Velominati Super Prestige: Milan-Sanremo 2013
Finally, we have Milan-Sanremo. I hope pedale.forcetta is ready to shoot some pictures, especially black and white because it will be cold and possibly wet. Throw in a little wind and a race of this distance will weed out the less hardy. Recently, but not too recently, this race would be won out of a decent size field sprint. And yet, besides Fabs winning in 2008 it does come down to a sprint finish of some size. That race was setting up for a field sprint when Cancellara bolted and no one could catch him. The solo charge to the finish just doesn’t seem to work here. It is such an interesting race because the finish is unlike any of the other monuments. Moreno Argentin lost the race because he was not as good as descender as Kelly. Getting down the Cipressa and Poggio well is not easy. The descents are tight narrow Italian roads, hairpin turns, madness. Fabs and Sagan are two excellent descenders and Sagan has a killer sprint. NIbali just won Terreno. Thor has recovered. Boonen is back with Cavendish, on the same team! Gilbert is wearing the rainbow jersey. Andy Schleck has pre-dropped out. God Damnit, if you are going to get up at some weird hour of the night to watch a race this year, this is it people.
An American has never won one of cycling’s monuments and Sunday’s race does not seem to be where it is going to happen. Tyler Farrar would have to latch onto a special train and surely Cancellara will not be towing people to the line this year. The odds of Australian riders winning the last two editions were very long but it demonstrates how exciting and unpredictable this race is.
Here is the incomplete start list, it will be updated when available. No Delgados, no whining, the betting window is now open. Get you picks in before the countdown timer goes to zero at midnight Pacific Time. The winner of this event is awarded the MSR comment badge for the remainder of the season.
Here is a little video from last year, interesting more for the behind the scenes action and the amount of bleeped out cursing.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHAKie2XiU0[/youtube]
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@wiscot
I have zero issue with the decision to pack it in – I’m with you 100% on the rationale for bailing out. The only issue is the Schleckisms he spouted as justification at the time.
@frank
Hell, I just thought it was a funny quote about a guy’s colon. Not to mention the pic with the space helmet on Boonen’s head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OvMZT2zfy0
@Daccordi Rider Hey, great find that one. How’d you pick that one up?
Incredible finish at the Dwars door Vlaanderen. Voeckler made a big solo break with about 17k to go and nearly stayed away but a small chase group got him late with Gatto pipping him literally at the line. Voeckler went from 1st to 5th in the span of 10 feet. Must be gutted.
@Pedale.Forchetta Love these black and white photo’s, they seem to capture an element of raw emotion that color photo’s seem to miss.
@Chris
Our friend Pedale has a beautiful spread of photos and text in PEZ.
@LA Dave that was a great race this morning!
http://youtu.be/M38N0l0rMF0
I didn’t see this posted here, so I thought I’d share. The commentary made me giggle a bit.
@Chris Bollocks. Am I going senile? Either I didn’t post this or I’ve been identity thefted or I did post it but I’ve forgotten about and I’d logged in under a different email address.
Maybe the legs will forget that I’m two months from peaking next week on the cobbles and put in a Stannard like stint.
@lordmoos3
That was really worthy! Great fun to watch. Never heard of Cosmos Whatever but great video. Thanks for sharing!
http://iamspecialized.com/road
I ran across this video from Specialized today. Only a couple minutes long but gives just a small glimpse of MSR as told from behind the scenes.
-Dinan