Velominati Super Prestige: Strade Bianche 2012

The stones of Italy

The Monte Paschi Strade Bianchi is happening this Saturday and it is such an interesting race we are putting it into the VSP. The route is a mix of pavement and white marble sectors that roam through the hilly Tuscan country and finishes in the middle of beautiful Sienna. It seems early to me but that is because the Giro had an epic stage on the Strade Bianche in May 2010. The word epic is overused but the wet, grimy Giro stage was compelling, awesome, everything you would want in a race. It was epic.

This race grew out of the immensely popular Eroica retro-sportive. Goggles, mustaches, heavy old bikes, I don’t understand it. It must be like the Civil War enactments in the USA: people are compelled to recreate something, and participate in it to understand it. I’m never going to participate in the Eroica sportive, so I’m never going to understand it. Sweet Merckx a mighty, I’m old enough to never want to ride a bike with a five speed Regina cluster again. Give me Campa 11 with electronic shifting if you must, I’m riding into the future.

Phillipe Gilbert started his reign of terror in 2011 by winning the Strade Bianche and he never stopped. I would not want to bet against him and yet, perhaps he is saving himself for a month from now. His team is stacked with possible winners (a phrase we are going to be over-using this year). Judging from past results the Italians have not had any home road advantage but if Vinny “da shark” Nibali can ride away from everyone in Oman, surely he can do it here. This year’s incomplete start list includes past winners, potential Spring Classic stars and Mark Cavendish. Did I imagine this, the World Champion on the crushed marble roads of Tuscany? Please stay tuned for a more accurate start list.

I will stop further skewing the odds at Lotto, they are all winners aren’t they? Put on your aluminum foil thinking caps, consult the awesome countdown timer which will stop on Saturday morning and be thankful there is not a women’s edition of this race to show the world how little you all know about women’s racing (@cyclops excluded somehow).

I just can’t stop myself from including a bit of wet strade from the Giro.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

Steampunk says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:11 am

@Souleur & @Nosyt:
Ballan seemed to have caught back on without much trouble after his gaffe, so I wouldn't be inclined to blame this for the failure (can't have helped, mind). There also seemed to be a few technical turns in the final run-in (even Cancellara on his own had a bit of difficulty). I suspect the real test of BMC will come at Flanders and Roubaix, when Gilbert and Hushovd (respectively) will need to prove why they were added to the team. Chemistry, perhaps, but Avermaet and Ballan can't have that excuse, since they were together last year.

Watching Spartacus, though, does anyone else get the unsettling feeling that he's still a little pissed about last spring, and has 3/17, 4/1, AND 4/8 all circled on his calendar? And can you imagine what the aftermath of that would be like? Philippe who?
Anjin-san says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:29 am

I am pretty disappointed in Gilbert. I thought long and hard about whether I should pick Cancellara or Gilbert to win... guess I should have reversed the order. I think a trip to Italy for next year's race would be a fantastic Keeper's Tour...
Nosyt says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:33 am

@Steampunk

Watching Spartacus, though, does anyone else get the unsettling feeling that he's still a little pissed about last spring, and has 3/17, 4/1, AND 4/8 all circled on his calendar? And can you imagine what the aftermath of that would be like? Philippe who?

Definitely; and I think the strength of BMC will actually favor him since teams won't be able to focus on him solely like they did last spring. If he rides smart (like today) and finds himself in the mix in the final 20K or so I don't think there's anyone who can touch him.
Jarvis says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:49 am

@Steampunk BMC fucked-up again. No way should they have attacked Cancellara where they did. In a way it is good that they are willing to take the fight, but Van Avermaet and Ballan are not Gilbert and aren't going to outpower Canc.
Jarvis says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:50 am

@Nico didn't realise you'd gone with Iglinsky as well. Think that was his third podium at the race.
Steampunk says:

Mar 3 2012 at 11:53 am

@Jarvis
I assumed that Van Avermaet was sacrificing himself for Ballan, who then couldn't keep Cancellara's wheel. It seemed like the right move (maybe not the right time, but probably the last chance to create some real separation), but Cancellara countered brilliantly. Van Avermaet didn't gain as much ground as he wanted, and Ballan was nowhere to be seen when Cancellara attacked.
Netraam says:

Mar 3 2012 at 1:54 pm

@Steampunk
I can see Cancellara trying to break away in the AGR as well, just to show that he alone and no one else is champion of the spring.

Seriously, a Cancellara this strong is someone to watch in every race.
Marcus says:

Mar 3 2012 at 2:38 pm

@frank

Very tight standings in the GC with the top V being separated by two points.

2012 VSP G.C.
1. ajn124 (17 points)

2. Blah (16 points)

3. xyxax (16 points)

4. Lukas (15 points)

5. Netraam (15 points)

6. Skinnyphat (15 points)

7. Nosyt (14 points)

8. Buck Rogers (14 points)

9. mattd (14 points)

10. scaler911 (13 points)

11. calves (13 points)

12. Heihachi (13 points)

13. Cyclops (12 points)

14. Ankush (12 points)

15. Lepidopterist (12 points)

16. taon24 (12 points)

17. Calmante (11 points)

18. Steampunk (11 points)

19. wiscot (11 points)

20. Tobin (11 points)

21. mcsqueak (11 points)

22. Tartan1749 (11 points)

23. JC Belgium (10 points)

24. Fausto (10 points)

25. RedRanger (10 points)

26. R00tdown (10 points)

27. snoov (10 points)

28. VeloVita (10 points)

29. wiscoerik (9 points)

30. nathan (9 points)

31. Dino (9 points)

32. il ciclista medio (9 points)

33. Adrian (9 points)

34. noiyce (9 points)

35. zac (9 points)

36. Poppyseed (9 points)

37. DaRCrider (9 points)

38. ramenvelo (8 points)

39. RayElVis (8 points)

40. Islandbike (8 points)

41. bkwentz (8 points)

42. Noel (8 points)

43. gaswepass (8 points)

44. Skip (8 points)

45. Bianchi Denti (7 points)

46. The Oracle (7 points)

47. taylorgibson (7 points)

48. mouse (7 points)

49. Belgian Cobblestones (7 points)

50. imakecircles (7 points)

51. draffenator (7 points)

52. Rigid (7 points)

53. Flying Crowbar (7 points)

54. Souleur (6 points)

55. Mikael Liddy (6 points)

56. sgt (6 points)

57. tomb (6 points)

58. el gato (6 points)

59. Gianni (6 points)

60. Marcus (6 points)

61. Markp (6 points)

62. King Clydesdale (6 points)

63. Nate (6 points)

64. sgraha (6 points)

65. somebum (6 points)

66. G'phant (6 points)

67. ash (6 points)

68. godsight (5 points)

69. Bongo (5 points)

70. 936adl (5 points)

71. napolinige (5 points)

72. GProsser (5 points)

73. CanuckChuck (5 points)

74. Erik (5 points)

75. Bill (5 points)

76. harminator (5 points)

77. diablo (5 points)

78. Simon (5 points)

79. SimonH (5 points)

80. The Fish (5 points)

81. BrianG (5 points)

82. Alex (5 points)

83. Xponti (4 points)

84. olliewm (4 points)

85. frank (4 points)

86. nico (4 points)

87. Dr C (4 points)

88. TomC (4 points)

89. bjm (4 points)

90. Andrew (4 points)

91. stenbak (4 points)

92. moondance (4 points)

93. acciaio (4 points)

94. Cyclistthings (4 points)

95. Chris (3 points)

96. al (3 points)

97. Danger (3 points)

98. Chappy McPappystackings (3 points)

99. Mikel Pearce (3 points)

100. Marko (3 points)

101. tony macaroni (3 points)

102. Roadslave525 (3 points)

103. Mason (3 points)

104. ChrisO (3 points)

105. Benj (3 points)

106. seemunkee (3 points)

107. Ron (3 points)

108. dancollins (3 points)

109. Jay (3 points)

110. LA Dave (3 points)

111. Trobs (3 points)

112. payaso (3 points)

113. Gerard (3 points)

114. Simon (3 points)

115. cchern (3 points)

116. Sam (3 points)

117. Jeff in PetroMetro (3 points)

118. LastBoyScout (3 points)

119. Will (3 points)

120. Oldschooly (3 points)

121. pakrat (3 points)

122. Jarvis (3 points)

123. Anjin-san (2 points)

124. ZachOlson (2 points)

125. simonsaunders (2 points)

126. eightzero (2 points)

127. Louutah (2 points)

128. itburns (2 points)

129. WillB (2 points)

130. motor city (2 points)

131. razmaspaz (2 points)

132. San Tonio (2 points)

133. MJMoquin (2 points)

134. needmoreV (2 points)

135. Jamin (2 points)

136. paolo (2 points)

137. Maximilian (2 points)

138. Roberto Marques (2 points)

139. Wayne Schimmelbusch (2 points)

140. trustnoone (2 points)

141. Kris (2 points)

142. Rob (2 points)

143. Geordi (2 points)

144. bjb (2 points)

145. pink (1 points)

146. fredd727 (1 points)

147. brett (1 points)

148. roger (1 points)

149. G'rilla (1 points)

150. Two Ball Billy (1 points)

151. rhys (1 points)

152. kah (1 points)

153. Pedale.Forchetta (1 points)

154. la Vela (1 points)

155. sprider (1 points)

156. Two Ball Billy (1 points)

157. tjancijr (1 points)

158. blue (1 points)

159. The Fish (1 points)

160. sam findley (1 points)

161. DerHoggz (1 points)

162. Jonny (0 points)

163. Bruno DN (0 points)

164. Aidas (0 points)

165. Dan_R (0 points)

166. marko (0 points)

167. eightace (0 points)

168. Noel (0 points)

169. TripleEight (0 points)

170. igowing (0 points)

Hate to Ron but I had Cance and Gatto in - doesnt that give me 2?
scaler911 says:

Mar 3 2012 at 2:47 pm

@frank

@scaler911

Well that f'n sucks. Still, it's early......

Its because you changed your avatar right before a big race.

Ya, but it's early in the season, and I'm still in the hunt. That said if Paris- NIce doesn't work out for me, I'm going back.
King Clydesdale says:

Mar 3 2012 at 7:03 pm

@frank

Shouldn't I have more then 2 points from the day? I had Gatto in third, and had Ballan and Cancellara in my picks. That should be 6 points I thought