March 17th 2012 Milan-Sanremo - The Primavera - 298km

[roundabout]

Canc must be pretty scary in a monument finale wanting the other guys to work...... But i dont know if even a gun to the head would have made Gerrans go from the front


No, but that is besides the point, Sky couldnt have known how the race would pan out.

Yeah, they still thought that a rider dropped on Le Manie is the best bet apparently.

 

[Benotti69]

Yeah, they still thought that a rider dropped on Le Manie is the best bet apparently.

I imagine most of the teams would have done the same thing as Sky.

 

[hektoren]

I think Cancellara actually had good team support today though. popo was really strong in particular. Its looking good for him for the rest of the classics. (as long as he doesnt bring other riders to the line)

You're absolutely right! And Agnoli's stint at the front helped Nibali and Liquigas. Too bad for Sagan Jaws felt the need to assert himself. BMC pushing the front when Cav was dropped helped Gilbert until he started eating tarmac. Hincapie was right up there helping Ballan. Gilbert mouthing off and his subsequent fall is definitely down to karma. Only team sorely missed at the front was Sky, where it was evidently necessary to allot 5 riders to try to help a beanbag close a gap from Le Manie onwards.
I feel for Canc, but he's a one trick pony, and "everybody" knows how to beat him in a sprint nowadays. It's been done before, and it'll be repeated.
Chapeau, Simon!

 

[hrotha]

I imagine Sky didn't think Cav being dropped early was a good sign, but Cav has won this race before, while EBH has never shown he can actually handle the distance. Most teams would stick to their original plan as long as possible if they didn't really have a comparable plan B.

 

[Froome19]

Yeah, they still thought that a rider dropped on Le Manie is the best bet apparently.

Well according to Bernie they were actually just chasing back to get to support EBH as they were help up by a crash and they werent going to go for Cav as he was feeling "weak", so this argument is pretty redundant.

 

[roundabout]

Well according to Bernie they were actually just chasing back to get to support EBH as they were help up by a crash and they werent going to go for Cav as he was feeling "weak", so this argument is pretty redundant.

We waited for him after Le Mànie

Steven de Jongh

 

[Panda Claws]

You're absolutely right! And Agnoli's stint at the front helped Nibali and Liquigas. Too bad for Sagan Jaws felt the need to assert himself. BMC pushing the front when Cav was dropped helped Gilbert until he started eating tarmac. Hincapie was right up there helping Ballan. Gilbert mouthing off and his subsequent fall is definitely down to karma. Only team sorely missed at the front was Sky, where it was evidently necessary to allot 5 riders to try to help a beanbag close a gap from Le Manie onwards.
I feel for Canc, but he's a one trick pony, and "everybody" knows how to beat him in a sprint nowadays. It's been done before, and it'll be repeated.
Chapeau, Simon!

How is Gilbert falling karma?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I dont think following Canc makes someone smart. It is the obvious choice.

and Cancellara wasnt necessarily being dumb. That was probably the best position he could get this year in MSR which is ironic considering he is twice the rider of the guy that actually won.

But since you are so smart, tell me what you would have done in his position, smart guy.

A theory:
What did for Cancellara today was Nibali not descending like, well, like Nibali. If he had, there might have been a small gap between the first two and Gerrans at the bottom of the hill, and he could have swept past Nibali once they hit the flat, with enough dirty air between him and Gerrans that the latter couldn't draught. Without a good descent by nibali, he lost any tactical advantage, and had to try to win purely on physical advanntage. At one point as the road levelled out, it looked as though that was going to happen, and he would do a 4km TT to victory, (just look at the live comments at that stage in this thread) but the elastic didn't snap, and then the cards were stacked against him.

But was Nibali's "didn't" a case of "couldn't", because he was in oxygen debt after the burst to the top of Poggio, or "wouldn't", because once Canc was there, Liquigas' best chance was Sagan in a sprint?

 

[royalpig180]

I also think that even though he didnt win, Sagan made another big step in his progress. He showed that he is competitive in even the longest of classics. Something he had struggled with before. I see him as being able to dominate in pretty much all of the classics and monuments. He can win on really hilly races like Chieti or flatter races and is always fast in the sprints. He may even win something like AGR this year.

I agree. To be honest, he would have had a strong shot at victory today had Nibali not attacked. Not exactly sure why Nibali went so hard towards the top of the climb when he was clearly marked by both Gerrans and Cancellara, both of whom are faster in the sprint than him, and both of whom are strong descenders as well. Should have sat up at that point. Too bad, though I suppose a 3-4 finish isn't bad for Liquigas.

 

[killswitch]

Nibali's words:
“I feel a sense of satisfaction and disappointment at the same time,” said Nibali, who came into the race on top form after his victory in the recent Tirreno-Adriatico. “I did what I could, at the right time and in the right way, but I had no hope of winning against two riders like Cancellara and Gerrans. Unfortunately, you know, I'm not really competitive in the sprints.

“The attack on the Poggio was agreed around the table this morning,” he explained. “After the descent we had the wind against us and "locomotive" Cancellara kept the speed too high, preventing any kind of attack. Then Peter [Sagan] was behind and could the fight it out in the sprint. In short, I did everything possible and I couldn’t ask for more.

“Congratulations to Gerrans, both for the final sprint and for spotting the decisive attack.”

With the three-man group just managing to stay away to the finish, Nibali’s teammate Sagan managed to sprint for fourth place, just two seconds behind; outpacing German sprinter John Degenkolb (Project 1t4i), to give Liquigas-Cannondale third and fourth places.

“The race started well for us, then showed the factors that make the ‘Sanremo’ such a unique race: tactics, experience and luck,” said Sagan. “I still go away with the knowledge that my condition is there. And also, I made a big step forward in a difficult race; I know I can come back in the future and I have what it takes to win.”

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...disappointed-with-third-place-in-Sanremo.aspx

 

[hektoren]

How is Gilbert falling karma?

BMC were doing just fine, distancing Cav. Gilbert *****ing about it and falling is definitelyl Karma!

 

[hektoren]

BMC were doing just fine, distancing Cav. Gilbert *****ing about it and falling is definitelyl Karma!

I don't even believe in Karma, but this was definitely IT!

 

[amatoer]

Sky

how is that a dumb tactic?? you need 7 riders to carrie you over the poggio?? wel evidently ebh does. because he simply lacks the engine to ever be a force in the classics. like it or not

you ned more than one to serve him with food/drink. keep him in the wind and ride him into the front part of the field when the end closes in.
Ebh will win a classic soon mark my word ! lack of engine. that you say to a gay ho have smashed cancelara on tempo , tested a O2 of better than 86.
just sprintet to win with al the best sprinters exept Cav.
It is sure that he need to get some age into his muscular to get the right muscles for so long races.sure it can be done in shorter time with dope. but that is not common with norwegian cyklists.
I think that the last year M_SR have shows that this is so hard that the winner can not have any problems at all during the race to be there when the finale start.

 

[Panda Claws]

BMC were doing just fine, distancing Cav. Gilbert *****ing about it and falling is definitelyl Karma!

These were team orders made by Lelangue.

Seriously though Cav was no longer a danger.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

you ned more than one to serve him with food/drink. keep him in the wind and ride him into the front part of the field when the end closes in.
Ebh will win a classic soon mark my word ! lack of engine. that you say to a gay ho have smashed cancelara on tempo , tested a O2 of better than 86.
just sprintet to win with al the best sprinters exept Cav.
It is sure that he need to get some age into his muscular to get the right muscles for so long races.sure it can be done in shorter time with dope. but that is not common with norwegian cyklists.
I think that the last year M_SR have shows that this is so hard that the winner can not have any problems at all during the race to be there when the finale start.

who cares about tests in these. tests say nothing about having actual engine to compete in long races. and he had lovkvist to keep him out of wind and get food and drink for him. he simply isn't good enough

 

[amatoer]

who cares about tests in these. tests say nothing about having actual engine to compete in long races. and he had lovkvist to keep him out of wind and get food and drink for him. he simply isn't good enough

Today right tomorrow yes.
you cannot have done any races yourself I understand when you don't see the differences between be packed in by your team mates compered with doing it by yourself. And 1 is to few.
where was Bonen in the finale? since he have not won m-Sr so he don't have the engine!
Sorry but i am back to the my point ! everything have to be right to be up there. The races got harder and harder.

 

[hektoren]

who cares about tests in these. tests say nothing about having actual engine to compete in long races. and he had lovkvist to keep him out of wind and get food and drink for him. he simply isn't good enough

Well, he won Ghent-Wevelgem easily enougn, and beat Farrar, Sagan and Greipel hands down last week. Can't be all that bad.

 

[blaxland]

Gerrans,Gerrans,Gerrans oi,oi,oi....Well the smartest rider won Milan san remo and Greenedge gets their monument for the season.Congrats to Gerrans,Nibali and Cancellara you guys made the race.Aussie's win two MSR....

 

[Caruut]

Gerrans won it, but he definitely didn't make it.

 

[cineteq]

Not exactly sure why Nibali went so hard towards the top of the climb when he was clearly marked by both Gerrans and Cancellara, both of whom are faster in the sprint than him, and both of whom are strong descenders as well. Should have sat up at that point. Too bad, though I suppose a 3-4 finish isn't bad for Liquigas.

That's what he did. The lack of key riders in the chase (BMC & OPQS) made it impossible for them to catch up. Otherwise it would've been the perfect ending for Liquigas: A Sagan victory!

 

[Tuarts]

Agreed, Gerrans looked a lot more imposing than his former self this January, it's surprising that he won, but not a surprise that he is at this level (if that makes sense).

Last two M-SR winners peaked in January, hmm...

Haha, quote of the thread! But no one peaks for January, its only a warm up race it's soo pointless!

Read the last 10 or so pages here, thanks guys for reminding me why I so rarely visit this place again.

 

[Eric8-A]

Anybody else happy that Cavendish didn't win?

 

[El Pistolero]

Today right tomorrow yes.
you cannot have done any races yourself I understand when you don't see the differences between be packed in by your team mates compered with doing it by yourself. And 1 is to few.
where was Bonen in the finale? since he have not won m-Sr so he don't have the engine!
Sorry but i am back to the my point ! everything have to be right to be up there. The races got harder and harder.

Boonen got stuck behind Boeckman's crash. Otherwise it probably would have been a bunch sprint again

 

[PCutter]

More nonsense than normal in this thread.

Did Cancellara sit up on the donwhill so that Gerrans could hang on? No. He pushed it and played to his strength. Gerrans simply played to his.

The gap to the bunch was only 2 sec. had Gerro come through for lots of pulls like some think he should, its highly likely the lead 3 would have been caught. Gerro isn't a TT machine like Cancellara. And he also had one of the favourites in the bunch coming down the hill (until Goss was caught in the same crash which stopped Boonen) unlike Cancellara.

Congratulations to Gerrrans, does the best with what he's got.

 

[greenedge]

GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENEDGE. I watched it an hour ago and then ran around the house yelling for at least 25 minutes.


I am very happy that Gerrans won. Sure he might not have been as strong as Cancellara ( who rode great ) but even to follow him was good and he astutely jumped after Nibali. He had a strong card to play in Goss as well ( who probably after Gerrans went knew the race would not come back together/ caught behind the crash ). I am pretty sure that if Sagan had another teammate chasing he would have won- Liquigas were the strongest team here. Nibali should have dropped back to help Sagan instead of freewheeling to the the sprint where he could not win. I sort of feel sorry for Sagan.

Goes down as the best race so far of the season along with Het Volk and the Tour of Qatar stage where Boonen won in a 4 man sprint. I also liked Wilunga ( because i was there ) and stage 2/ 5 of P-N.

Cav sucked- the amount of people who thought he would go well ( including me was disappointed at his performance ).

Congrats to all the breakaway riders.