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Suedesi

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Strade Bianche, Pogacar: 81 km winning breakaway.

Tadej Pogacar, made a remarkable debut this season by winning Strade Bianche. Pogacar showcased his exceptional talent on the 18th edition of Strade Bianche, particularly on the challenging 11.5km stretch of Monte Sante Marie dirt road, known for its five-star difficulty rating and steep 18% gradients. With 81km remaining, Pogacar launched a decisive attack, quickly distancing himself from the peloton with a 10-meter lead. His closest rival, Sepp Kuss appeared bewildered by Pogacar's move. As Pogacar surged ahead, the weather shifted from rain to sunshine, symbolizing his dominance. He crossed the finish line in Siena's Piazza del Campo with a substantial lead of 2'43" over Latvian Toms Skujins and 2'46" over Belgian Wout Van Gils, followed by Tom Pidcock and Matej Mohoric.





The absence of cycling stars like Van der Poel, Van Aert, Evenepoel, and particularly Vingegaard doesn't diminish Pogacar's impressive achievement. With 30km remaining, he led the main group by four minutes. His 2022 victory at Strade Bianche featured a 51km solo breakaway, starting from the same Monte Sante Marie section, but this year he extended it to 81km. When considering major one-day races, excluding grand tour stages, Pogacar's performance is unparalleled. The closest comparison might be Fausto Coppi's legendary solo win at Milan-San Remo in 1946, covering 147km from the Passo del Turchino, marking cycling's post-World War II revival. Pogacar is now set for another challenge at Sanremo on March 16, where he has consistently excelled in the final stages. He will be up against the world champion, Van der Poel, promising an exciting showdown.
 

Mike Smalling

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I mistakenly made a different thread, so I will just paste this here.

So who do you have for Milano-Sanremo at the weekend? Obvious candidates have to be Pogacar and last years winner MVDP, but has to be said that it hasn't been won multiple times since Oscar Freire's last win in 2010. With the Poggio being so close to the finish line, it can be won by so many types of riders making for an awesone finish. My heart says Mads Pedersen, but head says Pogacar.
 

Mike Smalling

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Philipsen… disgusting.

But great ride to be fair, to stick with the group over the Poggio. He’s a lot more than just a sprinter. And big credit to MVDP as well.
 

Cheimoon

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Mike Smalling said:
Philipsen… disgusting.

But great ride to be fair, to stick with the group over the Poggio. He’s a lot more than just a sprinter. And big credit to MVDP as well.
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What`s wrong with Philipsen? Or is it the idea of a sprinter winning more generally?
 

Mike Smalling

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Cheimoon said:
What`s wrong with Philipsen? Or is it the idea of a sprinter winning more generally?
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In my opinion, he showed himself to be a complete dirtbag in the Tour last year. He’s one of the most unpopular riders in the peloton, because of his actions. Most of his stage wins were borderline and he was bullying other riders who wanted to go in the break.

Guy has no class.
 

Cheimoon

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Mike Smalling said:
In my opinion, he showed himself to be a complete dirtbag in the Tour last year. He’s one of the most unpopular riders in the peloton, because of his actions. Most of his stage wins were borderline and he was bullying other riders who wanted to go in the break.

Guy has no class.
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Ah ok. I didn't follow the tour closely last year, but just saw the Netflix series of the 2022 Tour and he comes across alright there, so I was curious.

Funnily, they portray him as a clumsy underdog there - but he has actually won a lot of big races since, so that's a little odd. And those series (the same team also made the F1 one) are anyway good at creating their own narratives of course. For example, I read that Van Aert was quite unhappy with how his relationship with Vingegaard was portrayed (far too negative, in his eyes).
 

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Cheimoon said:
Ah ok. I didn't follow the tour closely last year, but just saw the Netflix series of the 2022 Tour and he comes across alright there, so I was curious.

Funnily, they portray him as a clumsy underdog there - but he has actually won a lot of big races since, so that's a little odd. And those series (the same team also made the F1 one) are anyway good at creating their own narratives of course. For example, I read that Van Aert was quite unhappy with how his relationship with Vingegaard was portrayed (far too negative, in his eyes).
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Yeah, the TdF series is guilty of creating narratives that don’t really exist, and also missing out of some of major storylines of the Tour. The latter can be forgiven because so much is going on with 21 stages and 20+ teams. Also, since it is partly a French production, it skews quite heavily to the French teams. It honestly isn’t all that good, but I’ll definitely watch it again if they make another.
 

Cheimoon

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Mike Smalling said:
Yeah, the TdF series is guilty of creating narratives that don’t really exist, and also missing out of some of major storylines of the Tour. The latter can be forgiven because so much is going on with 21 stages and 20+ teams. Also, since it is partly a French production, it skews quite heavily to the French teams. It honestly isn’t all that good, but I’ll definitely watch it again if they make another.
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Yeah, it was fun, it gives a behind-the-scenes look you don't normally get - but it's best if you know cycling already. I mean, they even make it seem like the Tour is all there is in the season...
 

RobinLFC

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Van Aert and Stuyven done for the foreseeable future it seems, of course in the last race before the Ronde and Roubaix.

Feck. This. Fecking. Shit.
 

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RobinLFC said:
Van Aert and Stuyven done for the foreseeable future it seems, of course in the last race before the Ronde and Roubaix.

Feck. This. Fecking. Shit.
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Terrible luck. Would love to see Van Aert win another monument.
 

Ainu

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RobinLFC said:
Van Aert and Stuyven done for the foreseeable future it seems, of course in the last race before the Ronde and Roubaix.

Feck. This. Fecking. Shit.
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I had the stream on at work and that was just terrible to watch. Van Aert is totally fecked, you could hear him crying. I fecking despise this sport at times.

Is there a more unlucky rider than van Aert? That horrible injury in 2019, Covid the week before De Ronde in 2022, the flat tire at the worst possible moment in P-R last year, and now this. How do you not give up after all that shit?
 

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Ainu said:
I had the stream on at work and that was just terrible to watch. Van Aert is totally fecked, you could hear him crying. I fecking despise this sport at times.

Is there a more unlucky rider than van Aert? That horrible injury in 2019, Covid the week before De Ronde in 2022, the flat tire at the worst possible moment in P-R last year, and now this. How do you not give up after all that shit?
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Devastated. He's so unlucky. He has won so much, but with a bitter more luck he could have had a couple of monuments extra.

I have zero appetite for watching the RVV on Sunday. Feck this shit. It was going to be one of the most exciting editions in years. Pedersen, Stuyven, Van Aert, even Girmay were all going to challenge VDP. Forget it.
 

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onemanarmy said:
Devastated. He's so unlucky. He has won so much, but with a bitter more luck he could have had a couple of monuments extra.

I have zero appetite for watching the RVV on Sunday. Feck this shit. It was going to be one of the most exciting editions in years. Pedersen, Stuyven, Van Aert, even Girmay were all going to challenge VDP. Forget it.
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It's going to be a procession, so yeah, I'm not even going to tune in. I'm close to being done with this sport altogether, though I know I'll change my mind about it when I've calmed down a little.
 

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Van Aert and Stuyven broken collarbone. So that's that for the spring classics :(

Well, this ruined my day. I feel so sorry for both. Honestly, I just hope WVA can get one of RVV or Roubaix in the future.
 

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Multiple broken ribs as well for van Aert, just awful. A crash like this has the potential to derail an entire career, just look at Alaphilippe. I hope this isn't a similar story.
 

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Ainu said:
Multiple broken ribs as well for van Aert, just awful. A crash like this has the potential to derail an entire career, just look at Alaphilippe. I hope this isn't a similar story.
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The mental aspect even more so than the crash itself perhaps. This was literally his make or break week, he sacrified almost half a year for this and next Sunday, and that's a tough ask from a family guy like himself. I of course don't have the mindset of a professional athlete, but I'd think twice before doing that again.

He has something like ~5 years at the top, probably, but each year his chances to win either one of them, let alone both, get slimmer and slimmer. The chance that he gets close to a career like Boonen is almost 0 already (3x Ronde, 4x Roubaix) despite being his equal (or even better) as an athlete imo.
 

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So what will Wout’s schedule look like now following the crash? If the Giro is too soon for him, maybe we get to see him in the Tour.
 

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RobinLFC said:
The mental aspect even more so than the crash itself perhaps. This was literally his make or break week, he sacrified almost half a year for this and next Sunday, and that's a tough ask from a family guy like himself. I of course don't have the mindset of a professional athlete, but I'd think twice before doing that again.

He has something like ~5 years at the top, probably, but each year his chances to win either one of them, let alone both, get slimmer and slimmer. The chance that he gets close to a career like Boonen is almost 0 already (3x Ronde, 4x Roubaix) despite being his equal (or even better) as an athlete imo.
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That's cycling, I guess. Details can make the difference between having a great palmares in the biggest races, and being left with almost nothing. I don't even care about that anymore, I just want van Aert to be able to make the best out of whatever years are left to him. Even that would look like a win after injuries like these.

Mike Smalling said:
So what will Wout’s schedule look like now following the crash? If the Giro is too soon for him, maybe we get to see him in the Tour.
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Judging by the extent of the injuries, Giro is impossible. Honestly, I'd say even the Tour and olympic road race is a stretch. Maybe just focus on Vuelta and world championship, or sit out the entire year.
 

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Apparently Mads Pedersen is okay so hopefully we can get some semblance of a battle between him and VdP on Sunday. Though it’s hard to believe he’ll be at a 100 percent after that crash, which he’d probably need to be.
 

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Jev said:
Apparently Mads Pedersen is okay so hopefully we can get some semblance of a battle between him and VdP on Sunday. Though it’s hard to believe he’ll be at a 100 percent after that crash, which he’d probably need to be.
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In his own words, Flanders isn’t the best fit for him among the monuments. Slightly banged up and with no Stuyven it looks tough. He’ll have a better shot a Roubaix.
 

RobinLFC

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This honestly is the first Ronde is forever I have so little interest in watching, and I was super excited before yesterday for it :(

Without WVA and (especially) Pogacar there's literally no one who can threathen MVDP on the hills, he can only lose due to a flat tire or crash (God forbid) or something like that. And even then, with the help of his team he's able to close a gap of multiple minutes without too much fuss on this kind of race.

If I'm Tomas Van de Spiegel I'm on the phone to Pogacar and throwing the entire bank at him for starting this Sunday.
 

RobinLFC

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Not quite sure what Pedersen is trying to accomplish here. Either he’s so good he wants to make it as hard as possible, or he feels he’s not good enough and is just YOLOing / anticipating.
 

Stevondo8

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RobinLFC said:
Not quite sure what Pedersen is trying to accomplish here. Either he’s so good he wants to make it as hard as possible, or he feels he’s not good enough and is just YOLOing / anticipating.
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Cyclingnews.com reckon he’s trying something to setup Milan or Skujins
 

RobinLFC

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Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring
 

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He’s just too good. Sadly pretty predictable. Shame Pogacar didn’t choose to ride this.

Here’s hoping for another Roubaix winner.
 

RobinLFC

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Can’t see who with Pedersen injured apart from someone from an early breakaway. The biggest threat is probably Philipsen in his own team.
 

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RobinLFC said:
Can’t see who with Pedersen injured apart from someone from an early breakaway. The biggest threat is probably Philipsen in his own team.
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You think Pedersen is injured to an extent where it limits him? Seemed like he did fine physically today, whereas the tactics were questionable. I think he just sometimes tries the spectacular rather than ride very tactically.

Another week and he should be all good. But I doubt he is strong enough to challenge van der Poel.
 

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Mike Smalling said:
Anyway, 40 km left in the real Ronde van Vlaanderen. Let’s go Niewiadoma :drool:
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I so want her to get a big victory, but she just can't sprint to save her life. Such a shame.

Longo Borghini closing the gap on Van Anrooij was a big wtf moment. Ok, the winner is always right I guess, but still not nice to see.
 

Mike Smalling

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Feck me Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Roglic and others down in massive crash in Tour of the Basque Country. Race neutralised. Vingegaard and Evenepoel definitely seem out of the race and set for a break, given the descriptions I've read, and particularly Vingegaard seems to be badly hurt.

What a shit week.

Edit: 6 riders driven away in ambulances, including Roglic, Vingegaard and Evenepoel.
 
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onemanarmy

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Mike Smalling said:
Feck me Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Roglic and others down in massive crash in Tour of the Basque Country. Race neutralised. Vingegaard and Evenepoel definitely seem out of the race and set for a break, given the descriptions I've read, and particularly Vingegaard seems to be badly hurt.

What a shit week.

Edit: 6 riders driven away in ambulances, including Roglic, Vingegaard and Evenepoel.
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Evenepoel definitely collarbone broken. Vingegaard didn't look good at all.

Shite shite shite.


 

Mike Smalling

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12 riders involved in total, and 3 of the absolute race favorites and biggest names in the sport all crash out. What are the fecking odds. Not that it matters, who gets hurt.

Vingegaard in a neck brace, when wheeled into the ambulance :(
 

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Good news about Vingegaard, thank god. A broken collarbone and several broken ribs. It looked potentially much worse. Tour might be a possibility.
 

Mike Smalling

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Jev said:
Good news about Vingegaard, thank god. A broken collarbone and several broken ribs. It looked potentially much worse. Tour might be a possibility.
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Yeah, if that’s all, it really could have been a lot worse. Maybe he can train in a month and a half or so. Preparation is compromised no matter what though.
 

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They should all be fine for the Tour, but a shame nonetheless. Vingegaard might struggle a bit more given that broken ribs are much more difficult to deal with than a broken collarbone.

I don't get the sudden outcry for more safety though - it's not like yesterday was the fault of the race directors, it was just a shit judgment from the guy right behind Evenepoel which caused the pack behind him going out of the turn. I've seen opinions online that they should have removed the rocks next to the bend of the road for safety reasons. Give me a fecking break.

Also not convinced by the chicane in front of Wallers this upcoming weekend. Yes it reduces speed on the cobbles but what you're gonna get is that they will be fighting like madmen to be front row before the chicane, basically just putting the problem elsewhere. VDP had the most sensible opinion out there imo, that it's first and foremost a riders' problem and they need to deal with not doing crazy or stupid shit to be in the best spots. If you're going to take risks, best live with the consequences...
 

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Fans and the media will always look for people to blame when stuff like this happens, but the riders come into corners at high speed, they are fighting for position and are really closely bunched up. Multiple riders have now said that it was likely caused by tree roots under the pavement making the road a little bumby - that's all it takes for a small mistake that can cause a big crash.

It's a dangerous sport - perhaps the most dangerous sport that is widely practiced professionally? Crashes resulting in heavy injuries unfortunately can't be eliminated from the sport without significant changes.
 

RobinLFC

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Mike Smalling said:
Fans and the media will always look for people to blame when stuff like this happens, but the riders come into corners at high speed, they are fighting for position and are really closely bunched up. Multiple riders have now said that it was likely caused by tree roots under the pavement making the road a little bumby - that's all it takes for a small mistake that can cause a big crash.

It's a dangerous sport - perhaps the most dangerous sport that is widely practiced professionally? Crashes resulting in heavy injuries unfortunately can't be eliminated from the sport without significant changes.
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If it's tree roots then the organisation is partly at fault imo, they can avoid descents like that or can at the very least put some signalization on the road. Not sure it has been mentioned yet above but apparently Vingegaard had messaged the organisation already back in January that he felt some parts of the race were unsafe and there could be done more to ensure safety - organisation never responded at all...

Re: significant changes, there's a Belgian engineer who has developed some sort of "airbag" system which riders have to wear, it would protect them on impact for the most important parts (neck, shoulders, back, I believe). Easily folded up again after a crash if I'm not mistaken, weighs around 500g. I don't think it will be long before things like that are optimized and put in place (you'd have to obligate everyone to wear it obviously because 500g is a huge difference in the mountains). It's only 25 years ago that they were riding without helmets on some parts of stages, can't be iminaged now anymore. So yeah, I think a change in equipment coupled with increased due diligence on the organisation's part can do wonders already. But you can never eliminate the risk entirely.
 

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RobinLFC said:
Re: significant changes, there's a Belgian engineer who has developed some sort of "airbag" system which riders have to wear, it would protect them on impact for the most important parts (neck, shoulders, back, I believe). Easily folded up again after a crash if I'm not mistaken, weighs around 500g. I don't think it will be long before things like that are optimized and put in place (you'd have to obligate everyone to wear it obviously because 500g is a huge difference in the mountains). It's only 25 years ago that they were riding without helmets on some parts of stages, can't be iminaged now anymore. So yeah, I think a change in equipment coupled with increased due diligence on the organisation's part can do wonders already. But you can never eliminate the risk entirely.
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Something similar has been available commercially for a while, and a couple of years ago they were really popular in Denmark. This was worn around the neck and would inflate in case of crash. I'm actually just reading now that they are now not recommended by the authorities, and they have closed their webshop. Short video. I've also heard some funny stories about people forgetting to turn them off and inadvertantly activating the sensors by bending down in a supermarket or something.

Would be awesome if this could be improved upon and made feasible for racing!
 
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