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

[ak-zaaf]

Given he didn't drop Ballan on the hill, at all, and Siena is insanely steep, I didn't find it very impressive at all.

Ballan can hold his own on a short climb like that.
Apart from that Gilbert started out from an incredible distance and held the lead until the finish.
Given that it's early March, I actually did find it quite impressive.

 

[Ryaguas]

For those who were laughing at Cav beating Cadel and Andy, both Andy and Cadel worked hard for team mates and were in some of the moves. In this race they didn't sit in the Peloton like Cav does.

Fixed for ya

 

[Christian]

For those who were laughing at Cav beating Cadel and Andy, both Andy and Cadel worked hard for team mates and were in some of the moves. In this race they didn't sit in the peleton like Cav does.

On the LEOPARD TREK homepage they say Andy "tried sveral times to escape the peloton, without success"

 

[Winterfold]

Anyone else bored of 'who is better - Gilbert or Cancellara?' debates yet?

Beatles or Stones? Oasis or Blur? Etc

Today Gilbert won. Next time it may be Canc - or someone else. People who race bikes prefer the way Gilbert wins because it has more panache. I have numerous academic studies and equations that prove this but cannot share them now.

Anyway, I hope the status of this race is elevated soon, it is a beautiful race and captures the attention of the fans like much bigger races ( and even Belgians now )

 

[auscyclefan94]

Watching the highlights on Youtube, I was happy to see how good van avermaet looked on the climbs and how many times Ballan and cadel attacked and marked moves. Good to see BMC all over the front of the race for a change!

btw, I think I would be good in a race like this!

 

[flicker]

What exactly is the road surface, why is the road not paved and what is the purpose of the road.
It looks totally cool, is it a road linking former kingdoms, or a Roman garrison road, animal trail or what? Obviously the area is not suited for Ag as it is way to hilly, so it is not a farmers road.

 

[El Pistolero]

They're white little stones(gravel), hence the name strade bianche

 

[auscyclefan94]

From what I've seen of the 50 minutes of highlights, Hesjedal, Gilbert and ballan all look very strong...

http://www.steephill.tv/players/youtube/?title=Montepaschi-Strade-Bianche-2011&id=QqGV3kd0MZg&w=640&h=380

When van avermaet was caught from the break, he had two more digs after that. Great ride!

 

[Jamsque]

I was hoping for a bit more from Hesjedal on that final ramp but he had a solid ride, his form will keep improving.

 

[Anonymous]

On the LEOPARD TREK homepage they say Andy "tried sveral times to escape the peloton, without success"

He's lucky he didn't escape out the back...

 

[Anonymous]

hahahahahaha... good one!
Hey werent you banned?

It was just a little vacation, no problem.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Ballan took that corner in horrible fashion. It was over then. Tho I doubt he would have gotten past Gilbert. Still.. good to see him up there looked strong.

Mighty impressive last km by gilbert tho, fully deserved the win.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

What a disgrace a race like this has no live coverage.

Like someone else said: this race should be at the same level of Fleche Wallon, Amstel Gold, ...
Maybe even higher. This finish is one of the best in the world, if not the best.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ballan took that corner in horrible fashion. It was over then. Tho I doubt he would have gotten past Gilbert. Still.. good to see him up there looked strong.

Mighty impressive last km by gilbert tho, fully deserved the win.

He was level at the corner with him, Ballan would of come over the top of him imo.

 

[Kvinto]

This Siena finish is one of the few sprints when you have an advantage being at the first position 500 metres to the line. The street is narrow and if you win the corner at the last 300m - 99% you're the winner.

 

[Mellow Velo]

He was level at the corner with him, Ballan would of come over the top of him imo.

Nope, he wouldn't have. Phil was simply stronger than the rest..........again.

If Ballan wasn't Italian, there would have been a protest for his manoeuvring of Cunego onto the barrier. Their positions would have been reversed.

As it was, he looked like the only guy who could live with Mr Gilbert over his
favoured parcour.

Maybe BMC's first win of the season is just around the corner.

Count yourself lucky that there was no live feed, ACF. Otherwise that finish might have caused you a heart attack!

 

[El Pistolero]

Ballan rack up another second place in this race

 

[Kwibus]

Perhaps adding this race and the Omloop to the World Tour would do a lot of good things for both races. Perhaps in 60 years this could rival some other important Italian races.

Both races deserve Worldtour status. Epic races if you ask me.
The good part is that the riders do care for these 2 races. Sure they will be careful as the monuments come next to them, but if they can win them they will surely try to do so.

 

[Kwibus]

This Siena finish is one of the few sprints when you have an advantage being at the first position 500 metres to the line. The street is narrow and if you win the corner at the last 300m - 99% you're the winner.

They should make the finish more at the end of the Piaza, allthough if they come racing in hard you are the end of the Piaza in no-time so the limited space is a problem. The setting of ending on the Piaza in Sienna is incredibly epic though. I've been there and that city is sooo beautiful.

 

[profff]

one of the most beautiful town of the world, imho.

shame that zome , that is really not the genius that somebody thinks, it is non able to promote this race, as you can understand from the choice of invited teams and from no tv coverage.
rcs has no money to put in the race and the great man is not able to find sponsors in tuscany, a region which is crazy about cycling.
mps is one of the most important banks in italy, based in siena and they were interested in the race.
but zome is loosing his bet, because he ignores dr brocci, the real one who invented the eroica and the giro bio and the strade bianche thing comes from the great success of this ideas.
zome is simply ignoring the local forces, and you cannot do that in tuscany, where every town was a proud state, a "comune" since the middle age..

but rcs and zome are greedy and they think that they are the only one worth of organizing thing in italy, that is not true at all.
ciao

mesty

 

[Ryaguas]

It was just a little vacation, no problem.

Nice to have you back!

Ballan took that corner in horrible fashion. It was over then. Tho I doubt he would have gotten past Gilbert. Still.. good to see him up there looked strong.

Mighty impressive last km by gilbert tho, fully deserved the win.

What about Damiano? awesome recovery... He was flying in the last 500m

Like someone else said: this race should be at the same level of Fleche Wallon, Amstel Gold, ...
Maybe even higher. This finish is one of the best in the world, if not the best.

Well FW is a monument so is out of discussion... but Strade Bianchi should be in the same lvl as AGR!

This finish suits tailormade the likes of Igor or Contador... would be nice to see them once over there...

 

[The Hitch]

Well FW is a monument so is out of discussion...

Are you trying to give ACF hope that Cuddles has won a monument

 

[Ryaguas]

Are you trying to give ACF hope that Cuddles has won a monument

damn it I missed the "......."
"Monument" I mean... I REALLY important IMO...

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

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.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Well FW is a monument so is out of discussion... but Strade Bianchi should be in the same lvl as AGR!

Not at the same level as AGR yet. They first have to find a way to invite more teams and actually get it shown live before we can rate it against classics with more history. The idea is great, the timing on the calender is perfect. The execution leaves a lot to be desired.