Strade Bianche 2024, March 2, one-day classic (men's)

[AmRacer]

So Pog goes from Cipressa too.

 

[saunaking]

Ever since they started overhyping this race it has been ***.
3 years in a row now

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Also, what happened to Groupama? On paper, Madouas, Grégoire and Martinez should have been arguably the best non-UAE bloc in the race, but the latter is the only in the chase group and even that is only because he made it back on at the end of MSM.

 

[saunaking]

Ever since they started overhyping this race it has been ***.
3 years in a row now

at least he had the grace to wait until the tv was broadcasting

 

[SafeBet]

One thing I didn't expect is Visma giving up so early. They have 4 riders in the group and yet it's Ineos chasing.

 

[Salvarani]

Also, what happened to Groupama? On paper, Madouas, Grégoire and Martinez should have been arguably the best non-UAE bloc in the race, but the latter is the only in the chase group and even that is only because he made it back on at the end of MSM.

Overhyped trio.

Two great talents but they are still light-weights here.

 

[Highlander]

The race right now is one rider from Ineos versus Pogacar. The gap keeps going out, so brilliant riding from the peloton.

 

[Brullnux]

It's really not flat, that's the problem with controlling this race. It goes up and down constantly, and a very strong solo rider has many moments he has an advantage (downhill, curves, steep uphills)...
As much as I want a race and as much as I love a race where everything can happen in the last few K's, it's simply not going to happen anymore, or something very bad must happen (hunger knock, crash, bad mechanical that can't be solved quickly on a sterrato...).

It's not really flat but it's also not that challenging (or comparatively, at least). It's probably the place where the race is easiest to control.

That said, I agree – the moment the gap went beyond 1m it was over. However, the gap has been exacerbated by a lack of will/organisation in the group (esp. Visma)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Discovery currently regretting letting on Van Hooydonck because it means they can't keep pretending this is a race.

 

[Salvarani]

He went sitting down and Kuss desperately trying.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Overhyped trio.

Two great talents but they are still light-weights here.

Madouas and Grégoire were second and eighth here last year...

 

[Boehmand]

Pogi is just godly good. If we didn't have Vingegaard, he would probably be the new Merckx

That's one part of it.

The other part is, that the WT calendar is so tightly packed, that it is really only at the monuments you get all the best together.

The race would be different, if MvdP, Evenepoel, Roglic, Van Aert - and even Vingegaard (who will eventually start trying the big 1-day climbers races) - was there.

 

[Volderke]

Booked my appointment for getting white hair.

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[search]

Props to Ineos for actually sacrificing someone, in comparison to Visma who just sits there with 3.

Valter just returned, so they now have 4. But who to ride for, when you captain is the worst of the team so far?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

They didn't bring Van Aert, so they gave up before the race.

Or Vingegaard, or Benoot, both of whom would have been better options here than anyone in their actual lineup.

 

[Salvarani]

Madouas and Grégoire were second and eighth here last year...

Great results, but I would rate Kuss/Laport/Valter higher.

Pidock/Sheffield/Arensman higher.

UAE goes without saying.

EF guys.

Then riders like Van Eetvelt/Van Gils.

Before thinking about the FDJ riders.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

That's one part of it.

The other part is, that the WT calendar is so tightly packed, that it is really only at the monuments you get all the best together.

The race would be different, if MvdP, Evenepoel, Roglic, Van Aert - and even Vingegaard (who will eventually start trying the big 1-day climbers races) - was there.

Yeah, then there would have been 6 Visma riders sitting behind the one INEOS guy working.

 

[Netserk]

Also, what happened to Groupama? On paper, Madouas, Grégoire and Martinez should have been arguably the best non-UAE bloc in the race, but the latter is the only in the chase group and even that is only because he made it back on at the end of MSM.

Madouas has looked bad so far this year.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Damn woke up early for a Saturday and still just missed Pogi's attack.

 

[Brullnux]

Yeah, we had the best Ronde and Worlds editions of this century last year.

I also thought Ronde 2022 and Paris Roubaix 2023 were very good, too.

I think the main issue is the fact Visma have stacked their team up too much for the smaller Belgian classics (though Omloop was very fun!) and the scheduling issues between the riders, which means you do sometimes get days like today. But it's ridiculous to say all pre-2021 racing was better than post-lockdown races.

 

[ice&fire]

He went sitting down and Kuss desperately trying.

Kuss has only been desperate on Angliru last year

 

[search]

Madouas has looked bad so far this year.

he crashed twice during Algarve. First on day 1, and then into a spectator after the final stage.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Yeah, then there would have been 6 Visma riders sitting behind the one INEOS guy working.

They would’ve raced much differently if their leader wasn’t Kuss.

 

[Salvarani]

Kuss has only been desperate on Angliru last year

Are you his wife?

Surely only she knows secrets like that.

 

[meat puppet]

Ffs, I have a long indoor ride to kill. Something a bit more entertaining would have been nice.