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

[Cookster15]

Not for me...terrible race. It would have been nice to have the other two riders, who are likely the only other two in the world who have the legs to have gone with him at 80K to go, in the race...then maybe a great race. As it happened, it was awful to watch, competition wise.

I see it from a pure cycling performance perspective, and that delicious scenery - wow. Of course a layman might be bored not understanding the difficulty of what they were watching (not you). Admittedly, I didn’t watch for five hours but reading that a massive favourite tell everyone where he would attack and then nobody could counter when he did exactly that is frankly inspirational for those of us who have raced a bike. Anyone who can’t understand why Pog is popular should study this year’s race and circumstances.

 

[Ripper]

I see it from a pure cycling performance perspective, and that delicious scenery - wow. Of course a layman might be bored not understanding the difficulty of what they were watching (not you). Admittedly, I didn’t watch for five hours but reading that a massive favourite tell everyone where he would attack and then nobody could counter when he did exactly that is frankly inspirational for those of us who have raced a bike. Anyone who can’t understand why Pog is popular should study this year’s race and circumstances.

I've raced and I continue to race, but I don't find these performances inspirational. Poggi and Joni are the two most alien riders I've seen, I definitely don't get inspired by what they achieve.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Agreed. I was pumped to watch it and it was a total letdown. That is not to take anything away from Pog and UAE, who were smart and strong.

The more I think about it, the worse it seems. One of the worst races to spectate, that I can remember, not because Pog won, but because there was no real competition to watch. One guy, who looked like he was the only pro on a training ride with a junior development team, and he wanted to show them what the big show was like...it also makes me feel sick about how Ronde will go...sucks doubly because it's my 2nd favorite race, and Pog has already dropped the peloton, and the race hasn't started. I'll watch, but I'm not drinking coffee, because I'll want to snooze a bit more after he attacks...let's hope he doesnt decide to do a 270.8k solo attack that day.

 

[Elos Anjos]

The more I think about it, the worse it seems. One of the worst races to spectate, that I can remember, not because Pog won, but because there was no real competition to watch. One guy, who looked like he was the only pro on a training ride with a junior development team, and he wanted to show them what the big show was like...it also makes me feel sick about how Ronde will go...sucks doubly because it's my 2nd favorite race, and Pog has already dropped the peloton, and the race hasn't started. I'll watch, but I'm not drinking coffee, because I'll want to snooze a bit more after he attacks...let's hope he doesnt decide to do a 270.8k solo attack that day.

Pogacar is not doing RVV.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Pogacar is not doing RVV.

I thought he was?? My mistake then.

 

[SHAD0W93]

What happened? Tuned in for the last couple of kilometres and seen cyclists, one by one finishing, meanwhile where was Pogi?

At the hotel celebrating.

 

[Kwaremonster]

I thought he was?? My mistake then.

He's not this year. I agree this type of racing can be dull to watch. I watched twenty k into pogacars attack and then switched off.

In RVV 2023 though the race was far from dull and the margins were smaller then in this race.

He did drop everybody at the first (or second) passage of the Oude Kwaremont. But then he chose not to go solo (van der poel, van aert, pidcock and laporte were still together) but to wait for the next passage of the Oude Kwaremont and drop Van der Poel (his then only companion) then. I'm not sure if RVV is hard enough to go away solo earlier then where he did, he didn't think so at the time apparently.

There are some races where is not that easy to ride away solo still, that are either to hard or too easy for that like Fleche Wallonne, Giro di Lombardia and Milan San Remo (dull races in itself) and E3 Harelbeke being examples.

Most other races seem to be in that sweet spot for him where the can be made so attritional that he can ride away from his tired colleagues.

ofcourse there are similarities with Remco in that. I would like to see them in the same races more often. Let's hope to see that in Liege.

 

[proffate]

The contrast between his face and his bike...

 

[AmRacer]

ofcourse there are similarities with Remco in that. I would like to see them in the same races more often. Let's hope to see that in Liege

Last year, they faced off each other twice. First Pogi crashed and then Remco.
Apparently Remco was too heavy for WRR so it doesn't count

 

[rghysens]

This was probably the most impressive solo in a classic since Bernard Hinault in Liège 1980. The Frenchman did a 77 km solo through the snow. Hennie Kuiper finished second at 9'24".

Bettini in Zürich 2005 won by 2'57", which is thirteen seconds more than Pogacar today, but I don't know how long Bettini's solo was.

Pogacar did 81 km solo. Does anyone know of a longer successful solo in a classic?

Gregorz Gwiazdowski in the Meisterschaft von Zürich in 1999. Before that we have to go to the days of Coppi, who did some solo from the Turchino to win MSR. Another notable solo is Franco Ballerini in the 1998 paris-roubaix, who won with more than 4 minutes after a 60km solo.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Last year, they faced off each other twice. First Pogi crashed and then Remco.
Apparently Remco was to heavy for WRR so it doesn't count

Good thing Evenenpoel gets the same benefit of doubt as Roglic.

 

[search]

Was Jan Christen and Marc Hirschi pulling before Del Toro? TV coverage started so late!

There are a lot of pictures on Getty, but none of those show Hirschi or Christen at the front, as far as I could see. It's mostly Novak...

and here it looks like even Wellens was used before Hirschi (unless there are more riders ahead)

 

[Salvarani]

Last year, they faced off each other twice. First Pogi crashed and then Remco.
Apparently Remco was to heavy for WRR so it doesn't count

Too many pizzas probably.

 

[tobydawq]

There are a lot of pictures on Getty, but none of those show Hirschi or Christen at the front, as far as I could see. It's mostly Novak...

and here it looks like even Wellens was used before Hirschi (unless there are more riders ahead)

Considering how extremely white Wellens' jersey was when Pogacar attacked, it would seem as though Wellens had been pulling on all the sterrato.

 

[Salvarani]

Considering how extremely white Wellens' jersey was when Pogacar attacked, it would seem as though Wellens had been pulling on all the sterrato.

Yeah, seems like Hirschi and Christen didnt have to do much or that it just went too fast too quickly for them to be relevant.

Wellens, if riding for himself, probably could have finished top 5 given he seems to be in great form atm. Looks better than in the last couple of seasons so far imo. He also said he had no problem working for a rider like Pog, pretty easy to understand seeing what happened.

 

[TrekCyclist]

Impressive ride by Pogacar.
But I agree with the comments that the competition was not extermely high. Pidcock was expected to be somewhat of a competitor to Pogacar, but I found his race a bit disappointing although he got 4th.

 

[Salvarani]

Impressive ride by Pogacar.
But I agree with the comments that the competition was not extermely high. Pidcock was expected to be somewhat of a competitor to Pogacar, but I found his race a bit disappointing although he got 4th.

Bar WVA and MVDP, everybody else who could have challenged in this race was here. It was a strong field and the best outside of the other two that the pro peloton can throw at him.

Pog just that much better. Doesnt mean everybody else are amateurs. Soon people will be calling them farmers and plumbers. Sounds familiar. What era are we in?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Spoiler: Hint

In case you missed it, look at comments section...

 

[Bolder]

Impressive ride by Pogacar.
But I agree with the comments that the competition was not extermely high. Pidcock was expected to be somewhat of a competitor to Pogacar, but I found his race a bit disappointing although he got 4th.

It's just odd that Pog could simply ride away with 90 km left. I expected him to be part of a small selection and either go solo in the last 30 km, or just attack on via St. Catarina, (think that's the finishing street) but not go solo that from that far out. Was it bad prep by Pidcock et al, or did UAE totally demoralize the field.

One team that really messed up was Trek, given Toms' form. What was Simmons doing trying to ride away just before Pogacar's attack? Skuijns had great legs -- if Simmons hadn't raced like a numbskull, he could have bridged Toms up to Pog's wheel, at least...and Van Gils might have been able to latch on, too. Maybe Pog would have just dropped them all, but having 3 riders on his wheel from that far out might have changed his calculus.

Same for Ineos -- surely Sheffield and Pidcock could have been more disciplined?

(of course, this is a bit of conjecture as Pog was nuclear)

 

[armchairclimber]

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_EWDc__A3qM

 

[scribers]

It's just odd that Pog could simply ride away with 90 km left. I expected him to be part of a small selection and either go solo in the last 30 km, or just attack on via St. Catarina, (think that's the finishing street) but not go solo that from that far out. Was it bad prep by Pidcock et al, or did UAE totally demoralize the field.

One team that really messed up was Trek, given Toms' form. What was Simmons doing trying to ride away just before Pogacar's attack? Skuijns had great legs -- if Simmons hadn't raced like a numbskull, he could have bridged Toms up to Pog's wheel, at least...and Van Gils might have been able to latch on, too. Maybe Pog would have just dropped them all, but having 3 riders on his wheel from that far out might have changed his calculus.

Same for Ineos -- surely Sheffield and Pidcock could have been more disciplined?

(of course, this is a bit of conjecture as Pog was nuclear)

This is the race Simmons has circled annually to prep for and to win. I think it is now a different race for his qualities and size. So yes, I’m guessing managment promised him leadership and would have been better lining up behind the form of skuljns. It probably wouldn’t have made a bid difference in outcome however

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Yes, if the race stays as it now is, then Simmons isn't winning this race........

 

[staubsauger]

Simmons crashed and wasn't seen again afterwards. Who knows whether he had excellent shape too? Maybe he tried to be ahead once Pogacar attacks to hang on once the Slovenian comes up to him. Dillier was 2nd @ 2018 Paris - Roubaix that way.

Of course that tactic or gamble was ruined when he was reeled back in just ahead of the big attack from Pogacar.

In hindsight you're always wiser.

After his showing in Galicia I would've expected Vingegaard to be a late addition towards the Visma squad for Strade Bianche. But he obviously knew why to avoid Pogacar and the reason isn't Tirreno-Adriatico. He would have been shattered. A bit craven IMHO.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Just watched the race. Now that was a heck of a show.
However could've been great with more big guns and Pidcock had reacted instantly.
I think world of cycling have to get used to types of Pogi and Remco in the classics and semi-classics.

I like the tension, the tactical endurance drama, few punches here and there from different top riders.
This is my prime interest.

But I pretty much like watching the heroic solo struggle as of Hinault 1980 L-B-L, Tafi 1999 P-R, Boonen and Cance mid 00s and now Remco and Pogi in the 2020s.

All better than a dull hold'em game until the finish line.

The slopes of Strade Bianche really calls for a long shot. I really like this race.

 

[Blanco]

It's just odd that Pog could simply ride away with 90 km left. I expected him to be part of a small selection and either go solo in the last 30 km, or just attack on via St. Catarina, (think that's the finishing street) but not go solo that from that far out. Was it bad prep by Pidcock et al, or did UAE totally demoralize the field.

One team that really messed up was Trek, given Toms' form. What was Simmons doing trying to ride away just before Pogacar's attack? Skuijns had great legs -- if Simmons hadn't raced like a numbskull, he could have bridged Toms up to Pog's wheel, at least...and Van Gils might have been able to latch on, too. Maybe Pog would have just dropped them all, but having 3 riders on his wheel from that far out might have changed his calculus.

Same for Ineos -- surely Sheffield and Pidcock could have been more disciplined?

(of course, this is a bit of conjecture as Pog was nuclear)

Pidcock is way overrated. He's magnificent MTB-er, excellent crosser when the course suits him, not so if this isn't the case, and a very good and versatile road racer, who will snitch couple of big classics, maybe some week long races and could even get a GT podium someday maybe. And that's about it.
Pogacar.., well.., I think this is exactly where Pidcock stands in comparision to Pogacar. Not even close!
And as for Quinn Simmons bridging to Pogacar, how do you think he should do it, with F35 maybe?