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

[Samu Cuenca]

Unlike some others, Carapaz is not afraid to take on Pog

Not afraid of Pogacar: Richard Carapaz aims to gain in Strade Bianche with ‘great legs’

Niet bang voor Pogacar: Richard Carapaz mikt met 'geweldige benen' op winst in Strade Bianche

Het staat in de sterren geschreven dat Tadej Pogačar zaterdag voor een derde keer Strade Bianche wint. De wereldkampioen lijkt niet te kunnen verliezen, maar Richard Carapaz legt zich niet bij voorbaat neer bij de overmacht van de Sloveen. De Ecuadoraan steekt zijn ambities voor de klassieker...

www.wielerflits.nl

Carapaz holding on for five seconds before exploding incoming. Never change a losing tactic, Richard.

 

[Keldergoat]

They are desperate for some manufactured monument status only absolute melonheads care about, and thus have made the race significantly harder and longer, thus absurdly killing the extreme variety the race had before. They had this niche no other race on the planet can produce, saw a podium of a relative heavyweight (Van der Poel), a prime puncheur (Alaphilippe) and a Tour winner (Bernal) and thought to themselves 'Nah, we don't want that. Let's make it boring and one dimensional instead'. They succeeded in their quest.

I was looking for a rational explanation on why the race has become less, and not more exciting the last couple of years and I think you nailed it there. Last couple of editions were just underwhelming (Mens, Womens were awesome).

 

[tobydawq]

I also don't think they should have changed the route but let's not pretend that 2021 is a reasonable benchmark.

It was the perfect race with the cast, the form of the main contenders and the race development. The edition of Tirreno the same week was also the best one-week stage race of the decade. You can't expect that to be replicated.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The other part of the problem is that ASO threw a tantrum after 2021 because all the big names went to Strade and Tirreno leaving a terrible field for Paris-Nice, which resulted in the start of Tirreno being moved to the Monday and therefore the combination with Strade becoming less attractive.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

I also don't think they should have changed the route but let's not pretend that 2021 is a reasonable benchmark.

It was the perfect race with the cast, the form of the main contenders and the race development. The edition of Tirreno the same week was also the best one-week stage race of the decade. You can't expect that to be replicated.

Correct, it is not the benchmark, but it is what this race should strive for. What they should be doing is give the largest plethora of the best riders the best possible chance to compete. The route as previously designed gave us just that: the biggest possible chance.

Hypothetically, we could have had a duel this weekend with Van der Poel in the party. The new route, however, has completely eliminated any chance of that happening, to a point where it's just useless for Van der Poel to appear at the start. That, by default, makes this race do a complete 180 and make it, well, crap.

 

[Coffeeplanter]

That being said, I, as I proudly announced, will not watch, but I will keep an eye on Albert in the results. If he has recovered from his XCO crash, perhaps riding a finale is possible.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Carapaz holding on for five seconds before exploding incoming. Never change a losing tactic, Richard.

Can’t teach an old(er) bicyclist new tricks.

 

[Netserk]

This race was perfection around 2015-2019. It's gone to *** since

Up to 2021 as well. Back when Tirreno started Wednesday.

Then in 2022 RCS made a mess of their calendar, and the ugly loop last year only further worsened it.

 

[Lequack]

Recon pics

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897620177954492653

View: https://x.com/RenaudB31/status/1897620177954492653

 

[Krzysztof_O]

In the previous, shortened version of the race MVP would likely be a worthy rival (if he took part OFC) but in the current format and without MVP it's just racing for the 2nd place. Will there be another "WTF" by Pidcock?

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1897729173692551272

View: https://x.com/StradeBianche/status/1897729173692551272

 

[Cookster15]

In the previous, shortened version of the race MVP would likely be a worthy rival (if he took part OFC) but in the current format and without MVP it's just racing for the 2nd place. Will there be another "WTF" by Pidcock?

Pidcock seems in good form so far this year for Q36.5. Not sure he can win but hope he has a strong race.

The race is now 215km compared to 184. About 40 minutes extra racing for these guys. I think claims the race was ruined by making it 30km longer are exaggerated.

 

[Lequack]

If anything Milano SanRemo is too long, unnecessarily.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I believe in pro bike racers. I think riders believe that they can beat Pogacar or they wouldn't show up!! The only essence that believes that race is over, won by Pogacar is the internet, he doesn't believe it or say it, but sock puppets have him winning without racing

Bettiol doesn't agree with you

 

[Netserk]

If anything Milano SanRemo is too long, unnecessarily.

It's too short, no longer starting in Milano.

 

[Brullnux]

If anything Milano SanRemo is too long, unnecessarily.

The length is the defining factor, though. Also means that Cipressa + Poggio just about hard enough to make a selection

 

[Gigs_98]

Lmao people are actually blaming the route for last year being boring

 

[Lequack]

The length is the defining factor, though. Also means that Cipressa + Poggio just about hard enough to make a selection

When you have the caliber of pro riders, length of a flat stage doesn't play an relevance on the outcome of the race, they will just get bored for longer while saving energy in the peloton.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Only true cycling arhats who know that the scenery is the most important of the sport understand the first 250k of San-Remo, especially the wonderful costal portion. Down with absurd circuits. This is not Nascar.

 

[Netserk]

When you have the caliber of pro riders, length of a flat stage doesn't play an relevance on the outcome of the race, they will just get bored for longer while saving energy in the peloton.

We can make the race 500 km then.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Bettiol knows what he is talking.

"Only Isaac del Toro could follow, the rest were minutes behind" - Tadej Pogacar reportedly blows everyone away during Strade Bianche recon

There is little doubt about who starts Strade Bianche this Saturday as the pre-race favourite. World champion Tadej Pogacar has already asserted his dominance on the Tuscan gravel twice in his career,...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[repre]

Surprised van Gils wasn't selected. Is there a reason for this?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Surprised van Gils wasn't selected. Is there a reason for this?

Illness

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Lmao people are actually blaming the route for last year being boring

Yeah, they're making it too hard.
Less and less puncheurs are going to show up in the future and it's slowly going to turn in a little more exciting version of Lombardia

 

[Lequack]

He's coming, and he has tufts