Velominati Super Prestige: Milan-Sanremo 2013

Eddy Planckert and Marc Sergeant photo:cor vos

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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Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

Buck Rogers says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:43 am

Just PRAYING that Pettachi doesn't win. Lord help me!
moondance says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:47 am

Well, Boonen, Chavanel, and Goss have abandoned. If Sagan and Cavendish join them, I will have picked them all!
frank says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:50 am

@ChrisO

@Dinan

@Deakus

Quote from Boonen, I think someone needs to have a word with him about Rule #5 he has done untold damage to the Belgian reputation! "I think my decision says enough.This is partly a precaution, but also a statement to the organization. They knew long enough that there was so much snow on the road. What happens now is the fault of the organization's own fault. Have you ever wanted to bicycle through the snow ridden? There are nicer things than this. I'm completely frozen."

I'm not at all a fan of the whining but I can see his point. Those conditions look like pure shit. I'd be worried to ride in that as well. Yes, that statement violates Rule #5 but I have slid out numerous times in conditions like that on a solo ride. Add the competition and speed in there? No thank you...

-Dinan

That's an explanation of why you don't get paid millions of euros to ride a bike, not an explanation of why someone who is paid millions is not riding his bike.

The explanation is complete Anti-V.

On the other hand, for a rider with objectives a few weeks down the road; I'd completely agree with the view that he might choose not to race due to the risk it presents to the events for which he's structured his whole season.

But fuck. Everyone knows this weather is the shit that writes itself into legend. How can you not want to be a part of that?
Deakus says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:51 am

@moondance

Well, Boonen, Chavanel, and Goss have abandoned. If Sagan and Cavendish join them, I will have picked them all!

Chavanel has NOT abandoned, he is still in the race..
PeakInTwoYears says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:52 am

Cycling News: Omega Pharma state that Chavanel is still in the race.
freddy says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:53 am

@Buck Rogers

@Deakus

@Sauterelle

@ChrisO

@Dinan

@Deakus

Quote from Boonen, I think someone needs to have a word with him about Rule #5 he has done untold damage to the Belgian reputation! "I think my decision says enough.This is partly a precaution, but also a statement to the organization. They knew long enough that there was so much snow on the road. What happens now is the fault of the organization's own fault. Have you ever wanted to bicycle through the snow ridden? There are nicer things than this. I'm completely frozen."

I'm not at all a fan of the whining but I can see his point. Those conditions look like pure shit. I'd be worried to ride in that as well. Yes, that statement violates Rule #5 but I have slid out numerous times in conditions like that on a solo ride. Add the competition and speed in there? No thank you...

-Dinan

That's an explanation of why you don't get paid millions of euros to ride a bike, not an explanation of why someone who is paid millions is not riding his bike.

+1

I think his Directeur might also point out the fucking sprinters seem to be able to make it round....why can't you? Cav has just gone back to remove some clothing......HARD MAN! I think he wants a sun tan!!

Hampston on the Gavio anyone??? Hinault on LBL? Boonen, say it isn't so!!!

The race continues...some riders don't
moondance says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:54 am

Now OPQS says Chavanel is still in.....
Buck Rogers says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:55 am

@frank

@ChrisO

@Dinan

@Deakus

Quote from Boonen, I think someone needs to have a word with him about Rule #5 he has done untold damage to the Belgian reputation! "I think my decision says enough.This is partly a precaution, but also a statement to the organization. They knew long enough that there was so much snow on the road. What happens now is the fault of the organization's own fault. Have you ever wanted to bicycle through the snow ridden? There are nicer things than this. I'm completely frozen."

I'm not at all a fan of the whining but I can see his point. Those conditions look like pure shit. I'd be worried to ride in that as well. Yes, that statement violates Rule #5 but I have slid out numerous times in conditions like that on a solo ride. Add the competition and speed in there? No thank you...

-Dinan

That's an explanation of why you don't get paid millions of euros to ride a bike, not an explanation of why someone who is paid millions is not riding his bike.

The explanation is complete Anti-V.

On the other hand, for a rider with objectives a few weeks down the road; I'd completely agree with the view that he might choose not to race due to the risk it presents to the events for which he's structured his whole season.

But fuck. Everyone knows this weather is the shit that writes itself into legend. How can you not want to be a part of that?

I wonder if he knows, or even cares about, how much he has just fucked with his cycling image? (although if he pulls off a RVV and/or PR win this year everyone will call him a genius). But he will always be the guy that pulled off b/c it was too cold and wet now to me.
starclimber says:

Mar 17 2013 at 8:55 am

@moondance

Before I settled on my 'what have turned out to be shitty picks', I had Terpstra and Chava as well as Goss and Boonen, but more annoyingly, I had Cav to win it, not Phone-in. Oh. Well. Time to get on the road. Local weather, 5°C, Sunny, Wind: WNW 28 gust 52 km/h. Perfect.
ChrisO says:

Mar 17 2013 at 9:01 am

Nibbles out