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

[Moose McKnuckles]

When I finally see this thread pop up because it's Strade Bianche week:

 

[zlev11]

i was excited for strade but then i saw pogacar is starting so now im not

 

[Lequack]

i was excited for strade but then i saw pogacar is starting so now im not

Are you Wout or MVDP?

 

[zlev11]

Are you Wout or MVDP?

no im just not very excited to watch the race be over with 65k left

 

[AmRacer]

no im just not very excited to watch the race be over with 65k left

I can tell Pogi to attack with 40km left, would that be okay?

 

[zlev11]

I can tell Pogi to attack with 40km left, would that be okay?

tell him to wait until the last sterrato section, he will still win easily with how bad the rest of the startlist is

 

[ashhutch1997]

I'll watch until pogačar attacks, then I'll get on with my day.

 

[AmRacer]

I'll watch until pogačar attacks, then I'll get on with my day.

Like last year when we almost missed the attack.

 

[Lequack]

I'll watch until pogačar attacks, then I'll get on with my day.

Pog:

 

[E_F_]

I'll watch until pogačar attacks, then I'll get on with my day.

So you won't watch..?!

I for one don't care to.

 

[hayneplane]

Always a fabulous race. This new course looks even harder with even the second sector of sterrato providing the opportunity to brutalise the field already.

The section from 60km to 140km looks fantastic but sadly we won’t see much of it on TV.

Outside of the obvious Pogacar show I am looking forward to seeing how a very good Lidl Trek team attack the race with Simmons who is always strong here and in form riders like Vacek and Bagioli along with the professional debut on European roads of Albert Withen Philipsen in a race suited to his characteristics.

Hoping we see a strong break or very early moves at over 100km out from strong riders like Healy/Gregoire/Mohoric to preempt the Pog launch.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Always a fabulous race. This new course looks even harder with even the second sector of sterrato providing the opportunity to brutalise the field already.

The section from 60km to 140km looks fantastic but sadly we won’t see much of it on TV.

Outside of the obvious Pogacar show I am looking forward to seeing how a very good Lidl Trek team attack the race with Simmons who is always strong here and in form riders like Vacek and Bagioli along with the professional debut on European roads of Albert Withen Philipsen in a race suited to his characteristics.

Hoping we see a strong break or very early moves at over 100km out from strong riders like Healy/Gregoire/Mohoric to preempt the Pog launch.

Unfortunately UAE is too strong. It is such a pity to see Pogacar with a good team.

 

[hayneplane]

Unfortunately UAE is too strong. It is such a pity to see Pogacar with a good team.

They do have a well balanced team for this race but arguably beyond the number one leader position Lidl Trek have a stronger lineup here.

 

[Peyroteo94]

They do have a well balanced team for this race but arguably beyond the number one leader position Lidl Trek have a stronger lineup here.

It is hard to do anything against Wellens, Novak, Del Toro, Vermeersch. These at least are too good to be dropped.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The best non-monument race, which should by now be a monument

Every hipsters favourite week of the year has come back round again

 

[Tim Cahill]

Should be stripped of its WT status until the organisers are forced to delete the nugatory 30km from the race.

UCI should also come out with a statement banning the race from ever having 'monument' status to save us having to listen to asinine debates and deter future organisers from trying to force the issue by making ridiculous and dishonourable parcours alterations.

Who looks at races like this and thinks I know lets start tinkering.

 

[tobydawq]

Every hipsters favourite week of the year has come back round again

Look, the hipster MO is to deny that Strade has any appeal.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Oh $hit. So a easy win for Pogacar. At least they will race in dry conditions and gaps won't be that big

If even some Pogi fans want MVP in the race to at least have some suspence and maybe rivalry then you know that the tyranny is real!

 

[hayneplane]

If even some Pogi fans want MVP in the race to at least have some suspence and maybe rivalry then you know that the tyranny is real!

Any real fan of cycling wants to see the very best face each other frequently and for this race that means MVDP against Pogacar.

If all that matters to you is your favourite rider winning then you are a fan of that rider not a fan of the sport.

 

[Gigs_98]

Unfortunately I agree with those saying Pogacars attendance is making this significantly less interesting, even if MvdP is there. I just don't think he stands much of a chance against Pogacar on a parcours as hard as this.

 

[Offline]

Unfortunately I agree with those saying Pogacars attendance is making this significantly less interesting, even if MvdP is there. I just don't think he stands much of a chance against Pogacar on a parcours as hard as this.

Well can Strade can only be better than the opening weekend…

 

[Pozzovivo]

Instead of complaining about the likely Pogacar dominance, what about asking Plugge why the hell they select their dev team to do one of the biggest one day's on the calender? Jorgenson would be 3rd favorite for this. Wout should go and Vingegaard should go obviously. I kinda think Rabobank is doing this just so that the argument for One cycling where the "best will compete against each other more often " to make more sense. The best could be facing each other very often if guys like Plugge and Roodhoft made their biggest stars do the biggest races. Absolute joke that MVDP skips Omloop but does Le samewhatever race. Disgrace.

 

[Berniece]

Jesus Christ, there are people already whining about a Pogacar's win.

Who, and where? In this thread no one was whining about Pogacar winning before you made that comment.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Who, and where? In this thread no one was whining about Pogacar winning before you made that comment.

Yes there were. Read @ashhutch1997 and @zlev11 posts

 

[Berniece]

Yes there were. Read @ashhutch1997 and @zlev11 posts

Were they deleted?