Chapeau

...Gregario Forza's weekly "tip of the hat"

"I can't believe I got away with it!"

Hidy Ho Neighborinos! Not a lot of racing this weekend. Well, except for the grand daddy of them all, the longest race of the year, a classic, a monument, La Classicissima di Primavera, Milan-San Remo. I turned the race on with 100km to go… yawn, at 60 km to go I ran to Starbucks for a Grande Americano to match my Milano butter braided cherry pastry; and finally the racing started at 30 km to go with the ascent of the suppressor (Cipressa), where, as it turns out, the winning move was made (more on that later). It wasn't as I predicted- I’ll leave the prognosticating to the 5 time champ- but it was still an exciting finish. The KwiatOne led the charge at the top of the Poggio but no one was able to go with him. Nibali and Sagan chased hard down the descent, however, they were being chased by a strong bunch as well, and the longest classic of the year finished rather classically, with a bunch sprint. Some dumb neo-pro (Gaviria- he’s been great this year) crashed and messed up the sprint for Sagan and others, Bouhanni was KO’d by a dropped chain, and my boy, Arnaud Demare, took the biggest victory in his young career.

Chapeau to Arnaud Demare for taking the biggest victory of his career. He has been rumored to be something for the nation of France and has finally attached a result to the rumors. The big sprinter has been keen to the classics and should be a contender at Gent-Wevelgem as well as Paris-Roubaix. Chapeau as well for winning the Strava KOM for his ascent of the Cipressa. It turns out that the big guy can climb as well! He finished the Cipressa 17 seconds faster than the field!!!

This week features some of the best racing of the year with many Grand Tour hopefuls attending the Volta a Catalunya and the classics stars lining up for Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, and Gent Wevelgem. The French will also be racing Criterium International- No one cares!