Strade Bianche 2025: Best of the Rest?

[topcat]

voted for Pogacar.

 

[Netserk]

Last year's 2nd behind Pogi with 0 votes so far as the only one.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Look, it would be like if we had a discussion about whether Lenny Martinez could win the TdF but someone said he couldn't because he said his TT was bad. And I then posted a link of a TT result where he performed decently. Next to him in the standings of that TT would be, let's say, Edoardo Affini, and you would then reply, "by that token Affini could also win the Tour".

I don't really see how you can play this game with a straight face.

Vacek has everything a good classics rider needs, except maybe excellent climbing skills. Bonneu has nothing except decent climbing skills.

But I don't think that climbing at a level somewhere between that of Hayter and Holter is proven ability to climb well enough to podium here.

 

[Samamba]

Last year's 2nd behind Pogi with 0 votes so far as the only one.

He isn't on the startlist (yet). Which is weird but that might have something to do with it. Also didn't look as good in opening weekend as last year.

 

[Samamba]

But I don't think that climbing at a level somewhere between that of Hayter and Holter is proven ability to climb well enough to podium here.

You just overrate the climbing ability you need to podium Strade in this field. Vacek is not a worse climber than Skuijns or Mohoric for example. Hell, Kasper Asgreen was on the podium 3 years ago.

 

[Potomac]

He isn't on the startlist (yet). Which is weird but that might have something to do with it. Also didn't look as good in opening weekend as last year.

Good point, otoh he is very seldom on my radar. I had to look up his stats as I totally forgot about him from last years race. He gets a lot of points.

 

[Potomac]

Glad to see a poll. Wasn't there a poll about having more polls? And I think having more polls polled well.
Yet we seem to have less polls.

 

[tobydawq]

Glad to see a poll. Wasn't there a poll about having more polls? And I think having more polls polled well.
Yet we seem to have less polls.

 

[Salvarani]

Glad to see a poll. Wasn't there a poll about having more polls? And I think having more polls polled well.
Yet we seem to have less polls.

Make a poll to find out more.

 

[MJR]

No Freire option?

 

[Pozzovivo]

Make Quinn win is more snappy

Sean Quinn 4 the Win.

 

[Netserk]

He isn't on the startlist (yet). Which is weird but that might have something to do with it. Also didn't look as good in opening weekend as last year.

Doh! I missed that.

 

[Squire]

Good point, otoh he is very seldom on my radar. I had to look up his stats as I totally forgot about him from last years race. He gets a lot of points.

He's a bit like a Bettiol without the big win.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

You just overrate the climbing ability you need to podium Strade in this field. Vacek is not a worse climber than Skuijns or Mohoric for example. Hell, Kasper Asgreen was on the podium 3 years ago.

I guess that depends on the sizes of groups coming onto Santa Caterina together.

 

[Netserk]

I guess that depends on the sizes of groups coming onto Santa Caterina together.

The Kapelmuur is a better reference for that.

 

[RedheadDane]

voted for Pogacar.

He'll have such a big gap, that he'll be able to go back across the line, and cross again.

Sean Quinn 4 the Win.

Wasn't this about Quinn Simmons?

 

[Netserk]

Doh! I missed that.

Toms Skujiņš did make the cut for the official startlist.

 

[gregrowlerson]

This thread title can be read as yet another question about a possible 6th monument

 

[Bertram Wooster]

What to expect from Landa and Carapaz?