The Eroica is tomorrow

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Cool race. We need more like this one.

It's an RCS race too, so I guess Astana won't be there. :p

Start list. http://www.cyclingnews.com.au/road/2008/mar08/eroica08/?id=startlist

Hard to pick this early in the season. I think I will go with O'Grady.

Too bad Hincapie is not racing this.

Cool race. We need more like this one.

It's an RCS race too, so I guess Astana won't be there. :pBallan to win?

Start list. http://www.cyclingnews.com.au/road/2008/mar08/eroica08/?id=startlist

Hard to pick this early in the season. I think I will go with O'Grady.

Too bad Hincapie is not racing this.
I would have thought this would be a good race for George, too.

I would love for Stuey to kick some tail but I don't know if his physical or mental form is ready to win in a race yet.

I would have thought this would be a good race for George, too.

I would love for Stuey to kick some tail but I don't know if his physical or mental form is ready to win in a race yet.
I don't know who to pick, so I used my backup strategy: Pick the leader of CSC.

It has to be a lottery at this time of year. Elsewhere I posted Ignatiev and Cooke as possibilities. Cooke's early season form is normally pretty good, though I don't know how he's travelling this year.

No one for Simoni? Too early? (or late?)

Ballan to win?
franzoi?

Both Ballan and Bettini have said that they were racing to win, although with Bettini's recent crash he may not be in the best of shape.

Ok, I go with Ballan then.

Cancellara
http://startlist.cyclingfever.com/startlist.html?_p=startlijst&id=18726

Results and report from CN here. (http://www.cyclingnews.com.au/road/2008/mar08/eroica08/?id=results)

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 4.34.41 (39.536 km/h)
2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
3 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team High Road 0.15
4 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30
5 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
6 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Barloworld
7 Niklas Axelsson (Swe) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road
9 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 0.38
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 Cancellara wins a two-up sprint with Ballan. Hesjedal prominent.

Seems like it was a corker of a race.

Results and report from CN here. (http://www.cyclingnews.com.au/road/2008/mar08/eroica08/?id=results)

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 4.34.41 (39.536 km/h)
2 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - Fondital
3 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team High Road 0.15
4 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30
5 Baden Cooke (Aus) Barloworld
6 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Barloworld
7 Niklas Axelsson (Swe) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli
8 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team High Road
9 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems 0.38
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 Cancellara wins a two-up sprint with Ballan. Hesjedal prominent.

Seems like it was a corker of a race. I picked the wrong CSC rider. :(

I wish the Giro would add a few flatish stages like this. Combined with a queen stage with a gravel climb it would make a sweet race.

I stole these video links from DP. :)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...7_eroica1_sport (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/video/x4n4s7_eroica1_sport)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...i_eroica2_sport (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/video/x4n5pi_eroica2_sport)

I stole these video links from DP. :)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...7_eroica1_sport (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/video/x4n4s7_eroica1_sport)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...i_eroica2_sport (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/video/x4n5pi_eroica2_sport)Thanks Bro! I was a little surprised to see the poor quality of roads in some parts, but I guess it is normal.

I was a little surprised to see the poor quality of roads in some parts, but I guess it is normal.:confused: Sorry, don't get it. Isn't that the entire point of the Eroica? :confused:

Thanks Bro! I was a little surprised to see the poor quality of roads in some parts, but I guess it is normal.
I think they are scheduled to be paved by next year's race. :rolleyes::rolleyes:;):rolleyes::rolleyes:

I stole these video links from DP. :)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...7_eroica1_sport (http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/video/x4n4s7_eroica1_sport)

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/eroica/v...i_eroica2_sportThanks Bro.

It was interesting that Cancellara wanted the lead position from a long way out. When Ballan tried to come around him after being in his draught for quite a time, Cancellara busted his ass to beat him to the penultimate turn.

It was an interesting place to put the finish. The riders must have all worked out that whatever the order was going into that last left, then right turn... that was going to be the order at the finish.

:confused: Sorry, don't get it. Isn't that the entire point of the Eroica? :confused:That tells you how much I know about the race. ;)

That tells you how much I know about the race. ;)Don't worry... the OP hasn't got much clue either. The race is not tomorrow... it was three days ago... :D

That tells you how much I know about the race. ;)LOL. Mamma mia, all experts here... :D