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. faboo
2. thor
3. chav
4. gilbert
5. sagan
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Chavanel
3. Cancellara
4. Gilbert
5. Nibali
Regardless of having not picked Haussler, I hope to see a strong showing from him. It would be great to see him back on form. Stage 13 of the 2009 tour remains one of my favorite moments in sport. To see H H crying in the rain as he crossed the line. Awesome stuff.
cyclingnews has the complete start list.
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Goss
3. Hushovd
4. Terpstra
5. Greipel
@Gianni
Love Conan, "Time enough for the earth in a grave"!!!
@Steampunk
Cannot wait until Gilbert decides to ride PR again. He rode it once in his very early career and has said that he will not return to it for a few more years. But when he dos, I really think he'll have a chance. I just cannot get behind Cancellara. The guys always whinges on about how every one marks him and no one helps him, blah blah blah oh, shut the fuck up and ride Cancellara. Boonen was sooooo marked in the mid-2000's and still won and never bitched about it the markings. It comes with being the favorite. Remember when Potato wouldn't let Boonen take a piss without holding his dick for him? Never moaned about it at all. The Dude is class. Sagan will have at least two monuments this year in my opinion, marked or not.
Tomorrow is going to fucking suck to be on a bike. For 300K. At speeds we only attain for short bursts, or going downhill, wind at our back. Going to be rad to watch.
do I change my picks? Tho Italian, Nibbles doesn't seem to mind foul weather. And he can climb, and can suffer "long". But it may go slower 'cause of the cold and ice pellets. If it stays together, it's a crap shoot. A Belgian or Dutch is going to go long and ride in solo. Fuck it, I don't know. Can't wait.
VSP PICKS:
1. Sagan
2. Cancellara
3. Pozzato
4. Nibali
5. Moser
VSP PICKS:
1. Cavendish
2. Sagan
3. Cancellara
4. Thomas
5. Gilbert
VSP picks