Strade Bianche 2014, March 8th, 1.1

[Eshnar]

Time to open this.

So new route. More kilometers, less sterrato, same finale.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Sagan vs Kwiatkowski

 

[Dazed and Confused]

This can't go wrong.

 

[ILovecycling]

beutiful,just beutiful,and Siena....oh very beutiful
is anyone planning to go here this year?

 

[trevim]

Rain please...

 

[VeloHuman]

Cannondale has Sagan (2nd last year) and last year's winner. I wonder what they're planning for 2014.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

This can't go wrong.

How tall are those spectators on the hill? Something very weird happening with the perspective on that photo.

 

[mewmewmew13]

THanx Eshnar!
love this race!!!

FABIAN will win it

 

[mewmewmew13]

How tall are those spectators on the hill? Something very weird happening with the perspective on that photo.

LOL oh yeah!
aliens!!

laughing really hard now

 

[Le breton]

How tall are those spectators on the hill? Something very weird happening with the perspective on that photo.

Just a big ZOOM

 

[Afrank]

GVA to get his revenge for today perhaps, I wouldn't mind seeing that. Although knowing him he would probably end up coming in 2nd to Moser or Sagan or Cance. Or 4th to all 3.

Aside from the main guys, maybe Kreuziger, Uran, Barguil, Hoogerland, could place well.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Don't know if he is racing, but this is the race where Iglinsky does well when he has a good season and bad when he sucks, so all fingers crossed

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

LOL oh yeah!
aliens!!

laughing really hard now

And I've just noticed the head and shoulders of an absolute giant lurching over the hill just to the right of the trees, about 1/3 of the way across the picture.

 

[Netserk]

How tall are those spectators on the hill? Something very weird happening with the perspective on that photo.

They are just as tall as the riders...

 

[happytramp]

And I've just noticed the head and shoulders of an absolute giant lurching over the hill just to the right of the trees, about 1/3 of the way across the picture.

Yes, I saw him too. He's terrifying. Also the spectator on the far left of the hill seems to be floating.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Good picture of the stuff they are riding on:

It pays to be infront, regardless of conditions, wet or dry.

 

[Jspear]

Good picture of the stuff they are riding on:

It pays to be infront, regardless of conditions, wet or dry.

Wow! Do they ride with any special sort of tire at this race, or do they just hope for no flats?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Wow! Do they ride with any special sort of tire at this race, or do they just hope for no flats?

The stronger the rider, the mind will be clear and the chosen line will help.

These type of races always favor riders at the front.

As for the technical side of the equation, other will have a much better answer.

 

[Jaco0505]

Trek team: Cancellara, Voigt, Roulston Irizar,Zoidl,Popovych,Watson, Alafaci

 

[happytramp]

Rain in the days before the race can really effect the surface of the Strade Bianche. Because it's so soft, water running downhill can cut giant channels through the ground making it next to impossible to ride over. Also lots of sections suffer from severe washboarding making feel like one long rumble strip.

 

[Kwibus]

Any reason why there is less sterrato?

Imo there should be more, specially in the last 50km.
More km, but it's still just 200km, but I guess the race needs to become WT to get more kms. Still this race has the potential to become a big one.
I'd rather not have the finish in Sienna. Everything is right about the location, except that it's vulnerable for the usual let's wait for the final climb kind of racing.

 

[saneguy]

I hope Cancellara does well here...would be a good thing for the rest of the season

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Any reason why there is less sterrato?

Imo there should be more, specially in the last 50km.
More km, but it's still just 200km, but I guess the race needs to become WT to get more kms. Still this race has the potential to become a big one.
I'd rather not have the finish in Sienna. Everything is right about the location, except that it's vulnerable for the usual let's wait for the final climb kind of racing.

Modern curse of the peloton. At some level the placement of dirt in the earlier parts of the race should inspire racing from distance, but in most cases this is just a bit of a pipe dream.

I still blame the DSs and riders for not taking bigger risks on a parcours like this.

 

[Michele]

Weather forecast for this whole week in Italy should be sunny and warm.

 

[Aguirre]

Valverde for the win, i said