2018 Strade Bianche, 1.UWT, 03.03.18

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

How can you not mention Moser? And now that he is back!

You have to fancy at least one Astana rider to be in the mix the way they have started the season, and that they are possibly riding for their futures.

It looks a much stronger field this year though than when Moser won it.

I remember that race very well. They were a perfect duo with Sagan. Everybody was watching Sagan and Moser was allowed to ride away.

That was probably last time I remember somebody from Sagan team being in the final selection of some of one-day races.


I think Bodnar was one time - but I do not remember the race. MSR?

Yeah, it was nearly similar with Brambilla a couple of years ago as well, but he couldn't quite hold on. It seems like having a couple of team mates in a small group at the end here can be a much bigger advantage than in most races. Because everyone else is too cooked, or too worried about the final climb to chase properly.

 

[Velolover2]

Who are Astana bringing? They have plenty of riders who could finish in top 5. Moser, Lutsenko, Valgren, LLS.

 

[Velolover2]

The race suits Moscon so well that he could end up as Kwiatkowski's rival.

 

[Samamba]

What's the weather gonna be like?

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

How can you not mention Moser? And now that he is back!

Or Gianni Moscon?

is the tractor racing it? I though up was up the mountain in Tenerife doing a training camp

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

How can you not mention Moser? And now that he is back!

Or Gianni Moscon?

is the tractor racing it? I though up was up the mountain in Tenerife doing a training camp

I think he, Rosa and Stannard will fly home. they´ve been there for 2 weeks.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

What's the weather gonna be like?

Looks like it's going to be light rain, but the 3rd consecutive day of rain, maybe even snow on the 1st of March, so fingers crossed.

 

[WheelofGear]

A rainy race could mean a muddy surface. Perfect for cyclo-crossers and former mountain bikers.

Van Aert doing this race?

 

[Samamba]

Re:

A rainy race could mean a muddy surface. Perfect for cyclo-crossers and former mountain bikers.

Van Aert doing this race?

Yes, he is!

 

[Akuryo]

Re:

A rainy race could mean a muddy surface. Perfect for cyclo-crossers and former mountain bikers.

Van Aert doing this race?

So is Stybar ... 1st, 2nd and 4th already in this race in mostly good conditions. Bodes well for Van Aert.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

A rainy race could mean a muddy surface. Perfect for cyclo-crossers and former mountain bikers.

Van Aert doing this race?

So is Stybar ... 1st, 2nd and 4th already in this race in mostly good conditions. Bodes well for Van Aert.

Strade Bianche is probably the best one day race for Stybar, it just suits him well.

 

[pastronef]

rainy in Siena thursday and friday, with little rain on saturday

 

[Koronin]

Valverde has apparently said it's depending on the forecast as to rather he goes to Strade Bianche this year or not. Sounds like he wants to go IF the weather is going to be good, but has no interest in going if the weather is going to be bad.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Show some guts, Balaverde.

 

[Valv.Piti]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piudqGcAW0

Yes please. Imagine Stybar in that weather. Or Wout. :surprised:

 

[The Hegelian]

It's a nice race - beautiful scenery and great, balanced parcours - but I really don't get the '6th monument' hype. The best classics riders are still coming into peak condition; that makes SB just a very good entree. If it changed it's spot on the calendar + ran for another 50 years....different story. At the end of the day palmares value has a lot to do with history.

 

[jaylew]

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.

Definitely no monument yet, but it's rising fast and I think it could pass up AGR quicker than you think. It wouldn't really surprise me to already hear some riders say they'd rather win SB than AGR. It can't all be about the years.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Omg I just realized this is next weekend!! One of my fave races

 

[Nirvana]

Mud will be a given this year even without rain because the snow fell yesterday (and could snow again on thursday morning) will melt from thursday evening when the temperature will start to rise.

Anyway for me the most important thing is a better coverage, this weekend Eurosport showed only 38 kms of Omloop and rugby instead Kuurne, a great race is useless if we can't watch it properly.

 

[WheelofGear]

I get it, he smashed his knee but if Valverde really is the greatest all-rounder out there he wouldn't be afraid of the rain or some risky surface.

That's why Kwiatkowski deserves the title. He seems to thrive in the rain. As long as he isn't riding the Northern classics or cold races, Valverde is a close second.

 

[Poursuivant]

This snow in Italy isn't going to have it cancelled is it? Always a great watch this race.

 

[Netserk]

It looks like it'll be +10°C come Saturday, so no.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

It looks like it'll be +10°C come Saturday, so no.

Exquisite.

 

[repre]

Re:

Mud will be a given this year even without rain because the snow fell yesterday (and could snow again on thursday morning) will melt from thursday evening when the temperature will start to rise.

Anyway for me the most important thing is a better coverage, this weekend Eurosport showed only 38 kms of Omloop and rugby instead Kuurne, a great race is useless if we can't watch it properly.

In Eurosport player u can watch it earlier but without commentary.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

I get it, he smashed his knee but if Valverde really is the greatest all-rounder out there he wouldn't be afraid of the rain or some risky surface.

That's why Kwiatkowski deserves the title. He seems to thrive in the rain. As long as he isn't riding the Northern classics or cold races, Valverde is a close second.

It's actually the cold. But he's always had issues with cold and rain. I swear if it was up to him that all races would be 25 degrees C or higher and sunny.