2021 Strade Bianche, March 6th

[barmaher]

The forecast is more benign. Only light rain due overnight now, with dry weather tomorrow.

 

[Blanco]

Really? There's not a finish line at the end of the race where possibly more than one rider at a time will try to cross before the others? Uphill is still a sprint, and Siena is not the *** Alpe d'Huez.

Actually it is downhill, and not once in a 13 years sprinting ability decided the outcome of the race...

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

The forecast is more benign. Only light rain due overnight now, with dry weather tomorrow.

It might still be enough to make the dirt stick a little bit better, which would make it a bit less technical and in favor of the non-CX guys. In theory.

 

[Publiuszam]

Last year's race to get ready. Ignore the dodgy music

View: https://youtu.be/zhNt-iiYAOw

 

[Netserk]

It's a battle for position into the first bend in the final after 600 metres at close to 15 percent. After that it's impossible to overtake a rider in front of you because it is as technical as it is.

2016

Actually it is downhill, and not once in a 13 years sprinting ability decided the outcome of the race...

2011

 

[Publiuszam]

A weather like 2018 will be just fine.

 

[tobydawq]

2011

2010 too. But it's not normal sprinting, it's some sort of weird lactate-filled Mario Kart-like dash for the final bend.

 

[Wvv]

It's a battle for position into the first bend in the final after 600 metres at close to 15 percent. After that it's impossible to overtake a rider in front of you because it is as technical as it is.

Stybar 2015 and Cancellara 2016 disagree.

 

[Sciatic]

Stybar 2015 and Cancellara 2016 disagree.

Just rewatched the 2016 finale, yeah there are two guys (after passing Brambilla) racing, on tired legs, almost side by side to get to that final corner, and then Canc rides hard downhill to hold off Sybar. But it’s not a “sprint to the line,” since once Canc (or anyone in that position) gets around the corner in the lead, is not going to get caught. I guess you could call it a sprint to the corner? But It’s not as in a classic two-up sprint, or bunch sprint with a bike throw at the line. If someone didn’t know cycling and asked for a video of a finishing sprint so they can understand what it is, you would never show them this finish. As an example.

Two other things I noticed:
-Amazing they caught Brambilla
- Autocorrect changed Stybar to Subaru, which I thought is pretty funny, since they are both all-terrain vehicles.

 

[SafeBet]

Stybar 2015 and Cancellara 2016 disagree.

Alaphilippe 2019 too.

 

[Bonimenier]

This being a sprint classic is the reason it will never become a monument since MSR is already the sprint monument.

 

[tobydawq]

This being a sprint classic is the reason it will never become a monument since MSR is already the sprint monument.

The Italian Scheldeprijs.

 

[Publiuszam]

Come on now..don't get it twisted.

 

[tobydawq]

I have (re)watched a few of the old finishes of the race today, and I have to say that Maxim Iglinskiy must be the king of the final stretch. When he won in 2010, he really had to cut it tight to prevent Löfkvist from overtaking him in the final and repeating his victory from 2009 after having passed him on the flat part with a nice bit of shouldering (or Mario Kart-ing).

And in 2012 he actually managed to overtake Oscar Gatto in the "sprint" for second behind Cancellara in that bend with what really was a technically impressive move.

 

[Sciatic]

I have (re)watched a few of the old finishes of the race today, and I have to say that Maxim Iglinskiy must be the king of the final stretch. When he won in 2010, he really had to cut it tight to prevent Löfkvist from overtaking him in the final and repeating his victory from 2009 after having passed him on the flat part with a nice bit of shouldering (or Mario Kart-ing).

And in 2012 he actually managed to overtake Oscar Gatto in the "sprint" for second behind Cancellara in that bend with what really was a technically impressive move.

Thanks, you’ve given me a good excuse to back and watch those as well!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Vino and Rebellin will not participate.

Lets add Cunego too, then

 

[jaylew]

I see 3 tiers and have trouble seeing a winner coming from outside these 8 guys:

***WVA, MVDP, Alaphilippe
**Mollema, Bernal, GVA, Fuglsang, Pogacar

Would likely take special circumstances; some included out of respect for past performances:

*Almeida, Bettiol, Pidcock, Brambilla, Yates, Wellens, Stybar, Formolo, Valverde, Bardet, Kwia

Head: Julian
Heart: Mathieu

 

[Lequack]

No rain overnight or tomorrow, it will be all dust.

 

[tobydawq]

I see 3 tiers and have trouble seeing a winner coming from outside these guys:

***WVA, MVDP, Alaphilippe
**Mollema, Bernal, GVA, Fuglsang, Pogacar

Would likely take special circumstances; some included out of respect for past performances:

*Almeida, Bettiol, Pidcock, Brambilla, Yates, Wellens, Stybar, Formolo, Valverde, Bardet, Kwia

Head: Julian
Heart: Mathieu

Then Ballerini will probably win just to spite you.

 

[Bonimenier]

No rain overnight or tomorrow, it will be all dust.

Now we also need 40 degrees tomorrow and van Aert will be happy.

 

[Lequack]

It will be partly cloudy, up to 15C. Wind 18 km/h from the east.

 

[Poursuivant]

WVA to win, Alaphillipe second, Pidcock third.

 

[Lequack]

I am saying Bauke Mollema will win this.

 

[Keram]

I need to know two things. Finish time and start of broadcasting at Eurosport. I need to schedule ladies skiing world cup. Women and men biathlon, Strade and somehow manage my weekly covid testing in between.

 

[Big Doopie]

WVA
JA
Pidcock