13th Strade Bianche: Siena › Siena (184k) Saturday, 9th March 2019 *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
edited March 2019 in Pro race
200px-LOGO_SB.png

Unfortunately, this year, given the weather forecast, not so much this:

stradebianche18-tiesj-benoot-920.jpg

As this:

strade-bianche11-dust-920.jpg

Map:

ly24Cti.jpg

Profile:

SB_ME_19_alt_jpg-1024x490.jpg

Last 20kms:

SB_ME_19_FIN_jpg.jpg

Sienna finish:

SB_ME_19_ukm_jpg.jpg

Favourites 2019 Strade Bianche

5* Zdnek Stybar, Tim Wellens
4* Greg Van Avermaet, Julian Alaphilippe, Alexey Lutsenko
3* Gianni Moscon, Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot
2* Bauke Mollema, Jakob Fuglsang, Michael Valgren
1* Vincenzo Nibali, Geraint Thomas, Maximilian Schachmann, Rui Costa.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Shame no Kwiatkowski, that would be a strong Sky team (though I doubt Thomas is ready or motivated).
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    For some reason this parcours never lodges in my brain.

    Just a general attritional race and then the wall at the end.
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,224
    Yeah - that Lutsenko was looking a bit handy last week or two. It’ll be interesting to see how the forecast different conditions this year impact the leaderboard.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    For some reason this parcours never lodges in my brain.

    Just a general attritional race and then the wall at the end.

    I know what you mean. Some bits and pieces of dirt track, none of which stick in the mind like a good cobbled stretch, and then that wall through the town. Bloody epic wall though.
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    I just wish they'd do more of a lap of the square when the get to the finish.

    Speaking of which, the documentary Palio is worth a watch (available on Netflix)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892

    As this:

    strade-bianche11-dust-920.jpg

    All that dust can't be doing the spare bikes much good on the top of those cars. Would there come a point where they're not much use as spares if they themselves are covered in all sorts of crap?
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,439
    edited March 2019
    inseine wrote:
    Shame no Kwiatkowski, that would be a strong Sky team (though I doubt Thomas is ready or motivated).

    I've thought the opposite about the sky classics team this year. They have plenty of solid classics riders who can get a placing, but who's going to get them a win... apart from the one who's decided to skip this race and the cobbles?

    It doesn't help that they still insist on riding at the front despite not having a favourite.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    For some reason this parcours never lodges in my brain.

    Just a general attritional race and then the wall at the end.

    I know what you mean. Some bits and pieces of dirt track, none of which stick in the mind like a good cobbled stretch, and then that wall through the town. Bloody epic wall though.

    An interesting piece in which top riders give their impression of the race.

    https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/late ... aix-409932
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    Wish we could swap weather... Just off out for a couple of hours in the rain and wind!
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    For some reason this parcours never lodges in my brain.

    Just a general attritional race and then the wall at the end.

    I know what you mean. Some bits and pieces of dirt track, none of which stick in the mind like a good cobbled stretch, and then that wall through the town. Bloody epic wall though.

    An interesting piece in which top riders give their impression of the race.

    https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/late ... aix-409932

    I know it wasn't the classic, but I think the epic Giro stage in 2010 really helped to put these roads, and subsequently this race on the map. That was undoubtedly one of the best day's racing in a GT over the last decade.
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 4,993
    Unlike most of you I really like this race, and especially when the sun shines, to lift my winter gloom.
  • I love this race, rain or shine it always seems to come up with great racing. Plus that finish is epic.
  • andyrac
    andyrac Posts: 1,123
    Always find this an enjoyable race, whether it's wet or dry. Great roads, scenery, etc

    I find it slightly ironic, that the modern gravel racing scene has thrown up 'gravel bikes' with bigger tyres, etc yet the pros will likely do it on a normal 'race bike' with most on caliper rim brakes. Saying that, it's only 60km on gravel out of 180-190km distance.
    All Road/ Gravel: tbcWinter: tbcMTB: tbcRoad: tbc"Look at the time...." "he's fallen like an old lady on a cruise ship..."
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    So we’re only getting the final 90 mins or so on TV.

    Organisers can’t afford any more because they are showing a similar amount of the women’s and that has maxed out the budget (since TV relay is usually €€€€€€)
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    So we’re only getting the final 90 mins or so on TV.

    Organisers can’t afford any more because they are showing a similar amount of the women’s and that has maxed out the budget (since TV relay is usually €€€€€€)

    The women's coverage turns out to be a fiasco.
    Way ahead of the fastest schedule, so less than the final 15kms live.
    Plus Eurosport go straight to an ad break.
    Shambles.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    Van Vleuten walking it...
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,439
    Van Vleuten walking it...

    Ffs. All this pressure to support and promote women's cycling and the best in the world can't even ride the entire course*












    *Obviously I'm joking
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    From the viewing POV, a disappointing race in all respects.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    When's the coverage and expected finish times?

    Cheers!
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,439
    12:50 till 14:50 on Eurosport
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    Cheers. That's early?!?
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    edited March 2019
    So live coverage gets us the last 53kms....
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • dav1d1
    dav1d1 Posts: 653
    Diego Rosa, out front 1’29 ahead of nico denz whos 1’51 ahead of peloton
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    We’re on the Cancellara section
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    We’re on the Cancellara section
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    We’re on the Cancellara section
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,226
    Soz ^^
  • NeXXus
    NeXXus Posts: 854
    See the media fleet are on Yamaha Niken motorbikes, maybe to stop them falling off? :D
    And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    I hope the 3 Deceuninck-QuickStep boys know whose turn it is to win, this weekend.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,199
    Fuglsang looking pretty strong, but Alaphilippe will be favourite by far if they hit the final climb together.
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