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Milano - Sanremo 2025, one day monument, March 22

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Cooperation only helps Pogacar. See RVV 2023.

Especially Pidcock should 100% not contribute.
But then I think Ganna should100% contribute . I just don't think a flat TT specialist would suffer more on the section between Cipressa and Poggio than Pogacar. And it gives him a clear path to winning other than "sneak away on the flat bit at the end".
Generally I'm not sure the guys who'll be good on the hills but aren't bunch sprinters aren't all increasing their chances of winning by cooperating. Yeah Pidcock might get cooked on the Poggio but I think there is at least a reasonable chance he would hang on and in the sprint he can absolutely beat Pogacar. Maybe they are a little more likely to hang on if they arrive at the Poggio in a bunch, but again, what's their path to winning then?
 
But then I think Ganna should100% contribute . I just don't think a flat TT specialist would suffer more on the section between Cipressa and Poggio than Pogacar. And it gives him a clear path to winning other than "sneak away on the flat bit at the end".
Generally I'm not sure the guys who'll be good on the hills but aren't bunch sprinters aren't all increasing their chances of winning by cooperating. Yeah Pidcock might get cooked on the Poggio but I think there is at least a reasonable chance he would hang on and in the sprint he can absolutely beat Pogacar. Maybe they are a little more likely to hang on if they arrive at the Poggio in a bunch, but again, what's their path to winning then?
Ganna will be drafting the least in a group like that.

I would actually like for Ganna to attack from the group before the Poggio.
 
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I'm a big Pidcock fan but I really don't know why you think he can beat Pogacar in a sprint. Has he ever in any race? I can't think of any. I'm not sure that PIdcock is still at the sprinting level he showed in 2021 and i recall an interview from 18 months when he said his he'd lost his sprint which he attributed to knee pain.

At the end of a tough race, Pogacar has outsprinted Pederson at least twice, and even beat Van Aert in a sprint in Canada in 2022.
 
I'm a big Pidcock fan but I really don't know why you think he can beat Pogacar in a sprint. Has he ever in any race? I can't think of any. I'm not sure that PIdcock is still at the sprinting level he showed in 2021 and i recall an interview from 18 months when he said his he'd lost his sprint which he attributed to knee pain.

At the end of a tough race, Pogacar has outsprinted Pederson at least twice, and even beat Van Aert in a sprint in Canada in 2022.
Not to open that particular can of worms, but he (almost) beat Van Aert in a sprint at AGR.
 
Trek's been shopping.

485734325_1038929968264990_5779562095012897315_n.jpg


(They're not selling that at my local LIDL...)
 
Not to open that particular can of worms, but he (almost) beat Van Aert in a sprint at AGR.
Pidcock smoked WvA in a 3 up sprint in Brabanste Pijl. Pidcock can definitely win a small group sprint against the Classics specialists elite. I'm not sure where this notion has come from that he coudn't beat Pog in a sprint has come from. That said, I still think his best chance comes from following Pog and then using his descending skills on a wet Poggio.
 

MJR

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I really don't see Ganna having a chance to win. He's more likely to be helping someone else unwittingly.

I tend to agree. I just can't imagine a scenario where he doesn't drag somebody who's able to outsprint him. Plus, his great form of late puts a "don't let me go" bullseye on his back.

Philipsen cleared and will race win.

I can't imagine he keeps his same number of stars on the fav's list. He's gonna be sore and one needs every last % point to win this race.
 
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Does one really? I would actually think this is the one race where you can win without being in absolute peak condition.
This is the one race you can win without being in absolute peak condition, but only if you can make it over the Poggio without being in said absolute peak condition. So the crash is more debilitating for Philipsen than it would have been for most of the other favourites.
 
Really interesting this year La Classicissima. Pogacar goes on writting his legend and this race is important. Not easy for him. Not easy to drop some Riders Who are specialist for climbs as Poggio. In current cycling they must even brake in the corners climbing Poggio. Not the best descender, very good anyway, and lot ot his rivales are better Sprinter...if the objetive would be the podium, is almost sure in most of scenarios for him, except lot of sprinters at the end, but imwith him attacking with all at Poggio that is not easy. So, he is not even the favourite, even when is almost sure he will be the stronger

Things to consider:

How is really Van der Poel..if he is not at his best is good for Pogacar . It is maybe the most difficult for him to drop a Poggio.

His team looks very strong, especially Del Toro, and this time he could play with his team at Poggio.

Weather conditions: the only good change for him to win this race is a more selective race and a good help for that is bad weather conditions. It is true that a very cold race could benefit rivals as Mad Perdersen, but IS not the case. Rain and more or lees cold in the first part. Good conditions after Turchino..but quite windy at the end....the problemas is that wind will be all the race tailwind...even changing at the same way that the parcours. Just Cross wind and not well protected at some points of capos close to the see, and maybe at some points of Cipresa. I dont know how could affect, but that make the race harder than last year, so I think if Pogacar is the same strong he has a clear chance to win.

I think he need a real hard pace at Cipresa, but not really attack there himself. But anyway, It is an option.
 
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So pumped. While I'm sure its bad for the riders, I'm not sure if rain will also be bad or good for the racing. That descent is already sketchy - and 300km of riding around in the rain for 20min of action at the end would be horrible. Not even sure it would suit Pog. Maybe pederson :sweatsmile:

Also - we have got to stop referring to these in threads as "one day monuments"
It is not likely rain at Poggio, but It could rain a little at that hours there. If happens, It will chance a lot the race, specially at the descent, but would make harder the climb as well. Pogacar have to risk in the descent in all the scenarios, so for him better no rain there, just from Milano to Turchino to make a harder race.