Chapeau

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

Cobbles, Ik heb je gemist!! Oh, how I’ve missed you. Saturday felt like Spring, with a balmy 55 degrees in the Twin Cities and classics races playing on my laptop while I fry bacon and sip on coffee. It doesn't get much better. The racing was also fabulous with the Omloop featuring a selection of hard men battling it out for the win while all eyes were on Quickstep in the peloton, wondering “will they ever get organized?”, and KBK featuring a heroic a show of strength as one man staved off a chasing group and a peloton buzzing with fast men.

If the first weekend is a preview of things to come then we will be in for an exciting season with new faces and first time winners. It does seem as though there is a changing of the guard in the spring classics. Greg Van Avermaet, Tiesj Benoot, and Peter Sagan will feature the list of newcomers. However, the classics season is a long one, and how good can GVA be in April (Check his Palmares)? But that's for another post, another day.

Chapeau to Greg Van Avermaet for winning! The bridesmaid was wearing white at Omloop and out sprinted the World Champion, Peter Sagan, once again for victor. “Avi” showed tons of strength by going early and maintaining all the way to the line, taking away the sprint from Sagan. I was really happy for GVA to win a classic and will be cheering for him to take a monument this year.

Chapeau to Jasper Stuyven for his huge effort to win Kurne-Brussels-Kurne. I didn't think he had a chance at 10 km but he kept his lead out and even seemed to put time into the peloton in the final 3km. It was as though he was doing his best Fabian Cancellara impression. Once again a glimpse at the future of the classics and for Belgium, chapeau!

Chapeau to Peter Sagan for featuring in both races and just oozing panache, all while demonstrating the bad tactics that continue to haunt him in all places outside California. Chapeau to Alexander Kristoff, the Ice Harvester, was frozen in the peloton in both races but won the group sprint for second place at KBK.

This weekend the racing moves to white roads under the Tuscan Sun. Also, we start the race to the sun in France, Paris-Nice, in the first real, historic, World Tour stage race of the year. La Course au Soleil!

The Spokes Man

...talking points from the Commish

Classics!

We all love the Tour de France, and the Giro is the shit, but the more you get into cycling the more you realize that the Classics are where it's at.  There is something about the simplicity of a one day race that makes it so fun.  No off days, no hiding in the bunch, no just hanging on to fight another day.  First man across the line wins, no time bonus or countback or time trial the next day.  Add to that the history, scenery and tough conditions of these one day races and you get some good watching.

We'll talk about these another day

As the classics season begins to heat up, I am confronted with the question, what is the best one day race?  Sure, the Monuments stand out as the best one day races on the calendar.  Shit, Liege has been around for 125 years.  But, those don't begin for almost another month.  So, let's leave them for another discussion.

What is the best one day race?

(besides the monuments)

The Candidates:  

The Omloop:  First of the cobbled classics.  Maybe not always targeted by the top riders, but this early season race always delivers the goods.  

Kuurne:  If you miss the break at the Omloop you always have a chance to win the sprint the next day on the more forgiving cobbles of Kuurne.

Strade:  The new comer to the list has soared in popularity as the white gravel roads of Tuscany bring out the romantic in all of us.  

E3: More prestigious than some, less than others, this Belgian classic offers up the short steep cobbled climbs we love so much.

Gent-Wevelgem: Many a sprinter has won here but with the cobbles, climbs and crosswinds the winner usually comes from a reduced group.  

Scheldprijs: Coming between the Ronde and Roubaix this race has a high visibility.  One for the sprinters but it will be a hard day in the saddle.

Amstel:  Kicks off Ardennes week with all of its punchy splendor.  Can you stay away after the final climb or will there be a reduced sprint?

Fleche:  Its all about the Mur de Huy (The Wall).  At just over 1K this hyper steep finish becomes the slowest mad dash to the line you will ever see.  

Chillcoot:  Not really a one day race as its part of the North Star Grand Prix, also, its not even a UCI event, but hey Greg and I will have front row seats.  Horner?

San Sebastian:  A week after the Tour the climbers get their revenge in one of the most scenic and historic parts of the Basque country.  

Paris-Tours:  Supposedly this was awesome back in the day, now it just kind of wraps up the season.  One more for the road.  

I love 'em all but I have my favorites.  But first I would like to hear from you.  Add some comments and take the poll. 

Chapeau

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

Cobbles, Cobbles, Cobbles! It’s time for Cobbles! It’s Omloop, KBK week and if you are not familiar with these races- you are missing out. These two races open up the the Classics season as we approach the monuments of Milan-San Remo, Paris Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The Grand Tours are Great but the best racing of the season generally happens in the next 2 months. Cobbles! However, before we get looking ahead to last weekend, let's take a look back to last week's action. A Lot of WFL (Wiskota Fantasy League) riders were in the mix and many scored some big points, despite not being WorldTour races.

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol.

“Route to the Sun”.

Chapeau to Alejandro Valverde for winning the final stage with an epic attack with 7km to go and snatching victory from TVG. Ballaverde opened up his account for 2016 and is dedicating this season to his former teammate and friend, Adrioni Malori.

Speaking of TVG, Chapeau to Tejay van Garderen for winning the Time Trial in Andalucia. He also was an animator in the final stage, in the lead group, who was chasing Valverde. Looking strong TVG! I like seeing him race things outside of California and France.

Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta

Chapeau to Geraint Thomas for winning the overall on the southern coast of Portugal ( mmmm, beaches of Algarve). He was the most consistent rider, hence, your GC winner. I am excited to see how the Penguin races this season. He will be tough to beat in a one week race.

Chapeau to Alberto Contador for winning the final stage and claiming victory on the Alto do Malhao climb. Pistolero started Algarve on the back foot but rode himself into form. I predict that we will see a lot of “hand-guns” this season. Bang.

Chapeau as well to Marcel Kittel for taking 2 stages and to Fabian Cancellara for winning the time trial stage. Both have started out the year strong. And a touch of the brim to Fabio Aru, Thibaut Pinot, and Rigo Uran for trying. All were in striking distance on the final climb.

Tour of Oman

Chapeau to Vincenzo Nibali. The The Shark of Messina was brilliant on his way to victory on Green Mountain. He is showing some good early form by beating a strong Frenchman in Romain Bardet, as well as the likes of his teammate Jakob Fuglsang, Tom Dumoulin, Rui Costa and Domenico Pozzovivo. Lo Squalo mostrando Panache!

Chapeau to Eddy Bohag and Alexander Kristoff. The 2 strong men continue to show good form as they build for the classics. I have been really impressed by both riders this season and am very surprised by BoHag, undrafted, and the start to what is quickly becoming the best season of his career.

Cobbles!

On the Rivet

Countdown to Cobbles

He should come out of retirement just for this race

Omloop het Nieuwsblad this Saturday!  Kuurne-Brussels-Kurrne on Sunday!

Chapeau

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

February is flying by and the racing is starting to heat up!!! What does that mean? Time to race the route of the sun. We are only two weeks from the Omloop and KBK and 3 week to Strade Bianchi. So, we need to get together soon to dine and discuss the upcoming classics season.

There have been a number of Wiskota Fantasy League riders who have been tearing it up and gaining points for their respective DS”s. We haven’t done this in a while so we will have to go back to a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam, where it's flat and immense and the heat is intense, it's barbaric, but hey, it's Dubai.

Chapeau to J.J.Lobato for winning on the Commish’s favorite finishing climb of the season, the Hatta Dam. He gets straight giddy when the Lobatomaker gets punchy. The Spaniard beat the likes of Gilbert and Fabulous Fabian Cancellara to win the stage and announce himself as a real threat in the spring classics.

Chapeau to Kittel for winning 2 stages and the overall at the Dubai Tour. SKittels definitely looked like the fastest man on the planet. Cavendish did not seem to be in the same league as the flashy German. Taste the Rainbow!

Next on our travels, we round the Straight of Hormuz and head to the Persian Gulf and into the beautiful cycling nation of Qatar.

Chapeau to Mark Cavendish as he showed that yes, he can still win a group sprint, as he took the 1st stage and the overall in Qatar.

The real star of the Tour of Ababwa was the Iceman, Alexander Kristoff, who took 3 stages and beat the Manx Missile in all 3 of those finishes. Impressive for a strong Classics style rider (and great sprinter). A well deserved, tip of the hat, Chapeau!! Another monument seems inevitable. (I’ll be looking forward to Luke writing about the Iceman and how he compares to other great sprinters who have won monuments in the spring classics).

Chapeau to Eddy BoHag. The BoDog won the individual time trial and was set to take the overall but came up short after a double flat in the penultimate stage. Undrafted by Wiskota, EBH is poised to have the best spring in his young career.

One, final Chapeau to Philippe Gilbert for beating a surprisingly strong field containing Valverde, Zakarin, and Jon Izaguirre to win the hilltop finish at the Vuelta a Murcia. Points are points. Jill Bear!!!!!

This week we sail back, south on the Arabian Sea to Oman. The field will be very different at this race as the parcours are a tad bit more pointy. Thus bringing the likes of Porte, Nibali, and big Tommy Dumoulin to headline a field of climbers in the southern edge of the Arabian desert.

The other big race this week is the the Ruta del Sol, or Vuelta a Andalucía. A strong field which contains Wiskota fantasy riders such as Danny Martin, Gilbert, TVG, Majka, Valverde, Mollema, Wilco, as well as J.J. Lobato. A little known race that would definitely be in my top 5 to attend. Tapas anyone?

Two weeks until cobbles!!!

Forza!

Chapeau!

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

Chapeau to Simon Gerrans for winning two stages and taking his 4th Tour Down Under. 2 years ago he won the Ochre jersey and turned it into his best spring and season of his career. Forza!

Chapeau to Richie Porte. He is the King of Willunga Hill. He continues to dominate the most decisive climb of TdUnder but has yet to find a way to win it all. Best Climber Down Under.

Chapeau to Caleb Ewan. The “Pocket Rocket” already has 8 wins this year and it is not even February. He took the People's Choice Classic and 2 stages at TdUnder. I can’t wait to see what he can do at the Giro. Impressive pickup for STP Greenline!

Chapeau to Sergio Henao. El Venao takes the prize as the best rider from the Northern Hemisphere (barely) competing Down Under. Oh, he also got 3rd overall and the Mountains Jersey.

Chapeau to Mike Woods. The Canadian lit up stages last year in Utah and Colorado and now he proved very well in his first World Tour race. Not a Wiskota rider but I am interested to see if he becomes a real threat at races like Fleche and Amstel.

Chapeau to the Tour Down Under. This race is perfect to open the world Tour. It looks hot (can one get Vitamin D from a TV?) and the finishes are always fun and interesting to watch. This race is fan friendly, TV friendly, and rider friendly- if you're an Aussie.

Chapeau to Australian podium girls. Because cycling is chauvinistic and they are all smokeshows!

Chapeau to the Quintana Brothers. Dayer wins!!! but his brother takes the credit. Dayer took the overall at San Luis and Nitro took 3rd. A Quintana sandwich with mystery meat- Eduardo Sepulveda, finishing up the podium. Nairo was the best of the favorites and Dayer got his biggest win of his career. Maybe Dayer is the key to Quintana beating Froome in July.

The Broom Wagon

...cleaning up after the week in racing.

Gerrans win TDU

Gerro with some fit sheilas

Gregario Forza comes out swinging with a victory in Adalaide.  

Turns out Ewan is fast

STP and Bob the Neo Pro had strong showings as well.  It was an all Aussie affair and Richie Porte has shown once again that he is a force to be reckoned with...when no one else very good is there...and when it's only one week...and when everything goes his way...and when he's got a strong team...and when his muesli is just right...and when...

Caleb Ewan was not afraid to get in on this Aussie party and for the time being he is "the fastest man on the planet" - Phil Liggett.  And Phil is not one for hyperbole

Remember when they gave Jensie a baby roo?

Don't forget the Tour de San Luis.  Everything counts now!

The fastest Quintana

Wiskota!

Chapeau

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

Draft Day Recap:

A closer look

Volpe- Team Volpe will win any brawl. Volpe has strong riders in Kwiatkowski, Cancellara, Degenkolb and G. Thomas. This is a well rounded team in the classics and should do very well in the one week stage races. It seems that Volpe’s only weakness may be in the grand tours but that is what transfers are for.

MVP- The Penguin- Dooby dooby doo- Geraint Thomas, classics star and rising GC star = points.

Reach- Kwiatkowski- Can the QuietOne be as valuable on Sky? I don't think so...

Best Value- Tony Gallopin- I expect big things from the Frenchman in the Ardennes.

BMC p/b ANF- Bob’s Manufactured Cycling p/b America Needs Farmers is a neo-pro team that is bringing it in their first year. Probably the best top 3 in the league with Froome, Sagan and Porte. This team will be relying heavily on Sagan for the classics but a few top end finishes could be enough to catapult this well-rounded team on to the podium. TdF superstar, Chris Froome-dog, will make hay in July which will make co-sponsor, ANF, very happy.

MVP- Get yourself a Froome Dog

Reach- TVG, BMC likes himself some BMC, TVG will need to increase his harvest at le Tour.

Value- Landa, Wellens,and Zacharin were all taken at great places in the draft but Alaphilippe could bag a classics victory in the Ardennes, not bad for a 10th round pick.

STP p/b GreenLine- This team won’t lose many sprints with the likes of Kittel, Cavendish and Ewan. STP also boasts one of the strongest classics squads with Mathews, Boonen as well as the quickly ascending Tiesj Benoot. Add in Tony Martin, riding the classics, as well as Pozzovivo, Costa and Rolland in stage races- this team is a few transfers away from digging it’s way out of the cellar and on to the podium. What was that article you read?

MVP- Costa (the guy scores points)

Reach- Cavendish, I hope a new team can put the fuel back in the missile.

Value- Tiesj Benoot- 2nd at the Tour of Belgium, 4th at Paris Tours, 6th at Dwars, and 5th at the Ronde!!! Looks like a classics superstar in training.

Gregario Forza p/b Edgar- The Classics squad, Sep VanMarcke ( age 27, too strong last year, bad luck), Vandenbergh (31, 4th at Omloop and G-W in 2015), Stybar (30, 1st at Strade, 2nd at Roubaix), Terpstra (31, 2nd at Flanders, Omloop and G-W and 1st at Wallonie and Qatar in 2015) and add in Taylor Phinney (young USA hopeful for the classics) and this is clearly the strongest cobbles squad in the league. Forza will need Gerrans to return to top form in the Ardennes and for Gilbert to continue to show his mastery of the punchy climbs. Nibali is the early favorite for the Giro and Quintana will finally get a grand tour win (most likely at the Vuelta).

MVP- NIbali, I think the Italian in poised for his best year of his career- La Doyenne?

Reach- Amador, who? Gregario Forza doesn’t know.

Value- Phinney, this is the year! USA, USA, USA, USA!!!

Team Wiskota Dynamic p/b Town Hall Lanes- The 4 time champion once again is boasting a very strong team. Built on stalwarts, Purito Rodriguez and Alexander Kristoff, this team will not be short of wins and points. Also, add in classics studs- GVA and Debusschere, and this team will be tough (in the spring). Wiskota Dynamic will rely heavily on Uran in the grand tours and will need big seasons for Ulissi and Izaguirre. The champions will score early but will need to make transfers to win again. Not a lot of depth on this squad despite having more early draft picks than any other team.

MVP- Purito Rodriguez

Reach- Betancourt- not on anyone's radar and I wasn't taking him. (however, cheering for him)

Value- Izagirre, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, looks to build on a strong 2015.

PdL/STRAVA- If Wiskota Dynamic wants stage racers he should ask the Wolfpack because this team is stacked when it comes to 1 week races. He is also flushed with talent in the grand tours. Contador, Pinot, Majka, and Mollema will score big in GT’s and Bardet, Spilak, Yates, Fuglsang, and Hesjedal only bolster Wolfsrudel’s dominance in stage races. He will need someone to score big in Ardennes week as he has only one cobbler to go in the spring classics. I predict Pacte de Loupes p/b Strada to be in last place going into the 1st transfer but to finish on the podium. Did I mention he has Valverde? Adios Taco!!!

MVP- Bella Verde- Valverde

Reach- Greipel- Best Sprinter last July but can the Vanilla Gorilla bag a classics victory?

Value- Mollema-  Consistent- pert near a guarantee top 10 at Le Tour.

On the Rivet

...a look at who's riding fast this week

Crikey!

Critter crossing

The world tour gets under way down under as the first big points of the season are up for grabs. The teams are set and bikes are tuned lets hit the road.  No shortage of Wiskota riders at the Tour Down Under, some are even calling this the race's strongest startlist ever.  Let's check it out, Wiskota!

They should climb this

They have managed to make this race kind of fun with the inclusion of punchy climbs, the exclusion of a TT and some tough roads before the sprint finishes.  One of my favorite stages is back again this year.  The long drag up to the finish line in Stirling has made for some good racing.  Will the climbers go fast enough to drop all sprinters like in 2014?  Will a few fast men make it up the hill with enough juice left for the sprint, like last year? Or could this be the launching pad for the overall winner like in 2013?  Another cool stage is stage 3 with the corckscrew climb coming in the last 10 k of the race.  Ripp it up this just long enough climb, descend to the end and out sprint the hand full of riders who could follow.  At least that's what Geraint Thomas did in 2013.   

Epic Massive?

So, some twists and turns, mostly group finishes, how do we determine the winner of this thing?  Willunga! This is the closest thing they've got to a mountain here so lets climb it twice.  The winner here is almost always the overall winner.  The climbers will give it there best here.   

How to watch

6 bucks at Franklin Nicollet Liquors
Oh, the memories

The race is on Universal HD this year (not Universal Sports) and Willunga is Saturday.  With a little tape delay I'll turn that into some prime time action.  This race is actually right in the middle of the best wine region in Australia, so yeah, go ahead and pop a bottle from the Barossa valley.  Of course, they know a thing or two about beer in Australia, mostly drinking it.  I spose a Foster's Oil Can  could be festive.  As for food, a little Vegemite never killed anyone, but I'll stick to Outback.  A blooming onion with extra didgeridoo sauce please. 

Predictions

Obligatory Opera House Photo

Who are the favorites here?  There are a couple of ways to look at it.  Plenty of fast finishes with time bonuses.  Will one sprinter dominate?  None of the top guys are here so look to the like's of Nizzolo, Wippert, Lobato maybe even Ewan to take a stage or two.  Climby fast finishes like Stirling and Corkscrew could give a punchier rider a chance for overall, look to Gerrans (who has done it 3 times already), Ullisi, G, Bennet. maybe even Arredondo.  Willunga remains for the real climbers, Porte, Dennis, Henao, Pozzo, maybe even Hesjedal.  Tons of dark horses as its early in the season and the race has a kind of open format.  Look to Fernadez, Ladies Love cool Sanch, Machado, and Meyer for GC and Reinen, Boom and dare I say TyTy Farrar in the sprints.  Super sneaky pick: Moreno Moser on Corkscrew.

How it could happen: Its summer down under and most Aussies are busy throwing another shrimp on the barbie, but instead Rory "King of Chillcoot" Sutherland has been climbing Corkscrew and Willunga everyday.  We'll drop him on Willunga they say, but he's not going so easily.  Those bonus seconds pay off and Movistar takes a surprise win. 

How it might happen:  Its summer down under and the billabong has nearly dried up, but that won't stop Diego Ullisi from waltzing matilda right up corkscrew hill.  We'll drop him on Willunga they say, but he took bonus seconds in Stirling as well, and after the dust settles Ullisi holds on by the slimmest of margins giving Dynamic an early season lead.  

How it will happen:  Its summer down under and the blokes are looking for sheelas to have a root, but team BMC is ready to go off like a frog in a sock.  We'll drop them on Willunga they say, and the likes of Henao and Pozzovivo are like a shag on a rock.  Porte and Dennis look fit as a Mallee bull while Geraint looks like he's going to chunder.  BMC goes 1,2, they're stoked and Bob the neo-pro slams some neck oil.  Translation  

WISKOTA!

Chapeau

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

2016 Draft Day Recap

Volpe- Strong Riders, Grand Tour?

Bob's Manufactured Cycles p/b ANF- Strong top end, Go as BMC goes, Sagan will need to conquer the classics

STP-Greenline- Will not lose a sprint, Well rounded classics squad, Grand Tour  questions?

Forza- Built for the cobbles, relying on  2 wiley veterans in the Ardennes. Will Aru and Quintana be able to knock off Froome?

Sams Club- Well rounded and Strong team, Lack Grand Tour top end, hasn't been a problem in the past.

Le Pacte de Lupes p/b STRAVA- Strongest stage race team, Could be in a hole coming out of the Spring Classics.