Sat 5th of March: Montepaschi Strade Bianche (was Monte Paschi Eroica) 1.1

[Buffalo Soldier]

I guess that's why he said 'should'

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I don't rate AGR any lower than FW personally. Maybe even a bit higher.
The day of the week (sunday vs wednesday) might have something to do with that feeling.

I have the feeling the Cauberg finish really did the AGR good. Since then you see a higher caliber of winners and also participants.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I was 14 when they changed the finish, so don't really remember how it was before, but the 4 year before that, I see winners: Bartoli, Zabel, Dekker, Boogerd. You really can't call this low caliber? The same goes for the years before that.

In the whole history of AGR, there are almost only big names on the winnerslist.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Mean more top 10 and further

 

[El Pistolero]

I was 14 when they changed the finish, so don't really remember how it was before, but the 4 year before that, I see winners: Bartoli, Zabel, Dekker, Boogerd. You really can't call this low caliber? The same goes for the years before that.

In the whole history of AGR, there are almost only big names on the winnerslist.

Zabel, lol. Not really a worthy name for a hilly classic now is it. Of course AGR was way flatter back then.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Zabel, lol. Not really a worthy name for a hilly classic now is it.

Ever heard of the hills cipressa & pogio?
Also finnished 4th in RVV once...
(but I do understand your point-

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Milan-San Remo is a hilly classic because it has Cipressa and Poggio di Sanremo, then Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a cobbled classic for the two tiny sections of them.

 

[El Pistolero]

Ever heard of the hills cipressa & pogio?
Also finnished 4th in RVV once...
(but I do understand your point-

That was from a breakaway that lasted though(his fourth place in Flanders)

Boonen caught the breakaway and totally destroyed them in a solo ride then. Though Zabel is certainly one of the best ever cyclists, just not in hills.

MSR, even Cav can win that one

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

That was from a breakaway that lasted though(his fourth place in Flanders)

So he had 2 4th places. I'm talking about 2000.
10th place in 2002.

Zabel really isn't that bad on small hills...

 

[El Pistolero]

So he had 2 4th places. I'm talking about 2000.
10th place in 2002.

Zabel really isn't that bad on small hills...

But Flanders will never be called a hilly classic

 

[Echoes]

Surprising there were so few people out there along the road. On a Saturday !

But well, I'm very grateful to those who posted the 50' clip. It's priceless.

Van Avermaet did a great job !