Top two are bolted on. In lieu of Woods and Pogacar, WvA and GvA

Big question is form. Have we seen anything from Alaphillipe since pre-COVID? Wout and Mathieu have posted some monster rides. Rusty Woods looked good on zwift. I think guys are going to be all over the place in terms of being ready to go full gas. Makes the race that much more unpredictable and hard to call.

and as was mentioned in the other thread, it's gonna be baking on those exposed roads. Apparently above 92 F at the start on Saturday. At least it's quite dry. Something tells me that GvA, who has a good track record in the heat, may do quite well.

I wouldn't put my money on Woods.
Yes he did well on Zwift, but considering his recent injury, it's a big difference between putting down an (impressive) hour of power and 6 hours.

LFF, Sagan, Nibali

WC: MvdP, WvA

Schachmann, van Aert, van Avermaet
Naesen, Van der Poel

Van Aert, Teuns, Schachmann

WC: Pogacar, MvdP

I feel like this loose pack, dry dirt will favor tge crossers.

Van Aert, MvdP, Stuart
Naesen, Sagan

Schachmann is a good pick; if he gets free, look out.

Major factor will be who can deal with the heat. Little twist from usual “spring classics”.

Sagan, GvA, LFF
Nibali, Kwia

WvA, MvdP, Schachmann

Woods, Hirschi

feel obligated to pick lesser mentioned names - can't wait to watch some replays
benoot/ teuns/ bettiol
dark horse - 2nd tier - moscon /ulissi

would be pretty surprised if mvdp/wva not both top 3. might ride day 3 in a row of gravel - you know, cuz....

The alien has a 1-min gap to close. I think she’ll hunt down her prey on the final steep run-in

Btw, i missed spectating races in the morning

Kicking it off.

van Vleuten insane.

5+min back in the peloton with 27km to go when coverage started.

I'd love to see Garcia surprise on the final climb.

is your feed on a delay?

The Alien engages warp drive. Only took some 7 km on a downhill run-in the snare her prey



That's basically a gap check to third.

No. Was just recapping as she closed in.

Spratt worked well to keep the Chase disorganized. But she bridged and blew right past them.

Also, who's a bit miffed that they aren't showing any live feeds until perhaps 50 km out?

Not even RAI2 is carrying the footage. I guess I might as well go ride on the trainer

Yeah, what the hell. Lots of commercials. Now boring interviews.

On the plus side, Craddock represent!

Dude's from Texas, this sort of condition must be child's play to him

LFF, MdVP, Sagan apparently not in contention! Unsure about about WvA.

WvA is in the chase of Fuglsang, looking good. MvDP just popped off the back of the chase but who knows with him. Ala cooked too. I have a feeling we're going to hear a lot post race about not having racing intensity in the legs. Lots of suffering in the heat.

WvA still in. carnage.

also, yikes re: the maskless tifosi

GvA is game, per usual.

GvA looks good. Schachmann strong, all that new money in his pocket not slowing him down.

Would love to see Wout pull this off. Have to think he did really well for himself with JV. Wonder long-term how that shapes his career vs. MvdP.