Bump.

Strade Bianche is up next. Provisional start list is available

Notable people who aren't racing this include defending champ Kwiatkowski and former winner Gilbert.

Piti Valverde, Cancellara, and GvA, in that order.

Enrico Battaglin and Moreno Moser as outside bets.

anyone up for a running tally starting this week World Tour and 1.HC races only? One point each if your picks (3 for podium and 2 outsiders) land in the top 5. 2 additional points for picking correct winner, 1 for picking correct podium placing. No Scheldeprijs unless people really demand it

The races will be as follows:

Strade Bianche
Milano San Remo
Dwoors Dwar Vlaanderen
E3
Gent Wevelgem
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Paris Roubaix
Brabantse Pijl
Amstel Gold
Fleche Wallonne
Liege

Today was Saturday all over again for Etixx.

I'm in.

Yup 4 guys in the front group and all Boeckmans had to do was wait and sprint and beat Meersman. Meersman is fast but why pull Boeckmans with you to the finish line?

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Don't forget to attack!

Bump.

Stir the pot: Did I hear that Kennaugh and Froome scratched from KBK with respiratory infections or some such thing? It seemed a little out of the blue but I could have heard wrong. If this sounds like I'm suspicious, that's about right. I just don't trust any of them no mo. Maybe some training juice hadn't quite worn off......

Astana is racing. They should be banned just for that hat Vino wears.

I'm going with Moser for the win bc I'm a Cannondale fan boy. 2 Virginia boys and 1 NH boy on the squad, and we sell Cannondales.

Stybar bc there's dirt.

Sagan bc I have a soft spot for the kucklehead.

(I reserve the right to change my picks before race time as I'm first in and there may be rider scratches, doping charges levelled, and other extenuations.)

What the heck, I'll put something in:

Cadillac: Sagan (not confident in this but I just have to go with my boy)
Steak Knives: GvA
Fired: Gerrans

For Strade Bianche

1. Kennaugh
2. Cancellara
3. Sagan

Although that's more how I hope it will finish

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http://www.thedeludedcyclist.wordpress.com

fabian has been sick as per his twitter account...

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The entire event (IM) is like "death by 1000 cuts" and the best race is minimizing all those cuts and losing less blood than the other guy. - Dev

Strade Bianche is probably my favorite non-monument classic next to E3. Really looking forward to this one. I think Stybar takes it. He's looked really strong so far this year and Etixx has had no problem getting it's key riders in the winning moves (finishing is another story). Will be interesting to see how Sagan is going.


1. Stybar
2. Cancellara
3. GVA
4. Terpstra
5. Vanmarke

Edited for 5.

Nikki on a solo attack at the end
Sagan
Stybar

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The entire event (IM) is like "death by 1000 cuts" and the best race is minimizing all those cuts and losing less blood than the other guy. - Dev

that is why he had him in second man

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Kat Hunter reports on the San Dimas Stage Race from inside the GC winning team
Aeroweenie.com -Compendium of Aero Data and Knowledge
Freelance sports & outdoors writer Kathryn Hunter

As a reminder, you can pick five riders for your tea-leaf reading. No need to limit yourself to three. Entries close before the start of each race. I'll get a google spreadsheet to track the season-long results

In that case, I'm adding:

Stybar as loser #1 and
Vanmarcke as loser #2. He seems hungry this season.

Moser, Sagan, Stybar, FC , Sep

1) Stybar
2) Sagan
3) GVA
Terpstra and Stannard

Not sure I am very optimistic about Sep playing a role in this race simply because the team only starts with 5 riders. That will make it very hard to come back if something were to happen. Teams riding for the win all have 8 riders so I think it's quite a disadvantage.

I'm putting my money on Sagan this time!

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Don't forget to attack!

1) Cancellara
2) Gerrans
3) Terpstra
4) stybar
5) GVA

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http://cyclussports.com/ - #ZeroPositive #CyclusSports
http://app.strava.com/athletes/355549
https://twitter.com/ryanAjoyce

1. Gerrans (doesn't anyone listen to the old adage that cyclists stating they're not in top form are liars? except in FC's case where its true of course)
2. Valverde (does well on cobbles, take them out, easy)
3. Stybar (Only Cav can win for E-QuickStep it seems)
4. Sagan (meh form)
5. Van Marke (needs to drop 10kg ;)

*format edit

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Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding it hurts.

Can't wait for tomorrow. One of my favorite races, mainly because it is always agressive and exciting to watch!

1. Cancellara - his aggressive style is made for this race
2. Sagan - once again I think he'll take the runner up spot
3. Gerrans - would love to see him win though

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BLOG--> http://swimbikerundrink.blogspot.com/

Anyone have a link for live streaming in english besides eurosport?

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"No matter how hard you train, Somebody will train harder. No matter how hard you run, Somebody will run harder. No matter how hard you want it, Somebody will want it more, I am Somebody"~ST Post

Just check cyclingfans or steephill.tv they are the best ones. And eurosport is probably the only English coverage

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BLOG--> http://swimbikerundrink.blogspot.com/

what a bummer. none of the streams work for me. And my picks are looking good for a top placement... Anybody pay for beIN sports and watch it through that? I may have to do that if they broadcast MSR

as I type this...it appears that Sagan's been dropped. Double bummer

Are you participating in Sep's online disinformation campaign (kind of like Chancellara with his tweet)? He seems to be doing pretty well today ;) Good on him!