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

[maltiv]

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.

EBH would've been there for sure if he didn't start the poggio at the back of the peloton. He said he actually was feeling great, but there's nothing to do when you're that far back in such a clustered peloton.

 

[roundabout]

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

i think he was seeing stars* at that point.

*not of Gerrans and Cancellara kind

 

[Frosty]

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

Yeah, others could have tried to get into the attack but didnt make it. Thought it was obvious that two good descenders like Nibs and Canc would attack just before the top. Gerrans had the legs and position to get there. Not the sort of win i like but well done on him for getting in the right move.

 

[Havetts]

So glad not one of the 'new' helmets one.. Sucks it was not Fabian who won, but well played to Gerrans !

 

[The Hitch]

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.

Nibali did not work because Sagan (his teams only chance at the win) was behind and trying to come back. He wasnt going to contest the sprint anyway.

 

[maltiv]

Well at least we know that Cancellara will continue his streak of finishing on the podium of every monument but not winning any of them, despite being the strongest by miles.

 

[zapata]

This was a lame ending.

definitely. gerrans was already my least favourite cyclist, don't like him any better now.

 

[Fatclimber]

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. ...

Sagan is like a grenade waiting to be dropped into a cardboard box full of puppies.

 

[hatcher]

EBH would've been there for sure if he didn't start the poggio at the back of the peloton. He said he actually was feeling great, but there's nothing to do when you're that far back in such a clustered peloton.

They sat at the back for the previous 10k too. There was nothing to stop them moving up.

 

[curium]

matteo trentin the OPQS rider who crashed on the final bend

https://twitter.com/opqscyclingteam/status/181052097519816705

 

[goggalor]

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

Or rather, Sky have proved they aren't ready to battle with the Big Boys. EBH and Löfkvist were at most 10 seconds down on Cancellara at the top of the Poggio, but the rest were nowhere.

 

[TheArt]

1 - Gerrans
2 - Cancellara
3 - Nibali
4 - Sagan
5 - Degenkolb
6 - Pozzato
7 - Freire
8 - Ballan
9 - Oss
10 - Bennati
11 - Florencio
12 - Paolini
13 - Geschke
14 - Gatto
15 - Goss
16 - Visconti
17 - Guarnieri
18 - Ventoso
19 - De Kort
20 - Hoogerland
21 - Renshaw
22 - Boonen
23 - Leukemans
24 - Modolo
25 - Boasson Hagen
26 - Marcato
27 - Geslin
28 - Lastras
29 - Gavazzi
30 - Löfkvist
31 - Breschel
32 - Boom

 

[DominicDecoco]

I seriously can't believe that someone questioned the lack of work from Nibs in the lead group. It's quite simple tactics really.

 

[Epicycle]

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.

Yeah it was obvious when Cav was dropped the first time that he had no chance to contend.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

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.

And what has that got to do with you saying ' they should have switched to Eddy once Cav was 2 mins back'

The damage was all done by that stage, there was no option left. They assumed Cav could be worked back when he was 15 seconds off, but he was in a total mess and shipped time badly before they knew what was happening. Worse things happen at sea.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't like Gerrans. Doesn't mean I shouldn't congratulate him. He's made me eat some of my criticisms of him.

At least I feel like I'm handling it with more grace and dignity than I did Goss' win last year.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Rabo looked so strong and Matti couldn't deliver. Disappointed.

 

[scullster46]

I seriously can't believe that someone questioned the lack of work from Nibs in the lead group. It's quite simple really.

Same with Gerrans. When you have sprinters in the group behind, you have no reason to work. Especially with Canc

 

[Benotti69]

Well at least we know that Cancellara will continue his streak of finishing on the podium of every monument but not winning any of them, despite being the strongest by miles.

We have seen that many times in sport.

Time for Canc to rethink his tactics to win races if he can only win by attacking and TTing to the win.

He needs to make sure no one goes with him.

 

[trevim]

And what has that got to do with you saying ' they should have switched to Eddy once Cav was 2 mins back'

The damage was all done by that stage, there was no option left. They assumed Cav could be worked back when he was 15 seconds off, but he was in a total mess and shipped time badly before they knew what was happening. Worse things happen at sea.

I like Cav but today he was wrong by letting his team do that. If you're not good enough you don't use your team like that. And it was a bad call from Sky too. My opinion.

 

[hatcher]

Or rather, Sky have proved they aren't ready to battle with the Big Boys. EBH and Löfkvist were at most 10 seconds down on Cancellara at the top of the Poggio, but the rest were nowhere.

How much of the race did you actually see?

 

[Kvinto]

Do RCS have some other podium girls? Just out of interest

 

[cocteau_ireland]

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.

Sagan would have had a hard time justifying following nibs into the front group for fear of dragging up other competitors, which it more than likely would have He was plan b, if it came back to sprint

 

[hatcher]

I like Cav but today he was wrong by letting his team do that. If you're not good enough you don't use your team like. And it was a bad call from Sky too. My opinion.

They stayed with Cav for about 2 minutes. Then everyone but Eisel left him. That those riders didn't make it back to the peloton has nothing to do with them staying with Cav.

 

[Moviefan1203]

Good win for Gerrans, but I wish Spartacus could have won.