Milano - Sanremo: March 20, 2021

[Broccolidwarf]

Apparently EF is riding for Cort, and DSM is riding for Kragh.

 

[ciranda]

View: https://youtu.be/zoIDcR0UiN8?t=8376

Rewatching it, man that was bad racing by Sagan. No attack on Poggio, just following others. Closing all moves, launching the sprint 15''(!) from the line. To think that he nearly won ...

So weird to see tired riders from a break attacking each other on the Poggio. I did not watch the race at the time, sad now that Iglinskiy didn't get it.

 

[jaylew]

I thought the general theory on wind was tailwind is good for lone attackers and small groups as it costs less energy than riding into a headwind.

I don’t see how a fast race favours the sprinters at all.

Exactly. That article makes no sense. Even Sam Bennett thinks so:

“Every year the standard is getting so high and guys are going up the Poggio so quick. We’re going up the Poggio at the same speed as the flat.

I was just driving that direction today and it looked like a tailwind in that direction so it doesn’t really look that great for myself, but all I can do is pray for a bit of headwind and try to hang on.”

 

[HelloDolly]

Where does Phil Gilbert attack to give himself any chance whatsoever of a historic win? Could he go on Cipressa and hold them off?

His best bet is to go long with MVdP if he can hang on to him. Mvdp will go on the Cipressa I think esp as he wants to be seen to make races entertaining and we know he thinks MSR is boring

Also there are lots that can go wrong for the favorites in 8 hours of racing so nothing is nailed down

SKA and Bling could surprise


or a sprinter like Bennett or Gaviria could definitely win from a chasing group over the Poggio

 

[Panda Claws]

No way MVDP goes on Cipressa. He is way too much of a favorite if he just waits until Poggio.

 

[Ripper]

I have trouble seeing past vdP unless he gets dropped or he comes in with a large group at the finish. I think he is beatable by select people from a small group, but the strategies likely to be used will just play to his favor. Wait too long, his acceleration will catch them. Hammer along at full speed, he can sit on (and no one will want to tow him to the line).

I suspect he tries 1 x thermonuclear on the Poggio and will see if that's enough to crack loose, then relying on a small group sprint. His hope would be someone comes with him, otherwise he risks getting caught ... not sure he can hold everyone off (I don't think he has any team mates folks will be worried about towing?)

Guaranteed if Ala can go with him, he will, but I doubt he'll have a winning sprint. I think WvA would need to rely on this being a full speed sprint, and I'm sceptical either Ala or vdP will position themselves to lead him out.

Small chance if WvA can get a gap he does a Fabian.

 

[sir fly]

What's the weather like at the start?

 

[SafeBet]

What's the weather like at the start?

Sunny, 5-6 degrees, no wind.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Good to see it's live now on GCN, may come back to it in about 6 hours.

 

[Wvv]

Do me a 2011 scenario, but with the same sole attacker maintaining his effort 2-3 kilometres further.
(Not likely, I know.)

 

[SafeBet]

We have our BOTD: Peron, Conci, Viel, Van der Hoorn, Planet, Tonelli, Norsgaard.
Tagliani trying to bridge.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I had actually predicted Charles Planet to hit the break, so I'm delighted. And he even got the fake Andrea Peron with him.

 

[RedheadDane]

Tim, behave yourself!

 

[SafeBet]

I hadn't noticed Andrii Ponomar in the startlist. Only 18 of age, makes his debut among the pros with a 300 km Monument!
Welcome to the WT.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I hadn't noticed Andrii Ponomar in the startlist. Only 18 of age, makes his debut among the pros with a 300 km Monument!
Welcome to the WT.

I expect him to win then.

 

[sir fly]

Wonder how van der Hoorn got his name...

 

[Pantani_lives]

It's remarkable that no one since Freire has won it more than once. Of the seven former winners today Van Aert, Alaphilippe and perhaps Démare are the most likely for a repeat victory. My heart wants Gilbert or Sagan to win to complete his list, but that's unlikely to happen. MvdP seems to have the best chance, because he's explosive and he has a good sprint. I don't want to see a big group sprint. A soloist or a small group would be best.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Wonder how van der Hoorn got his name...

His father wanted him to be named Tadej, but his mother prefered Wilco, so they decided to make a compromise.

 

[RedheadDane]

His father wanted him to be named Tadej, but his mother prefered Wilco, so they decided to make a compromise.

The alternative was 'Widej'.

 

[sir fly]

His father wanted him to be named Tadej, but his mother prefered Wilco, so they decided to make a compromise.

Wilej?!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The alternative was 'Widej'.

Wilej?!

It was a classic Wildej/won't they.

 

[RedheadDane]

Is that Bardiani guy (Visconti?) tiny, or surrounded by giants?

 

[sir fly]

It was a classic Wildej/won't they.

Wildy!

 

[Gigs_98]

Wonder how van der Hoorn got his name...

The story behind this is a little complicated but recently a friend of mine got himself the nickname Taco and we were starting to discuss whether you could actually use that as a real name.

Never heard of this guy, but this genuinely makes me happy.

 

[Lui98]

Is that Bardiani guy (Visconti?) tiny, or surrounded by giants?

It's Tonelli, and yes, he is surrounded by giants