The Poggio. It’s probably one of the most famous easy climbs in the world; going through old cycling photographs, I rarely come across one where the leaders haven’t moved Sur La Plaque. It has a reputation, however, for being a real leg breaker, mostly because any climb is a big climb once you cross its summit after a paltry 291 kilometers. And the descent provides one of the twistiest, most exhilarating finales in the sport.
This race stands apart as the longest on the calendar, and represents the only of the five Monuments where the sprinters have a chance at final glory. But this can have it all: the long, solo break routinely makes it to the finish uncaught. The final attacks on the Poggio regularly stick. The attack that goes away on the climb often gets caught on the descent. And, sometimes the whole thing stays together for a bunch gallop. Essentially, any ride who is on form has a chance at glory. This is a unique race.
The question on everyone’s mind is wether Cavendish can get over the Poggio in position to make it to the finish in the first group. If he does, then you can jot down the winner right now. He’s lost some significant weight in the last few weeks, so his climbing should be good; we also have it on good authority from our eyes and ears on the roads in Italy that the Manx Mouth has been spotted training in the hills of Italy with the express intention of making it over the last bump. If, on the other hand, he gets spat out the back like a rainbow turd when the road points uphill, it will be a free-for-all. The fast semi-climbers with descending skills like Nibbles are talking big about their chances. And who in their right minds would ever discount Faboo with his brommer or Gilbert once he fires the howitzers.
So rub your lucky rabbit’s foot and throw some salt over your shoulder; you’re going to need some divine intervention on this one. This year’s VSP is also the first year where we’ll be offering a special badge to the winner of the monuments. We can’t unveil the MSR Badge yet, but the winner of this VSP event will have the honor of posting with the badge until next year’s event. The winner will also receive a free Symbol Pack. Check the start list and get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Saturday morning; if timezone arithmetic isn’t your strong suit, just watch the countdown timer in the banner at the top of the site. As usual, your points go towards the overall VSP as well.
Good luck.
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Nice race!
Moved from 168th to 58th on the GC after P-N and MSR! oh yeah baby!
@Marko & @frank: I'd love to know what the Liquigas strategy was. Spartacus looked terrific bridging up to Nibali (which he had to do), but once he did, Nibali was always going to be a rank outsider; Sagan couldn't really follow with Nibali up the road. I also wonder what Spartacus had in mind. Was he waiting for the decisive break (in which case he played it brilliantly), or was he hoping to manufacture something himself at the top of the climb? At the top, would Gerrans have been able to catch his wheel, or did going earlier than he wanted play into Gerrans's hands?
@LA Dave
Brilliant! If we see a rehash of last year's Flanders and Roubaix, I'm buying one of these.
In all fairness, Gerrans did go to the front on the run in briefly and the gap was cut in half. The fact of the matter is, the only rider in the bunch who could stay away was Faboo and I love his attitude in saying that its better to tow everyone to the finish and have a chance at the win than to sit up and get swallowed.
There are two truths here: Faboo did all the work and Gerrans was a passenger. On the other hand, had he gone to the front they'd have been swallowed up - and Gerrans would have had to be a total moron not to fight for the win at the end. That's racing.
Truly a fantastic race and incredible finish.
@frank
Sure Cancellara did more work, but Gerrans did his part and he was able to go with Nibali over the Poggio when nobody else could hold their wheels, take a tricky descent with two of the best in the world, and hold off a chasing peleton just seconds behind.
To start within seconds slagging off someone who has just won a Monument in what most people seem to think was a good race is, in my view, somewhat mean-spirited.
What the fuck happened to Garmin? no one in the top ten. Double H as talking like he was gonna go big today.
@ChrisO
Really? Mean-spirited? What are you on about? Are we supposed to clasp hands and all weep in joy? Sorry, didn't get the memo.
Looks like it was Trentin who crashed from the QS team, not Boonen, thank Merckx. Sorry if someone else has already posted this.
@Steampunk
Don't know - I think Faboo's strategy hinged on dropping everyone on the descent and it didn't happen. Nibbles didn't seem to have the fire power going uphill. Sagan was obviously fast enough but forced to wait. Confusing tactic indeed.
@frank
And I guess Gerro didn't read the bit where he was supposed to make a valiant effort so that someone else could win. I hope his DS is ripping him a new one as we speak.
Enlighten us with how you think the closing kilometres should have transpired ? Everyone takes equal turns and the person who happens to be in front as they cross the line gets the victory ?
I think you're confusing cycle racing with pass-the-parcel.