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La Primavera - Spring is here (almost)!!
Last Post 03/24/2015 09:13 AM by Mike Shea. 14 Replies.
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Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/18/2015 09:54 AM
As our good friend Bartape / patched Tube has noted over the years, Milan-San Remo is the annual signal that we have made it through yet another winter (although here in Chicago, we still have a number of weeks until we get to spring...:crazy

MSR is probably my favorite Classic race just because that last 30km from the Cipressa, over the Poggio and down to the line are so crazy.....peloton in full flight, escapees throwing everything into a futile, doomed effort, the charge up the Poggio and then who knows....LOVE it.
So who ya got this year....seems more wide oprn than in years past. Some of the likely candidates seem to be struggling for form (Sagan, Kristoff on the climbs, etc) and the shorter run-in after the Poggio may favor the daredevil.

My picks....
Cadillac: Greg VanA
Steak Knives: Degenkolb
Fired: Sagan

Bonus points for those who know the placings reference.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/18/2015 10:49 AM
Some of the old guard is in form and highly motivated this year but Kristoff is still the guy to beat:

Kristoff
Gilbert
Cancellara
Keith Richards

Posts:781

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03/18/2015 12:48 PM
Ian Stannard FTW.

Degenkolb and Cav round out the podium.
----- It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong.
ChinookPass

Posts:809

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03/18/2015 06:40 PM
This Matthews kid might slip through.

I don't see any italians among the favorites.

Cav, then Degenkolb.

Sadly I had to google the movie ref.
Dale

Posts:1767

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03/18/2015 08:04 PM
I'm in sales.... I know the code.
MSR is a fantastic race. Totally love how the Poggio makes the race.
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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03/19/2015 04:08 PM
My contenders:
van Avermaet, Cancellara, Kwiatkovski, Swift, Stannard, Degenkolb, Haussler, Gilbert & Sagan.  Maybe Kristoff, too.  Degenkolb & Haussler are my dark horses.  Would absolutely love to see Spartacus take another one.  You know he won't employ "negative" race tactics.

Nieuwsblad is for me technically the start of the "real" season, but MSR is the first race where the real firepower comes out - the first race that really matters.  IMHO.
longslowdistance

Posts:2886

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03/19/2015 08:39 PM
except Paris Nice
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/22/2015 11:18 AM
Clearly off on the podium of the day but on the upside I predicted this moment would come a couple years ago on the old forum :-)

What a roller coaster.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/22/2015 03:45 PM
There is nothing like the last 30K of that race. Just love it.....

Sagan continues to show he is not the rider he once was....and he is still young. He lacks the tactical skills to position himself correctly.

Ride of the day goes to Paolini. Dude pulled the whole way up the Poggio, recovered set the pace again in the last 2KM and set Kristoff up for the sprint. Chapeau.

I almost had it right...GvA lacked the horsepower to get away, but made the move I expected. Degenkolb made a great sprint.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Red Tornado

Posts:159

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03/22/2015 08:32 PM
Finally, I was able to pick one for a change! Just had that feeling about Degenkolb. Sagan could very well be levelling off, or maybe just needs a little more maturing yet. He's 25 and already got a ton of results; too much success too quickly? Could also be that he's very well marked in the peloton. Degenkolb was in the right place at the right time & made his move at the right.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/22/2015 11:48 PM
You wouldn't be able to tell of Sagan was too well marked because he never made a move. Was invisible the whole race and poorly positioned for the sprint.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/23/2015 12:13 AM
Sagan did well enough today given the company he was in. But if they want him to finally net a monument maybe the team and sponsors should lay off silly gimmicks like marketing a camouflage bike the day before the race.

Cance didn't have room to move either today.

(BTW the proclamation I made 2-3yrs ago was that Degenkolb might win a monument before Sagan).
Gonzo Cyclist

Posts:568

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03/23/2015 10:45 AM
what a great finish, could have gone to just about anybody......

Spring is here, just saw that it was snowing in Chicago CK, looked rough!!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/23/2015 10:02 PM
Posted By Kenny Gonzales on 03/23/2015 10:45 AM
what a great finish, could have gone to just about anybody......

Spring is here, just saw that it was snowing in Chicago CK, looked rough!!


Yeah...got about 4" today. SERIOUSLY?

Had to drop my car off this AM and then ran back to the house...only about 1.5 miles, but it was a great run in fresh snow. Kinda took the edge of ny frustration....off to FL on Weds night for 10 days on Sanibel. Bike should be there tomorrow!!
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Master50

Posts:340

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03/24/2015 09:13 AM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 03/22/2015 11:48 PM
You wouldn't be able to tell of Sagan was too well marked because he never made a move. Was invisible the whole race and poorly positioned for the sprint.


There is something very wrong about his first pro year. he won much too easily. Have a real problem with his debut year. His last 2 seasons have been much more REAL.I do believe he is a top rider but his first season a little helped as well.
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