Roma Maxima 2014, 1.1

[Zinoviev Letter]

No race radio, no Ag2r car. He couldn't know what was going on behind him.

Fair point, but if Movistar could get up to Valverde, Ag2r should be able to get up to Pozzovivo.

 

[rhubroma]

Strade Bianchi - Roma Maxima is a great double header. I really hope that both races have a secure future because this weekend is the best recent addition to the calendar

You have to love the entrance into Roma, Mediterranean pines, Sampietrini, monuments, urban topography. Awsome! Valverde demonstrated a class that makes him a prime favorite for the Ardennes.

 

[Arredondo]

Credit where credit's due. Great Race by Piti. I hope he keeps on riding like this

No, because this is Maxima, he can race like this. If the race is bigger and the level higher, i don't think he dares to do it the way he does today.

Hopefully i'm wrong, because i like the racing he did today.

 

[trevim]

Valverde winning in Italy!! In your face italians Really, how many times has he won there?

 

[SafeBet]

Fair point, but if Movistar could get up to Valverde, Ag2r should be able to get up to Pozzovivo.

And I agree with this. Just saying it's not Pozzovivo's fault.

 

[Eshnar]

Valverde winning in Italy!! In your face italians Really, how many times has he won there?

as a pro, one...
today.

 

[SafeBet]

Valverde winning in Italy!! In your face italians Really, how many times has he won there?

Never before.

 

[will10]

Pozzovivio cost Appollonio the race

It'd take a brave man to back Appollonio in that situation.

 

[trevim]

Strade Bianchi - Roma Maxima is a great double header. I really hope that both races have a secure future because this weekend is the best recent addition to the calendar

They should be 1.HC, 1.1 is just too common for these extraordinary races.

 

[Peccio89]

pozzovivo is so weak in sprinting that he was able to finish 5th out of 2

 

[Museeuw]

Happy for Valverde. Probably first time in my life.

+1

Very well deserved win for Piti and especially for Movistar.

I'm not sure what should think about Pozzo. Brave ride, but how smart it was. Hard to say but it's not so black and white as could think. At least wonderful training ride.

 

[trevim]

Never before.

as a pro, one...
today.

Considering how many races in Italy suit his style, it's simply amazing that this is the first one.

 

[Eshnar]

They should be 1.HC, 1.1 is just too common for these extraordinary races.

I don't think they should be on a lower category than Plouay, just saying. Especially Strade Bianche.

 

[Arredondo]

I don't think they should be on a lower category than Plouay, just saying. Especially Strade Bianche.

Does it care which status Strade has? Every rider knows the importancy of that race. People want to start in the Strade, instead of the race really want to start certain riders in their race.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

They should be 1.HC, 1.1 is just too common for these extraordinary races.

Yes. It's not as if they are races that need to invite foreign Conti teams, so 1.1 status has no advantages. That said they are already quite a big deal - in the sense that major riders care about winning them. Particularly SB, but Valverde poured a hell of a lot into today too.

Controversial opinion: This is a better racing double bill than the Omloop - KBK. Although the Omloop is also underrated in UCI status.

 

[will10]

Considering how many races in Italy suit his style, it's simply amazing that this is the first one.

I wouldn't say it's amazing... given it was the Italians that took him down, I can understand why he wouldn't be interested in racing there.

 

[scholar]

Controversial opinion: This is a better racing double bill than the Omloop - KBK. Although the Omloop is also underrated in UCI status.

Does it matter which weekend is better? The point for me is that we can enjoy both weekends. And for what it's worth, I think I probably enjoyed this weekend's racing more because last weekend was also so good.

 

[SafeBet]

I wouldn't say it's amazing... given it was the Italians that took him down, I can understand why he wouldn't be interested in racing there.

He never won a race there even before the ban though.

 

[trevim]

Yes. It's not as if they are races that need to invite foreign Conti teams, so 1.1 status has no advantages. That said they are already quite a big deal - in the sense that major riders care about winning them. Particularly SB, but Valverde poured a hell of a lot into today too.

Controversial opinion: This is a better racing double bill than the Omloop - KBK. Although the Omloop is also underrated in UCI status.

That's really controversial! I like them both because they suit different riders unless Kwiat starts to ride both weekends

 

[rhubroma]

I wouldn't say it's amazing... given it was the Italians that took him down, I can understand why he wouldn't be interested in racing there.

Nationalism still prevails in cycling. The great irony of course is that if the Italians "took him down," it was in precisely in measure to Ivan Basso being condemned for the same OP that the Spanish authorities weren't willing to pursue in regards to Valv-Piti.

That's tit for tat I guess.

 

[thehog]

Considering how many races in Italy suit his style, it's simply amazing that this is the first one.

That's because he had the CONI clinic issue hanging over his head for a good 3 years. Then they finally got their sample when the Tour passed through so understand why he wouldn't want to race in Italy thereafter including his 2 year ban.

 

[jens_attacks]

well done to bala, rode like a legend today. nairito also looks in fabulous form.
just like the belgian opening weekend, this one was absolutely great too. awesome races.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Does it matter which weekend is better? The point for me is that we can enjoy both weekends. And for what it's worth, I think I probably enjoyed this weekend's racing more because last weekend was also so good.

No, it doesn't matter at all! And I love almost every cobbled race, so the comparison was meant as a big compliment to SB - RM rather than a snipe at O - KBK.

 

[BigMac]

Today's stage finale made me think of 2012 Plouay, where Eddy Boss won. The only difference was Costa managed to stay away from the charging peloton and got second.

Tremendous ride from Valverde. Active all the time.

 

[personal]

I think that Pozzovivo did everything right, especially considering that last 20 or so kilometers are exactly opposite of what diminutive climber like him is good at.

It is just bad luck that he was caught.