Planet Rugby Forum

Beaver_Shark wrote:Closing stages in the Milan San Remo. About 10km to go.

Cavendish has just had a massive crash. Flew miles over his handlebars.

He can't catch a break (too soon?)

Miguel Indurain wrote:Sagan is where it's at. The guy has talent to burn literally. Plus he's interesting and he has a bit of character.

Will he become a great grand tour rider?

Would be tough for him. Currently no one will ride with him because they know the will lose.
Obviously riding for GC is different, but most leaders have built relationships/owed favours over the years. People may ride with him because the peloton do seem to like him, but it is difficult to predict.

There is always the question of if he would want to, he is a Maverick and very good at what he does, obviously enjoys it as well. Big risk going for the big prize, he is such a good all rounder a heavily weighted par cours could make it impossible for him to win.

A Grand Tour winner breaking away alone in the Poggio and resisting to the entire pack to win La Primavera.

Well that's a sight to behold and the best possible start to the season.

Vincenzo Nibali you're an amazing champion !!

2 weeks ago, a Tour de France runner-up and the world cyclocross champion finished 2nd and 3rd having led most of the later stages of the race at Strade Bianche. This is supposedly the age of specialization in cycling.

ukjim wrote:

DOB wrote:2 weeks ago, a Tour de France runner-up and the world cyclocross champion finished 2nd and 3rd having led most of the later stages of the race at Strade Bianche. This is supposedly the age of specialization in cycling.

A CX rider did well on a rainy shitty course? colour me shocked!

Also most Belgian and Dutch pro riders grew up mixing cyclocross and road riding. Given they would have decent handling skills and good acceleration power from CX the only question is endurance over the longer distance and how they handle the climbing.

After watching the last two versions of Strade Bianche I have fallen in love with the race. It's a cracker!

DOB wrote:2 weeks ago, a Tour de France runner-up and the world cyclocross champion finished 2nd and 3rd having led most of the later stages of the race at Strade Bianche. This is supposedly the age of specialization in cycling.

Sure, but in the specific case of Milan San Remo it's mostly been sprinters/finishers who won it in the past couple of decades. The last GT winners to triumph were in the late 80's / early 90's (Fignon, Bugno, Kelly, Jalabert).

I do however agree that there has been a reverse trend as of late, to that of extreme specialized cycling which was introduced by the likes of Indurain or Armstrong. It's good! Bardet this season so far has been particularly impressive for someone targeting both the Tour and the world championship... it's going to be a long season for him.

The great champions, those that will stay forever in the hearts and minds, are those capable of winning both classics and GT. Nibali is one of them.

guy smiley wrote:

blindcider wrote:

ukjim wrote:

DOB wrote:2 weeks ago, a Tour de France runner-up and the world cyclocross champion finished 2nd and 3rd having led most of the later stages of the race at Strade Bianche. This is supposedly the age of specialization in cycling.

A CX rider did well on a rainy shitty course? colour me shocked!

Also most Belgian and Dutch pro riders grew up mixing cyclocross and road riding. Given they would have decent handling skills and good acceleration power from CX the only question is endurance over the longer distance and how they handle the climbing.

I think you're missing the subtle point DOB was making here about exactly that... a major Tour runner up and a CX rider finishing 2 and 3 in a one day race is counter to the theory about specialisation. It's great... riders with varying strengths are mixing it up. Yeah, shitty surface so CX rider blah blah... oh, a major tour rider, did you say? Christ, next you'll be telling me we're back to the days of those guys pulling hero breaks in the monuments....

I didn't miss the point, I don't fully buy the theory that he's starting with. The idea that a GT specialist can't win a one-day race is nonsense. Riders with varying strengths have always mixed it up. As for the last point, the average standard across the peleton is now so high is the thing that precludes hero breaks - lets face it Nibali, Quintana, Valverde, Contador, Rodrigues and even Froome have tried it in recent years

Beaver_Shark wrote:After watching the last two versions of Strade Bianche I have fallen in love with the race. It's a cracker!

The one race around with the potential to become a 6th monument when it develops a history. I love it.

Much better spectacle than MSR...

Beaver_Shark wrote:After watching the last two versions of Strade Bianche I have fallen in love with the race. It's a cracker!

It is, it has everything to it. I hope it does gradually become a legend of the sport.

guy smiley wrote:Sorry BC, poor quoting from me, my comment was directed at UKJim.

fair enough

ukjim wrote:

DOB wrote:2 weeks ago, a Tour de France runner-up and the world cyclocross champion finished 2nd and 3rd having led most of the later stages of the race at Strade Bianche. This is supposedly the age of specialization in cycling.

A CX rider did well on a rainy shitty course? colour me shocked!

More impressive that a CX rider went on the attack after 4 hours of racing, and stayed away to the end of a 5-hour+ Classic. He was in a 2-man break in Strade over several long climbs for longer than the CX Worlds race lasted.

Brutal stuff on those cobbles.

Terpsta 35sec ahead of the favourites with 14km to go.

Sagan on the chase.

Another Quickstep masterclass.

guy smiley wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:Another Quickstep masterclass.

I f**king hate that wheelsucking sh*t though, sandbagging in the bunch then sprinting for a podium

Nah, feckit, it's their right. They get to sandbag because their guy is up the road. You want Gilbert and Stybar to help chase? Well you shouldn't have let Terpstra go.

It's impressive that they're riding with some very good coordination right now, unlike a couple of seasons ago when they contrived to lose a 3 on 1 to Stannard at Het Nieuwsblad, for example.

The Terpstra attack was a thing of beauty. For quite some time the gap between him and the leaders remained constant and I thought he would be reeled in by the pack. But then as soon it got to the cobbles he caught the three up front in a flash and powered right past them.

Can't wait for Roubaix next weekend.

Beaver_Shark wrote:The Terpstra attack was a thing of beauty. For quite some time the gap between him and the leaders remained constant and I thought he would be reeled in by the pack. But then as soon it got to the cobbles he caught the three up front in a flash and powered right past them.

Can't wait for Roubaix next weekend.

Terpstra seems to be in the form of his life. Second time in a week that he has won a classic like that. Has to be a huge favourite for Roubaix given his previous in the race.

Quickstep are on some form this classics season and you can't say its undeserved, they have animated the races and with GVA and Sagan having to do too much work on their own to compete. Those cobbled climbs in the Ronde are ridiculous though its awesome to see pros have to push up the hills on occasion too

Stybar and Gilbert look like they have a win in them too, tempted to chuck a few bob on Gilbert for P-R.

Short of winning, I don’t think today’s result could have gone any better for Gilbert. All eyes will be on Terpstra for the double now, Stybar will always be watched on cobbles. The main thing in Gilbert’s way is his lack of actual racing at Roubaix.

I couldn’t believe it when Terpstra just rode Nibali off his wheel. On a false flat. With multiple climbs to go. The guy who escaped over the Poggio just 3 weeks ago. Just dropped him.

BlackMac wrote: Terpstra seems to be in the form of his life. Second time in a week that he has won a classic like that. Has to be a huge favourite for Roubaix given his previous in the race.

His 3rd big classic ever, and 2nd monument. So many top5 finishes before it was becoming embarrassing. Well done Nikki

Stage is set for Paris Roubaix now. What a race this is going to be !

young belgian Michael Goolaerts had a crash and a cardiac arrest, in critical condition at the hospital

Been a couple of nasty crashes so far.

Sagan on the offensive 38 seconds behind.

Sagan has monstered this field.

What a ride.

Sagan really is looking very strong here. Gap is getting bigger all the time between the rest of the field.

So frustrating when the 'chasing group' can't agree to 'chase'.

Absolutely unreal ride from Sagan. Tepstra and GVA will just look at each other and allow him to ride away. Cyclists drive me nuts when it becomes clear that they would rather lose a race than drag a rival along.

guy smiley wrote:Sagan's ride is impressive enough but Dillier with him has been out on a break all day.

Dillier indeed has been heroic today.

At what point does Sagan decide to pull away? He can't risk dragging him to the Veledrone.

Terpstra is starting to peg the gap. 60sec now

too late now

Beaver_Shark wrote:

guy smiley wrote:Sagan's ride is impressive enough but Dillier with him has been out on a break all day.

Dillier indeed has been heroic today.

At what point does Sagan decide to pull away? He can't risk dragging him to the Veledrone.

Surely rely on his sprint. Dillier surely cannot have much in his tank.

Brilliant from Sagan.

sagan it is

Sagan masterclass.

That was a brilliant finish. Sagan is class.

That's the best of the classics to be won.

guy smiley wrote:

BlackMac wrote:

Beaver_Shark wrote:

guy smiley wrote:Sagan's ride is impressive enough but Dillier with him has been out on a break all day.

Dillier indeed has been heroic today.

At what point does Sagan decide to pull away? He can't risk dragging him to the Veledrone.

Surely rely on his sprint. Dillier surely cannot have much in his tank.

It was pretty bloody close

well done both of them. Happy to see Sagan win it.

Wasn't it. Thats why I qualified with the second 'surely'

Michael Goolaerts died at PR today. Cardiac arrest. Terrible

RIP

Margin_Walker wrote:Michael Goolaerts died at PR today. Cardiac arrest. Terrible

RIP

Very sad indeed. Can't imagine the pain of his poor relatives.

Awful News RIP Michael

Sounds increasing like he had the Heart Attack on the road, & drifted off as he collapsed; paramedics were on the scene very quickly, & he was medivac'd to hospital very rapidly; but there was nothing the medical response could do

That's horrible news. I was with a mate in a race (charity event for a hospital!), we were bridging to a group in front when he called to me to ease up, turned round and he was grey as fcuk. Never seen anyone look like that. No mobile signal where we were so flagged down another rider to go up the road and find a signal or marshal when a 'kin ambulance passed! Got him to the hospital (where he worked as a charge nurse!) and they sorted him out. He placed third in his category at the one-day Coast to Coast two years later.

Well done Sagan, got it taped. Mrs. Doc in for a disappointing night in front of the telly...