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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View Comments
Yeah, wow.
What an amazing race.
Fronkly I find the discussion about the race result a bit distasteful.
Cycling is a tactical sport. Discussions about panache or not, well...
I seem to recall being embroiled in a heated discussion after the World Championships last year about a worthy winner.
What I got out of that was that there are different types of races that produce worthy winners suited to that type of race. In his case, I believe Gerrans was a worthy winner, in spite of Cancellara's immense power and talent.
As for the wheelsucker comments, ponder this:
Gerrans = Wheelsucker?
Cavendish = Wheelsucker?
@Steampunk
Just watched the last ten k after finishing work today. Completely agree with Steamy.
Also would add that Canc was amazingly strong but if he is unhappy with second place in MSR (and I realize that I am just a mortal here and Sparty is pretty much an immortal but second place in MSR is pretty frick'en AMAZING!!!) then he should be smart enough to realize that he cannot tow a sprinter to the line. Garrnes rode the smartest race that he could and even he was killing it there for about seven I just to hold Sparty's wheel.
@frank, @G'phant, @LA Dave
Team perspective is important too -- Liquigas had the best Plan B in Sagan, and as between Greenedge and Shack I'd have put my marbles on Goss over Bennati. All in all a fine start to the heart of the classics season.
Great victory by Gerrans, he played his cards perfectly. To me a crafty and tactical win (especially in a Monument) when you know you're perhaps not the strongest rider shows great panache, so good on him.
It often seems around here that people get disappointed when the race doesn't play out to some dreamy, romantic ideal scenario; to me that's missing the point, and I'd rather deal with the result in the real world. The object of a bike race is to win the bike race, and bike races can't always be won in glorious solo breaks.
@G'phant
Why that's crazy talk!! Whatever would they call a race like that!
@frank
I'd like to point out that most times when Cav says he's gonna win a race betting on him isn't that much of a gamble...most times. Play the percentages..it's the smart long term move.
@Oli
Perfect.
Okay, got my knee jerk reaction out of my system - a few moments of reflection, and really Gerrans did bloody well - did what he could, saved what he could, and timed his effort to perfection - Faboo needed to drop him on the descent and couldn't - wasn't really a wheel suck - guess I just want to see Faboo on top of the podium again, it's been so long now (TT asides), given the joy he brings us all
Bottom line is just how excited we all have been today - life needs this sort of drama - bring on the next one - there is no other opera to match this stuff
....by the way, did anyone else have both hands on the TV set at the finish today??
@Dr C
Yeah the Strada Biachie seems like weeks ago now....oh wait..