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.
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View Comments
@Deakus
He is a sprinter though, so his job is to try to hang onto whatever wheel he can get - he was the only sprinter that was able to do that - fair play to him - great race
Nearly froze to death this morning doing 70k, so really felt gfor those poor sods today!
Mystery ride of the day was Philly Gilbert - looked very comfortable off the Cipressa, then drifted back to the group and was never seen again??
Answers on a postcard
32
Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
33
Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-Merida
When The Potato decides to follow a wheel, he sticks to it no matter what.
Does @Gianni get some to wear the Understatement Jersey for the following lines from the race description?
Of course, the race also weeded out Boonen, who appeared to be one of the Hardy Belgians (sorry for the redundancy), so I'd say it was more than a little difficult. The photos posted here are amazing.
@Russ
As my live vid feed died with 6 km to go I had no idea how close the sprint was. Wow! Amazing pic! Thanks for posting it!
I think you Boonen critics need to re-read his comment. My take on it is that he was criticizing the organisers for making decisions on the run when they would have known on the Saturday that the Turchino pass was impassable (or almost certain to be). To stop the race and re-route it is farcical when the decision could have been made before the race start.
I note there was a Katusha rider who finished on his own 3 minutes behind the next fella who was in turn 2 or so minutes behind a small group. Those boys would not have had a fun day.
Just because it was an hard day,
you are forgiven.
Pedale.Forchetta - Milano Sanremo 2013
@Russ
This does happen but I tend to wake up just as it gets interesting
@strathlubnaig
The ice on the edge of one's kilt can cut the back of one's legs if one isn't careful.
BTW what was the event with all the walkers at the bottom of the Duke's Pass - were you on duty today because if you were I'd have stopped at your bus and plead for a cup of tea.