Strade Bianche **spoilers**

[tigger]

Yes! Its Strade Bianche this Saturday!!

This is my favourite race of the year!! If you don't know it, its Italy's relatively new answer to the spring classics - rolling through the amazing Tuscan countryside over white gravelled roads (where the race gets its name from) and finishing up a punishing cobbled climb into Siena. Perfect rain or shine...

Coverage starts at 1.30 on Eurosport 2

Anyone got any up to date team line ups? The latest I could find is below. Looks like Sky and OPQS are going this year though...

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/teams_announced_for_strade_bianche_and_roma_maxima/

 

[raindog]

Start list is incomplete - I expect we'll get more info on wednesday or thursday
http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjU5NzQ=

 

[The Couch]

They should put this the week after Roubaix and make this a Tryptich with RvV and PR

 

[tigger]

Start list is incomplete - I expect we'll get more info on wednesday or thursday
http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjU5NzQ=

That's the makings of a pretty tasty peloton so far

 

[rich p]

It's a good'un especially if it rains and the roads turn to slurry!
Nice to see Adrien Niyonshuti riding after his illness for MTN. (Read this book if you get a chance)

 

[smutchin]

This was a cracking race last year, with Cannondale's brilliant tactics nullifying Cancellara to the point that they ended up with the one-two. Sagan would have to be the obvious favourite again this year. He and Moser are both down to ride.

Mind you, interesting to see that OPQS are taking both Cav and Uran - wonder what they've got up their sleeve... (Maybe Cav's just going for training purposes. He's down for Tirreno-Adriatico as well and I can't see him getting much joy there either, although a couple of stages have flat finishes.)

I would have backed Ulissi for this one, but he appears to be skipping it, so I'm going with Uran.

 

[dragon72]

Sorry to be a grammar nazi, tigger, but it's Strade Bianche. Strade are feminine and the race isn't sponsored by Bianchi!

 

[The Couch]

... Sagan would have to be the obvious favourite again this year. ...
(Maybe Cav's just going for training purposes....)

I would have backed Ulissi for this one, but he appears to be skipping it, so I'm going with Uran.

Yeah Sagan was "playing with the pedals" last year but...not quite sure if he already has the same form as last year though... still he's indeed the favourite
Cancellara hasn't shown us much this year yet, so this race might fall too early for him

I watched the race (first time) last year... with that final climb, there's no way that Cav has anything on his mind expect picking up some race miles

Ulissi would have indeed been a nice bet... personally I am bit crossed that there's no Ag2r around... Betancur, Bardet, Nocentini and Peraud could all have been outsiders for a podium

 

[tigger]

Sorry to be a grammar nazi, tigger, but it's Strade Bianche. Strade are feminine and the race isn't sponsored by Bianchi!

Good point, noted this before I posted but must have got caught in the heat of the moment!

Fixed it!

 

[tigger]

Evans and Sanchez are notable for BMC and both have something to prove as their stars seem to be burning out. I can see Evans gritting his teeth up that last climb and he looked in decent form at the TDU. Valverde is there too, always a contender. Trek seem to be taking it seriously and Team Tinkerbell seem to have options. Sky still keeping their cards close to their chest...

 

[The Couch]

... Valverde is there too, always a contender....

Yeah, after his showing in the Vuelta a Valverde .... no wait...I mean Andalucia (even more so than on other years) he should be up for that final climb as well

 

[Crackle]

Still not got a full start list and Sky especially not giving anything away, harrumpphh!

 

[tigger]

Sky have finally revealed their team, it features Stanndard, Wiggo and Eisel. Not sure if the finish favours any of them.

Edit: and check out the full OPQS line up. Cav, Petacchi and Renshaw added to Uran and Kwiatkowski. Presumably a competitive training ride for most hoping to set up Uran as a bonus?

 

[laurence]

Kwiatkowski could be on for this. he's in great form at the moment.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Sky have finally revealed their team, it features Stanndard, Wiggo and Eisel. Not sure if the finish favours any of them.

No Henao? I would have though that this was his kind of finish.