2018 Strade Bianche, 1.UWT, 03.03.18

[jfazendeiro]

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

 

[Kazistuta]

Where is Valverde now?

 

[DFA123]

Did the 3rd and 4th groups join, with just a few riders not bridging?

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

Yeah power climb.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Distances are too big. I think it's definitely for one of the front 2

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Ok, so the two big groups are going to come back together.
Can oss, burghardt, Moscon and puccio chase back?

They should be able to close that if they work well. 20km is a long way, and they could even give the leaders 15 seconds going into the final climb and still beat them (like Cancellara did a couple of years ago).

They don't have 20 kilometers though. At least Sagan won't want to arrive in Siena in a big group, so he has to attack, at latest at the last sterrato section which is over 10 k out

 

[Laplaz]

Amazing Rob Power also

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Sagan really raced this race in a boring and kinda negative way. No aggression while still having teammates to tow the likes of Valv and Kwito in when they go. Not very smart either.

All of Bora, Sky and Movistar are to blame, though I agree that most fall on Bora.

 

[SafeBet]

Impressive performance by Rob Power.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re:

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

Hard to see him beating Bardet who is very good on a steep climb, but you never know. There are lots of steep punchy climbs in CX.

 

[Kazistuta]

Re:

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

Yes, normally. But he spent a lot of time in front before Bardet joined up, so might be too fatigued.

 

[Highlander]

Serry cracked

 

[winkybiker]

Bardet looks miserable. Van Aert looks like he's out for a Saturday club ride. They're getting it done, though.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

Van Aert is probably the best in the field when it comes to climbing in cyclocross. So I think he can handle this on the road as well.

And cyclocross climbs are steep, punchy and muddy as hell.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

Wait, isn't this what we wanted when we reduced teams to 7 riders?

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

Did the 3rd and 4th groups join, with just a few riders not bridging?

Grupo Valverde is more then 2 minutes back.

Done and dusted..

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Wait, isn't this what we wanted when we reduced teams to 7 riders?

Exactly. You want crazy racing but then you complain big teams don't shut down every move.
This is what we need.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Wait, isn't this what we wanted when we reduced teams to 7 riders?

Absolutely, this is great. A cyclocrosser and a high mountain climber being chased by a classics specialist - what a race!

 

[jflemaire]

Re:

Verandas Willems should get a wild card for P-R.

They did: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2018-paris-roubaix-wild-cards-announced/.

 

[Samamba]

Benoot is so strong, but made a stupid decision to not go with Bardet.

 

[fauniera]

Benoot going really well now. He isn't going to win, is he?

 

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

I didn't knew Van Aert before this year. Do you think he can resist in that high gradient road inside Siena?

Yes, normally. But he spent a lot of time in front before Bardet joined up, so might be too fatigued.

Bardet had to close a big gap to the favourites alone, that was a bigger effort.

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Wait, isn't this what we wanted when we reduced teams to 7 riders?

Exactly. You want crazy racing but then you complain big teams don't shut down every move.
This is what we need.

They don't have to shut everything down, as long as they don't ride like complete morons.

 

[winkybiker]

What a gorgeous race.

 

[portugal11]

benoot is flying