2016 Strade Bianche, March 5th, 176 km, 1.HC

[TommyGun]

OMG!! Super-psyched for Cancellara!! What a legend!

It was a weird final though: both Sagan and Stybar disapppeared, it wasnt even a context. Really strange that Stybar could not even sprint with Cancellara, even though he didnt have to take turns for 15kms.

Stybar didn't disappear, he was pretty much on Cancellara's wheel, but didn't have the power to come past. Plus Canc deliberately overshot a couple of corners to cut Stybar up a bit and prevent him from coming round him

Yep, Cance cornered the finale like it was his backyard. Smart to not let Stybar take the front ahead of the descent as in one point they were almost side to side.

On the few straight pieces of road, Stybar had every opportunity to go past though. He also had the opportunity just before the finishing straight, but lacked the power to come across.

Thanks, I rewatched it, I see it now
Even more impressive then!

 

[Kwibus]

Nordhaug stronger than Kwiatkovski.Dumb move to send him in an useless attack.

Yes, but the past has shown Kwiat is normally stronger so looking at it from that POV it's not that dumb.
What's maybe dumb is that Kwiat should've said he wasn't good.

 

[Echoes]

Italian races have the absolute best trophies!

Ya, I think I have to agree with that.

Really, which trophy is more horrible than the Tirreno one?

 

[Kwibus]

Italian races have the absolute best trophies!

Haha! True that!

 

[Kwibus]

Italian races have the absolute best trophies!

Ya, I think I have to agree with that.

Really, which trophy is more horrible than the Tirreno one?

Best trophy ever obviously

It's so crazy that I love it.

 

[jaylew]

Italian races have the absolute best trophies!

Ya, I think I have to agree with that.

Really, which trophy is more horrible than the Tirreno one?

I love it. That's my favorite trophy of all.

 

[DBotero]

Nordhaug stronger than Kwiatkovski.Dumb move to send him in an useless attack.

Yes, but the past has shown Kwiat is normally stronger so looking at it from that POV it's not that dumb.
What's maybe dumb is that Kwiat should've said he wasn't good.

They should have considered that Kwiatkowski maybe is not fully recovered and give Nordhaug a protected role.

 

[Taxus4a]

Great race!!

Very happy for Cancellara, veru emotive victory.

Valverde need best weather to shine more.

 

[elfed68]

Re:

senza parole

Does anyone know if he was on the Madone or Koppenberg?

 

[PremierAndrew]

Just watched it now, gutted for Brambilla, but what a ride Fabu. This guy is gonna remind us why he's one of the best cyclists of all time in April

 

[VanBsr]

Re: Re:

senza parole

Does anyone know if he was on the Madone or Koppenberg?

What is Koppenberg? I think he was on the Domane

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

senza parole

Does anyone know if he was on the Madone or Koppenberg?

I do know he wasn't on the Koppenberg. He will be on the Koppenberg in April.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Great race!!

Very happy for Cancellara, veru emotive victory.

Valverde need best weather to shine more.

It's not about the weather, Liege last year had similar weather, yet it didn't bother him. He doesn't have the right form yet.

 

[May0maniac]

Stybar was surprisingly hesitant up the last climb.

This one is on him after the team did everything right.

He probably thought that Brambilla had a chance, he didn't want to chase his teammate down.

 

[May0maniac]

It sounds strange but I think Brambillas attack at the end maybe cost Stybar the win. Stybar might have been stronger than Cancellara on the final ascent but he just didnt want to attack because his teammate was in front. Ofc thats only speculation but I think it could be the case.

There was a moment half way up the final hill when Stybar went alongside Canc, trying to pass him from outside. Then rooftops blocked the view. When camera caught them again, Canc was still ahead. So I think Stybar was just not strong enough, despite having all the tactical advantages he could hope for.

Fabian played it smart, he overshot the corner to block Stybar, that was a masterclass on how to win on such a technical final.

 

[Taxus4a]

Re: Re:

Great race!!

Very happy for Cancellara, veru emotive victory.

Valverde need best weather to shine more.

It's not about the weather, Liege last year had similar weather, yet it didn't bother him. He doesn't have the right form yet.

Lieja with good weather he would be very superior, and he was peaking for that race. Anyway it wanst a bad weather day, similar as toay as you say.

But here we are in the sterrato and no peaking. Anyway he has been 10, but I know quite well Valverde and with sun today he would have been with the best or very close. Maybe a 0,5 % better, but that is enough to be in the front group and to figh as last year.

 

[pastronef]

notice how Cance gets praise from every poster on here.

a great rider gets applause when he races greatly and people enjoy that despite all the doubts about him since 2010

 

[Taxus4a]

Stybar was surprisingly hesitant up the last climb.

This one is on him after the team did everything right.

He probably thought that Brambilla had a chance, he didn't want to chase his teammate down.

Just him maybe know him, but i think that he lose becouse he repect his team mate, as logical, and Cancellara anticipate at the very end and take the corner by the best place. But without the work of Bambrilla stybar would have been very tired.. he didnt look so fresh at the end 200 m instead he didnt work the last Km.

 

[Gigs_98]

It's strange. I always think the gravel can't be such a big obstacle for pure climbers and I always have the impression the strade bianche should fit the specialists for hilly classics better than the cobbles specialists. But still once again the cobbles specialists showed that they have an equal chance although this race is basically the fleche wallone with a few dirt roads

 

[elfed68]

Re: Re:

senza parole

Does anyone know if he was on the Madone or Koppenberg?

I do know he wasn't on the Koppenberg. He will be on the Koppenberg in April.

The Domane Koppenberg is the frame that Cancellara and Trek developed for riding the Spring Classics. He's been riding the red Madone all year but today it seems he might have been back on his favourite Koppenberg.

That's something I knew, and you obviously didn't.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

senza parole

Does anyone know if he was on the Madone or Koppenberg?

I do know he wasn't on the Koppenberg. He will be on the Koppenberg in April.

The Domane Koppenberg is the frame that Cancellara and Trek developed for riding the Spring Classics. He's been riding the red Madone all year but today it seems he might have been back on his favourite Koppenberg.

That's something I knew, and you obviously didn't.

That is something you knew that I didn't...I stand corrected.

 

[Jspear]

notice how Cance gets praise from every poster on here.

a great rider gets applause when he races greatly and people enjoy that despite all the doubts about him since 2010

Anything he did in 2010 can easily be forgiven....it was so entertaining.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Fantastic victory for Spartacus! When you're in a quartet that includes two riders from one team (Ettix) there's a big danger that they will outplay you tactically. Cancellara was strong, did a lot of work to keep the quartet in front, chased down Brambilla, and rode a smart uphill sprint against Stybar. The strongest rider has won.

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

Fantastic victory for Spartacus! When you're in a quartet that includes two riders from one team (Ettix) there's a big danger that they will outplay you tactically. Cancellara was strong, did a lot of work to keep the quartet in front, chased down Brambilla, and rode a smart uphill sprint against Stybar. The strongest rider has won.

To be honest, the best rider probably got in third today. Even after being in the break and attacking again and again he managed to stay with Cancellara und Stybar until the end. Could've won if he was the one sitting back. But that is obviously in hindsight.

 

[TMP402]

Moscon 18th, ahead of Kwiatkowski and 25 secs behind Nibali.