Sagan...
Last Post 03/08/2014 07:00 PM by 79 pmooney. 4 Replies.
Author Messages
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/08/2014 12:12 PM
Still needs to learn to race a little smarter if he wants to snatch a big one this year.
JS

Posts:61

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03/08/2014 01:50 PM
Posted By Orange Crush on 03/08/2014 12:12 PM
Still needs to learn to race a little smarter if he wants to snatch a big one this year.
Not sure what he could have done different? It was always going to be tough for him to hang on those steep pitches (16%?) with a flyweight like Kwiatkowski who is on form.  Looks like the strongest guy won. Regardless of what you think of his antics Sagan is a classy racer.

 “You win and you lose. It happened to me today. No, I have not had any mechanical problem — just in the end I had no legs.”
bobswire

Posts:304

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03/08/2014 02:09 PM
Posted By JS . on 03/08/2014 01:50 PM
Posted By Orange Crush on 03/08/2014 12:12 PM
Still needs to learn to race a little smarter if he wants to snatch a big one this year.
Not sure what he could have done different? It was always going to be tough for him to hang on those steep pitches (16%?) with a flyweight like Kwiatkowski who is on form.  Looks like the strongest guy won. Regardless of what you think of his antics Sagan is a classy racer.

 “You win and you lose. It happened to me today. No, I have not had any mechanical problem — just in the end I had no legs.”

Agree,with Kwiat and Valverde he had to make his break much earlier and did a good job of it (think Cance) but that climb favored Kwiat with Valverde closing in to grab 3rd. I like these races. If given a choice to ride a classic route this would be one I'd like to ride but at my leisure.

Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/08/2014 02:16 PM
"Kwiatkowski is more reserved and lacks Sagan's natural self belief but he is equally ambitious."

The natural self-belief is Sagan's greatest adversary. He often rides like he's Superman. Today he could have ridden that last km a bit more tactically; he was leading up that first part of final climb until he blew with Kwiatkowski waiting for right moment.
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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03/08/2014 07:00 PM
Kwiatkowski got to benefit from 3 teammates. That is huge. Could Sagan have won playing it more conservatively? I don't think that was a given at all. Not with this course, the strong Omega contingent and with Kwiatkowski's form.

I'll bet we see a lot more of Kwiatkowski this year. Sagan will get his share, I'm not worried, but he is going to have to work for the wins that aren't on turf suited to him

Ben


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