2022 Strade Bianche, 05/03

[tobydawq]

If you subtract VDP, Wout, Bernal then you still have Ala, Pog and Pidcock. He is still outside the podium!

He beat Pogacar last year.

 

[sir fly]

MVDP will win this somehow.

Nah... Sagan.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Pog's team will be very strong as well.
Both Covi and Formolo have a good track record in gravel races and they look in great shape.

Yeah and Covi also has the sprint/punch to win from a small group. I kinda expect them to play the numbers game if a selection is made in the usual sector and they end up with multiple riders in the lead group, Quickstep style.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yeah, Gogl has been quite good in Strade Bianche the last two years. It's basically the only race outside of the Austrian Nationals where he delivers results. He could be in for a good result this year as well with a stronger team behind him. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Simmons fare. He was quite good in Drome Classic and rode a great race in Strade Bianche last year but had a puncture and crashed towards to end of the race if I recall correctly.

 

[Velolover2]

Pog can win everything. I wouldn't even be surprised if he is competitive in the Tour of Flanders.

 

[tobydawq]

Pog can win everything. I wouldn't even be surprised if he is competitive in the Tour of Flanders.

To me, he's the favourite for that along with Van Aert and Asgreen.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Bit weird having 3 of last years top 4 not here. Anyone outside Ala and Pogacar would be cool for a change. Is Schachmann starting? He'd be due for a bigger win.

 

[glassmoon]

If Pidders is riding then I'm rooting for him.

 

[Faserr]

Bit weird having 3 of last years top 4 not here. Anyone outside Ala and Pogacar would be cool for a change. Is Schachmann starting? He'd be due for a bigger win.

I don't think he will start Saturday. Schachmann had a COVID break, then went to an altitude trainings camp in Sierra Nevada and will start his season on sunday at Paris-Nice.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

I don't think he will start Saturday. Schachmann had a COVID break, then went to an altitude trainings camp in Sierra Nevada and will start his season on sunday at Paris-Nice.

Ah yeah, of course. Totally forgot about PN and that he'll go there as two time defender. I just remembered him getting 3rd in 2019(?) and thought he might have a shot. Ah well, Pidcock or Pogacar it most likely is - whats Bahrains lineup?

 

[SafeBet]

Yeah, Gogl has been quite good in Strade Bianche the last two years. It's basically the only race outside of the Austrian Nationals where he delivers results. He could be in for a good result this year as well with a stronger team behind him. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Simmons fare. He was quite good in Drome Classic and rode a great race in Strade Bianche last year but had a puncture and crashed towards to end of the race if I recall correctly.

He was looking very good before the puncture.
Gravel is his favorite terrain so I'm expecting him to be very competitive.

 

[SafeBet]

Yeah and Covi also has the sprint/punch to win from a small group. I kinda expect them to play the numbers game if a selection is made in the usual sector and they end up with multiple riders in the lead group, Quickstep style.

Apparently Formolo is not riding, maybe he crashed harder than initially thought yesterday?
UAE selection: Pogacar, Covi, Bjerg, Richeze, Ulissi, Laengen, Soler.

 

[tobydawq]

Bettiol is out because he had covid in February and was hit quite hard. So he will miss this, TA and MSR. What a pity.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Bettiol is out because he had covid in February and was hit quite hard. So he will miss this, TA and MSR. What a pity.

That’s not a good start considering him having an off classics season last year.

 

[Boes]

If it rains I see Benoot as a dangerous outsider.

I see a new 'big 3' for this race: Pogacar, Alafpolak and Pidcock - with a slight advantage for Pidcock seeing as the other 2 have had Covid in January so a though one day classic might be a bit to soon.

Other names with no particular order:

• Gogl: was good LY
• Quin simmons: bad result LY but was strong during the race and had mechanicals
• Bilbao: good form
• fulsang: always good in strade
• Wellens: if it rains
• Benoot

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Nah... Sagan.

Which one?

 

[tobydawq]

If it rains I see Benoot as a dangerous outsider.

I see a new 'big 3' for this race: Pogacar, Alafpolak and Pidcock - with a slight advantage for Pidcock seeing as they other 2 have had Covid in January so a though one day classic might be a bit to soon.

Other names with no particular order:

• Gogl: was good LY
• Quin simmons: bad result LY but was strong during the race and had mechanicals
• Bilbao: good form
• fulsang: always good in strade
• Wellens: if it rains
• Benoot

Valverde?

 

[hayneplane]

If it rains I see Benoot as a dangerous outsider.

I see a new 'big 3' for this race: Pogacar, Alafpolak and Pidcock - with a slight advantage for Pidcock seeing as they other 2 have had Covid in January so a though one day classic might be a bit to soon.

Other names with no particular order:

• Gogl: was good LY
• Quin simmons: bad result LY but was strong during the race and had mechanicals
• Bilbao: good form
• fulsang: always good in strade
• Wellens: if it rains
• Benoot

curious as to why Bilbao. Certainly feel like some riders could find themselves particularly suited to this race rather than others on the calendar and it seems Simmons and Gogl are in that category where they ride above their general level on the sterrato.

Hard to know with Pogacar as last year just as this he was excellent in UAE then was very good in SB but lacking that final few percent before crushing the world in TA just a few days later. Will he have more in SB this year as with the slightly weaker start list this year he looms large in the spotlight.

 

[sir fly]

Which one?

Carl, of course.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The Trek SoMe team has finally upped its game again

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499377309232599050

View: https://twitter.com/TrekSegafredo/status/1499377309232599050

 

[Blanco]

Valverde?

Will win this bike race

 

[Netserk]

Valverde?

You think he will finally get 2nd this time?

Ala is clearly the big favourite here, it will be interesting to see how Asgreen will fare.

 

[Boes]

Valverde?

I know the community is crazy about him and argues he's just as strong as Masnada but... I mean, the guy could pretty much be a grandad.
I don't really believe he can still compete with those top riders 15 years younger.

curious as to why Bilbao.

Ly top 10-ish if I remember correctly + he was third in UAE tour.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah and Covi also has the sprint/punch to win from a small group. I kinda expect them to play the numbers game if a selection is made in the usual sector and they end up with multiple riders in the lead group, Quickstep style.

I didn't think it was possible to have a sprint from a small group here? Sometimes there are 2-3 riders still together at the top of the climb at then it's a matter who can get through that final corner 1st. Yes they are "sprinting" for the corner but it seems more a matter of who has some power after such a hard race & final climb, more than sprinting ability.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Sagan obviously never won SB… And because he was ill recently, and still is a little bit out of shape, he probably won‘t win in 2022.

I hope he improves in the coming weeks, so that he can be at his best for RVV and PR…

Edit: Oh, I see he obviously won‘t ride SB at all..