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.
[vsp_results id=”22700″/]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Goss
3. Cavendish
4. Farrar
5. Cancellara
Wild-ass guesses, woot.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Cavendish
3. Boonen
4. Nibali
5. Boasson Hagen
Going with some longshots... no guts no glory.
VSP PICKS:
1. Chavanel
2. Sagan
3. Pozzato
4. Van Avermaet
5. Moser
@mcsqueak
Boasson Hagan will pleasantly surprise you from time to time. I like that choice.....
-Dinan
Too many good riders, too many options; I think Andy Schleck has made a mistake missing this one ;-) an early solo attempt could have won it!
in lieu of him, 5 wild guesses
VSP PICKS:
1. Faboo
2. Thor
3. Nibali
4. Sagan
5. Goss
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Nibali
3. Cancellara
4. G. Thomas
5. Chavenel
And I really wanted to include Geraint Thomas, who I think will be the leading Sky rider, he may just sneak top 5
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. Nibali
3. Cancellara
4. Boasson hagen
5. Thomas
@Dinan
Yeah, there are just so many factors that can affect race results it almost doesn't matter who you pick, it's the luck of the draw. Even the best rider can can snagged in a pileup or whatever.
Last season I kept picking Tyler Farrar in long-odds hope of pulling some sweet points, but he never panned out.
Having just read Thomas prerace interview he doesn't sound confident so he's out so its back to the rainbow stripes
VSP PICKS:
1. sagan
2. Nibali
3. Cancellara
4. Boasson hagen
5. Gilbert