Milano - Sanremo 2025, one day monument, March 22

[gregrowlerson]

"Rick, I thought you were a cycling fan?"

"No babe, I'm merely a Milano-Sanremo fan"

Is this Red Rick or Mario Cipollini?

 

[Ricco']

It didn't occur to me earlier, but Alaphilippe was completely anonymous today.

I keep hoping to see him back to his best and at the pointy end, but maybe that's just a fool's hope.

At least we saw him almost knocking down VDP.

I only noticed former winner Mohoric was in the race when I saw him in 100th place in the results

 

[gregrowlerson]

I wish Evenepoel had been here.

I thought the same thing after the race. He could make these battles even more epic.

 

[Tonton]

Bravo Matthieu! Without him, Pog would not have to do what he's been doing several times now: attacking from the Cipressa. Mythic not if but when it works...

I thought Pauline was going to win it! Legend.

Great weekend of cycling!

 

[jono]

It didn't occur to me earlier, but Alaphilippe was completely anonymous today.

I keep hoping to see him back to his best and at the pointy end, but maybe that's just a fool's hope.

He almost crashed MVDP, which would have affected things a bit.

 

[Escarabajo]

So here they actually said my point:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz0qEjLQZPY


Cycling has changed, and in part thanks to Pogacar. Why for the life of me they don't want to risk it here? number 1, and why don't they bring a better team if Pogi wants it so badly?

 

[red_flanders]

Well just saw it, haven't read any of the comments, but that was a GREAT edition! I was thinking after the first attack that I'm tired of seeing Pogačar and MVDP winning all of these even if I really like both riders...but...that was just a great race. Totally removed that thought from my head. The best two riders in the peloton (IMO) going head to head with Ganna as a foil. Incredible.

 

[Breh]

It didn't occur to me earlier, but Alaphilippe was completely anonymous today.

I keep hoping to see him back to his best and at the pointy end, but maybe that's just a fool's hope.

Nah, he hasn't been at his best ever since the 2021 WC.

He's pretty much done and I don't know of too many comebacks in cycling like that. When you're done, you're done and it is unlikely you'll get back to the top.
When Sagan was done, he was done, he just wasn't relevant anymore.

Which saddens me alot because Loulou was my favorite rider in the peloton.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I think we all know Pog is going to get his 'revenge' in Roubaix. That's my prediction anyway.

I don't know man, RVV maybe, but I think Pog is going to find that the extra weight people like Mathieu, Pederson, Ganna, and even Wout have, is necessary for the entire course. Maybe he skittered over the Arenberg cobbles on a training ride and thought it wasn't so bad, but that race pounds the living sh!t out of a rider, and bigger bodies take that much better.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Probably the best edition I've seen. Though the Kwiato, Ala, Sagan edition was great too.

I'm a big fan of Mohoric win, becasue it was so daring, and dropper posty.

 

[Unchained]

I don't know man, RVV maybe, but I think Pog is going to find that the extra weight people like Mathieu, Pederson, Ganna, and even Wout have, is necessary for the entire course. Maybe he skittered over the Arenberg cobbles on a training ride and thought it wasn't so bad, but that race pounds the living sh!t out of a rider, and bigger bodies take that much better.

This could all certainly be correct. But on all without exception, all Pogacar's uphill attacks were covered and I include after his 3 jumps trying unsuccessfully to drop MVP all flat to uphill which is currently believed to be advantage of smaller, skinnier rider..but uphill didn't turn out to be the advantage of Pog.. And I didn't start stop watch the video, but MVP was climbing strong and effective in the saddle at greater percentage than Pogacar. Skinny is normally good

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I wonder if they'll consider making it a two-day Monument to benefit Pogačar. They could either ride the same race again on Sunday or do it in the opposite direction.

Maybe short one of the corners, and do a step down 3 meter drop. Kick it up a notch.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

That’s why he attacked 1min later

And Pog had a harder time bringing back that attack, than Mathieu had in bringing back any of Pogs.

 

[saunaking]

awesome race, shame we have to look at Pogi's bars and MVDP's watch
disgusting

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Watched it from entering the Cipressa. Quality finale. Right results for every man in this trio.

Is Ganna going to Roubaix, no? He should, would be nice to see how that goes. But does that come too late for this form, could he hold it that far, he was already top shape in Tirreno.

VDP is in his prime atm. It's interesting to see what he does now with Flanders and Roubaix? Pogi could beat him in Flanders I think but not surprised if Roubaix is same 1-2 as today. But cobbles and especially Roubaix cobbles needs huge amount of luck tbo.

Hey, don't give away Wout's 2nd place just yet...it's still his thing.

 

[Cookster15]

This could all certainly be correct. But on all without exception, all Pogacar's uphill attacks were covered and I include after his 3 jumps trying unsuccessfully to drop MVP all flat to uphill which is currently believed to be advantage of smaller, skinnier rider..but uphill didn't turn out to be the advantage of Pog.. And I didn't start stop watch the video, but MVP was climbing strong and effective in the saddle at greater percentage than Pogacar. Skinny is normally good

The uphills of Cipressa and Poggio were not long or hard enough. Simple as that. Cipressa is nine minutes effort. Sitting in the draft even less taxing for a heavier rider like MVDP. Pog’s advantage over MVDP only begins when the descent has already begun then its advantage MVDP again.

 

[kamaveli]

Made the mistake of wasting energy at PN chasing the points jersey. Compare him to how MVDP rode TA.

And then compare that to how Ganna rode TA.
I think Pedersen was just one of the many riders who made a mistake and slept when Pogi made the first attack on Cipressa. Also the bad weather at the beginning certainly also affected many riders.

 

[Rackham]

I don't know man, RVV maybe, but I think Pog is going to find that the extra weight people like Mathieu, Pederson, Ganna, and even Wout have, is necessary for the entire course. Maybe he skittered over the Arenberg cobbles on a training ride and thought it wasn't so bad, but that race pounds the living sh!t out of a rider, and bigger bodies take that much better.

What I saw yesterday was Pog cooking himself after launching a trillion massive watts attacks whilst VdP sat on his tail and did far less. I think weight etc. and everything else is overrated. It's about power.

IMO Pog will ride Roubaix far more conservatively than he did MSR yesterday. It'll give him the extra punch when he needs it.

 

[Netserk]

Nah, he hasn't been at his best ever since the 2021 WC.

He's pretty much done and I don't know of too many comebacks in cycling like that. When you're done, you're done and it is unlikely you'll get back to the top.
When Sagan was done, he was done, he just wasn't relevant anymore.

Which saddens me alot because Loulou was my favorite rider in the peloton.

By 2016, Boonen was also done. He was barely good enough to be relevant, yet he used what age didn't take from him and nearly won the best race of all time. It was of course easier done in a less absurd era though.

 

[Kazistuta]

Just watched the final 30k last night, what a great race. IMO the best version I can remember. What's not to like by watching two of this generations (and maybe even ever!) best riders duke it out, and Ganna doing the ride of his life to keep up?
I enjoyed it, but would've thought Pidcock to be in the mix as well.
Does anyone know if he had a puncture or just was badly positioned at Cipressa? Didn't notice him at all.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Just watched the final 30k last night, what a great race. IMO the best version I can remember. What's not to like by watching two of this generations (and maybe even ever!) best riders duke it out, and Ganna doing the ride of his life to keep up?
I enjoyed it, but would've thought Pidcock to be in the mix as well.
Does anyone know if he had a puncture or was badly positioned at Cipressa? Didn't notice him at all.

this

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The pinnacle of this sport is MVP vs Pogacar in the classics (belgian cobbled classics, WC and MSR) and Pogacar vs Vingegaard in the Tour. Everything else just seems disappointing, specially when we compare to these epic battles like we saw today.

Pretty much this. An all races monster (Pogacar) has to face one of the best one-day racers ever (MVP) and one of the best stage racers ever (Vingegaard). Two completely different kinds of racing against two monsters in their own rights. Strong era!

 

[Bolder]

MVP wasn't on the limit, otherwise he wouldn't attack in the end of poggio.

I think mvdp was playing a bit of cat and mouse, to be honest. He lured Pog into attacking 2-3 extra times on the Pog(gio).

Definitely his best tactical win. Legend vs legend made this a race for the ages.

 

[Lequack]

The real question is, could Merckx have won here against MVDP?

 

[Taxus4a]

Pogacar rode as a junior, quite stupid, working for a man stronger than him at the sprint.
He was the stronger climbing but in those climbs you cannot go with a man as VDP at you wheel. I cant understand why he didnt want at the end to be with Ganna, It was the only option for him to win an attack of ganna Who MVP has to counter attack, and he was pushing after the descent of the Poggio as if he was the same Sprinter than VDP.
And even when they had already one minute he was pushing even more than van der Poel in the flat between Cipresa and Poggio. And later attack at the begining of the Poggio,instead ti wait a little bit climbing sicking wheel...he think he is more champion riding this way..as if he win another way he is not a true champion...he is coward...No, he was stupid, he can be in history and he choose the wrong way. No autocritic.
He has to chose if he want to be an exhibitionism ir if he want to win 5 monument.
All years he wont have bad weather at the begining and a crash at the start of Cipresa, and the race will be less selective. If he attack and MVDP follow you have to stop and look for another chance...later, no to attack 5 second later again...and in a false flat... No! attack in the hard part after to be at his wheel. A hard attack as he did, but if finally dont work stop..never go with VDP at your wheen in a 4% climb...NO.
And I dont understand why they didnt use Del Toro, they didnt pit a hard pace at Capo Berta...they didnt start in a good position Cipresa...

Pogacar and UAE where very dissapointing for me

I think Matxin knows all this , so I dont understand anything