Milano - Sanremo 2023, one day monument, March 18

[Nick2413]

The evidence from the past few years points to the likely hood that a small chasing group will absolutely not work well together.
ed. Safebet beat me to it

I’ve never been in a chase group in a cycling monument but it’s hard to wrap my brain around not doing everything imaginable to chase down the leader even if it somewhat compromises sprinting ability. Look at Pog, he got 4th at Flanders purely because couldn’t care less about 2nd, and we know guys like Wout don’t care about minor places. You’d think they’d at least give it a shot. Unless they really are that fried but in MSR there should be some energy left.

 

[topcat]

What's your usual descending technique by the way? Or will your gap be large enough to allow you to soft-pedal?

Free fall into the gutter

 

[Lequack]

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Would be interesting to see whether Pidcock can handle Mohoric going down the Poggio.

I don't know if anyone can match Mohoric in an aero descending matchup, that and I'm not sure anyone else is as willing to put it all on the line. If anyone does get a gap the most important part is still whether riders behind are willing to chase hard on the less technical sections instead of worrying about the sprint.

That part of the Poggio descent probably doesn't get as much attention as it should. The Australian commentators on Paris Nice said Gerrans told them he had to do 1000 watts out of every corner to stay with Cancellara when he won, and he was only 60 kg.

 

[Red Rick]

I know you're all medical experts, but let's stay off the topic of COVID

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Maybe delete the covid scepticism nonsense right away then and not only after these right wing weasels are getting called out on their nonsense.

I also find it extremely off to be questioning riders for pulling out of races. They are people too, and no one should be expected to risk torpedoing the rest of their season by starting a 300k race while ill.

 

[Red Rick]

I just rewatched the Poggio climb of last year and honestly Pogacars attacks looked weaker than I remember. Reaction time matters quite a lot, if you're straight in the draft it's nearly impossible to drop someone.

 

[Lequack]

That's why Pog needs a teammate to follow and then drop the wheel.

 

[Ricco']

I just rewatched the Poggio climb of last year and honestly Pogacars attacks looked weaker than I remember. Reaction time matters quite a lot, if you're straight in the draft it's nearly impossible to drop someone.

Just because we're on topic, what's the deadliest attack we've seen on the Poggio in the last years? Sagan in 2017? Just went back to watch it and although I had another image in my mind, it was almost 1 km since he launched until they started the Poggio descent.

Not made a real difference to Kwiato and Ala, but they started the descent with maybe the biggest time gap to the main bunch from the last editions. I think that should be one of the only editions where there wasn't many doubts about the attackers being able to hold on when they reached the flat.

 

[Lequack]

Like I said, the real tactic would be to slow down the peloton before the climb.

 

[DNP-Old]

No Pidcock btw.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I don't know if anyone can match Mohoric in an aero descending matchup, that and I'm not sure anyone else is as willing to put it all on the line. If anyone does get a gap the most important part is still whether riders behind are willing to chase hard on the less technical sections instead of worrying about the sprint.

That part of the Poggio descent probably doesn't get as much attention as it should. The Australian commentators on Paris Nice said Gerrans told them he had to do 1000 watts out of every corner to stay with Cancellara when he won, and he was only 60 kg.

Wout and MvdP didn't fancy trying to stay with him last year. I don't doubt MvdP had the skills, but he values his life too much.

 

[Lequack]

No Pidcock btw.

I just read, shame.

 

[Netserk]

I just rewatched the Poggio climb of last year and honestly Pogacars attacks looked weaker than I remember. Reaction time matters quite a lot, if you're straight in the draft it's nearly impossible to drop someone.

Attacking so early and on the short part of the climb with headwind also made it easier to draft him.

 

[KZD]

I just rewatched the Poggio climb of last year and honestly Pogacars attacks looked weaker than I remember. Reaction time matters quite a lot, if you're straight in the draft it's nearly impossible to drop someone.

If I remember Pogačar was actually a bit sick after Tirreno Adriatico so that might have taken something out of him. Still the fact that he was the only one following SKA's attack showed that he was strong.

Pidcock and Matthews absence make his life easier but I have my doubts that he is going to get a big gap on Van Aert and Van der Poel on the Poggio. Getting a gap with someone like Alaphilippe could actually be the most likely way that he has to win this.

 

[Lequack]

Would it be best for a climber to just go all out and not look back? It seems the start/stop stuff will help the sprinters/strong men.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

If I remember Pogačar was actually a bit sick after Tirreno Adriatico so that might have taken something out of him. Still the fact that he was the only one following SKA's attack showed that he was strong.

Pidcock and Matthews absence make his life easier but I have my doubts that he is going to get a big gap on Van Aert and Van der Poel on the Poggio. Getting a gap with someone like Alaphilippe could actually be the most likely way that he has to win this.

Potentially unpopular opinion- Pog's best chance of winning this is to do a Gerrans. He doesn't quite have the raw power to maintain a gap on the Poggio solo, but he's also Tadej Pogacar so no one's going to let him sit on their wheel and then jump them in a sprint.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Potentially unpopular opinion- Pog's best chance of winning this is to do a Gerrans. He doesn't quite have the raw power to maintain a gap on the Poggio solo, but he's also Tadej Pogacar so no one's going to let him sit on their wheel and then jump them in a sprint.

He doesn't?

 

[Netserk]

Potentially unpopular opinion- Pog's best chance of winning this is to do a Gerrans.

You mean he should drag a rouleur up to the attacker on Poggio?

 

[Nick2413]

Potentially unpopular opinion- Pog's best chance of winning this is to do a Gerrans. He doesn't quite have the raw power to maintain a gap on the Poggio solo, but he's also Tadej Pogacar so no one's going to let him sit on their wheel and then jump them in a sprint.

Also unpopular opinion, he’s not a fast enough descender to keep a gap on the descent if he gets one. He’s skilled on a bike but he’s lost time on many or most key descents. Lombardia last year he may have let Masnada back in on purpose but lost quite a bit there. Just the other day he technically lost a couple seconds to chasers despite riding hard. And other examples. When it’s a chasing group of bigger guys and in a monument, I think they get back to him.

 

[Taxus4a]

It is going to be always a difficult task for a rider as tadej, but maybe last year he was too much at the initiative at Poggio. It a race to attack in the right moment, and he wasnt the favourite. Other way is wait for a year most selective for weather...make hard capo Berta, and risk everything at la Cipressa.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Lol that Gerrans MSR win is probably the 'best' wheelsucking win I've ever seen. He really made an art out of it.

 

[Big Doopie]

It says everything about this race that its last ten winners are all different.

Just like the mid 60s - mid 70s.

 

[Big Doopie]

Maybe Remco should come from the volcano and win it.

Only he’d need a 10 minute gap at the top of the poggio in order to navigate the descent safely.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

You mean he should drag a rouleur up to the attacker on Poggio?

I just watched it again because I thought I must've misremembered. Nope, Nibali attacked with Gerrans in his wheel and then Cancellara closed the gap to them by himself.