2015 Strade Bianche, 7th March, 200 km, 1.HC

[Kwibus]

The great thing about SB is how many riders have a chance to win. From rouleur classic specialists to puncheur/climbers, they're all there and willing to give it a go. Means it's hard to predict because the field is open and how they race on the day completely affects who can contend.

All I wish for is a flat finish. I don't really like the final climb, the thing is that the finish in Siena such an incredible beautiful place that it justifies the final climb.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

come on GVA ffs

 

[SafeBet]

What a performance by Rosa anyway. After all the bad luck last year.

 

[CyclingEnthusiast]

Here we goooooo

 

[Bexon30]

Valverde looks so comfortable today, it's the last climb where he should completely own the others though. Someone needs to gap him now or soon.

 

[SeriousSam]

Please someone do the work at the front so Valverde can obliterate them at the climb

 

[Miburo]

A individual stage in Eneco Tour comparing with the Tour of Flanders

He can do well in Flanders, but winning? No way.

Based on what do you say piti can't win? What's your argument? He can handle hills easily, can handle 260km races easily, can ride on cobbles decently (maybe even better than you think, what races have you seen him race on cobbles. Based on what do you make the argument he can't?)

Maybe he's too slim, but he can put on some weight if he really wants to go for it.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Great camera work just behind GVA.

 

[Miburo]

Stybar is so freaking good today, wth man

I think he was about to drop piti there.

 

[Kwibus]

Climbs dropping the cobbled riders.

wow and Vanmarcke completely blew up.

 

[Rollthedice]

An then there were three.

 

[CyclingEnthusiast]

Poor Vanmarcke, always gets so close

Think Valverde will edge Stybar in the final if they stay together

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Bala is a Beast today!!!!

wheeling sucking dust this time.

 

[hfer07]

gooooo GVA!!!

 

[Miburo]

Who is nr.71 and what has he done with Valverde?

 

[Arredondo]

Based on what do you say piti can't win? What's your argument? He can handle hills easily, can handle 260km races easily, can ride on cobbles decently (maybe even better than you think, what races have you seen him race on cobbles. Based on what do you make the argument he can't?)

Maybe he's too slim, but he can put on some weight if he really wants to go for it.

Because he's too slim, and in a race of 250 km, you won't win against guys like Vanmarcke, Cancellara and co. if they attack on a Oude Kwaremont.

In E3-Prijs for example, he did decent till 50 km before the finish. But when the real action started, he was nowhere. There's a big difference between making impression earlier on in the race and actually follow guys like Vanmarcke in the final.

 

[Sasquatch]

Who is nr.71 and what has he done with Valverde?

Think Valverde was sick of getting podiums and realised he needs to work to get a win.

 

[proffz]

best race of the year
sty bar enormous, rosa trying to close the gap, valverde the right way
what a race

 

[spalco]

Go Stybar!

 

[Sasquatch]

Oleg will be ****ed he has no one up there. They had 5 of them and one should have gone when Sagan went unless they couldn't go with him so at least they had 2 representatives in the front group like BMC did.

 

[CyclingEnthusiast]

GVA to get another podium but yet again miss out on the victory

Valverde looking so slim

 

[goggalor]

GPS is so ****ed today lol

 

[Jspear]

GVA to get another podium but yet again miss out on the victory

Valverde and GVA will both be fighting for a podium place so Stybar is the automatic winner.

 

[Gloin22]

GVA to get another podium but yet again miss out on the victory

Valverde looking so slim

He's clearly the weakest of the three so you cant be surprised.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I honestly don't understand why people are surprised at Styby's performance.

He's already shown that he can do well in high level classics (Roubaix), he's shown on some occasions that he can manage tough hills, he's shown to be at least in decent shape already and he's an extremely good CX rider, so obviously the sterrato is a joke for him. Basically he's a proven classics rider in decent shape and this race has a perfect parcours for him. He was always going to do well here........