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

[Samamba]

Van Eetvelt did 194km (6h30) on the course today, wants to know everything. A real training beast.
With his form I expect him in the top 10, maybe top 5.

Dude is taking "I need a hard training ride right before the race" to another level

Yeah his form is good, his legs will be good on Saturday, but experience and placement are a big thing here, and also luck will be a big factor. You shouldn't expect anything. There's like 40 guys who could top 10 this race on a good day and with some luck.

He did this together with Van Gils btw, he is also in pretty good form. Too bad Kron is injured or Lotto would actually have a really strong team for this race.

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1763315791263363461

View: https://twitter.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1763315791263363461?s=20

 

[Peyroteo94]

Who can beat Pogi here? It seems a sure bet.

 

[Panda Claws]

Pogacar will sandbag.

 

[Cookster15]

Interesting how this plays out. The extra climbs and distance will make it gruelling. Of course Pogacar is the overwhelming favourite but as others have suggested luck plays a big part in this race (like PR). The best way for Pog to minimise bad luck is a long range solo attack. That will also reveal his form. If he sandbags it might mean he is trying to conserve energy for his bigger goals - starting in May.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Ben Healy FTW

 

[Rob5091]

As was pointed out Bardet (who weighs not much more then a couple of wet towels) came 3rd in 2018 so Little Lenny M should at least have an enjoyable experience (recently up against Vingegaard and now Pogacar) with no great expectations. Lenny VE likewise can, whatever happens, put the race down to a learning experience.

 

[SafeBet]

Of course Pogacar is the overwhelming favourite but as others have suggested luck plays a big part in this race (like PR).

To me Strade Bianche is much closer to Ronde in terms of how much luck determines the winner. It plays a part, as in every cycling event, but in most cases the strongest rider wins.

 

[tobydawq]

Dude is taking "I need a hard training ride right before the race" to another level

Yeah his form is good, his legs will be good on Saturday, but experience and placement are a big thing here, and also luck will be a big factor. You shouldn't expect anything. There's like 40 guys who could top 10 this race on a good day and with some luck.

He did this together with Van Gils btw, he is also in pretty good form. Too bad Kron is injured or Lotto would actually have a really strong team for this race.

I actually don't think experience and placement are that important in Strade? This race is so tough (especially with the increase in length and with mud on the gravel), it will sort the riders eventually.

 

[tobydawq]

As was pointed out Bardet (who weighs not much more then a couple of wet towels) came 3rd in 2018 so Little Lenny M should at least have an enjoyable experience (recently up against Vingegaard and now Pogacar) with no great expectations. Lenny VE likewise can, whatever happens, put the race down to a learning experience.

I think Bardet was second in 2018.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I would say that the last year’s winners proved that Strade Bianche in essence is a very “honest” race and almost always has the strongest rider on the day as the winner.

This year with a longer distance and more altitude plus the current conditions where the otherwise quite quick white roads have become wet and sluggish will really favor a GC-type rider with massive endurance. To me that sounds like Pog and Piddles.

 

[search]

In Belgian press, Wellens said that during their training session before the Omloop Pogi was still making jokes and taking videos while Wellens himself was completely on the limit already. So his shape is on another level, and he'll be fully in Pogacar's service tomorrow.

 

[Rob5091]

I think Bardet was second in 2018.

Indeed he was - WvA was third. I'll have to fire my fact checker!

 

[mou]

While I was suffering during my block training, he quickly followed me in the wheel. Joking and guffawing and making videos. In short, Tadej is on another level. I have no qualms about sacrificing myself for such a rider. Not even for a teammate, by the way. The general level within UAE Emirates is extremely high. Completing training with teammates is really impressive. The average speeds we then achieve…”

I showed you the current data from pogacar's training the other day, be prepared for more material in the future, so these Wellens' words will not be a surprise to you

 

[SHAD0W93]

While I was suffering during my block training, he quickly followed me in the wheel. Joking and guffawing and making videos. In short, Tadej is on another level. I have no qualms about sacrificing myself for such a rider. Not even for a teammate, by the way. The general level within UAE Emirates is extremely high. Completing training with teammates is really impressive. The average speeds we then achieve…”

I showed you the current data from pogacar's training the other day, be prepared for more material in the future, so these Welens' words will not be a surprise to you

Where’s the rest of UAE’s data?

 

[mou]

Where’s the rest of UAE’s data?

I'm not allowed to publish it, I don't want problems in my life hehe, this part from training peeks on 24.2.2024 for pogacar was in a way approved, I can't say more than that

 

[Wyndbrook]

I think credence needs to given to linguistics here: monument in English, is from the French “monument” of the same spelling, from the Latin root monere = to remind. Varying definitions have in common age or history and commemoration.
“An enduring thing, especially a thing that by its survival commemorates a person, action, period, or event.” Also “A thing surviving as a symbol of or witness to a process or activity.”
Obviously the language of cycling culture changes meanings from common usage; regardless the key elements are that is old, or commemorates the past, and that it doesn’t need to mean “the absolute best”.

So that counts out this spring chicken of a race, it needs to wait a few a few more centuries.

 

[Rob5091]

I'm not allowed to publish it, I don't want problems in my life hehe, this part from training peeks on 24.2.2024 for pogacar was in a way approved, I can't say more than that

So are you UAE's "Lanterne Rouge"?

 

[sam6]

I'm not allowed to publish it, I don't want problems in my life hehe, this part from training peeks on 24.2.2024 for pogacar was in a way approved, I can't say more than that

Can you do some anonymous leak somewhere? Use a VPN and a new account.

 

[Didinho]

Wellens says these new extra gravel parts are useless to add, almost asphalt.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Wellens says these new extra gravel parts are useless to add, almost asphalt.

I don't think they needed to add anything to the course tbh. Are we going to get a more exciting race because they made it longer and harder? Personally I don't think so. It was already a very selective race and this is just going to make them start the finale later I fear.

 

[scribers]

Can you do some anonymous leak somewhere? Use a VPN and a new account.

They will still know where it came from because possibly only this individual has access to that detail

 

[scribers]

Forty to fifty years ago it was all about the Tour of Zurich being the sixth monument.
Guess what, race no longer exists.

Hello Saudi investment fund. Resurrect this race and offer huge participation fees and winning purses and you have a legit entrance into the conversation. Dating back to 1914 it has quickclaim qualification to a race that stands up to the other monuments

 

[repre]

I pick Healy for the win, LVE for top5

 

[scribers]

Interesting comments by Dan Lloyd on GCN.
Seems we or anyone else wants to call a race a monument and it gains traction we create one, there is no official recognition by UCI.
The points increase this year is the first time there has been even any oblique recognition,

I’m sorry. Is he suggesting we can hand out monuments as we feel like because they aren’t recognized officially?

Merckx’s 19 monument wins are seen as unassailable by all observers, which means something on its face. I would be interested to hear what eddy thinks about the modern day designation. Did he prepare as much or less for those races as others on the calendar, during his era? Or would he have if he’s known?