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Milan San Remo

greasedscotsmangreasedscotsman Posts: 7,224
edited March 2012 in Pro race
OK, Paris Nice and Tirreno Adriatico out of the way, preparation is now done. So what's gonna happen on Saturday? Big sprint, sprint from a small group, lone attack on the Poggio or something else? Who's gonna be strong and who's been eating too many cakes and pies over the winter. Thoughts anyone?

Sits back and waits for everyone to say sprint won by Cavendish :wink:
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  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    Cav, sprint.

    Cancellara makes it all exciting for a brief, fleeting moment.

    Boonen comes in third, behind Freire.

    Goss is way out.

    S'good weather forecast too.
    _
  • greasedscotsmangreasedscotsman Posts: 7,224
    Is that a big bunch sprint then?

    Would love to see proper full out attack on the Poggio or even the Cipressa succeed. Maybe Cancellara is the only rider capable of doing so at the moment. Just don't think it will happen. Think it will come down to a sprint from a small group or 10-15 riders. Hopefully Boonen, Freire, maybe even Sagan. Just "anyone but Cavendish"
  • tremaynetremayne Posts: 378
    I think some of those who could possibly have the beating of the world champ (clearly not in a finish line sprint) just aren't in anywhere near the kind of form they could be and need to be.

    I see Cav, not sure if I see tears - but deffo Cav on the podium. He's put a lot into this, has certainly set his stall out, wants the win - and if nothing else, is a relatively bad loser!
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 24,520
    I will once again miss it. I've never seen this race live. Stupid Italians and their Saturday races.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • nana123nana123 Posts: 4
    I think some of those who could possibly have the beating of the world champ (clearly not in a finish line sprint) just aren't in anywhere near the kind of form they could be and need to be.dell.gif
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    nana123 wrote:
    I think some of those who could possibly have the beating of the world champ (clearly not in a finish line sprint) just aren't in anywhere near the kind of form they could be and need to be.dell.gif

    I think Boonen was right when he said you don't necessarily need to be 100% to win M-SR. A good sprint and classics talent will get you there with 90-95% form.
    _
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    I wonder what the odds are that Hoogerland puts an attack in on the Cipressa?
    _
  • greasedscotsmangreasedscotsman Posts: 7,224
    RichN95 wrote:
    I will once again miss it. I've never seen this race live. Stupid Italians and their Saturday races.

    My quest not to watch on a grainy internet coverage in Turkish that dies 5km from the finish on track. Sky card arrived last night, just need an engineer now! Maybe I should have ordered it a bit earlier...
    nana123 wrote:
    I think some of those who could possibly have the beating of the world champ (clearly not in a finish line sprint) just aren't in anywhere near the kind of form they could be and need to be.

    Such as? I can only think of Gilbert and maybe Hushovd at the moment.
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    I wonder what the odds are that Hoogerland puts an attack in on the Cipressa?

    As long as someone does!
  • takethehighroadtakethehighroad Posts: 5,785
    The point is there's only a select number of people, like Cancellara and Nibali, who can beat Cav by going long (i.e. coming over the top of the Poggio).

    The rest are happy to wait for a sprint in the hope he gets boxed in
    My Men 2020 - Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift, Fernando Gaviria, Alejandro Valverde, Edvald Boassen Hagen, Zdenek Stybar, Vincenzo Nibali, Geraint Thomas.
  • stfc1stfc1 Posts: 505
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    I wonder what the odds are that Hoogerland puts an attack in on the Cipressa?

    As long as someone does!

    Someone will, but they won't win the race.

    (And yes, I do have a couple of hats lying around I don't wear much, should one need eating come Saturday evening.)
  • greasedscotsmangreasedscotsman Posts: 7,224
    takethehighroad wrote:
    The point is there's only a select number of people, like Cancellara and Nibali, who can beat Cav by going long (i.e. coming over the top of the Poggio).

    Sure I understand that. But Nana123 suggested their were riders who were capable of doing this, but didn't have good form. Both Cancellara and Nibali have both won recently, so who, other than Gilbert, is capable of doing this, but isn't riding well?
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    takethehighroad wrote:
    The point is there's only a select number of people, like Cancellara and Nibali, who can beat Cav by going long (i.e. coming over the top of the Poggio).

    Sure I understand that. But Nana123 suggested their were riders who were capable of doing this, but didn't have good form. Both Cancellara and Nibali have both won recently, so who, other than Gilbert, is capable of doing this, but isn't riding well?

    Scarponi? ;).
    _
  • greasedscotsmangreasedscotsman Posts: 7,224
    edited March 2012
    Interesting how in each of these articles, each rider talks about multiple race options...

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancell ... e-san-remo
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hushovd ... nt-for-bmc
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali- ... n-san-remo

    So Radioshack have Cancellara for a Poggio attack and Bennati for the sprint, Liquigas have Nibali for the Poggio and Sagan for the sprint and BMC have Gilbert(?), Ballan and Van Avermaet(?) for the Poggio and Hushovd for the sprint. Can't help but think this isn't a great idea and that Sky probably have it right as I'm guessing the will ride completely for Cavendish.

    Or is the whole thing a bluff. Will Sky also say they have multiple options and say they are riding for EBH as well as Cavendish?
  • TheStoneTheStone Posts: 2,291
    Will be surprised if it's not a rather large sprint.

    Long breakaways won't win
    Only maybe Gilbert could attack and win from the Poggio and I don't think he's in great form.
    Top teams too aware of the chance to attack on the descent, that it shouldn't really happen.

    So leaves a sprint between those that can handle the high pace of the Poggio and get themselves in position for the sprint. So I'd look for a repeat win. Cav, Freire, Goss?
    exercise.png
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    TheStone wrote:
    Will be surprised if it's not a rather large sprint.

    Long breakaways won't win
    Only maybe Gilbert could attack and win from the Poggio and I don't think he's in great form.
    Top teams too aware of the chance to attack on the descent, that it shouldn't really happen.

    So leaves a sprint between those that can handle the high pace of the Poggio and get themselves in position for the sprint. So I'd look for a repeat win. Cav, Freire, Goss?

    Wouldn't rule out Boonen.
    _
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,641
    You never rule out Boonen :p
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • TheStoneTheStone Posts: 2,291
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Wouldn't rule out Boonen.

    Looking much better this year than the last few. He has a chance, but I'm really looking forward to him taking the fight to Cancellara in Flanders and Roubaix, which both look like being a two horse race like '10.

    Gilbert will come good for the Ardennes
    exercise.png
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    It's so obscenely long.

    300km!

    They do 200km, which is a longer TdF stage and then they have to do ANOTHER 100km?!

    They always look properly tired when the win. Always.
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 24,520
    The races of the 21st century teach us that winner of this race has a minimum of two wins already for the season., and usually three, four or five. (Pozzato is an exception). So anyone hoping for a victory for likes of Gilbert, Goss or Hushovd and others, don't hold your breath.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    Quick-Step team:

    Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel, Gerald Ciolek, Nikolas Maes, Jerome Pineau, Niki Terpstra, Stijn Vandenbergh, Peter Velits.

    No Devenyns after his Paris Nice crash.
    _
  • tailwindhometailwindhome Posts: 16,050
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    It's so obscenely long.

    300km!

    They do 200km, which is a longer TdF stage and then they have to do ANOTHER 100km?!

    They always look properly tired when the win. Always.


    Cav only does about 200m though.
    Believe that a farther shore
    Is reachable from here.
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  • alanp23alanp23 Posts: 696
    tailwindhome wrote:

    Cav only does about 200m though.


    I love the idea of Cav hiding in a sidestreet halfway down the Poggio and zipping out without anyone spotting him.. Would Bernie be there as well, keeping some sort of covering over him until the leaders appear?
    Top Ten finisher - PTP Tour of Britain 2016
  • DoobzDoobz Posts: 2,800
    Wiggins to Ride MSR?

    http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/MilanoS ... critti.pdf
    cartoon.jpg
  • iainf72iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Doobz wrote:
    Wiggins to Ride MSR?

    http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/MilanoS ... critti.pdf

    Nope. It'll be Mick Rogers.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • yourpaceormineyourpaceormine Posts: 1,245
    Get the feeling that Sky have set their stall out for this one - they probably have a powerpoint on it.

    So far this season Sky and Omega appear to be the teams to beat. Sky have the double edged sword of EBH and Cav. Favourite to win has to be one of those two riders. Unless of course the weather helps cause fractures in the peleton in that case could be anyone.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    Chavs out with bronchitus.

    Sh!tter.
    _
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,641
    Cav or chav? The frenchman or the poorly styled Manxman?!

    ;)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • DoobzDoobz Posts: 2,800
    ddraver wrote:
    Cav or chav? The frenchman or the poorly styled Manxman?!

    ;)

    The Frenchman!
    cartoon.jpg
  • LeicesterLadLeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    ddraver wrote:
    Cav or chav? The frenchman or the poorly styled Manxman?!

    ;)

    If Cav was out Rick would be having a party. :lol:
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,316 Lives Here
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    Cav or chav? The frenchman or the poorly styled Manxman?!

    ;)

    If Cav was out Rick would be having a party. :lol:

    Yeah.

    I really don't mind Cavendish. Untill he's on a bike or in a race.

    Can't help it. I get disappointed whenever he wins.
    _
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