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Milan-Sanremo

Page 29 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
karlboss said:
Got up to watch the last 20 and was going for bennati, once pozzato was caught I knew he wouldn't win. 2 liqui guys leading with just under 2km to go, the final leadout was never going to be strong enough. Congratulations to oscar who saw it and picked the right wheel. He had the perfect leadout and the legs to use it.

Watching how Freire gapped the field at the line, I don't think it would've mattered whether he chose Boonen's, Petacchi's or Bennati's wheel. He was head and shoulders above the rest. Bennati seemed to run out of gas 5 pedal strokes after his lead out pulled off. He still pretty much coasted in at 5th or 6 though. Freire pretty much sprinted Boonen off of his wheel. Quite impressive. He's got to be considered one of the greats of this generation and of all time. I'm quite biased though.:D
 
Jun 22, 2009
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I agree with ya, Friere looked really strong in the sprint, he pulled away.
He also looked great on the final climb i thought. So did boonen though, he'll win flanders this year i reckon.
 
Mar 10, 2009
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craig1985 said:
What a ride to Sacha Modolo. He might have won if he if he was better positioned.

He had a great ride, for a what, 23 yr old and first year pro? He had some good placings in TA (7, 6, 3) and the Giro Sardegna (3,4) as well, so he clearly is in form.
 
Timmy-loves-Rabo said:
I agree with ya, Friere looked really strong in the sprint, he pulled away.
He also looked great on the final climb i thought. So did boonen though, he'll win flanders this year i reckon.

For me it was just great to see Boonen back to his place among the best sprinters and the same with Bennati and Petacchi who inspite of losing are seemingly on form. The pace that was set up the Poggio and Nibali's attacks likely wore out all the sprinters with the exception of Freire who is riding a wave of great form.
 
issoisso said:
I have to admit, I'd be stoked if he took the record 4th Worlds win later this year or next year.

Of course I would too. The course looks promising for him but hearing the posts in describing the details it may be a course similar to Lombardia and we may see Cunego take it from a break of riders who usually contend in the Ardennes. If Freire can get away in a break and his fellow escapees can't shake him it will be history. I keep thinking that Luis Leon Sanchez could also excel on a course like this. He seemed to have improved his climbing based on that last P-N stage and he is one of the best in reading a race.
 
Hammerhed said:
I hope he catches on soon. It would be nice to see him win a stage at Catalunya this week, but I don't know if there is a flat sprinter's finish the whole week. Whatever...He'll grow, either up, old, or out!

Regarding Cavendish:

There are 2 stages that are suited to sprinters: 2 and 7 although 2 has a category 1 climb about 1/3 of the way into the stage. The rest appears to be fairly flat. Stage 7 isn't too challenging with what looks like the entire second half of the stage being mildly rolling terrain leading to finish. Cav's form though didn't appear to be such that he's ready to win any races especially with the likes of Freire, Boonen, Bennati and Petacchi being back on form.
 
Aug 13, 2009
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Michael Rodgers timed himself up the Cipressa. The climb did a good job of splitting up what was left of the group yesterday.

He did it in 9:52. The record is 9:30 from 2005
 
May 6, 2009
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Bala Verde said:
He had a great ride, for a what, 23 yr old and first year pro? He had some good placings in TA (7, 6, 3) and the Giro Sardegna (3,4) as well, so he clearly is in form.

I think it will secure Colnago's Giro spot.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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I don't think he's doing himself any favours by complaining like that. HTC-Columbia knows that Cav is their best chance of winning a lot of races, so they are obviously going to build the team around him (to an extent). Greipel will never be the number one sprinter there unless Cav goes elsewhere, so he should focus on doing what he can in the races where he is given free rein and try to land a new contract for next year.

I can understand his frustration at not being given a shot at M-SR, but all he does by moaning is make his team management unhappy with him, and make other teams that might want to offer him a ride think that he is a prima-donna.