Jul 10, 2014
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The best non-monument race, which should by now be a monument. It's always exciting and hard racing, with lots of gravel and climbing.
Pogacar is returning to defend his 2022 win, while Wout and MVDP, the two elite off road riders, don't want to race on gravel it seems. Also Pidcock is return to defend his win from last year.

Notable mentions: Pogacar, Hirschi, Mohoric, Simon Yates, Laporte, Healy, Kuss, Pidcock, Kung, Powless


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Live video stream available on Eurosport/GCN alternative.

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Full startlist (not yet final):

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Mar 4, 2011
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Mohoric is my second favorite. Can he wear his gravel WC jersey, at least?
He is a good candidate, but would have to get away from Pog well before the climb up to Sienna. Not sure it would be worth the risk involved, but would be fun to see Mohoric use his downhill & gravel skills to attack on one of the steeper gravel descents :)
 
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Mar 4, 2011
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He can stop every time they reach or leave a gravel section to change jersey.
He just needs ima reversible jersey—he’s such a good bike handler he could probably switch back and forth without even stopping—though he’ll have to take the helmet off which is probably a rule violation.
 
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May 1, 2021
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Such a great race, it's a shame there is no wout or mvdp or Remco to take it to Pog. Also longer this year. No Julian either, though it's been a while since he was at his best.
 
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May 5, 2010
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He just needs ima reversible jersey—he’s such a good bike handler he could probably switch back and forth without even stopping—though he’ll have to take the helmet off which is probably a rule violation.

The Bahrain jersey is mostly white anyway.
Just give him a vest - made from a very thin material - with the stripes on.
 
Oct 4, 2020
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He is a good candidate, but would have to get away from Pog well before the climb up to Sienna. Not sure it would be worth the risk involved, but would be fun to see Mohoric use his downhill & gravel skills to attack on one of the steeper gravel descents :)
Perhaps he could link up with Pidcock and together take it to the hair mop.
 
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Apr 8, 2023
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Visma have Kuss (fresh from Jaen) and Laporte, while Ineos have an interesting line up (Pidcock, Bernal, Thomas, Kwia). Martinez (in his new Roglic clone mode) for Bora will be interesting to see how he does.
With the new "junior racing" style, maybe an upset is on the books.
 
Mar 20, 2013
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Is coverage expected to start as late into the race as in previous years? Because with the additional length, harder sectors earlier in the race and the rain all week Pog could be on his own by the time coverage starts with circa 80k to go
 
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Jan 22, 2010
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Is coverage expected to start as late into the race as in previous years? Because with the additional length, harder sectors earlier in the race and the rain all week Pog could be on his own by the time coverage starts with circa 80k to go


looks like we get the last 90 minutes of racing here in the states
 
Nov 16, 2013
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Is coverage expected to start as late into the race as in previous years? Because with the additional length, harder sectors earlier in the race and the rain all week Pog could be on his own by the time coverage starts with circa 80k to go

It seems like the coverage will start at 2 pm and the finish is scheduled for around 5 pm. An acceptable, however not desirable amount of coverage.
 
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