Strade Bianche 2025, March 8, one-day classic (men's)

[Berniece]

Why doesn’t the boy wonder have a go at SB anyway?

He's injured... And also he is not good enough technically. He would never win it.

 

[Cookster15]

Just managed to watch a replay, after watching the women's race. And what a race it was, that Pog crash had me worried, not for the race but for his season going on. But what a tough guy, won bloodied and bruised, all kudos to him. And to Pidcock for giving him a good run for his money. Hopefully Pog recovers for his SanRemo attempt.

Amazing photos. What would the Forum be without Lequack !That last one just rams home the popularity of this race, Pogi and cycling in Europe. Incredible.

 

[Peyroteo94]

A race for the ages. These dudes are so tough!

Broken bones, stitches and bruises: brutal medical updates after numerous crashes in Strade Bianche

The 2025 edition of Strade Bianche will forever be remembered as that one race where Tadej Pogacar crashed at 50 km/h—yet still won. However, the Slovenian from UAE Emirates-XRG was far from the only...

www.idlprocycling.com

 

[scribers]

He's injured... And also he is not good enough technically. He would never win it.

Remco absolutely could win this race. (Sorry if I misread the sarcasm )

 

[KoopaCycling]

This need of putting Remco and Vingo in the same boat must stop. Both Remco and Vingo would be irrelevant. Pogacar is on another level

I did not put Remco and Vingegaard on the same level as Pogacar. You just seeing ghosts. All I said was climbers with stamina hold the clear edge over puncheurs with stamina under the new format. Evenepoel and Vingegaard are perfect examples for that. They both would have won the race if they were at the start on a decent level and Pogacar (and either Vingegaard or Evenepoel) were not there. That argument does not equal to pogacar = vingegaard = evenepoel. GC-wise it's a clear order of 1-2-3. and in other races it's mostly 1. Pogacar and then the other 2.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I did not put Remco and Vingegaard on the same level as Pogacar. You just seeing ghosts. All I said was climbers with stamina hold the clear edge over puncheurs with stamina under the new format. Evenepoel and Vingegaard are perfect examples for that. They both would have won the race if they were at the start on a decent level and Pogacar (and either Vingegaard or Evenepoel) were not there. That argument does not equal to pogacar = vingegaard = evenepoel. Right in the GC it's a clear order of 1-2-3. and in other races it's mostly 1. Pogacar and then the other 2.

But what evidence do you have to even say Vingegaard and Remco would win this race if they were in decent shape? What did Vingegaard and Remco show in order to be considered favourites in SB? There is much more in this race than just climbing ability. Vingegaard probably lacks endurance and for that reason he never was a factor in classics. Remco clearly lacks bike handling ability and this is one of the keys to perform well on the gravel.

 

[scribers]

Has remco ever started SB?

My evidence he can win is his engine.

 

[KoopaCycling]

If you are a top TT'er like Vingegaard you have endurance. Plus he showed enough during stage races he has endurance. And whilst stage races are different from 1 day classics, the way some stage races are being ridden these days, i don't feel the need to speculate about Vingegaard endurance ability. Plus Vingegaard can get a bit mental if he sets his mind on stuff. Daring to take crazy risks to achieve his goal. I have no doubt Vingegaard at his near best (not his actual best) would have won yesterday if Pogacar was not there.

Same for Evenepoel. We know Evenepoel has endurance (long solo's). He might even be better suited to 1 day races than stage races. I don't recall to much dangerous descending at strade. And Evenepoel his descending is not as terrible as people make it out to be. Same for his bike handling. He looked just fine during last year gravel stage at the TDF safe for 1 moment. I remember him doing the Brabants Pijl a couple of years ago. And at that time he did not dare to ride on the ditch, afraid of clipping his pedals on the higher sidestones of the pavement. Forcing him to ride on the cobbles. And since cobbles are tougher to ride on, he often had to make up a gap. But he rode well enough on the actual cobbles. I don't see Evenepoel bike handling to be bad enough to create problems for strade Bianchi. I think Roubaix woukld be a different matter. Cause you can just see riders like Van der poel steal meters by riding on the smoother ditch whenever possible.

Now the biggest problem with my argument is Roglic. I don't see Roglic winning SB.
Having said all that. I don't see either Vingegaard or Evenepoel competing at SB any time soon. I'm just using them as examples in my argument that the race has changed. And that top climbers with stamina now hold the edge. And that i find that a bit of a shame in SB case since they seemed to have found the perfext mix where every type of rider could compete a couple of years ago. Whereas i would now put SB more in line with climber races.

 

[repre]

Has remco ever started SB?

My evidence he can win is his engine.

He has engine to win every race, but there is a reason he've never started hardest technical races

 

[Peyroteo94]

If you are a top TT'er like Vingegaard you have endurance. Plus he showed enough during stage races he has endurance. And whilst stage races are different from 1 day classics, the way some stage races are being ridden these days, i don't feel the need to speculate about Vingegaard endurance ability. Plus Vingegaard can get a bit mental if he sets his mind on stuff. Daring to take crazy risks to achieve his goal. I have no doubt Vingegaard at his near best (not his actual best) would have won yesterday if Pogacar was not there.

Same for Evenepoel. We know Evenepoel has endurance (long solo's). He might even be better suited to 1 day races than stage races. I don't recall to much dangerous descending at strade. And Evenepoel his descending is not as terrible as people make it out to be. Same for his bike handling. He looked just fine during last year gravel stage at the TDF safe for 1 moment. I remember him doing the Brabants Pijl a couple of years ago. And at that time he did not dare to ride on the ditch, afraid of clipping his pedals on the higher sidestones of the pavement. Forcing him to ride on the cobbles. And since cobbles are tougher to ride on, he often had to make up a gap. But he rode well enough on the actual cobbles. I don't see Evenepoel bike handling to be bad enough to create problems for strade Bianchi. I think Roubaix woukld be a different matter. Cause you can just see riders like Van der poel steal meters by riding on the smoother ditch whenever possible.

Now the biggest problem with my argument is Roglic. I don't see Roglic winning SB.
Having said all that. I don't see either Vingegaard or Evenepoel competing at SB any time soon. I'm just using them as examples in my argument that the race has changed. And that top climbers with stamina now hold the edge. And that i find that a bit of a shame in SB case since they seemed to have found the perfext mix where every type of rider could compete a couple of years ago. Whereas i would now put SB more in line with climber races.

Only 2 riders in the top10 are regular GT riders (for the GC). So this couldn't be more false.
When will people realize Pogacar is a big outlier?

 

[KoopaCycling]

He has engine to win every race, but there is a reason he've never started hardest technical races

The fact that Lefevre been wanting Remco at Flanders says enough imo when it comes down to his capacity of winning that race. Remco just has other goals. The only race Remco bike handling would be a problem for would be Roubaix imo.
But that is just my opinion. As he never raced Flanders or SB i can only make arguments.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Only 2 riders in the top10 are regular GT riders (for the GC). So this couldn't be more false.
When will people realize Pogacar is a big outlier?

I don't see him as an outlier. Well he's half an outlier in that he can do everything but pure sprints well. Something that can't be said for most other riders. But not an outlier in the argument that GC riders would not do well if they would decide to compete in the 1 day races that suit them. He is better than everyone. But a top 10 GC rider would also be a top 10 classics riders in the 1 day races that suit them.

There is a reason that Roglic was a favourite for years at the Walloon classics despite being mostly a stage racer.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The fact that Lefevre been wanting Remco at Flanders says enough imo when it comes down to his capacity of winning that race. Remco just has other goals. The only race Remco bike handling would be a problem for would be Roubaix imo.
But that is just my opinion. As he never raced Flanders or SB i can only make arguments.

You cannot be serious. You can be a fanboy but running away from evidence/facts is just preposterous.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don't see him as an outlier. Well he's half an outlier in that he can do everything but pure sprints well. Something that can't be said for most other riders. But not an outlier in the argument that GC riders would not do well if they would decide to compete in the 1 day races that suit them. He is better than everyone. But a top 10 GC rider would also be a top 10 classics riders in the 1 day races that suit them.

There is a reason that Roglic was a favourite for years at the Walloon classics despite being mostly a stage racer.

Okay, different opinions. I will never agree with you on this.

 

[Red Rick]

Has remco ever started SB?

My evidence he can win is his engine.

Can win or can win vs Pogacar?

Strade doesn't suit Evenepoel in the slightest.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Can win or can win vs Pogacar?

Strade doesn't suit Evenepoel in the slightest.

In Both scenarios he can't win

 

[KoopaCycling]

Okay, different opinions. I will never agree with you on this.

Very well. I just want to point out:

-Anquetil won LBL and Gent-Wevelgem
-Merckx was Merkx
-Van Impe had several top 10 finishes in 1 day classics
- Armstrong won Fleche Wallone and San Sebastian
- Thevenet became second in both LBL and Lombardia
- Fignon won San Remo and Fleche Wallone
-Stephen Roche was second in Amstel and LBL and finished tp 10 in other classics
- Lemond was secon in San Remo, third in LBL, 2nd in Lombardia and had top 10 finishes in oyther classics
- Indurain won San Sebastian and was top 10 in LBL and Fleche Wallone
-Riis won Amstel and finished top 10 in lombardia
-Ullrich won HEW and Giro del emillia
- Pantani finshed top 10 in Fleche and LBL
- Contador finished top 10 in LBL and Fleche
- Schleck won LBL
- Sastre top 10 in San Sebastian and Giro del emillia
- Wiggins top 10 in Roubaix
- Evans won Fleche and numerous top 10 finsishes in 1 day classics
- Zoetemelk won Amstel and Fleche
-Rominger won Lombardia, Giro del emillia, and had top 10 finishes
- Zulle finished 3rd in Fleche
- Nibali won Lombardia and San remo
-Roglic won LBL and Giro del emillia,
- Simon Yates finsihed top 10 in 1 day classics
- Evenepoel won LBL and San Sebastian
-Gimondi won San Remo Lombardy, Roubaix
-Garzelli 2nd in San Sebastian and LBL, top 10 in San remo and others
-Basso won Giro del emillia and several top 10 finishes other races.
- Di Luca won LBL, Amstel, Fleche Wallone, Lombardia
-Caraparaz top 10 in Lombardia and Fleche Wallone
-Bernal third in Strade Bianchi.

It's not a matter of capability, but of goals and desires.

 

[KoopaCycling]

You cannot be serious. You can be a fanboy but running away from evidence/facts is just preposterous.

Im dead serious. Flanders last couple of editions he can win Not against pogacar and VDP but he can beat everyone else there. Flanders parcours has changed. If you ask me can he Win Flanders that Boonen and Canncellara won, then the answer is most likely no. But this parcours... . He definitely has a shot with all that climbing.

 

[Netserk]

If you are a top TT'er like Vingegaard you have endurance. Plus he showed enough during stage races he has endurance. And whilst stage races are different from 1 day classics, the way some stage races are being ridden these days, i don't feel the need to speculate about Vingegaard endurance ability. Plus Vingegaard can get a bit mental if he sets his mind on stuff. Daring to take crazy risks to achieve his goal. I have no doubt Vingegaard at his near best (not his actual best) would have won yesterday if Pogacar was not there.

Same for Evenepoel. We know Evenepoel has endurance (long solo's). He might even be better suited to 1 day races than stage races. I don't recall to much dangerous descending at strade. And Evenepoel his descending is not as terrible as people make it out to be. Same for his bike handling. He looked just fine during last year gravel stage at the TDF safe for 1 moment. I remember him doing the Brabants Pijl a couple of years ago. And at that time he did not dare to ride on the ditch, afraid of clipping his pedals on the higher sidestones of the pavement. Forcing him to ride on the cobbles. And since cobbles are tougher to ride on, he often had to make up a gap. But he rode well enough on the actual cobbles. I don't see Evenepoel bike handling to be bad enough to create problems for strade Bianchi. I think Roubaix woukld be a different matter. Cause you can just see riders like Van der poel steal meters by riding on the smoother ditch whenever possible.

Now the biggest problem with my argument is Roglic. I don't see Roglic winning SB.
Having said all that. I don't see either Vingegaard or Evenepoel competing at SB any time soon. I'm just using them as examples in my argument that the race has changed. And that top climbers with stamina now hold the edge. And that i find that a bit of a shame in SB case since they seemed to have found the perfext mix where every type of rider could compete a couple of years ago. Whereas i would now put SB more in line with climber races.

Vingegaard is more likely to get injured than to top-5 Strade. He is not a good one-day racer, especially not mentally. His forte is sustained W/kg and he excels in controlled and simple races where his team can set him up.

 

[KoopaCycling]

Vingegaard is more likely to get injured than to top-5 Strade. He is not a good one-day racer, especially not mentally. His forte is sustained W/kg and he excels in controlled and simple races where his team can set him up.

If Visma builds a team around Vingegaard, preps him for SB, and he makes SB a goal the way some other riders did. I believe he has the physical capabilties of winning. Ofcourse the mental aspect is a different beast. Don't know if Vingegaard could mentally prep himself for SB. Make that a goal of his. Maybe the mental part i'm not taking into enough account. Cause in a sense it really is more about goals and desires than physical capability.

 

[Berniece]

In Both scenarios he can't win

lol, he definitely can

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Visma builds a team around Vingegaard, preps him for SB, and he makes SB a goal the way some other riders did. I believe he has the physical capabilties of winning. Ofcourse the mental aspect is a different beast. Don't know if Vingegaard could mentally prep himself for SB. Make that a goal of his. Maybe the mental part i'm not taking into enough account. Cause in a sense it really is more about goals and desires than physical capability.

I don't know a rider who said SB is his goal for the season.

 

[repre]

The fact that Lefevre been wanting Remco at Flanders says enough imo when it comes down to his capacity of winning that race. Remco just has other goals. The only race Remco bike handling would be a problem for would be Roubaix imo.
But that is just my opinion. As he never raced Flanders or SB i can only make arguments.

I've seen Remco on sterrato Giro stage)) Almeida left the team after his performance

 

[repre]

I don't know a rider who said SB is his goal for the season.

Quinn Simmons

 

[Red Rick]

It's magical thinking to me that a rider that can be top 2 on Cote de Pike while nosebreathing on stage 1 of the Tour couldn't possibly do well in a one day race.