Il Lombardia 2019, one day classic, October 12

[Gigs_98]

I'm curious whether the racing will start at civiglio or the muro di sormano. Usually Civiglio was the focal point and I think it only really changed last year because Nibali didn't expect to have a chance if he waited too long, because he didn't have the shape of previous seasons.

 

[qwerty16]

This raises the following question:

Why would Movistar not have Valverde on the provisional start list?

He was not supposed to ride the Italian classics. The only reason he added all those races to his season is to score points, to have 5 Spanish riders in next years Olympics. His quest took a big hit in Tre Valle Varesine where he took the wrong turn. Especially because Spain is competing against Slovenia and Roglic ended up winning that race. He might end up in China if he really wants to have a full team at his side in the Olympics.

 

[Escarabajo]

This start list is crazy:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/il-lombardia/2019/startlist

Does somebody have a more reliable one?

 

[Rollthedice]

I'm curious whether the racing will start at civiglio or the muro di sormano. Usually Civiglio was the focal point and I think it only really changed last year because Nibali didn't expect to have a chance if he waited too long, because he didn't have the shape of previous seasons.

This year Nibali's shape is worse so it will start on Ghisallo.

 

[Breezy1985]

Buchmann will win

This. He's very much under-radaring his approach.

Dan Martin will win this bike race. He has ruined his whole season just to come in under the radar for this one : )

 

[Leinster]

Dan Martin will win this bike race. He has ruined his whole season just to come in under the radar for this one : )

Stranger things have happened.

Like the time he outkicked a group including Valverde, Gilbert, Sanchez, Rui Costa etc to win it in 2014.

 

[Breezy1985]

Stranger things have happened.

Like the time he outkicked a group including Valverde, Gilbert, Sanchez, Rui Costa etc to win it in 2014.

God ya back then no one in the bunch even had their eye on him maybe thats a sign but sadly I don't have much real hope in UAE Dan

 

[Leinster]

God ya back then no one in the bunch even had their eye on him maybe thats a sign but sadly I don't have much real hope in UAE Dan

He won Liege the year before, in front of 4 of the same top 10! If nobody was watching him that was their lookout.

BMC really crapped the bed there. When Sanchez got caught, he needed to stay on the front and keep the pace high to give Gilbert a chance to get on Valverde’s wheel. They ended up 5th and 7th out of 9. Wellens outsprinted them.

 

[janraaskalt]

This start list is crazy:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/il-lombardia/2019/startlist

Does somebody have a more reliable one?

Official partenti: http://static2.ilombardia.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ListaPartenti_IL19.pdf

 

[RedheadDane]

This start list is crazy:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/il-lombardia/2019/startlist

Does somebody have a more reliable one?

Official partenti: http://static2.ilombardia.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ListaPartenti_IL19.pdf

They're identical. The little green check-signs on PCS means it's the officially confirmed rosters.

 

[Escarabajo]

They're identical. The little green check-signs on PCS means it's the officially confirmed rosters.

Thanks.
It was already adjusted. In the original there were names that I knew was impossible to be there. But now everything is fine and dandy.

 

[Red Rick]

Stranger things have happened.

Like the time he outkicked a group including Valverde, Gilbert, Sanchez, Rui Costa etc to win it in 2014.

That was just Valverde sleepily snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[RedheadDane]

Thanks.
It was already adjusted. In the original there were names that I knew was impossible to be there. But now everything is fine and dandy.

Obviously it also works the other way around; no check-sign, proceed with caution. (Or at least be aware it's subject to change.)

 

[Leinster]

That was just Valverde sleepily snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I just looked at the final kms video again. Gilbert literally looks at Martin making his attack and does nothing.

View: https://youtu.be/Iy9iuh8vWqM


Valverde would definitely be the favorite in that sprint, but if BMC had played it with half a brain between their 2 riders (one World and one Olympic Champion no less) they would have at least a chance.

 

[Red Rick]

I just looked at the final kms video again. Gilbert literally looks at Martin making his attack and does nothing.

View: https://youtu.be/Iy9iuh8vWqM


Valverde would definitely be the favorite in that sprint, but if BMC had played it with half a brain between their 2 riders (one World and one Olympic Champion no less) they would have at least a chance.

Would've been up to Samu to bring him back but he was just spent from making the most useless attacks off the front in a downhill.

Also Contador practicing asphalt landings for the next few seasons there.

 

[Breezy1985]

He won Liege the year before, in front of 4 of the same top 10! If nobody was watching him that was their lookout.

BMC really crapped the bed there. When Sanchez got caught, he needed to stay on the front and keep the pace high to give Gilbert a chance to get on Valverde’s wheel. They ended up 5th and 7th out of 9. Wellens outsprinted them.

I couldn't believe it when he jumped and everyone just sat there watching each other to chase then finally start a sprint when it's way too late

 

[Leinster]

Would've been up to Samu to bring him back but he was just spent from making the most useless attacks off the front in a downhill.

Also Contador practicing asphalt landings for the next few seasons there.

The Sanchez attack made sense, he caught everyone by surprise, and he’s a good enough descender/pursuiter to make it from there (see his Olympic win) and he has the insurance of Gilbert in the group. But as he overtook Costa he muffed the corner and lost his chance of a gap.

The problem was he then sat up, instead of keeping the pressure on and lining out the group to control things for his teammate, who should be comfortably (at least) the 2nd best finisher in the group.

I couldn't believe it when he jumped and everyone just sat there watching each other to chase then finally start a sprint when it's way too late

These things happen all the time (Freire’s 1st Worlds in 99 got an airing this year for the 20th anniversary). Especially when there’s only so many eyes in your head to watch too many potential winners (4 monument winners, and an Olympic Champ all in the same group of 9, plus Albasini’s a decent finisher and Wellens was clearly strong on the day).

 

[bob.a.feet]

Ineos won't win. No Dunbar no party

 

[tobydawq]

That was just Valverde sleepily snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I don't think I have ever been as infuriated with him as there. So extremely stupid.

Maybe Firenze takes the cake, but it's close.

 

[Rollthedice]

I couldn't believe it when he jumped and everyone just sat there watching each other to chase then finally start a sprint when it's way too late

Guess they were convinced Martin will crash after the corner.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't think I have ever been as infuriated with him as there. So extremely stupid.

Maybe Firenze takes the cake, but it's close.

Think Firenze was a lot more stupid and infuriating. 2014 I can kinda see cause Dan Martin gets a decemt gap coming from behind and the surprise probably takes a second to process.

Firenze Nibali was already doing the work so he only had to pay attention to one guy and he let him go.

 

[Blanco]

I just looked at the final kms video again. Gilbert literally looks at Martin making his attack and does nothing.

View: https://youtu.be/Iy9iuh8vWqM


Valverde would definitely be the favorite in that sprint, but if BMC had played it with half a brain between their 2 riders (one World and one Olympic Champion no less) they would have at least a chance.

It was just Gilbert/Valverde ''who blinks first'' game, so the random guy won (no offence to Dan Martin, but if they played it right he wouldn't had won in a million years).
Valverde was banking on BMC to react, cause they had Samu there with Gilbert, but Samu was spent and Gilbert wanted to grab Valverde's wheel, not vice-versa.

 

[Red Rick]

It was just Gilbert/Valverde ''who blinks first'' game, so the random guy won (no offence to Dan Martin, but if they played it right he wouldn't had won in a million years).
Valverde was banking on BMC to react, cause they had Samu there with Gilbert, but Samu was spent and Gilbert wanted to grab Valverde's wheel, not vice-versa.

Valverde probably thought that was the case for a few seconds, but Gilbert was pretty dead cause he almost got last in the sprint.

Actually I just rewatched it again, and Valverde actually sees Dan Martin going quite early, thinks about reacting, then decides he won't. Definitely a really wrong decision there.

 

[Blanco]

Valverde probably thought that was the case for a few seconds, but Gilbert was pretty dead cause he almost got last in the sprint.

Actually I just rewatched it again, and Valverde actually sees Dan Martin going quite early, thinks about reacting, then decides he won't. Definitely a really wrong decision there.

And that few seconds were more than enough...

 

[roundabout]

Gilbert made a big effort to close down Wellens (the final climb is actually harder than one would expect from the stats) and with a downhill finish and a final straight of a bit over 200 meters it isn't suicidal for a fast finisher to react first.

Rosa was quite close to winning 2 years later despite making taking the front quite a bit before the final corner.