Milan-San Remo musings
 

Sean Kelly said today (whilst broadcasting for Eurosport) that Directeurs he's been speaking to en route to Nice reckon that the abbreviated nature of this year's Race to the Sun has put the participants at a disadvantage, for next week's great rendezvous. The stamina demands of the Milan-San Remo, are of course severe- it being an exceptionally long race, early in the season.

Thoughts?

Having watched Oscar Freire Gomez win easily-again!- today in Italy, I'd be surprised if you could get odds against him winning next week..........

Well, who am I to disagree with Sean Kelly?

It makes sense that the shortened stages of Paris-Nice will not prepare the riders to race full-stop, for 300 km. Friday's Tirreno stage gave the riders 6 hours of saddle-time.

Oscar Freire has always been cited for his climbing ability, in reference to other sprinters of course, and Rabobank is clearly doing their job. The length, and profile, of MSR should play well into a Freire repeat.

I think Freire will take it again, but I'll make my official pick Boonen because I like him and I want to be able to say "hahahaha!" if he wins.

I wouldn't object to 'good old' Erik Zabel winning La Primavera once more. Somehow, I have the feeling that he deserves one more big win, given the professionalism he has been showing over the years.

Here is a vote for Cipo...he seems to have some form...a good team...and a lot of motivation

Bettini? Rebellin?
I don't know its so early in the season
I can't make predictions (well I can't make
prediction late in the season but its a good excuse!)

Marty

PETACCHI Alessandro (ITA - FAS) 5.00
FREIRE Oscar (SPA - RAB) 5.50
BOONEN Tom (BEL - QST) 7.50
CIPOLLINI Mario (ITA - LIQ) 14.00
ZABEL Erik (GER - TMO) 15.00
VALVERDE B. Alejandro (SPA - IBA) 16.00
BETTINI Paolo (ITA - QST) 16.00
McEWEN Robbie (AUS - DVL) 16.00
O'GRADY Stuart (AUS - COF) 22.00
VINOKOUROV Alexandre (KAZ - TMO) 25.00
HINCAPIE George (USA - DSC) 50.00

I don't think Bettini is in particularly great form. If Petacchi can get himself over the Pogio he, Freire and Boonen have to be the obvious favorites.

I'm also going to put Hondo on the podium and Pineau in the top 5 or 10.

Friere, with Alan Davis as a roughy.

Hondo in a photo finish !!

Hey, if you keep picking him, sooner or later..you'll be RIGHT!! :D ;)

I'm going with Valverde. I thought he looked strong at P-N, but he was fighting the whole of CSC pretty much on his own.

If Cipo gets a good lead out though...

Quickstep News

Tom Boonen took a look today at the final section of Milan-San Remo. Boonen, along with Kevin Hulsmans and Guido Trenti, trained for almost two and a half hours, climbing twice both the Cipressa and the Poggio. Tom, who recently won two stages at Paris-Nice, was in radio contact with the team's sporting director Wilfried Peeters who was able to pass on valuable information.

"Taking a preview of the final of Milan-San Remo was a great idea", said Boonen, "I've already taken part in this classic race twice but it's always a good idea to check the race route out in advance. Riding alongside me was the experienced Trenti who gave me a lot of important advice. It will be very important to start the Poggio in a good position, that way not risking being bottle-necked in the main part of the group and therefore having to use more energy than necessary to work your way up to the front of the group. I think the race will be particulary difficult from the Cipressa onwards. I think a few teams such as Fassa Bortolo and Rabobank will be controlling the race. We'll have to do a good job in following in their tracks".

Today's training session gave the team a good opportunity to make some technical decisions too. Boonen added: "I'll be using a 41 plateau instead of a 39. I think this is the best choice and will help me in the action on the Poggio". Tom returned to Brussels late this afternoon and will be flying to Italy on Thursday evening.

Quickstep

211 Bettini Paolo Ita
212 Boonen Tom Bel
213 Bramati Davide Ita
214 Hulsmans Kevin Bel
215 Moreni Cristian Ita
216 Nuyens Nick Bel
217 Tankink Bram Ned
218 Trenti Guido Usa

Here's a link (cyclingnews.com) to a course map and profile. The final 30 km is also featured with more detail.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005.../msr05/?id=map

Someone kindly help me with the time conversion. I'm terrible with time conversions. Cyclingnews coverage starts at 9.30am Eastern European time. What time is that here in lovely Minneapolis? And what time here can I expect the race to finish?

My guess is that the race should start at 2:30 AM here and finish around 9:00.

Thanks!

Click on this link

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/full.html?sort=1

Hondo is second, dang, missed it by that much . hehehe