Strade Bianche 2023, March 4, one-day classic (men's & women's)

[Sciatic]

It’s hard to make comparisons b/t the tactical differences between Strade and Roubaix because until recently we only got to see roughly the last hour of Strade, by which point the elite front and chasing groups had already formed. It certainly gave the impression that the race was mostly about who was strongest. In Roubaix, there is crucial logistical and conservation-of-energy strategy well before the final hour, regarding proper positioning (entering pave sections) and decisions about when to join groups going off the front. Maybe that’s been true at Strade too, but I’ve never had a chance to see it!

 

[BR2]

To be fair the startlist this year doesn't look too amazing so far in comparison to the last years. I hope some bigger names will still join in.

 

[red_flanders]

Roubaix is more tactical than Strade? I don't think so.

I don't either.

 

[SafeBet]

To be fair the startlist this year doesn't look too amazing so far in comparison to the last years. I hope some bigger names will still join in.

Last year was even worse after all the dropouts in the last week.
But yeah I'd like to have all the big guns at the start.

 

[hayneplane]

Come on dude. Every race is a blend of tactics and strength. If you don't think Paris Roubaix leans WAAAAY to the strength side, I don't know what to tell you. You don't get to the finale with tactics. You have it or you don't. Strade is slightly to the left of Roubaix on the Tactics/Strength continuum. The argument that "tactics make the race better" is wholly put to bed by the example of Roubaix, the least tactical classic there is.

Sometimes a big tactical component makes the race more interesting and good racing ensues from an exciting and tactical situation. Sometimes guys just mark one another out of a big race, or GT teams run 9 guy trains up the mountains and kill races, and those tactics make a race boring.

Speaking unequivocally about such a thing is silly.

Tactics play a big part in Paris-Roubaix. Lots of riders have got top 10 results from being ahead of the race by many minutes from being in the break of the day and Hayman won at least in part from going in a long range group move anticipating the big kick off behind from the big favourites like Cancellara. Yes he had great legs then but I doubt he would have been there at the end had he come from the peloton at the same time as Boonen.

 

[red_flanders]

Tactics play a big part in Paris-Roubaix. Lots of riders have got top 10 results from being ahead of the race by many minutes from being in the break of the day and Hayman won at least in part from going in a long range group move anticipating the big kick off behind from the big favourites like Cancellara. Yes he had great legs then but I doubt he would have been there at the end had he come from the peloton at the same time as Boonen.

Every race has tactics.

Would you say Roubaix is one of the most tactical or least tactical races on the calendar? Simple answer to that one. That's all I was talking about.

 

[SafeBet]

Every race has tactics.

Would you say Roubaix is one of the most tactical or least tactical races on the calendar? Simple answer to that one. That's all I was talking about.

This is probably very subjective but if we only take the Monuments pure individual strength plays a larger role in determining the outcome of Lombardia, Flanders and (nowadays) LBL. Luck, tactics and team strength are to me more important in Roubaix than in those three races, while Sanremo is the most random of all.

Of course there are a lot of minor races where tactics and other factors matter more than in Roubaix, but it's harder to compare since the startlist are often unbalanced (stronger teams often have the upper hand).

As for Strade, I'd say it's up there with Lombardia, ie the strongest rider normally wins unless he crashes out or has some other issues.

 

[Netserk]

Roubaix is easily the most tactical big race. There’s so many decisions to make during the race, and so many different ways to use your teammates. It’s the major race with the most important first hour.

 

[Netserk]

You're definitely not right here. Apart from 2013, name one instance where the strongest rider didn't win.

Just because Van Aert won it once, it doesn't mean the race has no merit.

Was Cancellara clearly the strongest rider in 2016? In any case, it was a tactical edition.

2018 is probably a better example of a tactical edition. I don’t remember the moment when Kwiatkowski got away in 2017, but I doubt he could have beaten Greg in the last km.

 

[Lequack]

This should be exciting. Puck Pieterse, who was domitating cyclocross (along with Van Empel that is), is racing Strade Bianche!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1630590502323077121

View: https://twitter.com/MatMitchell30/status/1630590502323077121

 

[Sciatic]

This should be exciting. Puck Pieterse, who was domitating cyclocross (along with Van Empel that is), is racing Strade Bianche!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1630590502323077121

View: https://twitter.com/MatMitchell30/status/1630590502323077121

I’m very excited to see what she can do, and I’m pretty sure will perform well. Also from cross, Clara Honsinger (and perhaps her EFteammate Backsted?) will be riding as well. Clara had a poor cross season but perhaps the much longer race will give her more opportunity to make up for her horrendous starts. EF haven’t posted their full lineup yet.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

This should be exciting. Puck Pieterse, who was domitating cyclocross (along with Van Empel that is), is racing Strade Bianche!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1630590502323077121

View: https://twitter.com/MatMitchell30/status/1630590502323077121

Don't forget Shirin van Anrooij, who I at least assume will be riding Strade Bianche as well, but it isn't confirmed yet. It also seems impossible that Silvia Persico won't get a top result if she starts.

I’m very excited to see what she can do, and I’m pretty sure will perform well. Also from cross, Clara Honsinger (and perhaps her EFteammate Backsted?) will be riding as well. Clara had a poor cross season but perhaps the much longer race will give her more opportunity to make up for her horrendous starts. EF haven’t posted their full lineup yet.

Honsinger hasn't really performed that well in the European road races she's done so far in her career, so I don't expect too much. Maybe she's going to attack early on like she did in RVV last year. That seemed to be the MO at EF - TIBCO - SVB last year, where Emily Newsom did the same in Strade Bianche and Tanja Erath in Paris - Roubaix.

 

[Ricco']

Is this from 2 years ago, or maybe from a few days in the future?

2 years ago definitely.

This year he won't be doing it with the dutch jersey.

 

[Sciatic]

Don't forget Shirin van Anrooij, who I at least assume will be riding Strade Bianche as well, but it isn't confirmed yet. It also seems impossible that Silvia Persico won't get a top result if she starts.



Honsinger hasn't really performed that well in the European road races she's done so far in her career, so I don't expect too much. Maybe she's going to attack early on like she did in RVV last year. That seemed to be the MO at EF - TIBCO - SVB last year, where Emily Newsom did the same in Strade Bianche and Tanja Erath in Paris - Roubaix.

I definitely don’t expect much from Honsinger, but she’s the only current pro—male or female—I’ve ever seen race in person and she’s from my region (Pacific NW) so I do like to follow her progress (or lack of it). Getting to see Shirin race on Sat will also be fun to see!

 

[limak_]

2 years ago definitely.

This year he won't be doing it with the dutch jersey.

Sadly. I miss the white bibs.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

To be fair the startlist this year doesn't look too amazing so far in comparison to the last years. I hope some bigger names will still join in.

Tirreno being forced closer to this race because ASO essentially threw a tantrum over the big names choosing Strade + Tirreno over Paris-Nice has really hurt Strade and the late withdrawals in both subsequent years haven’t helped either. Would gladly *** over Paris-Nice permanently to return to the Strade and Tirreno of 2021, tbh, those were some ridiculously strong fields and the racing was epic.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Puck needs to do the recce with the Go Pro camera.......

 

[tobydawq]

Tirreno being forced closer to this race because ASO essentially threw a tantrum over the big names choosing Strade + Tirreno over Paris-Nice has really hurt Strade and the late withdrawals in both subsequent years haven’t helped either. Would gladly *** over Paris-Nice permanently to return to the Strade and Tirreno of 2021, tbh, those were some ridiculously strong fields and the racing was epic.

What's wrong with Paris-Nice?

 

[theyoungest]

I definitely don’t expect much from Honsinger, but she’s the only current pro—male or female—I’ve ever seen race in person and she’s from my region (Pacific NW) so I do like to follow her progress (or lack of it). Getting to see Shirin race on Sat will also be fun to see!

Shirin was already there last year. She got 9th. Just ahead of Persico in 10th. I think those two are the most likely to do well again, although Pieterse was quite strong in Het Hageland so who knows.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

What's wrong with Paris-Nice?

Nothing is wrong with Paris-Nice, quite the opposite actually. The problem is that (unless you rip up the calendar) it can't really coexist with the Italian races without at least one race really suffering in terms of field quality, and I care more about Strade.

 

[Extinction]

Nothing is wrong with Paris-Nice, quite the opposite actually. The problem is that (unless you rip up the calendar) it can't really coexist with the Italian races without at least one race really suffering in terms of field quality, and I care more about Strade.

Strade is indeed an amazing race, with RCI thinking of it as a warm-up for Tirreno. However, perhaps it should be held between the cobbled and Ardennes classics. This year sucks with both Pogacar and Van Aert out, but MvdP and Ala should make it interesting nonetheless.

 

[Lequack]

What about the one who will actually win this race, that is Tim Wellens.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What about the one who will actually win this race, that is Tim Wellens.

The race comes four days too late for that to happen.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nothing is wrong with Paris-Nice, quite the opposite actually. The problem is that (unless you rip up the calendar) it can't really coexist with the Italian races without at least one race really suffering in terms of field quality, and I care more about Strade.

?

Both races have been very good the last 10 years ? They can coexist fine.

 

[Anderis]

One thing I like in cycling is that every race has a different startlist and you don't see the best rider doing every race on the calendar. For me, it gets boring really quickly if just a few names monopolise all the top positions. I don't need to see all the biggest names in one particular race, they always have enough opportunities to race against each other during the season anyway.