MSR 2014 Route

Art Vandelay

Potentially good news:
http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?pa ... 65344&tp=n
Pompeiana may not be in MSR after all.

rick_chasey

good news indeed.

Yellow Peril

safety prevails thank goodness. Can't help thinking that they are cutting it fine if they haven't sorted the route yet.

Crampeur

Maybe they were having second thoughts anyway?

FJS

A bit late - a lot of sprinters will already have adapted their training programs

Crampeur

Could make it quite an interesting race then...

smokey_bacon

Good news, Degenkolb for the win!

Richmond Racer

Confirmed - Pompeiana out, back to the old route

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... emo-115090

TheBigBean

So is Cavendish still too fat / out of form?

Lanterne_Rogue

TheBigBean wrote:

So is Cavendish still too fat / out of form?

Judging by the lack of interviews telling everyone that he's too fat and out of form, Cavendish probably doesn't fancy it this year (the rough rule of thumb is that the more he denies it, the more it's a target). If he suddenly starts talking about how he isn't a favourite and he's useless over the hills then you'll know he's changed his plans again, but originally I think he was planning to skip it this year due to the Pompeiana.

FJS

Or the other way round, Gilbert had made San Remo his first main target. Now it's much less suited to someone like him.

Art Vandelay

So, if Pompeiana is out, who does Lefévère put the team behind? Although there's Stybar, Meersman and Kwiatkowski you'd have to go with either:

.......................'03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13
Tom Boonen:.......78 75 8 4 3 29 15 2 28 22 DNF
Mark Cavendish:..........................................1 89 52 WD 9

Richmond Racer

Art Vandelay wrote:

So, if Pompeiana is out, who does Lefévère put the team behind? Although there's Stybar, Meersman and Kwiatkowski you'd have to go with either:

.......................'03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13
Tom Boonen:.......78 75 8 4 3 29 15 2 28 22 DNF
Mark Cavendish:..........................................1 89 52 WD 9

Truth? I'd back Boonen

Cav's season has started slowly as MSR had been out of the question + he'd ruled out G-W, and his goals are all geared towards the Tour.

In contrast, Boonen is flying

Art Vandelay

I agree. Definitely a trophy missing in Tom's cupboard. Meersman, Petacchi and Martin are confirmed so far according to PCS. I'm fairly sure Boonen is scheduled too. Some team.

rick_chasey

Why back either or? Both Tom and Mark need a bunch finish to win.

If Cav is present for the bunch sprint, Tom can help Cav, if Cav isn't, back Tom.
The team still needs to keep it together whatever .

Art Vandelay

Rick Chasey wrote:

Why back either or? Both Tom and Mark need a bunch finish to win.

If Cav is present for the bunch sprint, Tom can help Cav, if Cav isn't, back Tom.
The team still needs to keep it together whatever .

C'mon - you can't put the whole team behind a Boonen OR Cav finish - completely different scenarios. Did they not hedge their bets in 2012? Result - 1st Quick Step rider finished in 22nd.

rick_chasey

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Paulie W

I'm trying to work out from the reports whether the route was ever viable or whether recent weather has ruled it out. Some of the reporting seems to suggest that the road and associated guard rails have long been an issue but that the conditions have worsened in the last couple of months.

Art Vandelay

Rick Chasey wrote:

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Won't work like that. At what point does the team abandon Cav if he's struggling on the Poggio and then simply rejoin to help Boonen? And if it's a mass bunch finish without Cav I wouldn't fancy Boonen's chances.

Richmond Racer

Art Vandelay wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Won't work like that. At what point does the team abandon Cav if he's struggling on the Poggio and then simply rejoin to help Boonen? And if it's a mass bunch finish without Cav I wouldn't fancy Boonen's chances.

Or much earlier on - Le Manie - where he has previous for struggling when the hammer's gone down

above_the_cows

To be fair though Boonen is probably much more capable of fending for himself on the climbs than Cav is, however, I don't see them being able to support two front men, or at least two such prominent front men that everyone else will know are the ones to watch, if that makes sense. Neither Cav or Boonen can ride under the radar.

Edit - anyway I really doubt Cavendish will be riding his prep has been for later in the season.

rick_chasey

Richmond Racer wrote:

Art Vandelay wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Won't work like that. At what point does the team abandon Cav if he's struggling on the Poggio and then simply rejoin to help Boonen? And if it's a mass bunch finish without Cav I wouldn't fancy Boonen's chances.

Or much earlier on - Le Manie - where he has previous for struggling when the hammer's gone down

I'd back Boonen in a sprint after 300km tbh.

Similarly, Cav will know if he's feeling good or not. He can make the call himself for the team. Worst you lose is him and maybe one other.

philbar72

Boonen looks fresh, and has a couple of sprint wins and good places in recent races. his form is good.
Cav looks like he's using everything as training, or doesn't seem that bothered ( which is a little odd).

Richmond Racer

Boonen: 'Milan-San Remo is not a small course and, a week in advance, it picks who are in shape'

Right on, Tommeke

tailwindhome

the Inner Ring ‏@inrng · 8m
Pompeiana road closure in Milan-Sanremo is turning into a dispute between two towns over who has to fix the road

Abdoujaparov

Looks like we'll either have the classic route (without La Manie) or the Pompeiana will be in. I'd definitely prefer the latter. The classic route would be a snooze-fest till the Poggio and probably end in a bunch sprint.

Yellow Peril

Rick Chasey wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Art Vandelay wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Won't work like that. At what point does the team abandon Cav if he's struggling on the Poggio and then simply rejoin to help Boonen? And if it's a mass bunch finish without Cav I wouldn't fancy Boonen's chances.

Or much earlier on - Le Manie - where he has previous for struggling when the hammer's gone down

I'd back Boonen in a sprint after 300km tbh.

Similarly, Cav will know if he's feeling good or not. He can make the call himself for the team. Worst you lose is him and maybe one other.

Agreed. My money is on Boonen at present.

rick_chasey

Yellow Peril wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Art Vandelay wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

All they need to do is keep it together. Whichever is the second of the two to drop out of the peloton (if that happens) gets backed.

Won't work like that. At what point does the team abandon Cav if he's struggling on the Poggio and then simply rejoin to help Boonen? And if it's a mass bunch finish without Cav I wouldn't fancy Boonen's chances.

Or much earlier on - Le Manie - where he has previous for struggling when the hammer's gone down

I'd back Boonen in a sprint after 300km tbh.

Similarly, Cav will know if he's feeling good or not. He can make the call himself for the team. Worst you lose is him and maybe one other.

Agreed. My money is on Boonen at present.

Sagan.

FJS

Greipel has been getting over the hills well this season until now

rick_chasey

FJS wrote:

Greipel has been getting over the hills well this season until now

300km is a big ask for him.