2018 Strade Bianche, 1.UWT, 03.03.18

[Eshnar]

Today the real season starts, and in just a week it's already time for the youngest monument of the year!

Route is basically equal to last year's. Only a few very minor changes.

STARTLIST:
http://www.strade-bianche.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/LISTA_ISCRITTI_UOMINI_SB2018.pdf

PAST EDITIONS:
2017 1 Michał Kwiatkowski - 2 Greg Van Avermaet - 3 Tim Wellens
2016 1 Fabian Cancellara - 2 Zdeněk Štybar - 3 Gianluca Brambilla
2015 1 Zdeněk Štybar - 2 Greg Van Avermaet - 3 Alejandro Valverde
2014 1 Michał Kwiatkowski - 2 Peter Sagan - 3 Alejandro Valverde
2013 1 Moreno Moser - 2 Peter Sagan - 3 Rinaldo Nocentini
2012 1 Fabian Cancellara - 2 Maksim Iglinskij - 3 Oscar Gatto
2011 1 Philippe Gilbert - 2 Alessandro Ballan - 3 Damiano Cunego
2010 1 Maksim Iglinskij - 2 Thomas Lövkvist - 3 Michael Rogers
2009 1 Thomas Lovkvist - 2 Fabian Wegmann - 3 Martin Elmige
2008 1 Fabian Cancellara - 2 Alessandro Ballan - 3 Linus Gerdemann
2007 1 Aleksandr Kolobnev - 2 Marcus Ljungqvist - 3 Mychajlo Chalilov

 

[portugal11]

Peto sagan for the win... I'm still wonder why he isn't racing today...

 

[Gigs_98]

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

There is a chance for rain in Siena next saturday. Last year we had the first ever wet Strade Bianche but I'm still waiting for the first muddy Strade Binache. Anyway, Tim Wellens will win this bike race, the weather will only decide by how many minutes

 

[Netserk]

Depending on the temperature, Sagan will club everyone here.

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Stybar looks ready.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Stybs, Kwiato, Gianni, Sagan, Greg.. and hopefully also Valv. Lots of great riders who this race suits perfectly! Rain would make it even better.

 

[SKSemtex]

I will cheer for Sagan, but Kwiatko will boss him on last climb again and get his name on one of the section.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re:

Depending on the temperature, Sagan will club everyone here.

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

Yes. Very far from level of boredom.
I know that you want AGR to be the greatest race after monuments but it has almost nothing to offer in terms of excitement unless they change the route considerably. Sure it has the history but present peloton is too strong for this type of routes.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

I know it's nowhere near monument status as of now, but you must admit that the prestige of this race is very impressive considering its age. Also I'm by far not the only person who makes the monument comparison. I'm not even the first one who made it in this thread.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Depending on the temperature, Sagan will club everyone here.

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

Yes. Very far from level of boredom.
I know that you want AGR to be the greatest race after monuments but it has almost nothing to offer in terms of excitement unless they change the route considerably. Sure it has the history but present peloton is too strong for this type of routes.

Last years AGR was great though. If it had stayed a Cauberg uphill sprint any longer I would have agreed though.

 

[Netserk]

Depending on the temperature, Sagan will club everyone here.

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

Yes. Very far from level of boredom.
I know that you want AGR to be the greatest race after monuments but it has almost nothing to offer in terms of excitement unless they change the route considerably. Sure it has the history but present peloton is too strong for this type of routes.

Currently, Amstel and G-W are the highest ranking non-monument classics. Flèche is more prestigious than Strade for now as well.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Depending on the temperature, Sagan will club everyone here.

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

Yes. Very far from level of boredom.
I know that you want AGR to be the greatest race after monuments but it has almost nothing to offer in terms of excitement unless they change the route considerably. Sure it has the history but present peloton is too strong for this type of routes.

Currently, Amstel and G-W are the highest ranking non-monument classics. Flèche is more prestigious than Strade for now as well.

How about OHN? E-3? Its surely more prestigious than the Canadian WT-races and other classics such as Ploauy and Hamburg?

 

[Blanco]

It' maybe the most entertaining of all, but I agree with Netserk on this one. Amstel, GW and Fleche are bigger races. i would put it in the category of E3, Omloop, San Sebastian and Canadian races, above Hamburg and Plouay.

 

[SKSemtex]

I am pretty sure that most of the riders would prefer to have his name on one of the section then win 5 times the AGR or FW or G-W.
Btw, that was an excellent marketing move from race organizers.
As I said, the present peloton is too strong for this routs. No selection possible before last hill.
Hopefully size of teams reduced to 6 will bring the excitement to these old classics again.
At this moment is SB much better race by miles.

 

[rick james]

Re:

Peto sagan for the win... I'm still wonder why he isn't racing today...

maybe because we have pro cyclist better than him in this race

 

[Koronin]

Maybe this year Valverde wins it.

As for a naming a segment at Fleche Wallone the only rider to have one that race more than 3 times is Valverde who has won it 5 times and a bunch of us have already requested the final time they climb the Mur de Huy be renamed the Mur de Huy de Balaverde. Since Valverde is the only one to have actually won Fleche Wallone more than 3 times it's unlikely most riders even considered winning it 5 times possible, and many probably still don't think it's possible.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

Peto sagan for the win... I'm still wonder why he isn't racing today...

maybe because we have pro cyclist better than him in this race

Or because he knows his abilities and thinks that in order to be competitive enough to win the PR or to be competitive in AGR he has to start his season one week later.
He is probably willing to sacrifice SB or even MSR to that goal.

 

[Blanco]

I am pretty sure that most of the riders would prefer to have his name on one of the section then win 5 times the AGR or FW or G-W.
Btw, that was an excellent marketing move from race organizers.
As I said, the present peloton is too strong for this routs. No selection possible before last hill.
Hopefully size of teams reduced to 6 will bring the excitement to these old classics again.
At this moment is SB much better race by miles.

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

Maybe this year Valverde wins it.

As for a naming a segment at Fleche Wallone the only rider to have one that race more than 3 times is Valverde who has won it 5 times and a bunch of us have already requested the final time they climb the Mur de Huy be renamed the Mur de Huy de Balaverde. Since Valverde is the only one to have actually won Fleche Wallone more than 3 times it's unlikely most riders even considered winning it 5 times possible, and many probably still don't think it's possible.

Bala isn't on the Iscritti list. Is he really riding here?

Can't see past Kwiatko. He is in superb form.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

I know it's nowhere near monument status as of now, but you must admit that the prestige of this race is very impressive considering its age. Also I'm by far not the only person who makes the monument comparison. I'm not even the first one who made it in this thread.

I agree with yo - SB is definitely one of the elite classics - whether or not you want to call it a monument. History is one factor, but SB fulfills every other criteria. It's a unique course, with an extremely high quality field, many of whom are coming into top form. And, best of all, it's one of the rare chances to see some of the best cobbled riders up against some the best hilly classics riders - with both having chances (although I think it slightly suits the cobbled specialists more because of the time of the year).

Who cares if some inflexible bureaucratic fans want to deny the label 'monument' on some technicalities? The fact is it's easily one of the best races of the season and one that every top rider would love to win.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

I know it's nowhere near monument status as of now, but you must admit that the prestige of this race is very impressive considering its age. Also I'm by far not the only person who makes the monument comparison. I'm not even the first one who made it in this thread.

I agree with yo - SB is definitely one of the elite classics - whether or not you want to call it a monument. History is one factor, but SB fulfills every other criteria. It's a unique course, with an extremely high quality field, many of whom are coming into top form. And, best of all, it's one of the rare chances to see some of the best cobbled riders up against some the best hilly classics riders - with both having chances (although I think it slightly suits the cobbled specialists more because of the time of the year).

Who cares if some inflexible bureaucratic fans want to deny the label 'monument' on some technicalities? The fact is it's easily one of the best races of the season and one that every top rider would love to win.

Oh yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, just look at the recent winners.. its the best and most versatile riders in the world going up against each other and its without a doubt the most entertaining and action-packed classic outside of Roubaix and Flanders IMO despite its length and relatively low status.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

So, how long will we have to call this race a monument before it actually becomes one?

Easy, tiger. It's far from even Amstel level. So far, it's a neo-classic.

I know it's nowhere near monument status as of now, but you must admit that the prestige of this race is very impressive considering its age. Also I'm by far not the only person who makes the monument comparison. I'm not even the first one who made it in this thread.

I agree with yo - SB is definitely one of the elite classics - whether or not you want to call it a monument. History is one factor, but SB fulfills every other criteria. It's a unique course, with an extremely high quality field, many of whom are coming into top form. And, best of all, it's one of the rare chances to see some of the best cobbled riders up against some the best hilly classics riders - with both having chances (although I think it slightly suits the cobbled specialists more because of the time of the year).

Who cares if some inflexible bureaucratic fans want to deny the label 'monument' on some technicalities? The fact is it's easily one of the best races of the season and one that every top rider would love to win.

Oh yeah, I couldn't agree more. I mean, just look at the recent winners.. its the best and most versatile riders in the world going up against each other and its without a doubt the most entertaining and action-packed classic outside of Roubaix and Flanders IMO despite its length and relatively low status.

Definitely. Roubaix is on a different level to everything because of how consistently they offer epic races. And Flanders isnt too far behind. But, like you said, Strade is next for me as well. When you have team leaders as diverse as Sagan, GVA, Nibali, Dumoulin, Bardet, Valverde, Kwiatkowski, Vanmarcke, Stybar, Gilbert etc... all thinking they have a shot at winning it - and racing on an epic and incredibly photogenic course with loads of opportunities to attack, it's perfect.

Making the race 250km to placate the 'monument ideologues' would ruin it as well and be completely unnecessary. It's already a much tougher race than MSR for example.

 

[Gigs_98]

I just read Wellens will not ride this? That is incredibly disappointing after the show he caused there last year and considering his superb shape.

 

[KGB]

Kwiatek big favorite for SB with his form but Sagan even with Marlon on his back will smoke them all.

 

[Alexandre B.]

I just read Wellens will not ride this? That is incredibly disappointing after the show he caused there last year and considering his superb shape.

There should be a special airline lane between Sienna and Paris.