On the Rivet

A look at who’s racing hard this week…

Alright, here we go.  A race on gravel, a race on ancient Roman cobbles, a race on TV!  We got some good racing this weekend and it just keeps rolling all week.  Let’s get into it.

Strade Bianche

The Wiskota league includes world tour races, Euro tour races rated HC and the two big American races.  So, what’s up with this 1.1 rated race coming up this Saturday?  The Strade Bianche made it onto the WFL schedule through a special last minute dispensation from the outgoing Pope.  So, let’s take advantage of this small popeless window we are experiencing with some top notch Italian cycling. 

The white roads of Tuscany call to the riders of the Strade Bianche, which is quickly becoming a favorite race of both fans and riders alike.  Italy’s answer to the northern classics this race features 8 sections of white gravel roads.  When it’s dry, it’s very dry, when its wet it’s very wet.  Just ask Cadel.  Punchy climbs, long climbs, rolling terrain and dangerous descents make the Strade a unique race.  A quick look at past winners suggests this is a stongman’s race, but upon closer inspection it is really quite open.  In the past some classics riders that we would consider more Ardennesey than Flandersey have placed high.  Fortunately, the WFL is sending all types of riders to this race.  Will it come down to early season form or will it be a more technical race, tune in Saturday to find out.  Side note: the steam should be better, the Strade actually streams from their own site, check Cyclingfans as usual. 

Volpe: Cancellera, Phinney, Sep, Iglinsky

Taco: Van Avermaet, Moser, Farrar, Valverde

Dynamic: Cunego, Pozzato, Sagan

Gregario: Nocentini, Flecha

Fujarky: Gasparatto, Boom, Danny Boy

Guillaume: Sorry

WFL Podium: Sagan, Cancellera, Van Avermaet

How it could go down:

It’s a fast day as the anticipation for this race has been high.  A breakaway doesn’t get away for quite a while.  But when it does everyone is already too tired to chase it down.  Phinney finds himself the strongest guy in the bunch and gets the green light to push on.  He makes his move before the final climb into Siena, but he doesn’t gain quite enough time as the rest of his group swallows him up with a K to go.   “The Cat” pounces and Oscar Gatto takes the biggest win of his career.

How it might go down:

It’s a fast day, but a breakaway forms from the get go.   Phinney leads the charge over the white gravel roads and seems to have secured a victory for the group.  But not so fast.  Every Italian in the peloton takes a turn at the front and before you know it they are all back together.  A medium sized group makes it to Siena and the little guys look to rip it apart with blistering attacks.  Cunego and Nocentini lead the way but Visconti gets away.  The rest of the guys regroup and pull him back in.  Are there any strong men left to take this?  Just then a full krausened Kolobnev makes a move for victory.  Katusha is back! The sneaky Russian takes the win.

How it will go down:

It’s a fast day and all the big names send their top lieutenants up the road.  A few teams are left to pull (Garmin) but eventually they come back together.  The race breaks up going over the Monte Santa Maria as expected.  But it’s the descents that cause the real problems.  Sagan and Van Avermaet seem to get some room.  Do they ride together from here out?  No decision has to be made as Spartacus comes blowing by them.  Sagan and GVA hitch a ride to Siena and they begin there ascent.  As they approach the finish it’s pretty much a done deal.  Sagan takes another win for Team Dynamic.   

Paris – Nice

Yeah, I know the Tour Down Under was the first stage race of the season and I know I was all about it at the time, but everybody knows Paris – Nice is the real start to the stage race season.  The “race to the sun” is one of the cooler one week races on the calendar, tons of history and a very diverse course.  As the peloton travels south to the promise of sunny days they often encounter a wide range of weather, wind, rain even snow.  And of course, don’t forget about those mountains in the middle.  The Massif Central region of France holds a special place in my heart as this is where I caught a couple stages of Le Tour a few years back.  Having driven through several mountain passes to get there I can attest to the beauty and difficulty of these stages.  This year’s race ends with a 10 K time trial straight up a mountain.  Some TTs can be kind of boring to watch but the climb, the riders and the importance of the stage all set to the backdrop of the sparkling city of Nice this one promises to be a winner.  Lot’s of WFL riders here so set your DVRs to record NBC Sports, sit back and enjoy.

Volpe: Iglinsky, Basso, Boonen, Kittel, Roche

Taco: Fuglsang, DeGendt

Dynamic: Gesink, TVG, Talansky, Chavanel, Velits

Gregario: PhilGil, Costa, Albasini, Voekler, Westra

Fujarky: Nieve, Monfort, Porte

Guillaume: Haussler, Scarponi, Gerrans, Breschel

WFL Podium: TVG, Talansky, Gesink. That’s right a Dynamic sweep.  Don't just take my word for it.

How it could happen:

The weather is unpredictable and as the peloton roll into the mountains of stage 4 they are hit with a wicked storm.  The GC guys manage to stay afloat but the lumpy finish around Saint-Vallier is a perfect spring board for Gilbert.  In an epic attack PhilGil takes minutes out of the Peloton.  BMC rallies to protect him through the rest of the race with TVG shepherding him up the steeper climbs.  He limits his losses on the final TT and Gilbert wins Paris –Nice Sean Kelly style.

How it might happen:

The weather is unpredictable and a battered peloton rolls into the mountains of the Massif Central tired and cold.  The mountains prove to be too much for many of the GC hopefuls this early in the season.  A few of the meatier climbers, Costa, Westra and Fuglsang seem to manage the weather better.  The GC is wide open as they head to the TT.  Costa puts in the performance of a lifetime and secures his position as Movistar’s next great stage racer.

How it will go down:

The weather is unpredictable, but the riders are not.  The mountain top finish on stage 5 leaves the three pre-race favorites separated by a few seconds with Gesink in the lead.  It all comes down to the final TT.  TVG and Talanksy match efforts to surpass Gesink on the podium with Van Garderen taking his first of many stage race wins.