2018 Strade Bianche, 1.UWT, 03.03.18

[RedheadDane]

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.

It's difficult to ride both, but not impossible. Valgren and Juul-Jensen both did last year.

 

[tomorrow]

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...

You remember correctly, but unless sagan abandons like last year, he will be there with kwiatkovski
. as far GVA is concerned, he won't drop sagan. And I would also bet, that he won't even try. Although I don't like it, he races exactly how he should race when sagan is in the field, and attacking sagan would be very inefficient for him. In OHN, he actualy did try attacking with no result, so I don't see how he could drop sagan.

 

[Gigs_98]

I agree that the UCI has to find a solution for the SB, PN debacle.These are basically two races which both suit the same kind of riders. The guys who ride SB can still go to tirreno adriatico but I think paris nice actually suits someone like sagan more. Could you maybe make PN one day shorter? Cause there isn't really any weekend in spring where you could move SB without other date clashes

 

[yaco]

Think you'll find PN is one of the key races in Alaphalippe's season.

 

[Eshnar]

I agree that the UCI has to find a solution for the SB, PN debacle.These are basically two races which both suit the same kind of riders. The guys who ride SB can still go to tirreno adriatico but I think paris nice actually suits someone like sagan more. Could you maybe make PN one day shorter? Cause there isn't really any weekend in spring where you could move SB without other date clashes

that's actually RCS's fault and nobody else's. I do agree we need a solution for the problem, but a very easy one would be for RCS to make TA the way it used to be not more than 10 years ago.

 

[Laplaz]

Already 11 pages for this thread. Record for a one-day-race before start?

Edit: Nevermind, PR last year had 14 already. But nonetheless very much interest for this race.

 

[Koronin]

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

A little disappointing that he doesn't just bike from Rome to the startline. That could have served as his warm up for the race.

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

A little disappointing that he doesn't just bike from Rome to the startline. That could have served as his warm up for the race.

Indeed :lol:

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

A little disappointing that he doesn't just bike from Rome to the startline. That could have served as his warm up for the race.

Indeed :lol:

Some of his fans were joking about that in response to his twitter comment about his flight being overbook. He was at least finding some humor in it as he called it Chapter one of his Strade Bianche adventure for 2018.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

Don Alejandro can overcome anything, my friend. Six hours of sleep? That's 5 1/2 too many . And for starters, Don Alejandro doesn't sleep, he meditates .

Alejandro Valverde will win this bike race.

 

[Yingge]

mudfest coming up. Shades of Giro 2010. All we need is for Vino and Evans to come out of retirement. Though Nibali was there that day and lost his Pink Jersey.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

Don Alejandro can overcome anything, my friend. Six hours of sleep? That's 5 1/2 too many . And for starters, Don Alejandro doesn't sleep, he meditates .

Alejandro Valverde will win this bike race.

LMAO. Although it does appear that he can. A year and a half "vacation", an injury that would have ended most other 37 year olds careers (if they were even still racing at that point), age (most are retired by their mid 30's) and now a travel debacle.

 

[togo95]

Re:

mudfest coming up. Shades of Giro 2010. All we need is for Vino and Evans to come out of retirement. Though Nibali was there that day and lost his Pink Jersey.

Indeed, especially with everything being wet from the melting snow, the rain won't soak in as quickly and there should be a lot of mud and puddles.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Stybar ftw.. great form, perfect weather, great team... if not today, when??

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

With Matthews out, I see Sunweb ride for Kragh Andersen, as the final climb is probably too explosive for Dumoulin.

Though Dumoulin could go early ofcourse.

I think it's way too hard for Kragh atm.

Really, the race fits any of the danes riding it, partly because the route is very similar to the Vejle route, which is always in Tour of Denmark - and they have all been top contenders on that one, several times (though arguably, in lesser company ) - and partly because of the weather.... they all grew up riding in the snow and wind

Kragh Andersen, Juul jensen, Würtz Schmidt, Pedersen, will all be contenders tomorrow....... I hope

 

[Durden93]

I'm going to miss watching this live for the second straight year. A shame because it's probably my 3rd favourite race to watch live (after RVV and PR). Thinking Kwiatko.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

So the live coverage won't start before 14? Given the weather the race might be decided at that moment.

 

[Hakkie2]

Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

I'm quite surprised a rider like Valverde has to use a low-budget carrier for his travels :surprised:

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

Well due to flight issues, although Valverde will be there, no idea what kind of shape he'll actually be in to race. His flight was overbooked and he was moved to a flight to Rome. Airline would not allow other passangers to exchange seats with him even though many were willing and volunteering to do so. After he gets to Rome he'll have to rent a car and drive 3 hours to get to the team hotel. The article says he'll probably get there around midnight and the race starts at 10:45 tomorrow morning. He'll be lucky to get 6 hours of sleep.
Here's the article. (Obviously in Spanish).
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/clasicas-ciclismo/2018/03/02/5a996fb746163f6e2a8b4648.html

I'm quite surprised a rider like Valverde has to use a low-budget carrier for his travels :surprised:

It is cycling after all ...

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

I agree that the UCI has to find a solution for the SB, PN debacle.These are basically two races which both suit the same kind of riders. The guys who ride SB can still go to tirreno adriatico but I think paris nice actually suits someone like sagan more. Could you maybe make PN one day shorter? Cause there isn't really any weekend in spring where you could move SB without other date clashes

Shortening a classic stage race like P-N for this overhyped hipster race? You must be kidding. SB can move to the a midweek date without any problem.

 

[tobydawq]

I agree that the UCI has to find a solution for the SB, PN debacle.These are basically two races which both suit the same kind of riders. The guys who ride SB can still go to tirreno adriatico but I think paris nice actually suits someone like sagan more. Could you maybe make PN one day shorter? Cause there isn't really any weekend in spring where you could move SB without other date clashes

Shortening a classic stage race like P-N for this overhyped hipster race? You must be kidding. SB can move to the a midweek date without any problem.

SB has moved into the realm where it is the hipsters that see it as an "overhyped hipster race".

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I agree that the UCI has to find a solution for the SB, PN debacle.These are basically two races which both suit the same kind of riders. The guys who ride SB can still go to tirreno adriatico but I think paris nice actually suits someone like sagan more. Could you maybe make PN one day shorter? Cause there isn't really any weekend in spring where you could move SB without other date clashes

Shortening a classic stage race like P-N for this overhyped hipster race? You must be kidding. SB can move to the a midweek date without any problem.

SB has moved into the realm where it is the hipsters that see it as an "overhyped hipster race".

Lol this is so true :lol:

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Just compare the start lists. World Class in SB, second tier in PN.

 

[DNP-Old]

It's happening. It's really happening.