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

[Sciatic]

great race with the result up in the air until 2k to go or so. i really had no idea who would win with 20, 10k to go. i think everyone in that 2nd group was just destroyed and couldn't commit to a chase because they didnt have the legs. except rui costa, he's a tool, hope he enjoys his 4th place.

Really, by 5 Km to go it seemed clear the chase ground was going to give it up.

 

[Red Rick]

Three of the last four winners have been the most recent CX World Champions. Two of those are already established as amongst the best road riders and the other is likely to become so. Then there's Pogacar.

Possible to make an argument either way that Strade is becoming the domain of specialists. Or along with RVV, the ultimate testing ground for the new breed of versatile superstars.

I think Strade is very specialistic but it's a specialism that doesn't really exist otherwise in cycling if that makes any sense?

I feel like it's the climby version of Paris Roubaix. It's very attritional, you have to make your attacks fairly sparingly, chase groups don't bring gaps down very quickly, and by the end it's kind of hard to get a way cause everyone is kinda dead.

I think MvdP and Van Aert are actually much heavier than ideal for this race, which might be why they don't just show up and top 5 no matter what. I think Pidcock is almost uniquely suited to it.

Also I think Strade gets more climbers participating than in the good old day? But maybe I'm imagining things a bit.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Does any one of the gentle souls in the forum know the common tire width used in Strade Bianche?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

What a disastrous day of racing for quickstep.

 

[Lequack]

Does any one of the gentle souls in the forum know the common tire width used in Strade Bianche?

Philippe Gilbert said they will mostly be using 30-32mm with ~4.5bar pressure.

 

[Volderke]

Does any one of the gentle souls in the forum know the common tire width used in Strade Bianche?

28mm, I heard through the grapevine. But as LeQuack suggests, it could be a little wider these days, with the ever-increasing rim width and subsequent optimal tire width.

 

[Monte Serra]

Four of the five cyclocross World Champions who have ridden Strade have been able to win it.

On the women's race, no cyclocross world champion has been able to win yet. But it is quite likely that it might happen in the future. Van Empel or Pieterse both have the skills and the power, although Puck of course hasn't yet won the elite rainbow jersey.

 

[Extinction]

Actually the mistake was Jumbo not having figured out who's their strongest climber.

Because it was always clear that either Benoot or Valter has to kick it right from the bottom of the final ascend to drop all other riders and win.

Costa always was the strongest sprinter in the group, but had already shown he can't keep up once someone jumps on all other ascends in the final.

So it ended up with Madouas being the hot favorite. As the Frenchman actually is a good climber (at least not much worse than Benoot) and owns a good sprint as we saw at Luxembourg & the Tour de France last year.

But Madouas doing the majority of the work would always result in either Benoot / Valter jumping from his wheel on the finish hill or Costa winning the sprint. Especially since Madouas already had invested quite some energy after his crash / mechanical. So of course he rather lost it against Pidcock who fully deserved his win than being fooled by Benoot or Costa. That's weirdly enough how cycling even with all competitiveness of a professional athlete is being set up.

So the whole situation only occurred because Jumbo never determined one clear lieutenant to chase Pidcock, with than would've been joined by Madouas.

I disagree with Mohoric though. If they sacrifice Valter. That's serving Madouas victory on the silver platter. There was no way Benoot would be able to go long out enough on that short ascend to gap Madouas. And Tiesj doesn't have the sprint to beat him either as the result sheet shows.

Jumbo should've sacrificed Benoot. Telling him Felipe Massa style "Atilla is faster than you. Can you confirm you got that message?" Because even if the Hungarian wasn't able to shut the gap to Pidcock earlier on, he initially looked stronger in the final. Closing gaps time-delayed with quite some ease. BUT if Jumbo does that and then Valter can't gap Madouas either and thus loses the sprint there's even more drama than there's probably now. Because if you relegate your initial leader and it doesn't work out dispute's guaranteed.

Hence why everything actually developed as it had to. Because Jumbo didn't want to take a wrong decision. Which only resulted in them taking no decision at all which is wrong 99% of all times. Only German finance minister Lindner truly believes not doing anything is better than doing something wrong.

Madouas won the sprint. Finishing 2nd by being the strongest from his group, rather than being fooled by someone he brought back beating him. His decision payed off eventually.

Or...Valter could have acted as a stopper when Benoot got ahead with the other two, who then could have worked harmoniously to catch Pidcock and then fought it out amongst the quartet. Instead of Benoot only sending Valter to hell with an arm gesture, at which point Jumbo-Visma lost all hope of winning as the reformed group didn't work together.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I disagree with Mohoric though. If they sacrifice Valter. That's serving Madouas victory on the silver platter.

Then again if you don't try the best you can do is finish second. The reason Moho said Valter should make the sacrifice is as both Moho and Valter got dropped. In the last 10km.

 

[Tonton]

Actually the mistake was Jumbo not having figured out who's their strongest climber.

Because it was always clear that either Benoot or Valter has to kick it right from the bottom of the final ascend to drop all other riders and win.

Costa always was the strongest sprinter in the group, but had already shown he can't keep up once someone jumps on all other ascends in the final.

So it ended up with Madouas being the hot favorite. As the Frenchman actually is a good climber (at least not much worse than Benoot) and owns a good sprint as we saw at Luxembourg & the Tour de France last year.

But Madouas doing the majority of the work would always result in either Benoot / Valter jumping from his wheel on the finish hill or Costa winning the sprint. Especially since Madouas already had invested quite some energy after his crash / mechanical. So of course he rather lost it against Pidcock who fully deserved his win than being fooled by Benoot or Costa. That's weirdly enough how cycling even with all competitiveness of a professional athlete is being set up.

So the whole situation only occurred because Jumbo never determined one clear lieutenant to chase Pidcock, with than would've been joined by Madouas.

I disagree with Mohoric though. If they sacrifice Valter. That's serving Madouas victory on the silver platter. There was no way Benoot would be able to go long out enough on that short ascend to gap Madouas. And Tiesj doesn't have the sprint to beat him either as the result sheet shows.

Jumbo should've sacrificed Benoot. Telling him Felipe Massa style "Atilla is faster than you. Can you confirm you got that message?" Because even if the Hungarian wasn't able to shut the gap to Pidcock earlier on, he initially looked stronger in the final. Closing gaps time-delayed with quite some ease. BUT if Jumbo does that and then Valter can't gap Madouas either and thus loses the sprint there's even more drama than there's probably now. Because if you relegate your initial leader and it doesn't work out dispute's guaranteed.

Hence why everything actually developed as it had to. Because Jumbo didn't want to take a wrong decision. Which only resulted in them taking no decision at all which is wrong 99% of all times. Only German finance minister Lindner truly believes not doing anything is better than doing something wrong.

Madouas won the sprint. Finishing 2nd by being the strongest from his group, rather than being fooled by someone he brought back beating him. His decision payed off eventually.

This.

Indeed, Madouas didn't get punked. That's another great performance for him, close but again no cigar in a big race, but in the end the best man won. Thomas Pidcock is an amazing rider, a deserving winner, Strade Bianche after AdH, rainbow, WOW! Bravo!

This was the best showing ever at la Strade Bianche for FDJ, Even as a fan, I didn't expect Romain Grégoire to be so good so soon: great top-10 for him. Of course, I hope that Pinot's 18th place is a sign of good things to come. It was a pretty good Thibaut today.

 

[Lequack]

Bettiol's helmet

 

[hayneplane]

This.

Indeed, Madouas didn't get punked. That's another great performance for him, close but again no cigar in a big race, but in the end the best man won. Thomas Pidcock is an amazing rider, a deserving winner, Strade Bianche after AdH, rainbow, WOW! Bravo!

This was the best showing ever at la Strade Bianche for FDJ, Even as a fan, I didn't expect Romain Grégoire to be so good so soon: great top-10 for him. Of course, I hope that Pinot's 18th place is a sign of good things to come. It was a pretty good Thibaut today.

I can certainly see him getting a signature big one day win in his first full season ala Remco in San Sebastián at age 19.

 

[Poursuivant]

Fortune favoured the brave

 

[CHGJ2000]

Rui Costa racing negatively with good legs, meant that Valter should have sacrificed himself for Benoot and just go as hard at the front to pull them within striking distance of Pidcock.

Considering the considerable difference in the amount of work Valter did on the front compared to Benoot and the relatively minimal difference between them in the final, seems like it should have been the other way round which is probably where you get the problems from.

The stronger rider who is in a lower position in the team doesn't really want to completely sacrifice their chance for a result (especially when they've already been told they won't do a GT) so the weaker but more established rider can have the best chance at getting a top result.

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats Kristen Faulkner for getting on the box after making a big move!

What was the deal with the horse on the road?!

 

[Lequack]

Congrats Kristen Faulkner for getting on the box after making a big move!

What was the deal with the horse on the road?!

It was just horsing around.

 

[Extinction]

Considering the considerable difference in the amount of work Valter did on the front compared to Benoot and the relatively minimal difference between them in the final, seems like it should have been the other way round which is probably where you get the problems from.

The stronger rider who is in a lower position in the team doesn't really want to completely sacrifice their chance for a result (especially when they've already been told they won't do a GT) so the weaker but more established rider can have the best chance at getting a top result.

How do you make it that Valter was stronger than Benoot. When Benoot attacked gaps were made. By contrast, when Valter attacked he got nowhere quickly. And if that was because of the work he'd done previously, then he should have been ordered to sacrifice himself and play stopper when Benoot got ahead the second time. Instead when Simons tried to get back on terms with Benoot, who had two others to work with for a final assault to reel in Pidcock, what did Valter do? He attacked over Simons without really breaking the elastic, thus allowing the Benoot trio at the critical moment to be caught. Then the enlarged group failed to work together and so gave a deserving and courageous Pidcock just enough breathing space to definitively foil the chase for the win.

 

[andrew_s]

That proves nothing.
A helmet will break like that very easily if the helmet sponsor makes rounder helmets than the shape of your head.

If it had saved his life, he'd be out for the next couple of months (at least) with concussion

 

[Sciatic]

That proves nothing.
A helmet will break like that very easily if the helmet sponsor makes rounder helmets than the shape of your head.

If it had saved his life, he'd be out for the next couple of months (at least) with concussion

I’m guessing if they did an MRI this evening they would find he does have a concussion, but not to the extent that it left him wobbling or blurry eyed (or maybe it did but nothing was mentioned about it).

 

[Lequack]

Gianni Vermeersch being rude at the finish

https://twitter.com/x/status/1632114228369686533

View: https://twitter.com/Nico_isn/status/1632114228369686533?s=20

 

[staubsauger]

How do you make it that Valter was stronger than Benoot. When Benoot attacked gaps were made. By contrast, when Valter attacked he got nowhere quickly. And if that was because of the work he'd done previously, then he should have been ordered to sacrifice himself and play stopper when Benoot got ahead the second time. Instead when Simons tried to get back on terms with Benoot, who had two others to work with for a final assault to reel in Pidcock, what did Valter do? He attacked over Simons without really breaking the elastic, thus allowing the Benoot trio at the critical moment to be caught. Then the enlarged group failed to work together and so gave a deserving and courageous Pidcock just enough breathing space to definitively foil the chase for the win.

The very first time Valter attacked he almost immediately opened quite a big gap. Couldn't move up towards Pidcock though.

Benoot's attacks always kinda fall asleep. You saw that today just like at last year's Omloop. It seems like he can't really sustain it. Even last Sunday he actually won by outfoxing his contrahents.

Hence why I'm so happy Tiesj won Kuurne though. He's the ideal lieutenant, but barely wins himself.

 

[tobydawq]

Gianni Vermeersch being rude at the finish

https://twitter.com/x/status/1632114228369686533

View: https://twitter.com/Nico_isn/status/1632114228369686533?s=20

Living up to his reputation.

 

[CHGJ2000]

How do you make it that Valter was stronger than Benoot. When Benoot attacked gaps were made. By contrast, when Valter attacked he got nowhere quickly. And if that was because of the work he'd done previously, then he should have been ordered to sacrifice himself and play stopper when Benoot got ahead the second time. Instead when Simons tried to get back on terms with Benoot, who had two others to work with for a final assault to reel in Pidcock, what did Valter do? He attacked over Simons without really breaking the elastic, thus allowing the Benoot trio at the critical moment to be caught. Then the enlarged group failed to work together and so gave a deserving and courageous Pidcock just enough breathing space to definitively foil the chase for the win.

The explanation as to why I make it that Valter was stronger than Benoot is right there? Also, Benoot's attacks really were not that good. He attacked hard and got a nice gap sure... then he immediately collapsed and was easily closed by others. Attacking hard isn't really some big positive if you can't sustain it. If 20KM's from the finish the DS told Benoot to do an all out 30s max or his contract would be voided the attack would look incredibly impressive putting a huge gap into others... for about a minute until he would blow up and get dropped.

 

[Izzyeviel]

What a disastrous day of racing for quickstep.

'Quickstep Soudal are the next Lotto Soudal thread'

 

[Parker]

Rui Costa would easily win the TV series Traitors

A cycling version of The Traitors with Rui Costa, Simon Gerrans and Thomas Voeckler as the traitors would be amazing, I love those guys and their tactics - it's like poker.