Road Bike Racing - Milan San Remo Predictions!

Didn't see a thread on this, and la classica di Primavera is coming up. I'm quite excited. McEwen is always in with a shot. Pettachi doesn't seem to be his usual self. Bennati has emerged as a new man to watch. Freire is strong again. And you can never count out Boonen. I'd have to say Pozzato will be watched much more strongly this time around. I don't give him a strong chance. Bettini has crashed a few times lately and I wonder if that will affect him this weekend.

I'm going to say Boonen. I think he's going to be super motivated to take this one from the Italians.

Boonen is the man. Pettachi claims it's his though.

meh... it's become such a boring classic that i'm not really bothered.

Boonen.

He has an amazing ability to focus on a specific race and actually show up peaked and flying for that particular day. He's made it no secret that he is focusing on la primavera...

Ballan.

I'll vote for Boonen, but that probably comes as no surprise...

I'll vote for Boonen, but that probably comes as no surprise...

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1467/tbzg1.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1467/tbzg1.jpg


You're right! It IS about me, because I already found someone a while ago. Sorry Tom!

Anyone know where this can be viewed in North America? OLN/Versus is not carrying it this year, and cycling.tv doesn't have it. Any intel on a webcast would be much appreciated.

Anyone know where this can be viewed in North America? OLN/Versus is not carrying it this year, and cycling.tv doesn't have it. Any intel on a webcast would be much appreciated.

I think you're mistaken. I saw an ad on Versus for it on Sunday, and it's listed here:

http://www.versus.com/cyclysm/

Boonen isn't 100% and MSR isn't even a goal for him. I doubt he'll win. If McEwen can climb as well as he says he can right now then he should have no problem winning a bunch sprint. Bennati has had a great season so far so if he's in the front at the end he could win the sprint. I'm not sure what Ale-Jets form is since he hasn't won anything significant yet but if he can return to his old form he can win the bunch sprint. Pozzato is also in good form so he should be in contention but If it comes down to a sprint finish he'll have no chance.

I'll go with Bennati or Ballan. Ballan is due for his breakout. I'll have a better idea once they release the start list.

If the Cricket rides, he's my pick.

I'm gonna put my money (figurative of course) or Bennati or O'Grady. Tom seems like a long shot with his main goal being Flanders-Roubaix this year.

Oscar Freire ftw

I want to pick Boonen, but since everyone else already has...Juan José Haedo

I want to pick Boonen, but since everyone else already has...Juan José Haedo

No joke that guy is going to make some noise this season, but this is his first time at MSR so it's going to be pretty tough for him. Bennati is my pick with Pozzato and Ali in the mix.

Boonen
Freire
Peta

Bennati
Boonen
Freire

You're right! It IS about me, because I already found someone a while ago. Sorry Tom!

His name is botto.

Ballan

His name is botto.

-1

I think you're mistaken. I saw an ad on Versus for it on Sunday, and it's listed here:

http://www.versus.com/cyclysm/

Thanks a lot. I swear I was on the site yesterday and it wasn't listed. Which I thought was strange. It went straight from P-N to Criterium. Great news!

Valverde - Yeah, it's early but stranger things have happened.
Bennati - He's a hungry man this year.
Boonen - He's Tom f**king Boonen.

Stefan Schumacher.

Boonen is fibbing. Lulling the opposition. Combined with that world champ sneaky-quick Bettini...I foresee a Quick-Step victory.

Pozzato looks primed to me.
I wouldn't count Pettachi out if he survives the Poggio.

Pozzato or Haedo

Valverde - Yeah, it's early but stranger things have happened.
Bennati - He's a hungry man this year.
Boonen - He's Tom f**king Boonen.

Gonna be hard for Valverde to win since he's not starting.

Bettini

Gonna be hard for Valverde to win since he's not starting.

lol. Looks like someone here is awake and already had their morning cafeinated beverage

Here are the odds, according to unibet:
Petacchi, A 5.50
Boonen, T 6.00
Bennati, D 10.00
Freire, O 11.00
McEwen, R 12.00
Bettini, P 14.00
Ricco, Riccardo 15.00
Hushovd, T 16.00
O'Grady, Stuart 16.00

O'Grady has been there all season...maybe if he doesn't waste himself prior to the finale he'll score a major victory.

Mikhail Ignatiev


But there are no odds on Unibet for me to put a tenner on him :(

O'Grady has been there all season...maybe if he doesn't waste himself prior to the finale he'll score a major victory.

i hope so.

Pozzato or Haedo

I predict that Haedo won't make it to the finish with the lead group.

Freire

If the cricket's in it I think he'll win it!

No sprint finish this year. Schleck

No sprint finish this year. Schleck


:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I predict that Haedo won't make it to the finish with the lead group.

Wow that's a bold statement! But I agree that he won't win it, too much to learn in his first visit! Any news on how Bettini is feeling after his crash?

300km, his first big one day classic, hauling his sprinters carcass over the Cipressa and Poggio. He won't be there IMO. Don't get me wrong, I reckon he'll be one of the big hitters in the sprints, just not this year.

Bettini has a broken rib apparently.

Gonna be hard for Valverde to win since he's not starting.

Crap...I just saw that. He was on the odds making sites though :(

I think I'll substitute Stewie O'Grady in his stead.

Mikhail Ignatiev


But there are no odds on Unibet for me to put a tenner on him :(


Interesting choice. I really like him as a rider. He seems to be in the style of a Vino or Voigt. I don't think this race suits him though. I know he's taken some long races this year but this one is ridiculously long. I'd love to see him do it though.

300km, his first big one day classic, hauling his sprinters carcass over the Cipressa and Poggio. He won't be there IMO. Don't get me wrong, I reckon he'll be one of the big hitters in the sprints, just not this year.

Bettini has a broken rib apparently.

You may very well be right, he's going to be there mix'n it up but this is a big test for his first classic. Sucks about Bettini, I'm going with Pozzato then.

Pozzato

Pippo
Outside: Bennati/Ballan

Sidebet: Haedo DNFs...

Pippo
Outside: Bennati/Ballan

Sidebet: Haedo DNFs...

No love JJ?

You may very well be right, he's going to be there mix'n it up but this is a big test for his first classic. Sucks about Bettini, I'm going with Pozzato then.

Pozzato will be heavily marked. Hes the rider in form at the moment. I picked Schumacher coz I'm contrary and everyone else is going with Pippo.

Oh I'm a JJ fan (god knows I heard/wrote enough about him back in his early Colavita days...I even have a pic of him when they were still sponsored by Van Dessel) but I have a hard time seeing him succeeding in a 300km race with the Cipressa and Poggio at the ending. After he gets dropped, I really don't see him bothering to finish - too much racing left in the season to waste the legs.

A broken-ribbed Bettini adding to cycling lore with an unlikely MSR win...would please me immensely.

Edit: Pleasing me even more would be the announcement that cycling.tv has secured the live streaming rights to the race.


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...god, don't make me beg...