feeling 100%. That's good news.

 

[Sasquatch]

I was going to say Moser as the winner, but if the headwind is true, then yeah, no. I actually think Greipel will win.

 

[DBotero]

Time for this guy to return to glory:

Terpstra is not starting today.

You didn't picked the right guy

 

[roosters76]

I think it's about 50-50 whether it will won from a bunch sprint or a late break (history says a largish bunch but 3 of the last 4 have come from a small group, so I dunno).

However, if it is a bunch then to my mind Kristoff deserves to be about an even money favourite. I've been backing him in bits and pieces for the last couple of months (initially when he was at 10-1, then 8-1, and now 5-1) on the basis of his phenomenal record in bunch sprints at the end of long stages. If he wins it will be clearly the biggest win of my life.

Arbitrarily using races over 240km as the benchmark (filtering out Paris Roubaix and Flanders as they are such different animals, even though he has ridden well in them too) Kristoff basically doesn't get out-sprinted:

2014
1st Milan San Remo
1st Vattenfall
8th World Champs (but 1st in the bunch sprint)

In 2013 Milan San Remo he also won the bunch sprint, albeit on for 8th place.

Sure it's a small sample size but his form this year is even stronger so if it's a bunch sprint he is the clearly the top chance. Rain wouldn't hurt either.

You're right on the money here.

 

[spalco]

Earliest live coverage in about an hour - is that correct?

 

[King Boonen]

Sounds about right, they'll still be what... 3 1/2 hours from the finish?

 

[indianfanboy]

160 km remaining...peloton tackling the Turchino pass right now

 

[Pantani_lives]

I think I'll just watch who reaches the top of the Poggio first and then turn of the tv. I don't really care who wins he sprint.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

I think I'll just watch who reaches the top of the Poggio first and then turn of the tv. I don't really care who wins he sprint.

That's what I am going to do with the footy then, just watch who wins the toss before kick off, then turn it off.

 

[Pantani_lives]

No, rather like not watching the penalty shoot-out.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

And we're live: http://www.sportingvideo.tv/20150321/vv ... 31386.html

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Re:

I think I'll just watch who reaches the top of the Poggio first and then turn of the tv. I don't really care who wins he sprint.

So your only interest is in who will achieve that which no-one sets as a goal.

Each to his own...

 

[Pantani_lives]

II was obviously saying that tongue in cheek. I just hope that for once an attacker gets rewarded, which isn't often the case in Sanremo...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well at least the finish is closer from the top lf the Poggio so attackers have more chance. I do think the rain will wear down both attackers and sprinters though. So I think it will be a sprint from a very small group. Perfect scenario for Kristoff or Sagan so far.

 

[red_flanders]

Still a beautiful race, even in the rain.