Strade Bianche 2013, March 2nd, 188 kms 1.1

[Pentacycle]

i expect sagan to be dropped on one of the last two climbs (18 and 16% max)
and to win his first monument a few weeks later

Who will be able to drop him? It's Sagan's race to lose.

 

[Netserk]

Who will be able to drop him? It's Sagan's race to lose.

The defending winner...

 

[woodenswan]

Who will be able to drop him? It's Sagan's race to lose.

Il Delfino!

Cancellara

Gasparotto, someone from Blanco. Van Avermaet, even. he was pretty impressive saturday. it's not as if they are much stronger than him on paper, but they can do it on a good day. it is just a prediction.
(it's a pity that Gilbert isnt riding btw)
both of those climbs are steeper than the cauberg. where he managed a 3rd. after a tiresome spring campaign, i know. his race to lose is def pushing it, though.

also, i do welcome the fact that Valverde, Evans, Pelizotti, and Cunego are doing this race. just to name a few of those participants that can climb. someone like that can win here

 

[serfla]

Any reliable weather forecast?
Should be a factor.

 

[Eshnar]

Any reliable weather forecast?
Should be a factor.

too early to predict. It should be warmer than it is now, that's for sure.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Any reliable weather forecast?
Should be a factor.

Check here

 

[serfla]

Check here

Nah... Not reliable.

 

[serfla]

too early to predict. It should be warmer than it is now, that's for sure.

I'm thinking about wet conditions... Not necessarily rainy, but wet from previous weekend(s).
That should mean soft surface and very unpleasant experience.
Environment for a lighter, but tough rider.
Who could it be?

 

[Eshnar]

I'm thinking about wet conditions... Not necessarily rainy, but wet from previous weekend(s).
That should mean soft surface and very unpleasant experience.
Environment for a lighter, but tough rider.
Who could it be?

It snowed until yesterday. No idea how the surface will be in 5 days.

 

[the asian]

Guys like Kessiakoff and Kolobnev can do well but it's their first race this season.

I'm surprised that Iglinsky is riding PN instead of the Italian races. He always does well here.

Gatto can be the dark horse.

 

[serfla]

It snowed until yesterday. No idea how the surface will be in 5 days.

Should be wet... Can't be dry in such a short time. At least I hope so.
CX/mtb/dirt experience may prove decisive.

 

[hfer07]

[http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjM5OTY=]Check here[/URL]

fixed
Interesting to see "Valverde" riding in Italia.....hmmmm
anyways-apart from Cance, Evans, Sagan & now Valpiti -I'm going to bet on my man Carlos Betancur to upset the World & win this race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

TJ Slagter to dominate

 

[gruppeto993]

The defending winner...

+1
Cancellara can race like he did last year attacking from the climb.

 

[Froome19]

Dust, Cobbles, mud.. hopefully slush and wet. Conditions ripe for some brilliant racing.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Maxim wont race this year, so I am kinda sceptical to Astanas chances to dominate.

 

[Pentacycle]

+1
Cancellara can race like he did last year attacking from the climb.

Cancellara is not in last year's form, normally he shouldn't have been invisible in Oman. No way he's going to dominate.

Sagan is the strongest puncheur in the race and he has good form unlike most opponents, he just has to keep the race together if Moser isn't there.

 

[SafeBet]

Gatto can be the dark horse.

Good pick.

Weather should get better during the week. Spring is hopefully in sight.

 

[Netserk]

Cancellara is not in last year's form, normally he shouldn't have been invisible in Oman. No way he's going to dominate.

Sagan is the strongest puncheur in the race and he has good form unlike most opponents, he just has to keep the race together if Moser isn't there.

You do know that he worked for Gallopin, right?

 

[Froome19]

You do know that he worked for Gallopin, right?

Working for Gallopin is perfectly fine but truth be told you would have expected to see him a bit more either in Qatar or Oman. It was in fact Qatar which got me most worried. Last year he was going very well there, this year he was chilling out the back.

 

[Pentacycle]

TJ Slagter to dominate

Naturally, the others really don't even have to bother starting the race... But seriously, I'm still not joining the bandwagon, as any rider(or at least Dutchman ) I've ever been positive about tends to fail immediately. It's for Slagter's own sake that I'm underestimating him.

 

[Netserk]

Working for Gallopin is perfectly fine but truth be told you would have expected to see him a bit more either in Qatar or Oman. It was in fact Qatar which got me most worried. Last year he was going very well there, this year he was chilling out the back.

There was almost zero wind this year. Not much for him to do.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

You do know that he worked for Gallopin, right?

Not quite sure what Cancellara ended up doing, but he will be ready for SB. Looked very lean and in form.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

This is a race for second, first is obvious.

Cancellara might get second.

 

[Pentacycle]

You do know that he worked for Gallopin, right?

Last year he did that as well, while still riding top ten on several stages and in GC.