From Siena to Il Lombardia: 4 Italian race *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
edited August 2020 in Pro race
So, just one day to go and Italy doing OK. Looks as if we are actually going to get some racing, which means it's time for a thread.

Dust whirls over the Tuscan hills, (forecast 37C) the 14th edition of the Strade Bianche takes place this Saturday. The route is 184 kilometres long with one third on dust roads, often stiffly uphill.



With Strade Bianche the riders enter a race with medieval characteristics. In the rolling landscape of Tuscany the toughest sections are on twisting gravel paths.



Sterrato 9 is 800 metres long and pepped up with a double digit gradient ramp before hitting the tarmac in Vico d’Arbia. A rolling stretch continues onto the penultimate sterrato. Strade di Colle Pinzuto is 2.4 kilometres long and the steepest ramp is located at the beginning. But no time for a breather after this 15% ramp, as the road keeps climbing gradually all the way until the end.

The final gravel road is a 1.1 kilometres toil, opening with a short descent and closing with 18% gradients. When Strade Bianche reaches Le Tolfe there are still 12 kilometres to go.



With 5 kilometres remaining the road flies downhill, only to go back up again in the last kilometre. Entering the city walls of Siena, a 16% sector welcomes the riders. Then a sharp turn to the right, left, and right again. The finish is at Il Campo, Siena’s iconic square resembling a theatre.










Startlist:

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/strade-bianche/2020/startlist

Favourites 2020 Strade Bianche
***** Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout Van Aert
**** Michal Kwiatkowski, Jakob Fuglsang, Tadej Pogačar
*** Tiesj Benoot, Zdenek Stybar, Maximilian Schachmann, Michael Woods
** Simon Clarke, Philippe Gilbert, Peter Sagan, Kasper Asgreen, Dylan Teuns
* Davide Formolo, Alexey Lutsenko, Greg Van Avermaet, Bob Jungels, Gianni Moscon
Others Naesen, Jungels, Küng, Dillier, Moscon, Brambilla Nibali etc























"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,244
    So hot.

    And with the gravel reflecting it back up at you.

    Can see a lightweight rider winning this.
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 18,878
    edited July 2020

    Can see a lightweight rider winning this.

    A physically small rider or one who doesn't meet your approval? :wink:
    “New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
  • twotoebenny
    twotoebenny Posts: 1,422
    Cheers Blazing,

    Like the racing, your race threads have been much missed. Great start, I'm really looking forward to watching the mayhem of Strade bianche tomorrow... this just adds to build up. Given how much I've missed racing I'm not sure what I'll be like come the TdF!
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    A number of riders (among others Jungels, Honoré, Lammertink, with the latter one breaking his collarbone) crashed during the recons, as apparently conditions are more slippery than ever before....
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 26,132
    Love these threads, blazing - the season's truly back. May it continue for as long as it can.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741


    Gonna be a bit sweaty as well as dusty.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    What time is this due to finish? It's not on Eurosport until 4pm. Is that right?
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    edited July 2020
    RichN95. said:

    What time is this due to finish? It's not on Eurosport until 4pm. Is that right?

    I've been trying to find out as I am due to pick folks up at 5-45pm.

    Eurosport have coverage listed as 3-50 to 5-50pm.

    I checked the official website and the Chrono link, but being Italian, it only had the first 70kms.

    At 117kms to go it had 2-25pm as the medium pace, so I am guessing 5-30pm.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 26,132
    edited July 2020
    I read about 6:30 local, so 5:30.

    Reckon they'll be going hell for leather.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    Mitch & Luke were expecting that it's going to be like opening weekend for the first half. As in total carnage...

    I reckon the heat and allergies are gonna have an interesting effect on The Classics as much as the cold and wet are gonna have on the GTs. I think it's gonna be fun!! 😎
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • The Eurosport coverage is really disappointing. No racing for months and on return we only get 90 mins of one of the best races? Does anyone know if its a local broadcaster decision, meaning no channel will have racing earlier?
    What about the new GCN app? - I've been mulling over whether its good value
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  • The Eurosport coverage is really disappointing. No racing for months and on return we only get 90 mins of one of the best races? Does anyone know if its a local broadcaster decision, meaning no channel will have racing earlier?
    What about the new GCN app? - I've been mulling over whether its good value

    Isn't it just.
    There's lots of snooker and if you don't like snooker? Well, there's a lot more snooker and if you fancy a change, well, there's some more snooker.

    Having said that, Eurosport player has 2 hours coverage, although no coverage of the women's race, as they had previously advertised.

    Tiz reckons they will have a live feed of the women's race from 2pm.

    Or else there's the mountain finale of the Tour of Burgos.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,244
    edited August 2020
    Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm
  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 20,511

    Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm

    I have a VPN. What do I need to do other than understand Dutch/Flemmish
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    edited August 2020

    Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm

    The Sporza app starts up at 12-00cet for the women and 13-45cet for the men, but their tv schedule is the same as everybody else.
    I suspect live will be whenever Rai decide it will be....

    Sporza's star ratings. Not very biased at all. ;)


    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    If the Corona virus means the end of full stage coverage it won't be the worst thing...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,244

    Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm

    I have a VPN. What do I need to do other than understand Dutch/Flemmish
    Yup as BZ says, download the app. Can also download the VRT app which is Belgian BBC IPlayer though they require you to have a Belgian phone number if you want to flick it onto your TV.

    You can also download the Rai app and watch the local coverage. Just make sure you’re VPN is in the right country.
  • Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm

    I have a VPN. What do I need to do other than understand Dutch/Flemmish
    Yup as BZ says, download the app. Can also download the VRT app which is Belgian BBC IPlayer though they require you to have a Belgian phone number if you want to flick it onto your TV.

    You can also download the Rai app and watch the local coverage. Just make sure you’re VPN is in the right country.
    Any idea what time is van Vleuten is due to finish?
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,550
    Not going to plan there.

    And big shout out for the tossers who stole 6 of the Trek team bikes overnight that’s meant some of the women riding their DS’s bikes.
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    16km to go for the girls, heating up nicely...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518

    Belgians up from 1:15pm U.K. time for the VPN lot.

    Edit; that’d the women’s race.

    Men up at 2:15pm

    I have a VPN. What do I need to do other than understand Dutch/Flemmish
    Yup as BZ says, download the app. Can also download the VRT app which is Belgian BBC IPlayer though they require you to have a Belgian phone number if you want to flick it onto your TV.

    You can also download the Rai app and watch the local coverage. Just make sure you’re VPN is in the right country.
    Any idea what time is van Vleuten is due to finish?
    About 20 minutes in front of the rest of the race
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • Van Vlueten just lit the blue touchpaper on her rocket......
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,550
    Now going to plan 😂
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • :D:D:D

    The gap just evaporated in the space of a km.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Just about to swallow up Garcia.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Garcia manages to sit in the jet wash for the time being.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    Hmm, well if this is what Mercxian is like, I bloomin' hope we dont ever get another one...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    edited August 2020
    Nice of Annemiek to make it look as if the others were in a race.
    She didn't come out of the chase group and they are now minutes behind.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 4,993
    Oh bollox it's Carlton
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 4,993
    God I'd forgotten how bad he is.