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

[Frosty]

It's incredible how good Gerrans suddenly is after sucking so hard at Sky.

Sucking as hard as 3rd in Amstel Gold.

 

[balkou]

I don't understand that disapproval for Gerrans. It was with Nibali the ones that they attacked in Poggio. And considering that he (and Nibali) had team-mates following, that was the tactic to follow.

 

[dlwssonic]

I have that ****ty feeling after a cycling race like MSR2011 RVV 2011 and WORLDS 2011.

 

[hrotha]

You are crediting Gerrans for being clever because he followed Cancellara?

That doesn't require that many brains.

Gerrans wasn't particularly clever, because he didn't need to be. I understand Cancellara liked his chances even after towing Gerrans and Nibali to the finish line better than his chances back in the group, but he could at least have tried to get Gerrans more involved (Nibali was a non-factor, honestly).

Then again, chances are they wouldn't have stayed away if Gerrans had taken his turns.

 

[The Sheep]

Nicholas Roche on twitter

Helicopter caused that crash! Wast at the 250m barrier!! Very stupid to fly so low!!!! Feel very sory for those who hit the deck!

 

[goggalor]

Massive tactical failure by Sky today. Also, where was Garmin?

 

[joy118118]

Degenkolb 4th. Very good result for him.

5th 10char

 

[maltiv]

Sucking as hard as 3rd in Amstel Gold.

That was his only decent result in 2 years.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

So much hate for Pozzato last year for wheel sucking. Wonder if Gerrans will get the same sort of hate. That ending has really ****ed me off, new rider for my dislike list now.

I always thought Gerrans was ridiculously overrated, because he'd been smart and interesting back in '08-'09, but for the last couple of years seemed happy to come 7th in the uphill sprint.

I didn't like the way he rode into the finish, but this wasn't a Thor Hushovd at Paris-Roubaix shadow job. Gerrans took a turn (one, which is more than Nibali did). He followed the right move, and actually dared to do something interesting, which combined with his being a stronger rider than he was 4 years ago, gave him an unexpected chance at winning a Monument most unsuited to him.

Is it usually the most boring monument? Sure. Is it a bit lame to win by sucking wheels? Sure.

But Gerrans will say, so what? He's actually justified the hype for the first time in his career.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I'm truely disappointed with this winner but well he was the smartest so there's nothing to whine about....

I think Nibali was working for Sagan all the way because he didn't hold anything back for the sprint, he was hanging on for dear life. I think he attacked just to force others to chase and give Sagan a free ride.

Positive notes: Degenkolb is a true hard men for the classics. And there goes the myth that you can't win by attacking in the Poggio nowadays.

Sky was probably the biggest let down. They should have shifted to EBH as soon as Cav was 2min down.

Please can we not let this nonsense become a collective memory. How should they have shifted to EBH at that stage? Teleport the domestiques back to the peloton?

 

[dlwssonic]

Nicholas Roche on twitter

That stupid ****** caused some serious crashes with boonen and GVA.

 

[Lanark]

I'm truely disappointed with this winner but well he was the smartest so there's nothing to whine about....

I think Nibali was working for Sagan all the way because he didn't hold anything back for the sprint, he was hanging on for dear life. I think he attacked just to force others to chase and give Sagan a free ride.

Positive notes: Degenkolb is a true hard men for the classics. And there goes the myth that you can't win by attacking in the Poggio nowadays.

Sky was probably the biggest let down. They should have shifted to EBH as soon as Cav was 2min down.

Wouldn't have mattered much, EBH proved again he isn't ready to battle with the big boys.

Not the most spectacular way to win, but you can't blame Gerrans. Cancellara was almost too strong for his own good today, well, I guess we have one favorite for the Ronde and Roubaix again this year.

 

[pastronef]

oh yes oh yes!!!! big, HUGE win for Gerro and GREENEDGE, nice big smile for Nygaard!

pfiuh, i just feared Sagan could join them, luckily he did not make it

 

[theyoungest]

Not the most inspiring of wins, but fair play to Gerrans. Would have loved to see Cancellara still outsprint him (which he almost did).

 

[Caruut]

Gerrans wouldn't have lasted a second on the front. Cancellara almost pulled it off, but it's not easy to win pulling 2 men to the line. He knows that, you can't just suddenly ban drafting because a great rider sometimes doesn't win.

 

[hfer07]

Was there nothing Cancellara could have done to get the other two in the break to work?

Biggest fail by Nib, no work and still only comes third, at least Gerrans won.

Nibbs did his thing successfully well knowing he cannot sprint-Cancellara did the same too-Gerrans happens to follow Nibbs & hung there perfectly & being by far the fastest of the three-his changes were greater- Sagan should have bridged earlier if he wanted to win it

 

[skidmark]

So Sagan decisively answers the question of whether or not he can handle full classic distance. This kid's gonna be a monster for a long time. 4 years on, we're still waiting for the answer to that question for EBH.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Nibali: best descender in the world, or third best descender in lead group?

 

[dlwssonic]

So Sagan decisively answers the question of whether or not he can handle full classic distance. This kid's gonna be a monster for a long time. 4 years on, we're still waiting for the answer to that question for EBH.

Lol have you forgotten JTL

 

[roundabout]

Nibs STARTED the attack in response to Hoogerland.

Not really. I was surprised how quickly he went into hanging on mode and seemed done even before the top of the Poggio.

Fun last 8km or so though. Much better than expected.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

IMO you can only win on the poggio if you are one of the best descenders, and best time trialists, aka Fabian. Or if you are smart enough to follow that rider...

 

[karlboss]

Credit where credit is due, Gerrans followed the right move and played to his strengths. Cancellara had the option of dropping back and testing his sprint for the win, or taking a certain podium. He made his choice.

 

[canyonball]

What don't you get? Had it been anyone else than Fabi in front that group would have been eaten by the peloton.

Wish is why I don't understand the criticism to fabian. Once he was in that trio he's best shot at winning was driving them to the finish line and hope for the best. IMO.

Greenedge probably won't feature all season long, but taking care of themselves so far. Thanks to Gerrans mostly. Better than waht I would expect.

 

[curium]

In hindsight, Nibali ****ed Sagan. Had he not attacked, Sagan would probably had taken the sprint.

Sagan should of followed Cancellara when he went. He lost it for himself by not doing this. Nibali was never going to win once Cancellara went.

 

[trevim]

Please can we not let this nonsense become a collective memory. How should they have shifted to EBH at that stage? Teleport the domestiques back to the peloton?

They could have started by not having half the team dropped with 100km to go just to be with a guy that is old enough to know he wasn't good enough today.