Milan-Sanremo

[Moondance]

On EBH: His name will surface again as a favorite at Flanders & Roubaix, and I think we'll see a more impressive ride from him there (upset tummy or no).

He still won't be podium material, though-- at least not until he proves that, when the race is strung out in tatters by a Boonen/Cancellara/Pippo grenade, he can hold his own.

Still, with him and Haussler both looking to take some prestigious scalps, we could see a Spring animated by some young faces.

I wouldn't hold your breath. Winning Gent-Wevelgem (which he did in a break) or finishing high in Omloop is a whole different kettle of fish than winning De Ronde or De Hel. Those two races are practically always won by grizzled veterans. EBH will definitely be a serious contender in 3-5 years or so (maybe sooner if he really decides to focus on the cobbles), but win, or even top 5-ing, is expecting WAY too much of him.

 

[sublimit]

Let me get this rights, if somebody expresses a negative opinion on something, they are haters. Right so we should be positive about everything. Last time I checked, forums were for expressing opinions and making comparisons.

On the race itself, compare the race today with the last few editions or other races this year like Het Niewusblad or many of the stages from Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriacto. If those races were exciting, doesnt that mean that Milan-San Remo was less exciting so therefore duller.

What is wrong with calling a spade a spade.

Put some old reruns of Paris-Nice on then and dont bother with MSR. If you find it dull then switch over.

 

[Bike Boy]

I wouldn't hold your breath. Winning Gent-Wevelgem (which he did in a break) or finishing high in Omloop is a whole different kettle of fish than winning De Ronde or De Hel. Those two races are practically always won by grizzled veterans. EBH will definitely be a serious contender in 3-5 years or so (maybe sooner if he really decides to focus on the cobbles), but win, or even top 5-ing, is expecting WAY too much of him.

Sounds like a very fair assessment. But every once in a weil, along comes a young rider, who seemingly got what it takes from the very beginning.

In 2002 a 21 year old Tom Boonen finished third in Paris Roubaix. I'm not saying EBH can emulate that feat, but these things are difficult to predict.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/worldcup02/roubaix02/?id=results

 

[Moondance]

Sounds like a very fair assessment. But every once in a weil, along comes a young rider, who seemingly got what it takes from the very beginning.

In 2002 a 21 year old Tom Boonen finished third in Paris Roubaix. I'm not saying EBH can emulate that feat, but these things are difficult to predict.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/worldcup02/roubaix02/?id=results

Boonen is a pure cobbles specialist however, which EBH is not. Also early last decade was a particular low point in the quality of the Flanders specialist. Museeuw was a great, great rider, but when a 36 year old destroys the rest of competition by over 3 minutes (as was the case in 2002) you know that it wasn't the most competitive in the history of PR.

Winning De Ronde or De Hel is not like winning any other race. It's so incredible difficult.... Also Sky have a proven top challenger in Flecha. I would be surprised if Sky don't focus on trying to deliver Flecha a victory, rather than split their forces.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think it's more a pro-Sky thing than a pro-EBH thing. Although it is of course true that people everywhere expect far too much from EBH's considerable abilities (a mistake which once cost me 10 euros ).

Do you want to know where I spent your 10 euros?

Anyway, Hagen needs to get his food problems fixed, because if I'm not mistaken it's the same 'excuse' he has given in other 250km+ one day races already a few times...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He won the last stage of Tirreno in a bunch sprint, beating Bennati, Farrar, Petacchi, Boonen, Freire etc.

Actually, Boonen, Bennati and Freire weren't even sprinting in the final stage of the Tirreno. Boonen and Freire because they didn't want to take the risk. Bennati because he was in awful position with 500m to go and gave up.

Remains Farrar and Petacchi, Farrar was almost thrown into the barries due to EBH's work, and Petacchi had to round him to times, also because EBH swerved from left to right and back.
So, what remains is, he beat Farrar and Petacchi in an indecent and somewhat unfair style.

 

[Mellow Velo]

EBH almost threw Farrar into the barriers, but Theo Bos did nothing to Darryl Impey......
Must get a pair of those glasses.

 

[auscyclefan94]

http://www.melbourne2010.com.au/default.aspx?s=geelong-road-race-flash

Ummm... This is what I have been able to find on the official site. And certainly any sprinter who is able to survive the Cipressa & Poggio should be able to get through this.

The climbs are far steeper in the worlds course. on the first climb their are some parts of 13 to 14% which are close to the top.

 

[stefrees]

Dimspace was right, the mood in this place is fast going downhill. I will not say a bad word about cn itself, I always go to the frontpage for news, love the benson/jones podcasts, but the forum is a vehicle for aggressive posts. Why so much aggression over ebh? And people like dekker_tifosi seem to come back and shoot anyone down as soon as they make any point. From such a good news site can someone please do something aboug the mood on here? Debate should be fun not aggressive

 

[auscyclefan94]

Dimspace was right, the mood in this place is fast going downhill. I will not say a bad word about cn itself, I always go to the frontpage for news, love the benson/jones podcasts, but the forum is a vehicle for aggressive posts. Why so much aggression over ebh? And people like dekker_tifosi seem to come back and shoot anyone down as soon as they make any point. From such a good news site can someone please do something aboug the mood on here? Debate should be fun not aggressive

+1

I don't think the mods are on here enough. Things are getting a bit too personal.

 

[stefrees]

+1

I don't think the mods are on here enough. Things are getting a bit too personal.

It's a shame, there's a lot of knowledge just too much angst. I used to enjoy you and dims light hearted banter (banter not angst) but too much is anti sky, anti Evans etc and it's got too much. It's an English speaking site what do you expect?

 

[Bike Boy]

Boonen is a pure cobbles specialist however, which EBH is not. Also early last decade was a particular low point in the quality of the Flanders specialist. Museeuw was a great, great rider, but when a 36 year old destroys the rest of competition by over 3 minutes (as was the case in 2002) you know that it wasn't the most competitive in the history of PR.

Winning De Ronde or De Hel is not like winning any other race. It's so incredible difficult.... Also Sky have a proven top challenger in Flecha. I would be surprised if Sky don't focus on trying to deliver Flecha a victory, rather than split their forces.

You're probably right not the most competitive year.

From Sky's POV it sure would be sweet, if they manage to keep both riders in the final (call it split forces if you want).
Having said that, we can agree that Flecha should be the team captain.

 

[theyoungest]

Remains Farrar and Petacchi, Farrar was almost thrown into the barries due to EBH's work, and Petacchi had to round him to times, also because EBH swerved from left to right and back.
So, what remains is, he beat Farrar and Petacchi in an indecent and somewhat unfair style.

Blocked OK, but thrown into the barriers... you're giving Mellow Velo fuel for the fire on which to roast Theo Bos.

 

[Moondance]

The climbs are far steeper in the worlds course. on the first climb their are some parts of 13 to 14% which are close to the top.

That is pretty damn steep, I'll give you that. But given that the total climb itself is not long (only a km or so) and is almost 10kms from the finish line.... I'm inclined to think it would be very hard for someone (or even a small group) to get away and stay away, especially if a strong nation like Spain get behind Freire (who should be able to grit it and at least survive).

 

[fatandfast]

How did this turn into a dirty rider thread? Today was sterile as sprints go. The almost 30 miles per hour going uphill help select those left at the end. EBH is not a dirty rider,at 22 he has little experience( although he represents Sky hope for many here) If Boonen at 29 thinks he is still learning EBH and his fans should relax for a couple of years. Flecha is a seasoned leader and has ridden well this year. I didn't read the press about EBH being the great hope but Sky, Garmin and HTC should have chosen more carefully.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Some interesting tweets

@Mick Rogers
MSR race organiser RCS lost big points for not lighting the tunnel on top of the climb prior to Genova. Pitch black = big crash. Not cool!
@lancearmstrong
@mickrogers are you surprised?

Armstrong seems to have something against the RCS. Radioshack is not bothering with the giro.

@greg henderson
Freire is a legend. Congrats. Bad luck for me. Stitches in my knee after crashing before 1st feed. Long day chasing. Knee not too good.

@ghincapie
Finally had some good legs today. Unfortunately gaps opened on decent o f cipressa . Needed to be a bit closer to front. Gent w up next.

 

[pmcg76]

Put some old reruns of Paris-Nice on then and dont bother with MSR. If you find it dull then switch over.

You mean like yourself who declared Paris-Nice as boring, switched over and then missed a genuinely good race. I watch everything till the end, then make my analysis. If you are watching a game of football, do you switch of if the first half is boring.

The most exciting part of Milan-San Remo is the last 20km and especially the Poggio. There was less attacks on the Poggio this year than I can ever remember, so I should stop watching with 3km to go!!!!

Perhaps I have been watching cycling for too long and dont get as excited as some people anymore. I can remember the 92 Milan-San Remo and say that was a great race and other editions.

I follow other sports and every week, we hear about this game or that match being boring of fantastic. Its normal in sport. For example in rugby the England v Scotland game last week was considered a terrible bore by the experts whilst the Ireland v Scotland today was considered a cracker.

If a race is exciting I will say so, likewise if its boring I will say so. I dont see what the big fuss is or why I am a hater, if I am a hater of less exciting races, thats fine by me.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

How did this turn into a dirty rider thread?

I hear you.

Congratulations to Oscar Freire. Strength and wisdom paid dividends today.

 

[Race Radio]

Anyone have a reason why Stefano Garzelli was pulling so hard on the Cipressa? You would think he was working for another team.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Anyone have a reason why Stefano Garzelli was pulling so hard on the Cipressa? You would think he was working for another team.

Paolini is usually good in 250k+ flat/hilly races.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

EBH almost threw Farrar into the barriers, but Theo Bos did nothing to Darryl Impey......
Must get a pair of those glasses.

You really invent things. I applaud you.

Never said that, and you know it. Stop twisting and turning everything your way.
I only said Bos didnt do that intentional (with the intention of throwing Impey off the bike).
Somehow you keep trying to make your own version of it and use that in EVERY discussion.

Please, put it behind you, seach some doll to vent your anger on, not an internet forum.
Thanks.

 

[pmcg76]

Anyone have a reason why Stefano Garzelli was pulling so hard on the Cipressa? You would think he was working for another team.

Yeah, made no sense. He cannot have been trying to set it up for Paolini. Garzelli is clearly in great form so its very puzzling, he didnt attack, just rode that fast pace.

 

[Race Radio]

Paolini is usually good in 250k+ flat/hilly races.

Did he make the split? I don't remember seeing him.

Some good pics from the start

http://www.msgd.it/Milano-Sanremo/2010.html

 

[auscyclefan94]

Paolini is usually good in 250k+ flat/hilly races.

All Hail ak zaaf, the knowledgable one.

Nobody will be questioning your posts for a while. Picking a MSR podium is a very good effort! What was your reasoning in putting those riders in that particular order?

 

[zapata]

Paolini was tenth. I know some people (lionel birnie) think garzelli was paid by lampre to discourage attacks on the poggio. I prefer to think he was working for paolini. Paolini will never be the favourite for MSR, but he was the best option for Aqua et Sapone, so what else should they do?