three of the last four winners of Strade have gone and won Sanremo two weeks later. Let's see if the pattern holds...
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It was quite clear that he was done 10km from the finish. I think fresh Ala is still the best at short climbs.
That's basically just the difference between being relatively fresh and being stone dead.
Wow, what a race. Incredible power by VDP: he was riding uphill like a motorbike, what was his peak wattage? Congrats, he's the favourite for early classics for sure. Good race by Alaphilippe but it wasn't enough today. Incredible effort by Bernal - a featherweight climber competing in Strade against a beast like VdP? He's already a big early favourite for the Giro. I expected more from VVA today but it was his first race. My fave Poga was 7th - a decent place but I hoped he would be in Bernal's position today. Noteworthy performance by Simmons - the 19 yo was very strong today but unlucky as well (puncture and fall).
in this field, this demonstration. I think everyone knows now 2020 MVdp was not top Mvdp.
I do think VDP could win a Lombardia. He nearly clung on on Sormano last year and he looks stronger this year. A Bergamo finish might suit him.
He can win the 5 Monuments. I don't care what everybody else says. He was 10th last year over the freaking Muro di Sormano, while not being 100%. Give him a slightly softer Lombardia route and he can win it.
He's that good.
He's that good.
Amazing race overall and what an elite group that was left after St.Marie. Epic is a word wildly overused in sports , but now I feel it is really appropriate to use it to describe this race. Season has just started, but we'll be really lucky if this won't end up as the best race of the year.
The beauty of having 3 exciting, world class & adaptable riders in VDP, Ala and WVA competing for the same races is that on their day they can all beat each other; dependent on legs on the day and relatively subtle variations in the Parcours. I think we are going to be privileged to see a fair few epic races like this in the coming months & years.
There hardly could've been a finer selection.
Impressive performance from MVdP. Definitely the strongest.
Alaphilippe the best of the rest. The second really was the best he could get against MVdP.
Maybe Bernal could've had a chance should've he gone all out from the bottom, but I suppose it's too short for his diesel.
Van Aert spent too much time pulling at the front before Van der Poel's attack, but the recovery is a sign of the brilliant form he's heading to. He dropped the chasing company at the end too, so he's on the right path.
Pogacar excellent but the UAE tour's where his early-season form hit the peak.
Pidcock living up to the expectations. Too bad he couldn't hold to spice it up with Bernal at the end.
And I think Gogl surprised himself as well as everybody else.
Curious to hear Van Avermaet's impressions. Looked to me he wasn't feeling quite well and tried to force legs to work. Not just an ordinary crisis.
Showcase race.
Impressive performance from MVdP. Definitely the strongest.
Alaphilippe the best of the rest. The second really was the best he could get against MVdP.
Maybe Bernal could've had a chance should've he gone all out from the bottom, but I suppose it's too short for his diesel.
Van Aert spent too much time pulling at the front before Van der Poel's attack, but the recovery is a sign of the brilliant form he's heading to. He dropped the chasing company at the end too, so he's on the right path.
Pogacar excellent but the UAE tour's where his early-season form hit the peak.
Pidcock living up to the expectations. Too bad he couldn't hold to spice it up with Bernal at the end.
And I think Gogl surprised himself as well as everybody else.
Curious to hear Van Avermaet's impressions. Looked to me he wasn't feeling quite well and tried to force legs to work. Not just an ordinary crisis.
Showcase race.
Bonimenier
BANNED
It wasn't the strongest field though. Couple of riders not riding it because of the Tour, possibly the best man in the race crashing out and he still finished on 6+ mins. I won't bet my life against anything van der Poel tries, but I do think it'll be hard.
Should we disappointed, because vdP didn't go from 80K's out? I thought he hated this kind of racing 
Bring on the Monuments, we need more of this!
Also, has anyone mentioned Remco yet?
Bring on the Monuments, we need more of this!
Also, has anyone mentioned Remco yet?
It's still early season for Pogi. Winning the UAE is already a great start. Agreed also it's good to see Bernal riding well again after a difficult 2020.
I really can't see him winning FW (LBL I could) if the main guys all turn up in shape. The race isn't hard enough to hurt the explosiveness of guys like Ala, Roglic etc. If Roglic is in shape with the Jumbo team, it's hard to look past him for FW and LBL if he wants them
You cant ask for much more in a bike race. Incredible venue and parcours, amazing field of riders, a who’s who of cycling at the front, attacking riding and great pursuits back, and the strongest won, attacking and going away into one of the most beautiful finishes in cycling.
Incredible.
Incredible.
And just not to forget Simmons.
Great ride, but too little luck today.
Great ride, but too little luck today.
And i hope you know this wasn't top Alaphilippe and top WVA. I wonder how he'll fare at FW though. Never thought he'd have a chance there, but now i'm curious.
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