What tactic does Cancellara use now?

[El Pistolero]

So you agree on Rast and Roulston?
Bennati was next to Cancellara, when they hit the poggio.

Rast and Roulston will be dropped before the finale. They're an improvement over last year, but it's not going to make much difference I'm afraid.

 

[Marco Pantani]

Rast and Roulston will be dropped before the finale. They're an improvement over last year, but it's not going to make much difference I'm afraid.

We'll know in a few weeks time.

 

[hatcher]

If there are riders sitting on his wheel he needs to sit up. Just one time.

 

[Sciatic]

It's our loss if he does anything different.

If he sits up/doesn't attack, well he couldn't drop a smaller group post-Poggio last year, so why would it be different this time around. Alternatively he can sit on and sprint for 3rd or 4th, he maybe even becomes Bennati's teammate. People would rather he complains about those following him, like P-R last year?

Agreed. I especially don't get folks criticizing Canc's tactics at the top of the Poggio: he went all in after Nibs and only one guy managed to follow. And he came a hairs breath from dropping Gerrans in a couple of the downhill turns, a few more meters and he could have been gone. Didn't work, but seems like a pretty good risk to take.

Likewise, Gerrans deserves much credit for being strong enough to be well positioned on the climb. If he was 2 wheel lengths farther back, don't think he would have gotten to Canc.

 

[Benotti69]

Agreed. I especially don't get folks criticizing Canc's tactics at the top of the Poggio: he went all in after Nibs and only one guy managed to follow. And he came a hairs breath from dropping Gerrans in a couple of the downhill turns, a few more meters and he could have been gone. Didn't work, but seems like a pretty good risk to take.

Likewise, Gerrans deserves much credit for being strong enough to be well positioned on the climb. If he was 2 wheel lengths farther back, don't think he would have gotten to Canc.

Gerrans followed Nibali. Canc came up to them after Gerrans.

 

[taiwan]

I'm not so sure he looks stupid. Today is a very different race to The Ronde and Roubaix. Let's see how the races and results look on the 8th April.

Yeah this.

 

[Sciatic]

Gerrans followed Nibali. Canc came up to them after Gerrans.

Good point , I remember that now. however, it was still Gerrans good positioning and ability to follow an attack late in race that got him into the trio. And if he hadn't managed to do it, then I believe Canc would have won. No matter now though, it was great entertainment and I'm really glad I saw it.

 

[thehog]

If there are riders sitting on his wheel he needs to sit up. Just one time.

He tried that at Flanders last year. All it achieves is everyone else sits up with him.

 

[Polish]

Gerrans followed Nibali. Canc came up to them after Gerrans.

That is such a good point Benotti69.

Gerrans was THE smartest today.
AND the strongest when it mattered at mile 187.

He was probably the happiest too, waiting for Fabian to pull off to let him take a pull. But Fabian did not pull off. Thank you Fabian. But Gerrans would have won even if he did take a pull IMO. Great Ride!

 

[Benotti69]

Cancellara could also do a Vino and buy the win off those in his breakaway

 

[ChrisE]

To those of you saying "wait until Flanders and PR", check out last years results and tactics. For those of you saying "there's nowhere to attack after the Poggio" check out his tactic in 2008.

Canc has a problem, and his ego seems to be one of them.

 

[thehog]

To those of you saying "wait until Flanders and PR", check out last years results and tactics. For those of you saying "there's nowhere to attack after the Poggio" check out his tactic in 2008.

Canc has a problem, and his ego seems to be one of them.

Agreed. Being the strongest doesn't win the race. Being there smartest will generally get you there even if you're not the strongest.

He reminds me a little of Ullrich in the sense of tactics. Ullrich only ever had one form of attack and that was the power ride attack. Canc is the same. It looks mighty impressive when he goes but everyone will just follow. Its not hard to work out what he is about to do.

One other tactic he might try to deploy is 3-4 short attacks then the big one. Soften up the followers.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Remember Gerrans said Cancellara followed him and Nibs up the climb...

 

[thehog]

Remember Gerrans said Cancellara followed him and Nibs up the climb...

Yes but then Cancellara went to the front and did all the work!

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Fab just wasn't fab enough at the bottom of the last descent - he almost got away from Nibs & Gerrans but he wasn't strong enough - he needs to work on that:

1) get even stronger so he does pull away next time (actually using his team to conserve himself better, perhaps)

2) accept that he ain't always strong enough and find ways not to pull dumbly at the front - sandbag ... I don't think he know how to do that.

In the end I think he just loves to be part of the action in such a classic that he doesn't mind looking "stupid" - which is great for us all.

 

[virandociclista]

Cancellara need to attack and break the guys in his rear wheel doing change of pace.

It is easy to follow a wheel in a constant pace.

He need to push hard then keep the pace.. then another surge.. until him or his rivals break.

or he may be happy with so much podiums.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Yes but then Cancellara went to the front and did all the work!

So did he 'suck wheel' to get up the climb and let gerrans do all the work then??
I wanted Cancellara to win but his finishing tactics could have been played smarter.

 

[Anonymous]

To those of you saying "wait until Flanders and PR", check out last years results and tactics. For those of you saying "there's nowhere to attack after the Poggio" check out his tactic in 2008.

Canc has a problem, and his ego seems to be one of them.

In today's MSR he clearly should have waited to crush Boonen, Sagan, Goss and the other in the field sprint. Effing brilliant analysis

 

[burning]

I think he shouldnt be "consistent" with his attacks, he should slow down a bit then accelerate again instead of riding like a TT

 

[ChrisE]

In today's MSR he clearly should have waited to crush Boonen, Sagan, Goss and the other in the field sprint. Effing brilliant analysis

Hi troll.

I see you are stalking me in the racing section now, deliberately misinterpreting my posts to throw spitballs from the peanut gallery. Why don't you bump your clown act up a few notches and try to not be so blantant with your seemingly lack of reading skills. Thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi troll.

I see you are stalking me in the racing section now, deliberately misinterpreting my posts to throw spitballs from the peanut gallery. Why don't you bump your clown act up a few notches and try to not be so blantant with your seemingly lack of reading skills. Thanks.

Stop whining.

I Call 'em like I see 'em Fred.

 

[Anonymous]

So did he 'suck wheel' to get up the climb and let gerrans do all the work then??
I wanted Cancellara to win but his finishing tactics could have been played smarter.

Not much he could do at the end. It was pretty obvious Gerrans and Nibali wouldn't work. 300k, everybody is gassed. Group is 7 seconds back coming at full gas.

If Canc made a mistake it was not going sooner on the Poggio. That and he may have thought he could drop his companions on the descent, which he nearly did.

 

[Froome19]

He hasnt got much choice, todays riders are much more conservative and there really isnt much he can do.
Thus he may just have to realise that there is nothing else he can do and give up on MSR etc. In Flanders and Roubaix though he is strong enough that he can make the race hard enough so that he will be able to drop everyone and hopefully solo to the finish as he showed he could do in P-R last year. The only caveat is that he need a strong team for this (which is why he didnt win roubaix last year), his team looked reasonably strong today especially Bennatti so we may see something like this materialising effectively for Canc otherwise he doesnt have much besides riding hard as the riders behind are in most cases faster than him in a sprint.
I think that in the classics its all about patience if he can wait in Roubaix and Flanders towards the end whilst his/other teams make it hard then he can effectively attack as he found out in Roubaix where he only managed to get away from Hushovd and co. close to the end. Thefore MSR races etc. are too easy and that tactic wont work

 

[ChrisE]

Stop whining.

I Call 'em like I see 'em Fred.

LOL Fred. This from somebody that has probably ridden a couple of century rides and maybe has a donut loop with his fat buddies on Saturday morning.

OK, you win. FC should just pull others to the line in every race. The only other choice is to sprint sit in and sprint. Got it.

Your hatred for me makes you appear more stupid than you actually are. Keep up the good work, clown.

 

[Anonymous]

LOL Fred. This from somebody that has probably ridden a couple of century rides and maybe has a donut loop with his fat buddies on Saturday morning.

OK, you win. FC should just pull others to the line in every race. The only other choice is to sprint sit in and sprint. Got it.

Your hatred for me makes you appear more stupid than you actually are. Keep up the good work, clown.

Still whining? Need a little cry? It's ok.

Ive been racing my bike a few decades now. Thanks.

Like I said, today's race he clearly should have waited for the field sprint. lol.

Any other brilliance the forum should know about today's race?