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

[houtdffan]

I understand what you're saying. But in my mind the races were already nicely divided between Omloop to Roubaix and then Amstel till LBL. But then Flanders became more for climbers, and SB which seemed the one race which offered a perfext mix changed as well. It was nice seeing all those guys lineup against each other in the past, and all of them seemingly having equal chance to win it.

In time i'll enjoy it more, and view it as a nice grittier climbers race. I mean it remains a nice race. Atm i just liked it better before.

that is still far more races for the traditional large classics riders

The GC riders also have to keep a peak longer in the spring, from SB to LBL

 

[Peyroteo94]

I understand what you're saying. But in my mind the races were already nicely divided between Omloop to Roubaix and then Amstel till LBL. But then Flanders became more for climbers, and SB which seemed the one race which offered a perfext mix changed as well. It was nice seeing all those guys lineup against each other in the past, and all of them seemingly having equal chance to win it.

In time i'll enjoy it more, and view it as a nice grittier climbers race. I mean it remains a nice race. Atm i just liked it better before.

But tell me how many climbers are good in RVV (except the outlier of cycling - TP).

 

[Berniece]

But tell me how many climbers are good in RVV (except the outlier of cycling - TP).

Valverde rode it just once, immediately finished 8th

 

[kingjr]

Valverde rode it just once, immediately finished 8th

3rd or 4th the last time over the Paterberg!

 

[Peyroteo94]

In the last 10 years (2015-2024). We have Matteo in the top10 (9th) in 2023 RVV and Valverde got a 8th in 2019.
Just these 2 climbers in the top10 in the last 10 years! Once again, your opinion is just wrong based on real facts. There are much more relevant factors in RVV (and SB) than vertical meters.

 

[scribers]

He won SB three times and they had around 3000m.

I've reported the below portion for devastating information to Bruyneel's thesis.

 

[hayneplane]

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

I definitely think Remco has the capacity to win RVV just that he is in the wrong era to do so as against the likes of Terpstra/Kristoff etc who have won or had multiple podiums he absolutely would be favoured to ride away from them and win solo.

Against Pogacar and Van Der Poel I think he loses too much technically to beat them but can podium.

 

[Netserk]

I definitely think Remco has the capacity to win RVV just that he is in the wrong era to do so as against the likes of Terpstra/Kristoff etc who have won or had multiple podiums he absolutely would be favoured to ride away from them and win solo.

Endogenous. Evenepoel wouldn't have had the capacity back then.

 

[hayneplane]

Endogenous. Evenepoel wouldn't have had the capacity back then.

Hardly surprising considering that he would only have been 18 when Terpstra won.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I definitely think Remco has the capacity to win RVV just that he is in the wrong era to do so as against the likes of Terpstra/Kristoff etc who have won or had multiple podiums he absolutely would be favoured to ride away from them and win solo.

Against Pogacar and Van Der Poel I think he loses too much technically to beat them but can podium.

He doesn't even like cobbles. RVV is the race of his people, where he born and he still doesn't have any desire in racing it. He doesn't believe at all in his ability to win this race and I don't believe too, at least until he shows a better level on cobbles or gravel.

 

[Netserk]

Hardly surprising considering that he would only have been 18 when Terpstra won.

Evenepoel is a rider of his era. Many things have changed with regard to De Ronde over the years.

It's like saying that Berzin was in the wrong era to dominate the Tour.

 

[Berniece]

In the last 10 years (2015-2024). We have Matteo in the top10 (9th) in 2023 RVV and Valverde got a 8th in 2019.
Just these 2 climbers in the top10 in the last 10 years! Once again, your opinion is just wrong based on real facts. There are much more relevant factors in RVV (and SB) than vertical meters.

How many climbers participated?

 

[AmRacer]

How many climbers participated?

Why didn't climbers participate?

 

[Berniece]

Why didn't climbers participate?

Because the old profile wasn’t as interesting

 

[Bolder]

He doesn't even like cobbles. RVV is the race of his people, where he born and he still doesn't have any desire in racing it. He doesn't believe at all in his ability to win this race and I don't believe too, at least until he shows a better level on cobbles or gravel.

Unfortunately to be a well-rounded rider now you need to be at least not scared of gravel/cobbles.

I'd love to see Remco spend some time working on this part of his game. His ability to motor away from the field at the end of the race and go aero surely is an advantage at PR/RVV. Maybe he won't win PR but if he could stay out of trouble and feels fresh enough in the last 75k he could certainly be a wild card.

 

[tobydawq]

Has anybody asked Vegni about the broadcast starting time? It is so incredibly annoying that they only start when there are 30 riders left in the peloton and the peloton has already been blown to pieces. And it was so predictable. For a few years (maybe 2021 to 2023) the broadcast length was tolerable but after having moved Monte Sante Marie so far from the finish and not adjusted the coverage start accordingly, it just doesn't work. We also see less than a quarter of the gravel racing, I think. Just broadcast from the start. And then you can show only the final 100 kms of Sanremo. How they can't figure this out is beyond me.

 

[AmRacer]

Has anybody asked Vegni about the broadcast starting time? It is so incredibly annoying that they only start when there are 30 riders left in the peloton and the peloton has already been blown to pieces. And it was so predictable. For a few years (maybe 2021 to 2023) the broadcast length was tolerable but after having moved Monte Sante Marie so far from the finish and not adjusted the coverage start accordingly, it just doesn't work. We also see less than a quarter of the gravel racing, I think. Just broadcast from the start. And then you can show only the final 100 kms of Sanremo. How they can't figure this out is beyond me.

Must be something with status, or something.

 

[tobydawq]

Must be something with status, or something.

Yeah, but the same organisation has full-time coverage of all stages of the UAE Tour...

I guess it's because they need the women to finish first, but it should be possible for them to have two separate broadcasts.

 

[AmRacer]

Yeah, but the same organisation has full-time coverage of all stages of the UAE Tour...

I guess it's because they need the women to finish first, but it should be possible for them to have two separate broadcasts.

UAE = £€$

 

[awavey]

First world champ to win SB, I think.

If you ignore Lotte last year, I guess so 😉

 

[awavey]

It's (the not very popular on here) Adam Blythe. In the age of UHD, we can appreciate its full magnificence.

UHD can be quite scary 🤣

 

[awavey]

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?

Depends on the race, I'd love my local pub to show some of these races on the tv with a fine selection of beer, belgian preferably and cheese/meat nibbles. SB is maybe too soon in the season to get warmed up for, PR is about right, though I keep meaning to do the RVV stew & drinking game one year.

Instead, given we had one of our 8 days of yearly sunshine, I went for a 4hr bike ride, and caught up on the races later.