Milan San Remo 2014

[smutchin]

Apparently, they've changed the route. And now Cav says he won't take part next year as a result...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/541521/mark-cavendish-to-skip-milan-san-remo.html

Shame.

(Some other interesting stories in that round-up too, not least the one about Richie Porte, though it really just confirms what we probably already knew.)

 

[Buddfox]

A question for those that know the route better than I do - is the change that they are now putting in a third (I guess short, steep) climb in the final part of the race, thus making the finish unsuitable for all out sprinters?

 

[thom]

Apparently, they've changed the route. And now Cav says he won't take part next year as a result...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/541521/mark-cavendish-to-skip-milan-san-remo.html

Shame.

(Some other interesting stories in that round-up too, not least the one about Richie Porte, though it really just confirms what we probably already knew.)

Porte is interesting but slightly odd. He's the leader for the Giro this year and 2 years time is a bit of a long time in cycling terms. If Porte won the Giro and Froome didn't win the tour for the next 2 years in a row, who would Sky back in 2016 ?

 

[Hont]

A question for those that know the route better than I do - is the change that they are now putting in a third (I guess short, steep) climb in the final part of the race, thus making the finish unsuitable for all out sprinters?

Mostly, yes. It's a new 5km climb inbetween the Cipressa and the Poggio which have been the last two climbs on the race for some time. 5km is quite long at that stage and you only have to note how few riders arrive at the bottom of the Poggio together to know that the route is already selective. Since they put La Manie in Cav has not troubled the scorers and, although they've taken that out to compensate, having a 3rd late climb of that length pretty much eliminates the true sprinters.

 

[montage]

It was a well balanced route that gave pretty much everyone a chance to have a dig and ended excitingly for the last few years at least. I just hope the increased difficulty doesn't lead to it being raced a bit more like the Ardennes... i.e. all saving themselves for the last climb.

 

[oldroadman]

It was a well balanced route that gave pretty much everyone a chance to have a dig and ended excitingly for the last few years at least. I just hope the increased difficulty doesn't lead to it being raced a bit more like the Ardennes... i.e. all saving themselves for the last climb.

The extra climb is as noted 5km long, averages 5% - not too bad - but has stretches of 14%. Obviously the organisers don't want a sprinter in the mix for the win. Whcih takes a bit away from the race, because any sprinter who can last almost 300km and then deliver deserves respect.

 

[tigger]

Strange indeed. What, makes MSR distinctive is the finish and the fact that sprinters have a chance. Roll on Strade Bianchi I say!

 

[montage]

Now the route really is Saganified