2017 Strade Bianche, March 4th, 175 km WT

[Eshnar]

The baby monument finally debuts in the WT
The route is mostly the same as last year, with 2 new sectors in the first part. Note how they didn't even bother to change the final kms detail that marks the last sectors as 8-9.

Race starts at 11.00 CET
Finish between 15.15 and 15.45 CET

Weather forecasts say rain during the race (not heavy though) and strong wind from south.

OFFICIAL STARTLIST
http://www.strade-bianche.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CI0109PAR_SBMEN17.pdf

WINNERS
2007 Kolobnev
2008 Cancellara
2009 Lövkvist
2010 Iglinsky
2011 Gilbert
2012 Cancellara
2013 Moser
2014 Kwiatkowski
2015 Štybar
2016 Cancellara

 

[Red Rick]

Make it 70km longer.
Put in slot of AGR
Give as many points as TdF
Televise front to back

??
#makecyclinggreatagain

 

[Alexandre B.]

Rain dance.

 

[BigMac]

Re:

Make it 70km longer.
Put in slot of AGR
Give as many points as TdF
Televise front to back

??
#makecyclinggreatagain

''make it 175kms of sterrato''.

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

Make it 70km longer.
Put in slot of AGR
Give as many points as TdF
Televise front to back

??
#makecyclinggreatagain

+Give the rainbow jersey to the winner and fv<k the worlds

 

[Valv.Piti]

It would be fun to see a 250 km Strade Bianche, but lets be realistic. Also, I don't quite see why they'd change anything drastically about the race when it has been so successful, its some of the best racing on the calendar. 25 km more wouldn't hurt, but does it really matter that much?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The race will be fine. Go GVA.

 

[portugal11]

Unfortunately no rain

 

[Arredondo]

Why changing a winning format?

Il grande Fabio Felline for his first big win!

 

[Brullnux]

An extra 20km or 30 wouldn't hurt. I'd like to maybe see one experiment with 230+ and see how it goes. If it is bad then revert back but if it is better then keep it long. No harm I think in trying new things with an open mind.

 

[Gigs_98]

It has never rained during this race, right? How likely is that in March?

I think we should stop rain dancing before Strade Bianche and Paris Roubaix. It really didn't work in the last years and I have the feeling it only results in good weather.

 

[Red Rick]

It has never rained during this race, right? How likely is that in March?

I think we should stop rain dancing before Strade Bianche and Paris Roubaix. It really didn't work in the last years and I have the feeling it only results in good weather.

We can just melt the poles so that that part of France is under water. Unless it's a few m higher than where I live, then we'll wait until I move

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

Make it 70km longer.
Put in slot of AGR
Give as many points as TdF
Televise front to back

??
#makecyclinggreatagain

Make Oleg and Zomegnan organize all races and it will be great again. #true #sobig #awsome #huge

 

[portugal11]

Sagan finally broke the curse of second places today in omloop. So I expect him to win this race

 

[Gigs_98]

Yeah, Sagan looks scarily good, but he probably still has to come to the finish alone and that will be difficult. Then again Cancellara isn't there anymore which makes it a bit easier.

 

[BigMac]

Even if he comes in a small group, all he mustn't do is pull more than he should, then nobody will pose a threat on the ramp to Sienna.

 

[Red Rick]

The hillyness always takes the best of out Sagan.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Even if he comes in a small group, all he mustn't do is pull more than he should, then nobody will pose a threat on the ramp to Sienna.

Riders like GVA and Stybar will be as explosive or even more on the finish in Siena. Will be a hard race for Peter to win - GVA is my favourite.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Even if he comes in a small group, all he mustn't do is pull more than he should, then nobody will pose a threat on the ramp to Sienna.

Riders like GVA and Stybar will be as explosive or even more on the finish in Siena. Will be a hard race for Peter to win - GVA is my favourite.

Agree, GVA and Stybar look clear favourites from the startlist. Be interesting to see if Brambilla can repeat his performances last year (both at SB and on the Arezzo stage of the Giro).

Sky look strong as well. If good Kwiatkowski shows up he can do something again, and Rosa has form here as well.

Such a great race, a course that gives so many different riders a chance. I wonder if it was held in April/May rather than early March, would the results shift away from the classics riders and more towards the Ardennes climbers?

 

[Netserk]

I hope for a solo win from Peter the Great.

 

[Tonton]

You all know who I'm rooting for .

It's such a special race, and it takes a strongman to win it. GVA, Sagan, Stybar are the obvious favorites, and at the Strade, it's hard to bluff your way to a win. But still think that a second-tier favorite may take a chance and prevail. The Trek guys come to mind.

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

Even if he comes in a small group, all he mustn't do is pull more than he should, then nobody will pose a threat on the ramp to Sienna.

Riders like GVA and Stybar will be as explosive or even more on the finish in Siena. Will be a hard race for Peter to win - GVA is my favourite.

True, but I am not so sure gva will be able to hold sagan's wheel here. The sterrato sections are much more suitable to sagan than to gva. Also, if gva misses the initial move, I can't remember him bridging. Stybar and kwiatkowski is whole other story though. When sagan makes the move, one of them will be on his wheel.

 

[Gigs_98]

What about Kwiat? This is a race which suits him very well (after all he has already won it) and he had a good shape in Algarve.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

GVA is my main favorite here as well.

 

[Carols]

I Love this race....will miss Fabu in in though .