| Archive for justcycling.myfastforum.org Just Cycling |
| maffy |
Milano-San Remo - 298km - 19th March 2011
maps, hills startlists emerging here and here official site unofficial site --- ...remember to vote yes/no to av on may the thingieth... |
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| Biosphere |
So where would people like to stand given a choice? Top of Poggio and see them more strung out and hopefully less crowds, or finish line with stricter crowd control, more difficult to see race itself but able to catch the post race atmosphere etc.
Any other suggestions on a good place to stand? To save some smart arse the trouble, the top step of the podium is not an option 
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| gerry12ie |
The traditionalist would always say the Poggio I suppose. I have the same problem for LBL - La Redoute with the Gilbert fanclub or Cote St. Nicolas with the tourists.
Go for the Poggio - you know it makes sense! |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
Can you write something on the road for us? | ||||||
| mr shifter |
St Nicholas is my (tourist) last spot but much later at the mini roundabout. (with options of a dash along the top to the finish like the old days or into a local bar) |
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| Boogerd_Fan |
I hate to think what MJM would write on the road given the chance! 
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| gerry12ie |
Any thoughts for FW other than a bar on the Muur de Huy? |
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| Biosphere |
The Poggio isn't big enough for a proper vent
Gerry, I'm of the same view as you, but there's a little voice at the back of my head telling me if I'm there live, I should know the result live, but a radio should solve that issue. Added complication will be that Mrs. Bio will be back in San Remo so I don't want to leave her on her own for too long - the credit card won't take it if she goes shopping
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| HuwB |
I see that Rai sport 2 are doing it large, with 10 hours of the Milan San Remo story, spread over 3 nights, starting Wednesday.
A marathon viewing of the marathon race. |
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| Biosphere |
I just assumed that was a scheduling typo 
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| HuwB |
They were talking about it during yesterday's coverage. 3 editions per show from the noughties, I think. Of course, whether the air times run 3/4 hours............ |
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| Biosphere |
Well I guess they got the footage and a channel to fill 
Only saw the last few mins of yesterday's highlights due to them being on a bit late, but it sounds like your Italian is far better than mine anyway so I would probably have been none the wiser. |
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| mr shifter |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUQKOSti7FQ After which, then what can I remember Cancellara for sure. Andrei Tchmil was good. And perhaps that amazing Cavendish win over Hausler |
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| HuwB |
The Rai Sport 2, 3 night special: "Milan San Remo Story" is, as I thought, the live coverage of past editions. Saturation coverage, too.
Just caught Pantani on the Poggio - a thing of beauty. |
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| maffy |
lele colombo's 1999 effort wasn't bad neither. |
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| Biosphere |
Just been for a walk along the finishing strait. Amazingly (to me anyway) one side of it is being scarified and resurfaced this evening. It looks like it will be a typical Italian bodge job 
Cassini and the rest of the RAI team were there going through their paces. Took some photos of the state of the road, but can't upload as card reader was forgotten. |
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| Bartali |
Yup!! Collosseum, Pantheon, Hadrian's Wall ... bloody Italians can't build anything that lasts!
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| maffy |
you should have a go at standing on it afterwards anyway. it's fun. have someone take a picture. which it's then entirely acceptable to misplace for thirty years or so. |
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| Severo |
Just under 200km to go, Alessandro De Marchi (Androni), Nico Sijmens (Cofidis), Takashi Miyazawa (Farnese) and Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) with a lead of around 10 minutes.
Who would have guessed Ignatiev would be there?! |
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| HuwB |
First hour at +47kph. Typical M-SR.
All the live races feeds can be got from here. http://www.teamskyfans.com/ TV wise, RS 2 first up at 14-15CET. Eurosport around the 14-45 mark.
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| Severo |
Streams to start in about 30 minutes or so. Enough time for me to have lunch and a shower, I hope.
Pretty quick going - around 43.5kmh. At this speed the race will finish 1640-1650 CET. Hushovd and Cavendish just punctured. L'Equipe 5 start picks - Freire, Gilbert; 4 stars - Hushovd, Cancellara. For me, I don't see Hushovd doing it but rather giving way to Haussler or Farrar and in return getting 100% support at Roubaix. |
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| HuwB |
I'm still 10 minutes behind, playing catch up with Rai.
Peloton crash. Hushovd doesn't look great. Langeveld, Matthews and Arvesen among the crashees, along with half of Cofidis and the compulsory Euskatel deck merchant. At the foot of the climb, Liquigas took off, so a lot of folks are out the back........... |
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| mr shifter |
Well Eurosport is screening everywhere.
I am reminding myself about some geezer's chain coming off and the out cry at that time of unfairness. What a great sport this is. Poor old Oscar today. Any sympathy here, any words at all 
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| HuwB |
A bit useful this. The smaller group holding the gap on the bunch.
I'm surprised Cancellara hasn't sat on the front and told BMC and Katusha to sit up, so as they can all catch up.
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| Severo |
Apart from here, where Nordic skiing seems to be more important... |
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| kathy |
MSR isn't on Int ES TV until 18.00, Severo - same for me. | ||||||
| Severo |
Damn, I thought they were going to start at 15:45... but just found the remote with the programme information button and yeh 1800-1900 highlights 
Oh well, internet it is then. |
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| Nolte |
so names i've picked as in lead group
cancellarra, bennati, goss, greipl, haussleur, gilbert, boonen, pozzato, ballan, boassen hagen dasz ice cream, sagan, petacchi, nibali |
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| Severo |
I hope it all comes back together just so Lay-o-pard can't benefit as they've been doing nothing in the front group. | ||||||
| kathy |
Some ride by Scarponi! | ||||||
| Bartali |
This is a great race ... love Scarponi to somehow win it. Great ride!1 | ||||||
| Bartali |
Poggio!! | ||||||
| HuwB |
Great, great edition, this.
Eurosport ad breaks have been a thing of beauty. TGF RS 2. 10kms to go, Poggio and anyone's race. |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
Vinny Nibs having a crack. | ||||||
| Bartali |
NIBS | ||||||
| Bartali |
Go on Nibs ride like the wind!!! | ||||||
| Slapshot 3 |
Van Avermaert running away with this one | ||||||
| Mrs John Murphy |
Fucking Harmon - just shut up and piss off. Stop stealing our oxygen.
Anyone seen Bio yet? Has Fab Can got his batteries charged up for one of his 'attacks'? |
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| Bartali |
Class race!! | ||||||
| Slapshot 3 |
Goss, Spartacus, Gilbert......Brilliant race | ||||||
| Bartali |
You have to love Scarponi. All that chasing and he still has a pop at victory!! | ||||||
| HuwB |
Best edition in years.
Awesome. Enough said. (rugby) I see that the: "HTC are a bunch of uber-dopers" mantra, has read the Spanish contingent on the CN forum.
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| Nolte |
great race.
superb performances by offredo, goss, chainel |
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| gerry12ie |
Great race marred by the non-contribution from the robotZzzz who get dragged to the line for a win
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| Slapshot 3 |
Gilbert not chuffed as he crossed the line | ||||||
| Mrs John Murphy |
+ 1. Goss did nothing. Lets hope he thanks Scarponi for the lead out. But hey he's an english speaker so that makes it all ok. Maybe one day they'll move the finish back to where it used to be. |
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| Me, a fan? |
Imagine the gap Goss would have had with the super-duper Venge. Guess 23 free watts wasn't enough for Cav. | ||||||
| Beasley |
Isn't that the name of the game, Gerry? All bets are off in a Classic. The fastest has the privilege of showing his hand last, it's up to the rest to make sure he isn't there to pull an Ace out the hat. |
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| gerry12ie |
Yes of course but I just don't like em! | ||||||
| Bartali |
Here here Gerry! Still it was a good race nevertheless! | ||||||
| Mrs John Murphy |
Misses the point but never mind. No doubt you can keep on blowing the HGH trumpet. As McQuaid pointed out - the robo-wheelsucking riding from HGH is what is killing the sport. Another talking point - Pozzato screwing up another classic. Once again, spending all his time marking people and not really doing anything. |
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| Slapshot 3 |
As we've come to expect in recent years there are very few riders willing to sacrifice themselves for the win, just pick up the pieces of victory when they can, I don't know can we name it the "The Blue Train Syndrome" or "the Hog Principle", either way its as boring as sin and the wins are less for them. | ||||||
| HuwB |
Judging by the way Garmin (Sky, too) sat at the back of the chase group and contributed zilch, I would hazard a guess that their race radios were on the blink. 
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| Mrs John Murphy |
The thing is SS, that there are riders who are willing to sacrifice themselves - Nibs, Gilbert, Scarponi, GVA, YO etc, but they always seem to get mugged by the wheelsuckers.
Which in turn makes riders eve less willing to make an effort in future. If I were Scarponi and I were in the same position I'd be asking myself 'why bother?' If ever a race would have benefited from no race radios this was it. |
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| Fontfroide |
I came in with forty k left, and found it a rather exciting race. I thought it would be a little less interesting before it started due to my prejudice about PM. But I was pretty gripped for those last k with the various breaks, efforts to escape, and so forth. That is a quality podium, you could not get much better. Maybe Visconti instead of Goss.
I see the l'Equipe predictions were not too bad. They had three at the top ranks and two of the three were on the podium. Their only fault is that they neglected to give Goss even one star, and he won. Still.... Yes, indeed, much more interesting than usual. |
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| Bartali |
Yeah it was a great race, but I have a lot of sympathy for MJM's point, and would have preferred just about anyone from that final group to win with the possible exception of Pippo who still hasn't rediscovered his mojo. |
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| Bartali |
Anyone hear the rubbish spouted by Magnus B in the studio? One moment he says radios should be banned for safety reasons ... then 5 seconds later he announces his great idea - one radio per team. WTF!! What makes it even worse is that the anchor man doesn't call him on it. Typical rubbish british telly - we haven't really moved on since the eighties in terms of quality ... though fortunately we have more quantity! | ||||||
| Fontfroide |
Fearless is not what l'Equipe do really. They do 'getting it right'. And they didn't mention Goss at all. You are totally correct though, most commentators would have Gilbert and Cancellara (in in the case of the paper, Hushovd) as the big favourites. Freire was the other five star with Gilbert. As in the list I posted. |
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| Me, a fan? |
Yeah that's great when guys attack and make it exciting for us to watch, but victory is the ultimate goal for all these guys. How many flat K's do you think an attacker should be able to hold off the world's elite chasing them down? What sense does it make to attack when the odds are so low? There's a course for every type of rider, msr just happens to be a sprinter's course. With few exceptions. |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
Lets hope that the MSR organizers realise what a snoozefest the sprinters are making and move the finish back to where it was to give the likes of Nibs, Scarponi etc more of a chance. The issue of how exciting the race is for fans is central to McQuaid's letter to the riders. He is saying that above all cycling needs to be a spectacle for the fans. Now while I am sure that the HGH fanboys are delighted to secure victory, but the manner in which it was achieved - wheelsucking, is in effect anti-cycling - and that turns off the neutrals. |
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| Me, a fan? |
I agree, and that would make it a more meaningful victory in my eyes. The good thing is there's still Liege and Flèche... | ||||||
| mr shifter |
He then said welcome to International ES viewers etc. I had British ES on and I changed to my analog International ES after that. This is the stuff through Germany ES with Teletext in German and I have their schedule on the internet. So you learn summit everyday, sorry. One of the best MSR's I've seen for a few years as Nibali took off (ala Fondriest) The camera work being so poor these days that you can't see exactly where they are, but I think Nibs went at the right place. Oh I did get excited until the corner at the end of Poggio village and about 8 riders went round and later Harmon actually commented with some names and I said to the wife it will be Goss. I also said that Cavendish will say, he couldn't say anything beforehand about Goss being the Main man today. Comment to earlier posts. I am a great advocate of the "Kelly" Finish Line but with those 8 or so around that corner, then there was only going to be one outcome no matter how near the finish was to the Poggio was this year. I would have been estactic if Nibali or Scarponi had won. Man of the Match, Scarponi. |
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| Slapshot 3 |
MSR is a sprinters course because it's been made that way, there is no massive selection or winnable breaks on the Poggio or Cipressa any more because the The Hog Principle applies, it's controlled and controlled to the metre. Stapleton or Pieper would have had Goss, no radios today may have had a big impact. i hate wheelsuckers!! Historically MSR was a better race because breaks were more regular, the finish was trickier and closer to the Poggio. But Races evolve and I don't always think they evolve for the right reasons and in the right way. My own view, is either to add something to the finale or to go back to the Via Roma and pull the finish closer to the Poggio. Just my tuppence worth |
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| HuwB |
Yup.
Came on to say the same, Mr S, that Scarponi was by some margin, man of the match. Had a little smile at Mr Harmoan eluding to him having slim prospects of catching the lead bunch. Took him little more than the total time on the Cipressa to close over a minute. Unfortunately, I'd be surprised if he weren't back in the same bateau as Mr Sinkewitz. Sad shot of the day? Bottom of the Cipressa and Sky on the front of the main peloton, straddling the road, looking like rabbits caught in the headlights. |
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| Bartali |
Aw ... don't say that Huw. 
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| HuwB |
Well he has been going far better these past two seasons than pre-Puerto. Of course, it might just be a natural progression................ |
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| Boogerd_Fan |
I usually skip watching ES for Milan-San Remo, but i'm glad i didn't today. Great race. | ||||||
| Bartali |
Shhhhhh .... don't tell anyone! 
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| kathy |
Bartali - on the website for the auction of sporting stuff in aid of the Save the Children Appeal for Japan, there is a Liquigas jersey signed by Basso, Nibs and Sagan.
Thought it might interest you
Details here http://www.qxl.no/Contents/no/reddbarna/index.htm |
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| Bartali |
Thx Kathy .... well it is a good cause isn't it!
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| mr shifter |
...........I thought I posted this last night.
We can ride straight down the main road y'know it's much easier. Sinkewitz or not, that was a good ride that needed hard work. 
Now a comment with no reflection on that ride. I have noted many times that PED riders still have to "Hurt" themselves to get their results but I suppose they know they have "an extra" in their system to do so. There is only one I know of that makes it all look so easy and un-natural. |
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| Bartali |
Lovely quote from Scarponi
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| mr shifter |
He will have to stay awake on the Cipressa and do a Pozzato and then use all that energy on the Poggio. Time to dream perhaps. Nibali & Scarponi in tandem up the Poggio. now that would have been an Epic. |
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| SlowRower |
Indurain? |
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| gerry12ie |
Contador?? |
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| kathy |
You two are very funny
I know exactly who Mr S means
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| SlowRower |
I'm sure they all just adopt the mantra of "Train hard and win easy"...
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| mr shifter |
Never whinged but just got on with it. (as the wheel suckers came round for the stage win) There you are Bruyneel. (cycling would have been a better sport if he hadn't climbed out of that ravine) You people must explain what level of assistance you are insinuating. The bland statement for your own satisfaction that, they have all doped since time began has some truth in it but at what level. In Tom Simpson's day it was amphetamines but they all took the dammed pills. "Blood Bags". come on fer christ's sake, that is much different.
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| SlowRower |
Indurain was climbing at Hinault/LeMond power to weight ratios in 1990/1991, levels which had been consistently the best that could eb achieved by top riders for many years. By '93, he was climbing at Armstrong/Ullrich power to weight ratios, i.e. an increase of 10% in his late 20s that just happened to coincide with the widespread adoption of EPO, for which no test existed, into the peleton. Mig was undoubtedly a gentleman and didn't whinge publicly (although he apparently got into a major spat with his team when forced to race the '96 Vuelta), but the only conceivable explanation for his '93-'95 performance levels is EPO/blood doping. And he certainly made it all look very easy indeed. Good luck to him as well. Since he was beating the likes of Bugno, Chiapucci, Rominger, Riis, Pantani and Zulle, he seems like no less deserving a recipient of respect than any potential contemporary replacement on the top step of the podium! |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
Frodo? |
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| SlowRower |
He certainly makes it look easy more often than not if he gets to the finish, but the same could be said of Cipo and Pettachi in their respective primes, and I think you once highlighted that Pettachi at his best had a much higher strike rate in GTs than Cav. Ullrich in '96 probably looked to be going more easily than anyone else I've seen finishing second in the Tour. Surely he would have won that year if the Telekom management had allowed it. |
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| Biosphere |
That's an interesting point (to me anyway). Why didn't a German team want a German winner? Surely preferable to a Dane? |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
At the time it was seen very through the prism of Delgardo-Mig. That is to say that Ullrich was viewed as the new Mig who was doing his duties as a domestique and would go on in time to win the TDF.
Don't forget that it was also the year that Zabel won Green for the first time as well. Riis had been brought over from Gewiss so I suspect that having invested so much money in Mr 60%, and given his bouts of roid rage, maybe they didn't want to piss off the doped up slaphead. |
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| SlowRower |
I wondered that myself, but from what I recall, the leadship structure on the road was clear, with Riis #1. Even in the '97 Tour when Riis was clearly a few % down on his trademark "Mr 60%" and Ullrich equally clearly in top form, Ullrich was still waiting for Riis as his team leader. I think it was on the stage that Brochard won that Ullrich realised late on that Riis was struggling and practically sat up to wait, ruling himself out of a chance of a stage victory. Maybe Telekom took the view that Ullrich was a bit flakey mentally, and that giving him Team Leadership status in preference to Riis towards the end of the '96 Tour might have destabilised him, whereas when he took over as leader mid-Tour in '97, Riis was down physically and clearly a bit flakey up top as well (if his bike-throwing is anything to go by) so it was much less controversial in term sof Team Politics. There are too many ifs, buts and maybes when it comes to Ullrich, but he certainly seems a very happy ex racer these days! |
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| mr shifter |
A suffering attacking rider is passed by a Locomotive in full steam (because his team leader is also suffering and orders are GO) so he gets on the fast wheel, who storms through the breakaway of 4 riders so fast they hardly knew what happened in all that dust. This started just after Pont-a-Marcq with about an hours racing to go as the Loco ate up the kilometres The pictures show a guy having to work hard to stay on the engines wheel. For Kilometre after Kilometre the Loco ploughs ahead with only an occasional glance to see if the Leech is still there. Magnificent riding with (only once I think) very slight help on a tarmac section but then the French wheelsucker apparently won by millimeters in the Roubaix Velodrome. Everybody thought Franco Ballerini had won and he thought so himself but no no this is France with a favourite Frenchman being given the Honours. Most unbelievable result that was and very odd at the time and obviously by the link below it still is. I still think Franco Ballerini won in 93 as he did in 95 & 98. I was a fan of Gibbo but after that thieving track ride without any Honour I can't say that anymore. Dam wheelsuckers that I disliked them in my racing days also. www.cyclingnews.com/features/the-classics-most-surprising-winners
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| mr shifter |
For a sponsor that didn't have two pennies to rub together a couple of years earlier and most of their cycle team were only too happy to be able to ride in the "West". The sum invested in the Dane for that season couldn't be changed during the TDF with the first two podiums going their way anyway. I have often wondered if they lost interest in the Dane after that Lord Mayors show as it didn't last much longer for him. T Mobile built on East German PED's without a doubt and as they said three years later how the cycle team had made them as well known as Coca Cola. There isn't much Pink at the road side now and so the main TV channels have switched off of cycle racing. |
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| mr shifter |
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| Biosphere |
Decent interview with Ballan
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/c...ter-strong-milan-san-remo-showing |
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| SlowRower |
Riis maybe peaked too early in '97. Didn't he win one of the spring one-dayers that year as well? I doubt either he or Ullrich built their seasons round the TdS, though. Ullrich was the Top Dog when it mattered. |
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| Biosphere |
Well his overall victory there in 2006 probably wasn't the swan-song he was hoping for. Won the final day time trial too in a lightning storm downpour and beat Evans into second place who had done his time in the dry. Ullrich's last competitive day on a bike
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| SlowRower |
Given that very few sportsmen get to script their exit (other than "retire at end of season without troubling the podium as clearly past it"), it's not such a bad way to go. Ullrich vs Basso in the 2006 Tour would have been good.
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| Biosphere |
Kicked out of the Tour the day before it starts in a drug scandal is a pretty bad way to go surely? At least Basso got a happy ending. |
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| Mrs John Murphy |
However, it has given him much more time to do the things he has always enjoyed doing. 
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| SlowRower |
It's an occupational hazard of the sport, I guess. Said scandal hasn't really tarnished his halo, so maybe an enforeced retirement whilst still in GT-contending form is no bad things, given the potential alternatives. As MJM suggests, he seems to be enjoying his retirement, so he's got his own happy ending. I'd sooner drink beer than slog for three weeks through the mountains as well.
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| Biosphere |
Well I was speaking purely from a sporting career point of view. What the history books will record as his 'end'. I'm not surprised that he'd be happier if he could get away from all the pressure and lies. As for Basso having a happy ending - I probably shouldn't write that chapter yet. |
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| gerry12ie |
Dare I suggest a separate thread for classics, or at least the monuments? They should generate plenty of debate and if they were grouped together it may be of benefit. | ||||||
| Mrs John Murphy |
Go for it. | ||||||
| mr shifter |
He must have been advised to get out and no further action will be taken so it was a virtual Resignation. (and bloody well stay away, I should think) Now without those "Super" East German Hero's in pink there is very little for their media to talk about on the home front. (even on one of the Worlds largest mobile Cell phone company phones) (or Cells) They must pay McTwat a lot to keep that Hamburg venture alive. |
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| mr shifter |
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| Biosphere |
Meant to post this a bit earlier in the week, but have two sets of visitors on the go at the moment, so busy on the home front. Not sure I can add much to the race discussion at this late point but here goes:
San Remo itself is a very pleasant place and went for a potter around on Friday afternoon when we arrived. This was the last few hundred metres on Friday evening and they were still working at midnight when we were going back to hotel. 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image It made me laugh that the RAI studio was right beside the RAI commentary box so Cassani and Pancani get to sit next door in their functional cubicle for rehearsal on Friday night whilst the others get the glamour treatment. 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image The finish looked better on Saturday morning before I started my domestique duties as a bag carrier and chief navigator (yes we've been down this street already) before being released into the wild on Saturday afternoon. 
Click to see full size image This is a typical Italian bodge job that was overlooking the marketplace - half the block appeared to have been knocked down so what was once inside is now outside. I suspect it doesn't make it onto postcards. 
Click to see full size image I don't have a gelatto problem - I eat it on a purely social basis 
Click to see full size image San Remo was looking very pretty for the upcoming flower festival. Check out the MSR logo again to see the built in advertising 
Click to see full size image On the way back to hotel to drop off bags, I came across these ladies. I think they've latched on to him as they're just typical Italian Mamas looking for someone to fatten up as when they saw me taking their photo they invited me over to join their picnic, but unfortunately I didn't have the time and I'm over qualified anyway. 
Click to see full size image Made my way up to Poggio village and walked a bit down the ascent trying to find soemwhere decent to stand. Decided on here which is just about 1.0km from the top and the left hand turn in Poggio. http://maps.google.it/maps?q=43.8...&spn=0.0074,0.016716&z=16 Basically I was standing at the start of the steepest section as I figured I was likely to see a bit of action there. Quite nice views back to San Remo and it was a lovely sunny day at first up there but it started to cloud over quite quickly. 
Click to see full size image This strung out bunch came in off the sea whilst I was waiting. I guess if they're on their way back from their winter holidays they've done a lot more than 290km at that point. 
Click to see full size image Then there were other birds in the sky. 
Click to see full size image There was also a police aeroplane that was just circling at a low altitude and arrived about 10 minutes ahead of the TV helicopter. I've never come across anything like that anywhere else before so I don't know if they were trying to check if there was some group of people just off the course who looked like they might be about to stage a surprise protest or something. Weird When they cyclists finally came through it was a lot more fragmented than I expected it to be, which made it a bit easier to pick out both the protagonists and the protaganally challenged. With the exception Goss who seems to have been invisible to the camera as well as myself. Anyway van Avermaet came through shortly after 16:30 and was looking pretty comfortable 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image followed by O'Grady and Offredo at 14', O'Grady seeemd to be labouring and going backwards, so I was surprised at his GC timing when I caught up with the outcome 
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Click to see full size image they were chased by Nibali and Chainel who were at 22'. Chainel's face was impressively contorted trying to hang on to Nibali's wheel. He failed to do so shortly afterwards 
Click to see full size image Scarponi did a big pull on the front and dragged the chasing group through at 33' with Gilbert in second wheel and Ballan in third. 
Click to see full size image Boasson Hagen was loosing contact at about this point and came through at 43', whilst Greipel and Roelandts came through 2-28' having done their work for Gilbert 
Click to see full size image Speaking of looking comfortable and untroubled, Klier came through at 2-42' looking like he might as well have just got on his bike 500m down the road 
Click to see full size image finally the main bunch came though came through at 3-40' 
Click to see full size image and featuring the previous two winners 
Click to see full size image 
Click to see full size image for some reason a lot of riders stick their tongues out it. Cancellara and Gilbert amongst others were at it in the lead group 
Click to see full size image Thought that was it apart from the stragglers so was surprised to see another sizeable group containing Hushovd at 7-20' and within about a minute I was watching the finale on a portable TV, so that probably wasn't what he imagined at the start of the day. Some woman was happy she hadn't FPed him. 
Click to see full size image After that a decent sized gruppeto came through at 17-50' and it was time to call it a day. 
Click to see full size image So all in all a very enjoyable weekend and since it was a local race I had to give it a go. I'd say the fans don't have quite the same fervour that you get in Belgium in Spring. I put it down to the fact that an Italian has always got a little part of his brain wondering if the tan leather shoes go well with his new jacket, whereas mullets and moustaches are acceptable in Belgium, so the fans are that little bit more feral :winK: Or maybe its those Trappist Ales that get them excited! |