2022 Strade Bianche, 05/03

[hayneplane]

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..

It is sad that he will probably retire without winning either SB or MSR despite being a repeated protagonist in both races and then suiting his qualities so well.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It is sad that he will probably retire without winning either SB or MSR despite being a repeated protagonist in both races and then suiting his qualities so well.

The only times Sagan came close to taking Strade Bianche were when the race was still a 1.1 and didn't have its current status yet... when he let Moser win it wasn't as if he had let a big classic slip.

 

[tobydawq]

The only times Sagan came close to taking Strade Bianche were when the race was still a 1.1 and didn't have its current status yet... when he let Moser win it wasn't as if he had let a big classic slip.

It was already very prestigious, though. By far the most prestigious .1 event of the century.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It was already very prestigious, though. By far the most prestigious .1 event of the century.

It definitely wasn't any old .1 event, but at the time it was hard to believe that Strade would come to be seen as a bigger hole than something like Amstel on Sagan's palmares within a decade.

Also the likes of Kuurne and Dwars were .1 in the early 2010s, those weren't much smaller than Strade at the time.

 

[Netserk]

The only times Sagan came close to taking Strade Bianche were when the race was still a 1.1 and didn't have its current status yet... when he let Moser win it wasn't as if he had let a big classic slip.

As I recall it, he had the legs to win it in 2016.

 

[tobydawq]

It definitely wasn't any old .1 event, but at the time it was hard to believe that Strade would come to be seen as a bigger hole than something like Amstel on Sagan's palmares within a decade.

Honestly, it wasn't. Not for me at least. But I think that was the first year the race was televised in a manner where I could see it (it was still just from an Italian pirate stream, if I recall correctly - andy why wouldn't I remember how I watched a race nine years ago? ).

 

[tobydawq]

As I recall it, he had the legs to win it in 2016.

I don't think he was closer than in 2014. Beaten fair and square by a stronger rider on the final kilometer.

But 2013 was his best year climbing-wise, but that was of course difficult to predict at the time.

 

[Netserk]

As I recall the race, the tactical situation took a far heavier toll on him that year.

 

[Earns1985]

Kämna out with stomach issues..

Magen-Darm-Probleme: Keine Strade Bianche für Kämna | radsport-news.com

www.radsport-news.com

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dumoulin out, back problems.

Sad dumo fan noises

 

[limak_]

No Pidcock as well..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499686265104613381

View: https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1499686265104613381

 

[tobydawq]

No Pidcock as well..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499686265104613381

View: https://twitter.com/INEOSGrenadiers/status/1499686265104613381

It's opening up for the old man.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

It's opening up for the old man.

Would be great, but I don't think Pozzovivo will win.

 

[Zoef-Lightning]

Remains only a duel between Pogacar and Ala ..... Pogacar the favorite.

 

[SafeBet]

Considering all of the injuries / schedule decisions this feels like one of the worst startlist in recent times for Strade Bianche.

Podium contenders missing:
Van Aert
Van der Poel
Pidcock
Bettiol
Formolo
Schachmann
Bernal

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Few Riders who I would watch:

-Mauro Schmid (won gravel stage in Giro 2021)
-gianni moscon
-Clement Venturini
-Simon Clarke
-Romain Bardet

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Would be great, but I don't think Pozzovivo will win.

39, racing in Italy as a pro since 2005, and never started Strade Bianche. Cool to see Pozzo finally giving it a go!!!

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Few Riders who I would watch:

-Mauro Schmid (won gravel stage in Giro 2021)
-gianni moscon
-Clement Venturini
-Simon Clarke
-Romain Bardet

https://twitter.com/x/status/1499712774942990337

View: https://twitter.com/TeamDSM/status/1499712774942990337

 

[sir fly]

Worrying deterioration rate of the start list.

 

[Blanco]

Remains only a duel between Pogacar and Ala ..... Pogacar the favorite.

Pogacar won't win this bike race. It's going to be between Ala, Bala and Covi

 

[tobydawq]

Pogacar won't win this bike race. It's going to be between Ala, Bala and Covi

Bit of a strange thing to say given how Pogacar has fared the last year...

 

[Alexandre B.]

Few Riders who I would watch:

-Mauro Schmid (won gravel stage in Giro 2021)
-gianni moscon
-Clement Venturini
-Simon Clarke
-Romain Bardet

Cosnefroy is more likely to take a good result than Venturini.

 

[Netserk]

Bit of a strange thing to say given how Pogacar has fared the last year...

Last year he was even more impressive in UAE Tour and clearly in form for Tirreno, yet he wasn't that strong in Strade.

 

[tobydawq]

Last year he was even more impressive in UAE Tour and clearly in form for Tirreno, yet he wasn't that strong in Strade.

True, but I would be very careful to read too much into that.

I don't think that many people actually believed he would win Il Lombardia, either.

 

[Samamba]

Looks like COVID is hitting again