Strade Bianche 2014 *Spoilers*
Comments
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Anyone notice how amateur Sagan's position looks on the bike?
Enjoyed the camera work on his attack. All very dramatic.0 -
Wonder does the race need a date change to step up?
A lot of the riders you would want to see there were in France.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Wonder does the race need a date change to step up?
A lot of the riders you would want to see there were in France.
Nee joh.
Is fine where it is. Nice little bridge from the Belgian opener and Tireno.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Nee joh.
?“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Nee joh.
?
I'm guessing "not at all"0 -
Good race*. I enjoyed it, and it really makes me think I need to go to Italy sometime.
*Could be a strongly biased by it being the first one I've sat down and watched this season, and it was on my new shiny TV.0 -
Crankbrother wrote:There was something just not quite exciting about it all though ... dunno if it was the commentary or the crowds or what but it was just a wee bit flat ...
I think it was the waiting for things to happen that diminished it. Of course the early break were going to be hoovered up. Of course there was going to come a moment when a bigger group got away with some of the favourites in it. Of course Sagan was going to go on a bit of a charge (visceral though it was once it came). Once Sagan and Kwiatowski got away, it was then a case of waiting for the final showdown in the final kilometre (although again, the coup de grace was stunning in its finality). Most of the race seemed to be about waiting for these things to happen though - there was no real sense of people trying to make it happen.0 -
I dunno - I think those having a pop haven't quite read it right - it was exciting early doors, looked fantastic and until about 25km to go, it was still in the balance - we hadn't seen Fab or Peto give it some guns and Evans/Cunego were still there with lots of Giant Shim and OPQS. Then when Sagan went, it took the breath away and when Kwia followed with apparent ease and no-one else could, you kind of felt the race was going to come down to that last rise (if Kwia didn't try and shake Sagan beforehand). Wasn't the race's fault that the following group didn't try and shut it down immediately or to sacrifice certain riders. Sagan looked good, Kwia was clinical and if I have a complaint it was not seeing how Valverde dispatched the others on that last rise. I would have thought this would have been a good Phil G/Simon Gerrans/J Rod race too?http://www.georgesfoundation.org
http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/0 -
Sagan and Kwia only got 4 seconds by the initial crest ... It was then that the racing dwindled as everyone else just sat there ... Easy to pick out Fab as 'unable' but there were few guys with a genuine kick that could/should have caught that mini-break ...
The roads rather than the riding made the race ... Same as many races in April ...0 -
Good race.
Shame we did not get a few more together at the end.
It would have been nice to see Evans and Valverde race each other at the end
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I don't think anyone's having a pop as such - there's a wide gap between 'not as exciting as it could have been' and 'duller than watching Orlando Bloom watch paint dry'. In football, it would have been one of those games with a couple of stunning goals but long periods of both teams sitting back and playing pointless balls sideways. It's sport, not choreography, so it happens sometimes. I think at least part of the slightly disappointed reaction from some people is because the race has a unique element and had the potential for some really explosive racing, but the way the cards fell mitigated against that today.0
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Crankbrother wrote:Sagan and Kwia only got 4 seconds by the initial crest ... It was then that the racing dwindled as everyone else just sat there ... Easy to pick out Fab as 'unable' but there were few guys with a genuine kick that could/should have caught that mini-break ...
The roads rather than the riding made the race ... Same as many races in April ...
This.
The folks above are forgetting that OPQS had 4 riders left policing the final selection.
No brainer.
As for Valverde, he rode his perfect race, but for one small mistake.
Follow the main protagonists: if they go, get on their wheel.
Get to the final climb and do your usual thing.
I don't think anybody is saying that, given the ingredients, it was a dull race.
Just not the best this circuit has produced."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Of course, if Kwia wins either of the 'big ones' in April, we'll have seen a masterclass ...0
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Apparently, Riccardo Zoidl broke his collarbone. According to Trek, Cancellara had a rear wheel puncture just before the race started splitting.0
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mroli wrote:I dunno - I think those having a pop haven't quite read it right - it was exciting early doors, looked fantastic and until about 25km to go, it was still in the balance - we hadn't seen Fab or Peto give it some guns and Evans/Cunego were still there with lots of Giant Shim and OPQS. Then when Sagan went, it took the breath away and when Kwia followed with apparent ease and no-one else could, you kind of felt the race was going to come down to that last rise (if Kwia didn't try and shake Sagan beforehand). Wasn't the race's fault that the following group didn't try and shut it down immediately or to sacrifice certain riders. Sagan looked good, Kwia was clinical and if I have a complaint it was not seeing how Valverde dispatched the others on that last rise. I would have thought this would have been a good Phil G/Simon Gerrans/J Rod race too?
yeah you would think the finish suits jrod perfectly. Gilbert won the race in 2011 when he was in spectacular form.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Crampeur wrote:Apparently, Riccardo Zoidl broke his collarbone. According to Trek, Cancellara had a rear wheel puncture just before the race started splitting.
About 50ks out or later on? Couldnt see him at all then when Evans et al were forcing.
It's hard to get support in this race so he must have had to chase hard to get back on.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Blazing what are we forgetting about Opqs? That they are boss and turn up to race?
That Kwiatek won because of his team?
That opqs having riders behind meant the chasers gave up?
Kwiatek would have won had he had no teammates all race. Sagan had no teammates from 50ks or so and finished 2nd.
There were strong riders and Saxo and GShim were both well represented.
Not sure what your point is.
It was 25ks of splintered riders then 25ks or two supreme riders with action with the chasers. All with a beautiful backdrop. Great race.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Great race and great scenery/roads. I didn't hear about Cancellara's puncture but it explains why he didn't have the legs to go with the break.
Kwia seems to be on very good form this season and OPQS are getting riders in all the right breaks, should be a good season.0 -
Frenchie - just shut up with your bullsh1t, You think youre making highbrow comments that none of can understand when actually you re just being a whiny little b1tch of a 6 year old girl and everyone can see through you clearer than day.
Anyway, hyperbole time...
Is it too early to say that Sagan is "finished" and "can't hack it in the big time" yet? He's developing a habit of coming second in the big races...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
ddraver wrote:Frenchie - just shut up with your bullsh1t, You think youre making highbrow comments that none of can understand when actually you re just being a whiny little b1tch of a 6 year old girl and everyone can see through you clearer than day.
Anyway, hyperbole time...
Is it too early to say that Sagan is "finished" and "can't hack it in the big time" yet? He's developing a habit of coming second in the big races...
Que the contribute something to the thread before you comment on me nonsense.0 -
We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
ddraver wrote:Frenchie - just shut up with your bullsh1t, You think youre making highbrow comments that none of can understand when actually you re just being a whiny little b1tch of a 6 year old girl and everyone can see through you clearer than day.
Anyway, hyperbole time...
Is it too early to say that Sagan is "finished" and "can't hack it in the big time" yet? He's developing a habit of coming second in the big races...
Have you been drinking again? For someone who claims to be a geologist you sure talk without any education. Did you get your offer letter in a Christmas cracker? The comments you made dont even make sense. See you on the 27th unless you hopefully get lost on London's tube network :roll:Contador is the Greatest0 -
Easy tigers, supposed to be fun.
Roll on Roma Maxima!
PS Love those Sagan pics above, lol!0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:TailWindHome wrote:Wonder does the race need a date change to step up?
A lot of the riders you would want to see there were in France.
Nee joh.
Is fine where it is. Nice little bridge from the Belgian opener and Tireno.
Suppose one can't be greedy.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
I like the way the Italian races build towards La Primavera ... In some ways it's a shame the spring classics break up the run in to the Giro ...0
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Courtesy of Alefedrico on Flickr0 -
That photo is ridiculously good.Contador is the Greatest0
