Milano - Sanremo 2025, one day monument, March 22

[dazaau]

So, uae confirms Del Toro was supposed to be the last man.

View: https://youtu.be/vWGdo-8jd7k?t=3m23s

 

[Berniece]

I thought so before this year's race. Didn't think he had a clear way to win so i had some stupid ideas for how they could play wellens or someone like that. But now it's obvious pog can explode this race as well at will. If he keeps going on cipressa its just a matter of time before he gets it. Either by going alone or just getting better odds in a small group for the poggio. No other rider except mvdp can creat those odds for himself at msr. What other uae rider is a better bet than that?

(This is of course not even a real question in that team anyways... As long as pog wants to race, he obviously gets full support)

As long as MVDP is there, in this form, Pogi won't win it. But that doesn't mean they can't win with someone else that is able to attack from afar and take some riders with him.

 

[Didinho]

Pogi had also not been in many situations where he had to play it tactically. He had to stay in Mathieu’s wheel the last km’s so the decision is his to ride or to let Ganna come back. Then you probably have advantage if he decides to ride or when Ganna comes back and attack you have to let Mathieu close the gap.
I think it’s also his mindset of not letting others go or come back if you are better. He’s always gone solo or the better sprinter among the climbers.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Pogi had also not been in many situations where he had to play it tactically. He had to stay in Mathieu’s wheel the last km’s so the decision is his to ride or to let Ganna come back. Then you probably have advantage if he decides to ride or when Ganna comes back and attack you have to let Mathieu close the gap.
I think it’s also his mindset of not letting others go or come back if you are better. He’s always gone solo or the better sprinter among the climbers.

Van der Poel was feeling confident yesterday so he probably would have closed down Ganna, but in the future he might decide, just like he potentially did last year, that risking losing the sprint to Pogačar isn't worth it. He has now won it twice himself and once for his teammate, so the pressure isn't really on him, depending on how their duel evolves in other races, of course.

 

[Didinho]

Van der Poel was feeling confident yesterday so he probably would have closed down Ganna, but in the future he might decide, just like he potentially did last year, that risking losing the sprint to Pogačar isn't worth it. He has now won it twice himself and once for his teammate, so the pressure isn't really on him, depending on how their duel evolves in other races, of course.

Yeah Mathieu would’ve definitely closed it down with how he felt. Pogi should’ve gambled on it when he couldn’t drop him. And that’s the advantage afterwards for an attack or wearing Mathieu down a bit for the sprint. You have to let the faster riders ride or close down gaps.
Even if he’s feeling less confident he will always ride for first, knowing most of the time he’s still gonna be faster than Pogi.

But we don’t know now because Ganna didn’t went on the attack immediately. If Pogi didn’t work from the top of the Poggio then Ganna would’ve been with them earlier and tactics could evolve.

 

[Ripper]

Deserving podium. Pog did what he had to do, but came up short against two better racers who had his number in this race. Ganna wins the grinta award by holding pace and coming back more than once to take second. And Matthieu was unreal ... you could tell about half way up the Cipressa that he was very likely going to win. I think on Saturday there was no way Pog was going to beat either of them.

I thought it was crazy that they were trading pulls with Pog on the flats, but hats off to them for racing like class gents (all three of them).

 

[jono]

I watched the finale of MSR again last night. Watching live I had found it surprising that Ganna was able to close the 20" plus gap that was shown on the Poggio descent to about 5" at the bottom so easily. From past participations he did not look like a talented descender.

But actually looking at and timing a few of the gaps on the way down, it's clear he was never more than about 10-12 seconds behind. Even under the arch at the top of Poggio the gap was shown as 19 seconds but it was only 8.

Just something minor that had been bothering me, because from what we saw there is no way that Ganna was descending that much faster than the other two until the flatter section at the end. As always feels good to be right!

 

[Ripper]

I watched the finale of MSR again last night. Watching live I had found it surprising that Ganna was able to close the 20" plus gap that was shown on the Poggio descent to about 5" at the bottom so easily. From past participations he did not look like a talented descender.

But actually looking at and timing a few of the gaps on the way down, it's clear he was never more than about 10-12 seconds behind. Even under the arch at the top of Poggio the gap was shown as 19 seconds but it was only 8.

Just something minor that had been bothering me, because from what we saw there is no way that Ganna was descending that much faster than the other two until the flatter section at the end. As always feels good to be right!

I noticed that as well! For me it did not detract from some amazing Ganna effort and heart, but he was not 20 seconds down.

I have this tendency when watching races (comes from racing) of counting in my head how big the gap is. And wow, are GPS times ever wrong some times! I mean, could you imagine if he was hearing that and gave up? :|

 

[Samamba]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here already but apparently Pidcock (he was behind the crash on Cipressa) and Alaphilippe were a duo behind the front 3 on top of the Poggio but got caught by the peloton in the last km.

 

[Netserk]

All together on the Poggio descent.

It's the spot just over the top of Poggio: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.827...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[Sciatic]

I watched the finale of MSR again last night. Watching live I had found it surprising that Ganna was able to close the 20" plus gap that was shown on the Poggio descent to about 5" at the bottom so easily. From past participations he did not look like a talented descender.

But actually looking at and timing a few of the gaps on the way down, it's clear he was never more than about 10-12 seconds behind. Even under the arch at the top of Poggio the gap was shown as 19 seconds but it was only 8.

Just something minor that had been bothering me, because from what we saw there is no way that Ganna was descending that much faster than the other two until the flatter section at the end. As always feels good to be

Aside from the awry GPS gaps, he is also heavier. Carries more momentum into the lower gradient sections. Often overlooked in the “who is the faster descender” debate.

 

[Netserk]

After Gregoire is dropped by the trio on Cipressa, we see Honoré and Tulett attack the group pulled by Zana:

At the top, the chase group consists of 18 riders:

Pithie (RBH)
Del Toro (UAE)
Sweeny (EFE)
Tulett (TVL)
Strong (IPT)
Matthews (JAY)
Gregoire (GFC)
Honoré (EFE)
Zambanini (TBV)
Alaphilippe (TUD)
Campenaerts (TVL)
Van Gils (RBH)
Girmay (IWA)
Zana (JAY)
Hermans (ADC)
Laurance (IGD)
Trentin (TUD)
Stuyven (LTK)

Ciccone and Pedersen are close by.

Pidcock is the next rider to make it back, at the end of the Cipressa descent. Trentin attacks on the descent, but is quickly caught again on the flat.

33 additional riders make it back closely together:

Groves (ADC)
Cort (UXM)
Kooij (TVL)
Wright (TBV)
Teunissen (XAT)
Aranburu (COF)
Barrenetxea (MOV)
Garcia Cortina (MOV)
Velasco (XAT)
Adrià (RBH)
Livyns (LOT)
Pedersen, C. (SOQ)
Albanese (EFE)
Aular (MOV)
Pacher (GFC)
Canal (MOV)
Schmid (JAY)
Schachmann (SOQ)
Lafay (DAT)
Valter (TVL)
Pluimers (TUD)
Powless (EFE)
Rutsch (IWA)
Johannessen, T. (UXM)
Vauquelin (ARK)
Foss (IGD)
Kirsch (LTK)
Stannard (TBV)
Louvel (IPT)
Gautherat (DAT)
Van Boven (IWA)
Cattaneo (SOQ)
Stewart (IPT)

Status at the top of the Poggio:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904429125885976868

View: https://x.com/Miroir2Cyclisme/status/1904429125885976868

 

[tobydawq]

After Gregoire is dropped by the trio on Cipressa, we see Honoré and Tulett attack the group pulled by Zana:

At the top, the chase group consists of 18 riders:

Pithie (RBH)
Del Toro (UAE)
Sweeny (EFE)
Tulett (TVL)
Strong (IPT)
Matthews (JAY)
Gregoire (GFC)
Honoré (EFE)
Zambanini (TBV)
Alaphilippe (TUD)
Campenaerts (TVL)
Van Gils (RBH)
Girmay (IWA)
Zana (JAY)
Hermans (ADC)
Laurance (IGD)
Trentin (TUD)
Stuyven (LTK)

Ciccone and Pedersen are close by.

Pidcock is the next rider to make it back, at the end of the Cipressa descent. Trentin attacks on the descent, but is quickly caught again on the flat.

33 additional riders make it back closely together:

Groves (ADC)
Cort (UXM)
Kooij (TVL)
Wright (TBV)
Teunissen (XAT)
Aranburu (COF)
Barrenetxea (MOV)
Garcia Cortina (MOV)
Velasco (XAT)
Adrià (RBH)
Livyns (LOT)
Pedersen, C. (SOQ)
Albanese (EFE)
Aular (MOV)
Pacher (GFC)
Canal (MOV)
Schmid (JAY)
Schachmann (SOQ)
Lafay (DAT)
Valter (TVL)
Pluimers (TUD)
Powless (EFE)
Rutsch (IWA)
Johannessen, T. (UXM)
Vauquelin (ARK)
Foss (IGD)
Kirsch (LTK)
Stannard (TBV)
Louvel (IPT)
Gautherat (DAT)
Van Boven (IWA)
Cattaneo (SOQ)
Stewart (IPT)

Status at the top of the Poggio:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904429125885976868

View: https://x.com/Miroir2Cyclisme/status/1904429125885976868

You're sure Powless was not one of the two EF riders initially? I had taken it for granted that he was the one on the attack. But great to see such a level from Honoré if that was him. That has been a long while!

 

[Netserk]

You're sure Powless was not one of the two EF riders initially? I had taken it for granted that he was the one on the attack. But great to see such a level from Honoré if that was him. That has been a long while!

Absolutely sure. Different helmets, sleeves, glasses. You can also see their race numbers. Powless got a bit detached from the other four shortly before the climb and never managed to move up before it split.

With Wellens so quickly coming to the front and stepping on the gas, position was crucial.

 

[tobydawq]

Absolutely sure. Different helmets, sleeves, glasses. You can also see their race numbers. Powless got a bit detached from the other four shortly before the climb and never managed to move up before it split.

With Wellens so quickly coming to the front and stepping on the gas, position was crucial.

Fair enough. Sweeny wasn't there in the end, though, so I had dismissed him as a possibility.

Another thing; Trentin was ninth in this race. At the age of 35, that was his best result in a monument ever. Not exactly a glowing track record he has in those races.

 

[Netserk]

While the clips are in wrong order, you can see who were in which groups after Cipressa here:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rTE58DjHbc

From the Cipressa descent, you can see that Powless is behind the Soudal QS trio.

Fair enough. Sweeny wasn't there in the end, though, so I had dismissed him as a possibility.

Another thing; Trentin was ninth in this race. At the age of 35, that was his best result in a monument ever. Not exactly a glowing track record he has in those races.

Watching it again just now, after the sharp corner when Pogi attacks, Honoré is on the wheel of Tulett. So I think he countered him. EDIT: Ah, we do see Honoré attack before Tulett: