Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/13/2017 01:47 PM |
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Sagan is obviously the white-hot favorite, but MSR can be such a crapshoot that it is hard to predict.
I thought Gaviria was too young last year and he managed to get over the Poggio and be there for the finish (even though he thoroughly screwed the pooch by touching wheels and going down in the finale). Defending champ Demare seems to eb going well, also....although I'm not certain there will be any team cars on the Cipressa this year. 
I'm going with Gaviria just because everyone and their mother is gonna pick Sagan. Who you got? |
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 03/13/2017 03:59 PM |
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Gaviria, Sagan (the two obvious picks).
If they're riding it: Kwiatkovski, Bling Matthews, van Avermaet, Roelandts |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/13/2017 05:15 PM |
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| Kwiatkowski is a good pick....if he can get a gap on the Poggio. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 03/14/2017 08:39 AM |
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| Gaviria just pipped Sagan in Tirreno so I'm going with him to take out MSR in a sprint finish. |
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Spud
Posts:525
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| 03/14/2017 01:37 PM |
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| Ok, I'll take a long shot with Dagenkolb. Hey, it could happen :-) |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 03/15/2017 11:13 AM |
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| Gaviria, Sagan, Degenkolb, and then Van Avermaet, and Kwiatkowski as an outside underdog, it's gonna be good |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 03/15/2017 11:14 AM |
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| Bouhanni...just to be different (and if it turns into a boxing match). |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/15/2017 01:44 PM |
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Gonzo pretty much just nailed all the top favorites, I reckon....
This is why MSR is actually my favorite race to watch....it is so wide open and the parcours lends itself to a thrilling finale.
The last 30K form the top of the Cipressa to the finish are the best racing of the year, IMO....usually a small group just off the front, drilling it for all they have got, a huge group chasing like madmen and the Poggio approaching....all along a gorgeous setting. Can't beat it...
And as our old friend Bartape says, MSR is the signal that we have survived yet another winter and Spring has arrived.
We have a viewing ride set-up at our training center on Sat....because Spring is still a ways off here in Chicago. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 03/16/2017 09:39 PM |
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@cosmiic kid, well, but I'm calling it in that order though, you heard it here, lol,
love your call on the last 30k, spot on
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 03/17/2017 03:53 PM |
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The best motivation to get on the bike, regardless of the rain.  |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 03/17/2017 07:52 PM |
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Geezer stuff here, read at your own risk.
Before modern training, modern bikes, and I think especially modern doping, only a few riders could scale the Poggio in the big ring and that limited who would be there for the finish and therefore who could win. So Merckx won a zillion times, being a great power climber and decent sprinter. Now 3/4 of the surviving peloton glides up the Poggio in the big ring and it's a three ring circus at the end.
Is it better now?
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/18/2017 03:02 PM |
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Ballsy ride by Sagan....I kinda thought he didn't need to go then and could wait until the finale, but I get why he went when he did.
Kwiakowski played it perfectly, killing himself to get in sagan's wheel before the summit and then hanging on. Was surprised to see him start to pull through with 2K to go and thought he was screwed and Sagan would take him on the sprint.
Lost my Eurosport feed on the flats between the Cipressa and the Poggio and took me awhile to find a new working one. Finally got an RAI feed right when they made the right turn onto the Poggio.
Sagan was the strongest guy....but MSR just isn't s hard enough course to ensure the strongest wins. Clearly the favorite for Flanders, though.... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 03/18/2017 08:42 PM |
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Peter Sagan is moving into a very select group of the best who ever was.
I admire his grace in defeat. Class act. |
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