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

[Dazed and Confused]

Another predictable outcome. Sure Pidcock rode well, but did anyone seriously believe he had a chance? A mandatory congratulation to Pogi is in order as the tape gets erased.

 

[hayneplane]

For all those complaining about the new parcours at least 9 of the top 15 finishers this year are primarily classics riders and other than Pogacar only Landa and Bilbao have finished top 5 in a Grand Tour.

It only seems skewed because the best climber in the world is also the best all round classics rider.

 

[Pantani_lives]

What an exciting race! Full action for almost 100 km. Pogacar was lucky not to break anything in the crash. He was soon back on the bike and had enough left to win. Colle Pinzuto should become the "Settore Pogacar".

Pidcock was very strong also. If RCS has any sense they know who deserves that last wild card for the Giro.

Anyone in the top 10 has proven to be made of the right stuff. This remains one of the most enjoyable classics to watch.

 

[Netserk]

For all those complaining about the new parcours at least 9 of the top 15 finishers this year are primarily classics riders and other than Pogacar only Landa and Bilbao have finished top 5 in a Grand Tour.

It only seems skewed because the best climber in the world is also the best all round classics rider.

Compared with E3, Ronde, Brabantse, Amstel & Liège, Strade is most similar to Amstel. And closer to Liège than Ronde.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Ah, the irony of people who claim disinterest in a certain race yet take the time to come on a message board and inform everyone of their said disinterest.

I don't think those people have claimed to be (as) bored of the forum though.

I had planned to go for a walk in case the race was decided early, which I did on the last stage in UAE, but since it wasn't, I postponed it to the evening instead. I did miss the sunshine, but you win some and you lose some.

 

[scribers]

For all those complaining about the new parcours at least 9 of the top 15 finishers this year are primarily classics riders and other than Pogacar only Landa and Bilbao have finished top 5 in a Grand Tour.

It only seems skewed because the best climber in the world is also the best all round classics rider.

Adding to this, the fact none of the top 10 come in as a group point to exciting through selection and attrition. This happened last year as well.

 

[KoopaCycling]

This year we had Cort in top 10, last year Laporte finished in the top 10. Wellens and Vermeersch, not quite climbers either, finished in the top 10 this year as well, and last year non-climbers Cosnefroy and Mohoric finished up in the top 10. As I said before the race, I don't really think the route change matter much. There's not really any difference in who finished in the top 10 on the old route compared to the new one.

Nah, it has a big impact. For instance Boonen would have a hard time winning Flanders in its current form, whereas he was top favourite on the previous parcours. Before puncheurs with stamina would be as big a favourite to win strade bianchi. Now, even if you replace Pogacar with Evenepoel and Vingegaard. Odds are they win it.

I like the clasica san Sebastian, and i'm not saying riders like Van der Poel and WVA can't win that race, but I would give the odds to Adam yates, Pello Bilbao, Pidcock over them any day of the week cause it's more suited to climbers.

Same has happened to strade. WVA, Van der poel , allaphilipe can still win it, and ride a good result but the odds are no longer equal, they are in the favour of climbers. And i think it's a shame cause unlike certain one day classics that have always been more suited to climbers and some more to rouleurs, strade bianchi in particular seemed to be the perfect mix where all kinds of riders could start with equal chances when in top form.

Now climbers hold the advantage. And whilst rouleurs and puncheurs can still win/ride good results it ain't the same anymore.

 

[hayneplane]

Compared with E3, Ronde, Brabantse, Amstel & Liège, Strade is most similar to Amstel. And closer to Liège than Ronde.

I don’t see any problem with that. The hilly classics are just as valid as their cobbled cousins.

There is no way you could convince me that peak WVA and MVDP don’t at least beat Wellens to contest the podium.

 

[hayneplane]

Adding to this, the fact none of the top 10 come in as a group point to exciting through selection and attrition. This happened last year as well.

You have to go as far down as 12th at over 5 and a half minutes for the first non- lone rider crossing the line.

There is a strong argument that it is a tougher race than Paris-Roubaix given how bedraggled the field comes in all the way through and that it has over 38% of non-asphalt roads compared to just over 20% in Paris Roubaix.

 

[Netserk]

I don’t see any problem with that. The hilly classics are just as valid as their cobbled cousins.

There is no way you could convince me that peak WVA and MVDP don’t at least beat Wellens to contest the podium.

Mountain one-day races are also "as valid" as flat or hilly one-day races. Yet you can still decry that a race changes (somewhat) from one to another.

And I don't think MvdP in the shape he has now could beat Wellens (the better climber) today.

 

[AupaPyama]

Loved Mikel Landa right after the finish line

 

[hayneplane]

Nah, it has a big impact. For instance Boonen would have a hard time winning Flanders in its current form, whereas he was top favourite on the previous parcours. Before puncheurs with stamina would be as big a favourite to win strade bianchi. Now, even if you replace Pogacar with Evenepoel and Vingegaard. Odds are they win it.

I like the clasica san Sebastian, and i'm not saying riders like Van der Poel and WVA can't win that race, but I would give the odds to Adam yates, Pello Bilbao, Pidcock over them any day of the week cause it's more suited to climbers.

Same has happened to strade. WVA, Van der poel , allaphilipe can still win it, and ride a good result but the odds are no longer equal, they are in the favour of climbers. And i think it's a shame cause unlike certain one day classics that have always been more suited to climbers and some more to rouleurs, strade bianchi in particular seemed to be the perfect mix where all kinds of riders could start with equal chances when in top form.

Now climbers hold the advantage. And whilst rouleurs and puncheurs can still win/ride good results it ain't the same anymore.

Cancellara was still a beast on the Paterberg. That just tells me that Boonen was somewhat overrated and benefited from a weak era outside of Cancellara.

 

[Rule #9 apostle]

You have to go as far down as 12th at over 5 and a half minutes for the first non- lone rider crossing the line.

There is a strong argument that it is a tougher race than Paris-Roubaix given how bedraggled the field comes in all the way through and that it has over 38% of non-asphalt roads compared to just over 20% in Paris Roubaix.

The non- group thing is probably bcs the last muro creates gaps

 

[hayneplane]

The non- group thing is probably bcs the last muro creates gaps

Certainly a factor as you just have to go at your coping pace with whatever reserves you have left in the legs.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Nah, it has a big impact. For instance Boonen would have a hard time winning Flanders in its current form, whereas he was top favourite on the previous parcours. Before puncheurs with stamina would be as big a favourite to win strade bianchi. Now, even if you replace Pogacar with Evenepoel and Vingegaard. Odds are they win it.

I like the clasica san Sebastian, and i'm not saying riders like Van der Poel and WVA can't win that race, but I would give the odds to Adam yates, Pello Bilbao, Pidcock over them any day of the week cause it's more suited to climbers.

Same has happened to strade. WVA, Van der poel , allaphilipe can still win it, and ride a good result but the odds are no longer equal, they are in the favour of climbers. And i think it's a shame cause unlike certain one day classics that have always been more suited to climbers and some more to rouleurs, strade bianchi in particular seemed to be the perfect mix where all kinds of riders could start with equal chances when in top form.

Now climbers hold the advantage. And whilst rouleurs and puncheurs can still win/ride good results it ain't the same anymore.

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

 

[AmRacer]

To us who follow cycling on the other side of he world its just complaining like a spoiled child. Do people in Europe sit in front of a TV for 5 hours watching these races drinking beer?

Some drinking beer, others don't.

 

[Salvarani]

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

And MVDP has a bigger place in history than any of those two anyway

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Sat in the sun and enjoyed some good food, rather than watching this probable nonsense of a race. What a great decision! Can recommend.

I sat in an airport enjoying some awful coffee and watched snippets of the race on a dodgy Livestream with bad internet, missed all the attacks. What a great decision! Can recommend

 

[Berniece]

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

 

[Salvarani]

Olympics in cycling is like winning Le Samyn 😂

 

[Peyroteo94]

What this has to do with SB?

 

[Valv.Piti]

For all those complaining about the new parcours at least 9 of the top 15 finishers this year are primarily classics riders and other than Pogacar only Landa and Bilbao have finished top 5 in a Grand Tour.

It only seems skewed because the best climber in the world is also the best all round classics rider.

Influencers and experts dont like hard and long races. They push an agenda, and Im so *** over it.

They can *** off, thats what they can do.

Add 30 km more please.

 

[Netserk]

Influencers and experts dont like hard and long races. They push an agenda, and Im so *** over it.

They can *** off, thats what they can do.

Add 30 km more please.

If you also move it to a suitable spot in the calendar. Like the week after San Sebastian or the week after Worlds.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I could see it make sense the week after Worlds and one week before Lombardia. Then you can go 250 and make it a monument and have a great block in the Autumn

 

[Netserk]

I could see it make sense the week after Worlds and one week before Lombardia. Then you can go 250 and make it a monument and have a great block in the Autumn

It would still be no closer to a monument than Amstel is.