March 19: Milan - San Remo 2011 298km

[Christian]

Fabian Cancellara: Milan - San Remo is like a bottle of Champagne

"San Remo is like a bottle of champagne. With its 300 km, everyone is afraid of it. And when you arrive in the final kilometers, everyone watches each other to see who could go by themself, and above all where; like the cork when you open a bottle of champagne.

It is rare to find a rider who can resist the peloton after the Poggio, that's why there are so many sprint finishes. Maybe Philippe Gilbert could break away in the Poggio, but there are so many good riders that you don't know whom to watch. Personally, I am only an outsider. Even though I could break away a couple of years ago, this year it seems more difficult. In any case, I have less pressure on my shoulders than others."


http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-cancellara_la_primavera_fait_trembler_tout_le_monde-13533.html

 

[Captain_Cavman]

I agree, They have a small chance with Boasson Hagen but thats about it.I would of had Sutton and Swift in there and G Thomas for some horsepower at the end to give them more options.

Sky has the most interesting line-up if the provisional start lists are to be believed. They have left behind all their pure sprinters and have included a lot of in-form climbing power in Wiggins, Lovkvist and Rogers.

It looks as though their tactic will be to try to shell out all the pure sprinters.

 

[theyoungest]

Sky has the most interesting line-up if the provisional start lists are to be believed. They have left behind all their pure sprinters and have included a lot of in-form climbing power in Wiggins, Lovkvist and Rogers.

It looks as though their tactic will be to try to shell out all the pure sprinters.

Freire will thank them after the finish

 

[El Pistolero]

Freire won't win

 

[El Pistolero]

LOL? what was that?

He rode in Tirreno-Adriatico this year Didn't you see him?

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Freire will thank them after the finish

Well yeah, it certainly puts him in the frame. The question is whether you can burn off the sprinters on the Cipressa & Poggio these days?

 

[Archibald]

I notice Cuddles saying that Hushovd is strongest and should win...
No complaints if this is the case, but I think Haussler will be quicker should it come to a sprint finish (if he's there)

 

[El Pistolero]

The most deserving winner would be either Boonen or Hushovd imo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Fabian Cancellara: Milan - San Remo is like a bottle of Champagne

"San Remo is like a bottle of champagne. With its 300 km, everyone is afraid of it. And when you arrive in the final kilometers, everyone watches each other to see who could go by themself, and above all where; like the cork when you open a bottle of champagne.

It is rare to find a rider who can resist the peloton after the Poggio, that's why there are so many sprint finishes. Maybe Philippe Gilbert could break away in the Poggio, but there are so many good riders that you don't know whom to watch. Personally, I am only an outsider. Even though I could break away a couple of years ago, this year it seems more difficult. In any case, I have less pressure on my shoulders than others."



http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-cancellara_la_primavera_fait_trembler_tout_le_monde-13533.html

Cancellara better follows Gilbert when he attacks otherwise it's going to be hard.
By the way the reason why Cancellara says it's harder this year is because he won in 2008. In 2008 the profile changed and the sprinters weren't used to the change. Now they are, so it's harder to surprise them.

 

[p e t e r]

Freire won't win

Of course not. The history shows he'll win in 2013

 

[Christian]

Cancellara revealing his (little surprising) gameplan in the LEOPARD TREK newsletter:

"This year, I'm hoping to be strong enough on the Poggio and escape the sprinting bunch."

 

[theyoungest]

Cancellara better follows Gilbert when he attacks otherwise it's going to be hard.
By the way the reason why Cancellara says it's harder this year is because he won in 2008. In 2008 the profile changed and the sprinters weren't used to the change. Now they are, so it's harder to surprise them.

Who says Gilbert will be able to create a gap? His form seems to be ok, but not the spectacular form he needs to turn that big gear like he did in Lombardia 2009 and the Vuelta 2010. And you really need spectacular form to get away on the Poggio.

 

[Grzdylu]

From Lampre-ISD official site:

It’s not so lucky the approach to Milano-Sanremo for Alessandro Petacchi. The fit for Ale-Jet is good, but some health problems contribute to make uncertain the eve of Classicissima for Petacchi, as explained by Dr Beltemacchi from Lampre-ISD’s medical staff: “In the past weeks the bronchial asthma of Petacchi flared up. The cold weather of Tirreno-Adriatico was not so good for his situation and, in addition, the teraphy for the asthma caused a weakening of his immune system: Alessandro suffered for a cold disease that flared up his asthma. Anyway, Petacchi is a very professional athlete and he’s training with grind in order to be at the departure of Milano-Sanremo”.

Todau Petacchi is performing a 4 hours training nearby his home, at the end he’ll update the team about his health and his feelings. More updates, soon on http://www.teamlampreisd.com.

 

[Lanark]

Who says Gilbert will be able to create a gap? His form seems to be ok, but not the spectacular form he needs to turn that big gear like he did in Lombardia 2009 and the Vuelta 2010. And you really need spectacular form to get away on the Poggio.

Last year he barely dropped anyone with his attack on the Poggio, he just stretched the peloton a bit.

 

[El Pistolero]

Who says Gilbert will be able to create a gap? His form seems to be ok, but not the spectacular form he needs to turn that big gear like he did in Lombardia 2009 and the Vuelta 2010. And you really need spectacular form to get away on the Poggio.

His form seems better than last year at this point of the season, so that's why. It's the only hope we can give or otherwise it's going to be a boring sprint again.

 

[theyoungest]

His form seems better than last year at this point of the season, so that's why. It's the only hope we can give or otherwise it's going to be a boring sprint again.

Unless Boonen wins, then it's a great sprint

 

[boomcie]

Unless Boonen wins, then it's an awesome sprint!

That would be awesome!





(I removed the "roll eyes smiley" in your quote to make it look like you were actually serious.)

Edit: I also replaced "great" with "awesome" and added an exclamation mark to your sentence.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Gilbert said himself it's useless to attack on the poggio when nobody follows.
It's to far from the finish to make it on your own from the top.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Who was the one to get away on the Poggio and stay away?- last night I saw archive video from 1999 when Colombo (IIRC) escaped with 8 secs from the top of the Poggio but he was eaten up by the group before the line.

 

[Cobblestoned]

First run with PCM says Spartakus

I played with Garmin and wanted a sprint. I ended up with Haussler, Farrar and Hushovd after Poggio and on 4km mark, and was soooo undecided who should pull the sprint for whoever. Hesitating because Farrar was just a little bit f*****.

When my 3 man train was arranged (Farrar last man) and I was close to hitting the sprintbutton, Cancellara attacked and pulled it off and won with 10 sec.

Boonen 2nd, Davis third - my Farrar 5th

Another try today, with Omega.
1 thing for sure - don't want to be Vaughters on Saturday.

 

[Jamsque]

It's gonna be Keukeleire. Book it.

 

[Grzdylu]

Movistar:

Francisco Ventoso, José Joaquín Rojas, Pablo Lastras, Angel Madrazo, Marzio Bruseghin, Andrey Amador, Ignatas Konovalovas, Vasili Kiryienka.

Katusha:

Filippo Pozzato, Mikhail Ignatyev, Vladimir Isaychev, Alexander Kolobnev, Vladimir Gusev, Leif Hoste, Aliaksandr Kuchysnki, Luca Paolini.

 

[kurtinsc]

It's gonna be Keukeleire. Book it.

You are insane... but I'd love to see it.

 

[Jamsque]

Nah, no way he will last 300km. I'd love to see it too, though.

 

[will10]

Rojas will finish 4th, he's good at that.