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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@frank
What race did you watch? You got it wrong mate.
There were three guys with three ways to win. Nibs had to attack on the Poggio, and Gerro was the only one to read it. Faboo was never gonna win a sprint, so had to drill it and kill the other two.
Gerro was always gonna win the sprint, so just had to hold on to the Motorcus (and that's hardly an easy wheel to 'suck').
Nibali was never gonna win a sprint or ride away, so pretty much left them to it and hoped for a Bradbury.
Fuck Cancellara. He's a great second place finisher, and he got exactly what he deserved. A huge congratulations to Gerrans, who didn't play the part of Fabian's bitch.
@King Clydesdale
I think it was part of the team tactics. 75% of the time the guy who goes over the top with a few seconds gets caught. If the group had been chasing Nibali, or Nibali and Gerrans, Sagan would have had a free ride to the line. The only hitch was Spartacus bridging the gap. At that point Nibali sat on and Gerrans did what he should have: eat Fabian's lunch before starting on his own.
Here's another tee that sums up my feelings:
Gerrans won normally and that's fair, hat's off to him he deserves it, but with just a little more work he could have won with Panache. A small difference perhaps, but a difference nonetheless.
@LA Dave
That's bullshit too. He could've tried to ride in solo from 5km, sure... and lost. He was working hard to even get back on Fab's wheel at the bottom of the descent, let alone get to the front (which he did a k and a half out).
@LA Dave
But that's the problem, isn't it? If he'd worked harder, Cancellara would have killed him in the finale. Gerrans took over the front with about 1km to go, but then Cancellara rolled right past him almost immediately as if to say "you're not going fast enough." Which was an issue. They really weren't out of the woods from the group in pursuit until the final 300m or so.
ok, I'll give the point that is well deserving and that is a win is a win, and today, Gerrans won.
But...and this is a but, question
Will many people rememeber this for Gerrans, or another great ride by Cancellara
Will we rememeber Gerrans 2 second grunt at the end?
Wins are wins, but Great wins are the ones we remember and are not easily forgotten
Like the win when Cancellara did go, ran like a rabid banshee for the final 1k and nipped the entire peloton
Or like Gilberts win?
and you can go on and on with others
Was it a win, yes
a great one? I'm not so sure on that
I love Fabian, and he is often the strongest on the course, as he was today. But if he doesn't start to use his head as much as his legs he will have more and more of these second place finishes.
Hats off to Gerrans for a great finishing sprint.
@Souleur
But it was a win at the first race of the year that really means something. Gerrans won a Monument. I take your point that a decade from now we'll probably remember how dominant Cancellara and Gilbert were during this era and be surprised by the names that Wikipedia lists as the winners of some of the main Classics, but that shouldn't detract from the victories in the moment. And even if you don't think poetic justice was served in the result, you can't deny that today was a terrific day of racing.
Did anyone even pick Gerrans in their 5? Cav not being there was delicious.