March 19: Milan - San Remo 2011 298km

[boomcie]

Wait a minute boomcie. That's what Jezus said about Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Tours when a certain FDJ rider surprised everyone. Let's wait and see! Do you have a longshot favorite picked yet?

Nah, that's blasphemous! Jezus is omniscienct and he did tell his friends about those two victories before they where achieved.

A longshot favorite is always hard to pick, but given the current trends I would pick Thomas De Gendt.

 

[*G*K*S*]

Long shot picks:

Bunch sprint - Belletti
Flyer - Ballan

 

[The Sheep]

You're just hurt because he says he wasn't that impressed with Gilbert's climbing in the Tirreno. But why should he be? Both times when Gilbert put his team on the front because he wanted to try something on the final climb, he failed.

No he's hurt because Freire said Contador doped in the same piece.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

No he's hurt because Freire said Contador doped in the same piece.

And also that, after ToC last year, he was sitting in the lobby of an airport for 4 hours, until realizing he forgot to catch his plane
And that he once asked Boogerd in the Brabantse Pijl how far the finish was, Boogerd answerd 500m. He didn't even notice the sprint even started yet

 

[The Hitch]

I dont see how Ballan can win. anything he does, Gilbert will do too but better. Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?

And also that, after ToC last year, he was sitting in the lobby of an airport for 4 hours, until realizing he forgot to catch his plane
And that he once asked Boogerd in the Brabantse Pijl how far the finish was, Boogerd answerd 500m. He didn't even notice the sprint even started yet

Why would El pistolero be hurt by any of that?

 

[boomcie]

Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?

VIP membership to the royal BMC club?

 

[Kvinto]

The One Jose winning would be christmas come early but i dont see him making it over the climbs.

You're right, the climbing might be a problem (by the way Tyler Farrar is in the same position), and that's why I consider JJ as a dark horse. But I think the current form of rider is even more important. There are maybe too many question marks in this case, but never say never, anyway JJ takes it serious (he said he want to come up to MSR in his best) and in the new SaxoBank team he is protected rider for MSR (there is no Breschel, no Cancellare anymore). Two years ago the worst climber won MSR with help from a strong team, the story can happen again but with different characters.
I'm not saying Haedo will win, I'm just pointing it's not imposible.

 

[*G*K*S*]

I dont see how Ballan can win. anything he does, Gilbert will do too but better. Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?

While Gilbert is pushing Greipel up and over Poggio, Ballan will slip off the front.


But like I said, he's a total dark horse pick.

 

[*G*K*S*]

VIP membership to the royal BMC club?

And don't forget a rainbow jersey.

 

[El Pistolero]

I dont see how Ballan can win. anything he does, Gilbert will do too but better. Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?




Why would El pistolero be hurt by any of that?

I love him for those reasons.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Why would El pistolero be hurt by any of that?

I meant Freire also said that in the same piece

 

[ingsve]

I'm going out on a limb and predicting a top 5 finish for either Marko Kump or Matteo Pelucchi for Geox...

 

[max_powers]

Friere for #4.

Yes just saw replay of 2010 race.

If Oscar prepared and rides similarly, he is odds on imo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

An Aussie has the best odds to win, seeing as they won every World Tour race so far except Paris Nice.

So..Haussler or Goss

 

[maltiv]

There are many teams who would want a hard race. No one wants Cavendish or Farrar to be there at the end and I hope the other teams will do everything they can to drop them.

 

[Anonymous]

I've had £10 e/w on Kolobnev @ 250/1

That's a huge price for a rider that can attack on the Poggia.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Course updates

News about the course after the storms today:

Savona: there has been a fall of rocks (frana) on the coast road - so although the cyclists can pass the caravana will be diverted

Campo Ligure: other road problems due flooding - not full explained.

This was all reported just now on RaiSport2 - probably the route will remain
unchanged in any great detail.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Yes just saw replay of 2010 race.

If Oscar prepared and rides similarly, he is odds on imo.

I just saw the replay of the end of 2008 - if Cancellara is the same machine
he'll win it too!

 

[blaxland]

An Aussie has the best odds to win, seeing as they won every World Tour race so far except Paris Nice.

So..Haussler or Goss

Spot on ...and i would also add Matthews.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I dont see how Ballan can win. anything he does, Gilbert will do too but better. Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?

I think he is more likely than Gilbert. The climb is not descisive enough for Gilbert for it to be an advantage over other punchers like Gilbert or Pozzato. The less steeper climbs Ballan is better at punching over than gilbert and on the flat finish Ballan is quite quick.

Shall I remind you of De Ronde in 2007 or Varese in 2008?

 

[Cobber]

I dont see how Ballan can win. anything he does, Gilbert will do too but better. Canc can win by beating Gilbert on descent and flat but what does Ballan have that GIlbert doesnt?

A rainbow jersey.

 

[Granville57]

This latest CN article:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garmin-cervelo-has-three-aces-for-milan-san-remo

Garmin-Cervélo has three aces for Milan-San Remo
Vaughters confident about every race scenario

"I think we have to play some fairly atypical tactics," he said. "The race can develop three or four different ways and we have a different rider most suited to that. It must be a real pain in the *** for the other teams because whatever you do, you're f___d."

Is it just me or is there some extra tension and anticipation around the race this year?

 

[Ferminal]

This latest CN article:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/garmin-cervelo-has-three-aces-for-milan-san-remo



Is it just me or is there some extra tension and anticipation around the race this year?

Yeh it's all that hype surrounding the Cav vs Greipel showdown

 

[Winterfold]

So difficult to call still, but one must have a go

A wily old fox who can disappear to take advantage, well a cat actually, a cat with a very strong team so far this year

If not maybe Flecha - in any case it will be fun to watch if Sky really make their strong tt and pursuit men ride fast in the last third of the race

 

[The Hitch]

A wily old fox who can disappear to take advantage, well a cat actually, a cat with a very strong team so far this year

Thats an out of the box pick right there. Though Geox havent been that strong and Fabio isnt that old but an interesting prediction nonetheless.