The Poggio. It’s probably one of the most famous easy climbs in the world; going through old cycling photographs, I rarely come across one where the leaders haven’t moved Sur La Plaque. It has a reputation, however, for being a real leg breaker, mostly because any climb is a big climb once you cross its summit after a paltry 291 kilometers. And the descent provides one of the twistiest, most exhilarating finales in the sport.
This race stands apart as the longest on the calendar, and represents the only of the five Monuments where the sprinters have a chance at final glory. But this can have it all: the long, solo break routinely makes it to the finish uncaught. The final attacks on the Poggio regularly stick. The attack that goes away on the climb often gets caught on the descent. And, sometimes the whole thing stays together for a bunch gallop. Essentially, any ride who is on form has a chance at glory. This is a unique race.
The question on everyone’s mind is wether Cavendish can get over the Poggio in position to make it to the finish in the first group. If he does, then you can jot down the winner right now. He’s lost some significant weight in the last few weeks, so his climbing should be good; we also have it on good authority from our eyes and ears on the roads in Italy that the Manx Mouth has been spotted training in the hills of Italy with the express intention of making it over the last bump. If, on the other hand, he gets spat out the back like a rainbow turd when the road points uphill, it will be a free-for-all. The fast semi-climbers with descending skills like Nibbles are talking big about their chances. And who in their right minds would ever discount Faboo with his brommer or Gilbert once he fires the howitzers.
So rub your lucky rabbit’s foot and throw some salt over your shoulder; you’re going to need some divine intervention on this one. This year’s VSP is also the first year where we’ll be offering a special badge to the winner of the monuments. We can’t unveil the MSR Badge yet, but the winner of this VSP event will have the honor of posting with the badge until next year’s event. The winner will also receive a free Symbol Pack. Check the start list and get your picks in by 5am Pacific on Saturday morning; if timezone arithmetic isn’t your strong suit, just watch the countdown timer in the banner at the top of the site. As usual, your points go towards the overall VSP as well.
Good luck.
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With about 3 to go Fabian tried to drop Gerrans, which was the best and only way for Fabian to win but Gerro hung tough and got back on the express train. Nibbles was hanging on for dear life, I don't think he did anything once Fabs started to drive. Chapeau to Gerrans for getting in the break with Nibs, staying on Fabs wheel through that awesome descent and roll into San Remo and for besting him in the sprint. Smart boy.
I do love watching Fabs descend, a confident lad going into corners at speed.
@Souleur
Panache is a nice way of saying that someone is so much stronger than everyone else that tactics don't matter.
Or that they tried a stupid attack and got creamed by people racing intelligently.
That's pretty much it in the cold light of bike racing.
Canc was working hard. There is no point coming around the strongest man in the world until you have to - and he did before the end. Frankly, I thought he'd lost it when he came around with 1.4km to go. I was amazed (and delighted) that Canc took the lead again.
Everyone in the world knew that the race was Nibbles and Canc having to drop Gerrans before the end of the descent, and then Canc dropping him before the finish line.
Everyone in the world apart from Canc and frank, it seems.
If Cav had won a bunch sprint would we be speaking of wheel suckers?
Alright, everyone have a nice long drink from the Rule V fountain and lets get to whats important. Good finishing salute, and good on GreenEdge for having the class to stick with the traditional National Champs jersery. That Aussie champ jersey looks magnificent whether there was panache or not. What's really important here is Gerrans, Canca and Nibbles all Looked Magnificent.
Gerrans after the race:
"Without question, Fabian was strongest. He was going like a motorbike," Gerrans said. "I was not as strong as Fabian, I will admit that, but you also have to play it a little smart.
"I did what I could to stay there," Gerrans continued, adding he did his bit of the work. "I did a turn across the top of Poggio, another short turn going into the final kilometer. I wasn't going to do too much, not with a guy like [Vincenzo] Nibali sitting on the back. I did what I had to do and I had the fastest turn of speed in the final."
And Spartacus:
"No one helped. I think that's logical," Cancellara said. "Vincenzo could not and would not because in the end he had Sagan behind. Gerrans gave two pulls, which was good, but in the end, if all three pulled until the end, maybe it would have been different."
No matter where you fall in this discussion the fact remains that it was a fantastic race, and a great way to start the classics season!
@frank
+1
Good on Gerro. May not be maximum panache points, but he won the only way he could. If all that matters was being the strongest rider, we'd invent a race which got rid of race tactics. I dunno, say an event where every rider starts off a minute after the one before and no drafting is allowed and the rider with the best time wins. Something like that, anyway. I betcha Fabs would be good at that kind of race. Meantime, Gerro won by playing the cards he had as best he could - which is exactly what Fabs did. Gerro's cards just happened to be the better hand. Today. Good on him, and good on GreenEdge. (and yes, as a Kiwi I am biased here: in the same way a Scotsman is biased when it comes to an Englishman winning a race...)
@LA Dave
+1!
I'll say one more thing here and I don't mean this honestly: You Aussies are fuckin' patriotic. If anyone gives your riders a sideways glance that isn't totally beaming, you get all hot 'n bothered. I fuckin' love it.
I'd also like to point out that I scored a fuckin' donut because I gambled on fuckin' Cav. Serves me right.
I used to like Gerrans - he should wear a Dick Turpin outfit after that....boo!!!!
Fabian is the winner again
New VPS strategy:
Pin start list to dart board
Stand well back
Put on blindfold
Throw 5 darts
Can't be any worse than my picks this time.
Consolation prize: almost 80 friggin degrees here in Wisconsin IN MARCH! 117 beautiful kms logged in the Kettle Moraine and the leprechauns from last week were elsewhere!
@G'phant
I totally agree - I think he rode wheels and he's even admitting that himself. It's better than his Tour stage a while back where he got dropped, promised his break companions that he wouldn't sprint if they waited for him and he sprinted and won (by the way, idiotic to wait for a ride you just dropped - they got what they deserverd) but there was no alternative.
Nibbles did nothing - Gerro was not strong enough to help keep the break away, and Canca was the only one who could do it. And then, you'd have to be an idiot not to fight for the win when you get there - and I assume Fabian wouldn't want the race gifted to him. It went the only way it could go, and we can spend the rest of the week arguing over style points on the tactics, and that's what makes this such a cool fuckin' sport.