Milano - Sanremo changes route!

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the parcours is the same now as in 2007 when Freire won

wasn't that bad of a race with Gilbert and Ricco in the attack back then though. But another sprint is likely, that's true, we haven't had one for a couple of years, so I don't really mind it to be honest. After 300km you always get kind of a worthy winner.

 

[ILovecycling]

That would probably be a mistake, as this version will likely not return.

thats true,but it is a mistake of organisators that this 2014 version is likely to be a bad race.they should include more k's or additional hill

Nice, I have bought air tickets, rented car .... to see Cav beating Sagan in his race. I hope there will be still snow on 22-26 there. No need to go to Remo.

go there and believe.Sagan is a beast everywhere

 

[Dazed and Confused]

thats true,but it is a mistake of organisators that this 2014 version is likely to be a bad race.they should include more k's or additional hill

snipped..

Ks alone means very little today. Without pace or hills Pros can go on and on.

Thats why Le Manie was important.

 

[Gloin22]

Thankfully, MSR was always a sprinter classic that gave puncher riders some chance.

Its a shame no Le Manie, but still better decision then making this race another 'Ardennes'

( atlhough its wrong they announce it soo late screwing some riders plans )

 

[Eshnar]

Thankfully, MSR was always a sprinter classic

Thankfully not...
Unless you considers riders like Coppi, Bartali, Poulidor, Merckx, Gimondi, Fignon, Chiappucci, Jalabert etc as "sprinters"

Edit: ofc one need to be fast to win it, but that applies to every race.

 

[Gloin22]

Thankfully not...
Unless you considers riders like Coppi, Bartali, Poulidor, Merckx, Gimondi, Fignon, Chiappucci, Jalabert etc as "sprinters"

Edit: ofc one need to be fast to win it, but that applies to every race.

I phrased it wrong, it was the only one of the monuments that could be won by pure sprinter. The course gives chances to all types of riders bar pure climbers and that's great.

With the new course, the amount of winners is limited.

 

[Eshnar]

I phrased it wrong, it was the only one of the monuments that could be won by pure sprinter. The course gives chances to all types of riders bar pure climbers and that's great.

With the new course, the amount of winners is limited.

ok. Now it makes sense

 

[Afrank]

What exactly is the problem with Le Manie? Is it something similar to the problems that are making Pompeiana not possible to be used?

Because if there isn't anything wrong with it, then these are some incredibly stupid decisions they've made for the route. Hope they change it back to a route that's at least similar to what we've had the last few years. Because the last few years we've actually had a good balance between attackers/puncheurs and sprinters.

 

[karlboss]

I phrased it wrong, it was the only one of the monuments that could be won by pure sprinter. The course gives chances to all types of riders bar pure climbers and that's great.

With the new course, the amount of winners is limited.

MSR is a great monument nicely balanced between puncheurs who can sprint and sprinters who can punch. The length even opens it up to larger riders who feature on the cobbles, as stated the only riders who miss out are pure climbers. If I wanted to open the race up to climbers I'd probably replace Le Maine with something similarly placed, but far more challenging. With Le Maine in I think it's a good open course, Pompeiana i think changed the character too much.

 

[ILovecycling]

Ks alone means very little today. Without pace or hills Pros can go on and on.

Thats why Le Manie was important.

Imo in Remo ks means something,there is also a fast pace from Capo's to the finish.So if they include few additional ks between the climbs (berta and cipressa or cipressa and pogio e.g.)I think it can help.Ofc I dont know the terrain so idk if thats possible.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Imo in Remo ks means something,there is also a fast pace from Capo's to the finish.So if they include few additional ks between the climbs (berta and cipressa or cipressa and pogio e.g.)I think it can help.Ofc I dont know the terrain so idk if thats possible.

If we add Ks (flat) between the hills at the business end it would be even worse. That would guarantee a bunch sprint. We wanna avoid giving the sprinter too much recovery time and space.

Mid section is where things are needed to avoid messing with the race concept while allowing for tiring a few riders. Just adding flat ks mid section is also meaningless imo.

Most pros can sit on a bike for 10 hours these days.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

But not all pros still have the punch to survive the poggio after 10 hours.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

But not all pros still have the punch to survive the poggio after 10 hours.

Ultimately yes (10-12 hours in the saddle), but its an ineffective exercise imo. Just add a hill or two mid section and/or some twisty narrow roads. That will sap the legs a bit. Sitting in a bunch on a flat road for another 100km is pretty mindless for everybody involved.

Le Manie is the right kind of idea imo. Or reduced the team size further.

 

[Netserk]

Of course distance is important. If MSR was 260km it'd be a different race. If it was 360km no sprinter would be in the top-10.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Greipel changed his program, and will be doing MSR

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Of course distance is important. If MSR was 260km it'd be a different race. If it was 360km no sprinter would be in the top-10.

Don't agree. It would still be sprint if its just adding flat road. No need to add pace. Bunch will protect the sprinters. Armchair ride. Of course continuing adding flat kms will ultimately do the job, but the concept is ineffective and mindless.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Greipel changed his program, and will be doing MSR

yea, good decision. Big chance for him.

 

[Gloin22]

Greipel vs Degenkolb I guess then. Fancy Kristoff too.

 

[Netserk]

Don't agree. It would still be sprint if its just adding flat road. No need to add pace. Bunch will protect the sprinters. Armchair ride. Of course continuing adding flat kms will ultimately do the job, but the concept is ineffective and mindless.

As it is now, lot of the flat is an armchair ride, but if we took out all the first flat 100km, it'd be a bunch sprint every single time. Even with Maine.

That is because those flat armchair ride kms actually have an effect.

 

[Echoes]

With modern cycling fans I would start to believe Bordeaux-Paris was a race for sprinters ...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

With modern cycling fans I would start to believe Bordeaux-Paris was a race for sprinters ...

And you probably still think the overall fitness level of the peloton today is similar to that of the past.

 

[Echoes]

You know full well that I am not entitled to give an opinion on that matter, on this section.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

You know full well that I am not entitled to give an opinion on that matter, on this section.

No problem, but as long as every single support rider can sit in the peloton for 300km at good pace, distance in itself is not the only answer.

That was my point earlier. Unless some (like 85%) of these riders drops off sometime before the last hill at MSR, I think the problem will remain regardless of adding say another 50km of flat road at the beginning.

Of course 400-500km distance works too, but not sure thats the right solution.

 

[SKSemtex]

Only one thing can make this race interesting this year.

Weather.

 

[Bakhjulet]

Degenkolb ftw.