2022 Strade Bianche, 05/03

[Zoef-Lightning]

And Bardet is the next one.
Corona (or be very careful because the risks for Corona) have ensured that normal viral diseases have been suppressed for a long time. Those viral deseases, normally spread over the winter, are now raging through the people. I have never known so many people who are sick at the moment. Corona, but even more other diseases than Corona.

I think this will take a few more weeks .

 

[Blanco]

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

He was 7th no? It's a long way to 1st.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

He was 7th no? It's a long way to 1st.

Not when 4 of the riders who beat him aren't starting...

 

[Blanco]

Not when 4 of the riders who beat him aren't starting...

But there are new ones, who didn't start last year, like young Belmonte

 

[Nirvana]

Who wants the dust will have the dust, yesterday evening and this night nothing fell from the sky and early this morning only 1/2 mm of rain around Siena and nothing south where the majority of the route is, and that was the last window to have some rain in the area.

 

[jmdirt]

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

But because of this, it could turn out to be a great race.

 

[tobydawq]

Not when 4 of the riders who beat him aren't starting...

I'm talking about the last 12 months, not just last year's SB.

 

[Ranagazoo]

For me Pogacar is pretty much the favourite for every race he rides now.

 

[Pinot's goat]

Few Riders who I would watch:

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

Ruben Guerreiro is another name to add to this list. He was strong on the gravel Giro stage and was strong on Jebel Jais.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Who wants the dust will have the dust, yesterday evening and this night nothing fell from the sky and early this morning only 1/2 mm of rain around Siena and nothing south where the majority of the route is, and that was the last window to have some rain in the area.

Perfect! While a wet and muddy Strade Bianche is fun to watch, I prefer the unmatched beauty of the landscapes and the dust clouds.

 

[Boes]

No pidcock. Alafpolak vs Pogacar it is.
(or sneak Benoot attack)

 

[Mick Dundee]

Yep, Benoot has found his 2018 Strade legs again.. he could upset the obvious favourites.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Campenaerts to win with a 25 km solo!

Alaf beats Pog in the sprint for second.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

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

Agreed. Tadej was pretty close to peak form at Tirreno last year but ended up behind the podium group at Strade. He's surely one of candidates for victory tomorrow but Ala has to be #1 favourite.

 

[Salvarani]

Narvaez been strong in the past couple of races. Not expecting him to win, of course, but with Pidcock out maybe he gets an opportunity to ride for himself.

Interested in seeing what the two Colombians can do. Higuita and MAL.

Also, I noticed it is the first time Michael Matthews is riding this race. Flying under the radar a bit here.

 

[Orbit501]

Assuming Kirby bets on 'Si' Clarke in every race, will this be the one where he finally gets a return?
Probably have to back him eachway though

 

[memyselfandI]

Thumbs up for Quinn Simmons.

 

[Kazistuta]

Campenaerts to win with a 25 km solo!

Alaf beats Pog in the sprint for second.

Apparently Campenaerts is only there to help Wellens, as his ribs are hurting to much.

 

[sir fly]

Poor girls already ploughing.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The women's race is about 20 kms in now, and we have my favourite diver, Rebecca Koerner of Uno-X, in a breakaway with classical pianist Emily Newsom of EF-TIBCO-SVB.

 

[RedheadDane]

Too bad Chabbey didn't join them.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Too bad Chabbey didn't join them.

Because she's a former canoeist and trail runner? Or because you think they need to have a doctor close by?
I doubt Chabbey would have been allowed to go along though.

Koerner was dropped and is now more than 30 seconds behind Newsom, who leads the peloton by 3:30.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Newsom's gap is less than two minutes now, as she approaches the last 60 km.

 

[ij74]

Mater Mohorić from the breakaway

 

[Samu Cuenca]

50 km left of the women's race, and we actually have live pictures now.