2018 Strade Bianche, 1.UWT, 03.03.18

[Koronin]

Re:

Its amazing how many comments this race already has. It hasn't even started yet!

It really shows how highly real cycling fans rate the race, myself included. Especially this year the race seems to be loaded and everything up in the air, the best of the best versatile classic riders going up against each other on pretty much equal ground: Kwito, Sagan, Valv, GvA, Gilbert, Stybar... amazing.

I think this is exactly why it's become such a popular race relatively quickly. The classics riders love it and prove it by how many of the top classics riders come to it, and the fans appreciate it.

 

[jaylew]

I'll say:

*****Kwia, GVA, Stybar
****Gilbert, Sagan, Valverde
***Moscon, Bardet, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
**Benoot, Impey, Van Aert, Colbrelli, Stuyven, Ulissi
*Visconti, Nibali, Haas, Dumoulin, Felline, Durbridge

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I'll say:

*****Kwia, GVA, Stybar
****Gilbert, Sagan, Valverde
***Moscon, Bardet, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
**Benoot, Impey, Van Aert, Colbrelli, Stuyven, Ulissi
*Visconti, Nibali, Haas, Dumoulin, Felline, Durbridge

This is a solid breakdown

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

I'll say:

*****Kwia, GVA, Stybar
****Gilbert, Sagan, Valverde
***Moscon, Bardet, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
**Benoot, Impey, Van Aert, Colbrelli, Stuyven, Ulissi
*Visconti, Nibali, Haas, Dumoulin, Felline, Durbridge

I mostly agree. I'd say:

***** Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Stybar
**** Valverde, Van Avermaet, Gilbert, Moscon
*** Benoot, Dumoulin, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
** Colbrelli, Van Aert, Ulissi, Haas
* Impey, Oss, Felline, Bardet, Moser, Durbridge, Visconti, Stuyven

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

I'll say:

*****Kwia, GVA, Stybar
****Gilbert, Sagan, Valverde
***Moscon, Bardet, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
**Benoot, Impey, Van Aert, Colbrelli, Stuyven, Ulissi
*Visconti, Nibali, Haas, Dumoulin, Felline, Durbridge

I mostly agree. I'd say:

***** Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Stybar
**** Valverde, Van Avermaet, Gilbert, Moscon
*** Benoot, Dumoulin, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
** Colbrelli, Van Aert, Ulissi, Haas
* Impey, Oss, Felline, Bardet, Moser, Durbridge, Visconti, Stuyven

YES. This one is almost perfect

 

[Valv.Piti]

How about Sep Vanmarcke? He was the strongest in Omloop and could possibly do very well, heck even win. Maybe its too hilly, but he looked formidable on the Muur. I don't think we should discount him!

I almost feel like its Flanders and Roubaix time, thats how much I am looking forward to the race, altho its very frustrating they won't cover it as well as those races.

 

[tomorrow]

Re: Re:

I'll say:

*****Kwia, GVA, Stybar
****Gilbert, Sagan, Valverde
***Moscon, Bardet, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
**Benoot, Impey, Van Aert, Colbrelli, Stuyven, Ulissi
*Visconti, Nibali, Haas, Dumoulin, Felline, Durbridge

I mostly agree. I'd say:

***** Kwiatkowski, Sagan, Stybar
**** Valverde, Van Avermaet, Gilbert, Moscon
*** Benoot, Dumoulin, Lutsenko, Vanmarcke
** Colbrelli, Van Aert, Ulissi, Haas
* Impey, Oss, Felline, Bardet, Moser, Durbridge, Visconti, Stuyven

I agree with givin GVA 4 starts, but I would leave 4 stars to Sagan, leaving 5 stars only for kwiatkovski and Stybar

 

[tomorrow]

Re:

How about Sep Vanmarcke? He was the strongest in Omloop and could possibly do very well, heck even win. Maybe its too hilly, but he looked formidable on the Muur. I don't think we should discount him!

I almost feel like its Flanders and Roubaix time, thats how much I am looking forward to the race, altho its very frustrating they won't cover it as well as those races.

I think that the final muur to siena is a little too much for Sep. Way to many possible riders that would outdo him in that final.
He would have to come alone at the foot of the final climb, but for that he doesn't have the engine. I guess only Dumoulin and Sagan, if the stars align correctly are actually able to do a Cancellara. Dumoulin because he won't be that marked and he would probably be let go from far out, and with his TT skills, he might finish it off although the odds are like 10%. Sagan obviously, if in shape and with his acceleration, can drop anybody on any small climb, even flat and if the chase is not organized for the last half minute, they might not see him again.
The only scenario, where Sep wins is, is being considered an underdog. However, he is too good to be let go like e.g. Brambilla or Moser did in the last years, even if in a small group.

 

[Anderis]

Re:

How about Sep Vanmarcke? He was the strongest in Omloop and could possibly do very well, heck even win. Maybe its too hilly, but he looked formidable on the Muur. I don't think we should discount him!

Normally I would think SB is too hilly for Vanmarcke but well, he once finshed 4th here and he seems to have made a progress as an all-around rider (outside of the cobbles) since then based on his results last year. Nothing is impossible but I don't have a feeling like he is going to finish inside top3 for some reason.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

How about Sep Vanmarcke? He was the strongest in Omloop and could possibly do very well, heck even win. Maybe its too hilly, but he looked formidable on the Muur. I don't think we should discount him!

I almost feel like its Flanders and Roubaix time, thats how much I am looking forward to the race, altho its very frustrating they won't cover it as well as those races.

I think that the final muur to siena is a little too much for Sep. Way to many possible riders that would outdo him in that final.
He would have to come alone at the foot of the final climb, but for that he doesn't have the engine. I guess only Dumoulin and Sagan, if the stars align correctly are actually able to do a Cancellara. Dumoulin because he won't be that marked and he would probably be let go from far out, and with his TT skills, he might finish it off although the odds are like 10%. Sagan obviously, if in shape and with his acceleration, can drop anybody on any small climb, even flat and if the chase is not organized for the last half minute, they might not see him again.
The only scenario, where Sep wins is, is being considered an underdog. However, he is too good to be let go like e.g. Brambilla or Moser did in the last years, even if in a small group.

Well, Kwiatkowski did it last year if I remember correctly. I also think Van Avermaet is capable of doing that...

 

[postmanhat]

Jose Been reports the top of gravel sector 2 as being solid ice

:sad:

 

[Netserk]

Let it rain!!!

 

[Keram]

Re: Re:

the final climb and race is too hard for Sagan but some still expect him just to turn up and win

Yet he twice finished 2nd, and in 2013 he smoked group of 10-15 riders on that final climb...

In 2013 though, his climbing was much better. Against 2013, hell even 2014 Kwiatkovski he would be still favourite, in 2014, it was his tactical error that cost him the win, he shouldn't have attacked Kwiatkovski. However, with Kwiatkovski, and even Stybar on whole new level, they are the biggest favourites for me, especially with their latest performances. If Sagan comes down from mountains with his usual form, he might challenge them, but the odds would be slightly on Kwiat and Stybar's side. These two are top favourites for me.

What is good, that Sagan has if not strongest, then much stronger team than he used to, so he can(maybe even should) ride the races defensively. In addition, it might end up like in 2013, with Oss in Moser's position.

This is imho not true. Based on what? Last two seasons he proved lot of times that his climbing is not worse than 2013. For example that TA stage with crazy gradients which he won or that Poland stage with finish like Huy where he was second. Heck, he even won uphill sprint at TdF with one leg. He has more great performances on punchy climbs than he had in 2012-2013. Ok he is maybe worse in real climbing but Strade has not any proper climb.

 

[SKSemtex]

0 degrees in the night is bad.
I will not be surprised if the route alters

 

[Laplaz]

It will be one hell of a race with this forecast

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

very much looking forward to the race...............................however I do feel that the monumental aspect of

the parcours is not matched with monumental racing.............

editions I have watched have sadly underwhelmed...........

Mark L

What the hell, how could any of these editions be underwhelming...
High expectations..

 

[SafeBet]

0 degrees in the night is bad.
I will not be surprised if the route alters

Forecast says around 4 degress during the night and early morning. Should be up to 8 when the race starts.
There could be showers later but I don't see any reason to alter the parcours.

 

[SKSemtex]

0 degrees in the night is bad.
I will not be surprised if the route alters

Forecast says around 4 degress during the night and early morning. Should be up to 8 when the race starts.
There could be showers later but I don't see any reason to alter the parcours.

Great. I am such a pessimist . I am so excited like I have not been for a very long time. I am looking forward to seeing these worriers dirty.

Lets see if Styby and van Aert can use their experience here.
I was wondering why Boom is not on the list. I did not know he is our this season because of cardiac problems. it could be his big race

 

[shalgo]

With this weather forecast, it is a shame that Wellens is not riding.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Strade Bianche: the road may be white
but the rider may be dressed in mud brown.

makes identifying by jersey & bib number more difficult.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Strade Bianche: the road may be white
but the rider may be dressed in mud brown.

makes identifying by jersey & bib number more difficult.

Its happeninggggggggg

 

[Netserk]

^^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWa0dZMHYeE

 

[Samamba]

Re:

With this weather forecast, it is a shame that Wellens is not riding.

They really should find a solution for the Strade Bianche vs. Paris Nice debacle.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Alaphilippe would be one of the major favourites for this race, but he's also at PN. Used to do cyclocross as a junior and espoir and obviously he has a superb punch for the final climb in Siena.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

With this weather forecast, it is a shame that Wellens is not riding.

They really should find a solution for the Strade Bianche vs. Paris Nice debacle.

I like it. ASO finally loosing somewhere.