Strade Bianche
 

This Saturday, any guesses for who is in form right now?

I'm going with a full BMC podium

Van Avermaet
Ballan
Gilbert

http://velonews.competitor.com/files...NS-622x421.jpg

one the coolest races imho
 

it should be fun
gilbert
cheers

I'd look at somebody from BMC to ride well, but probably not all three on the podium - though two or three in the top ten, well, maybe. Wouldn't surprised to see Maxim Iglinskiy ride well. Nibali and Sagan will probably be in the mix. Cancellara, well, he's Cancellara. Giovanni Visconti could be there. I'll be watching to see if Pozzato is still a disappointment. And I'll see who from Garmin decides they'll stick around for the finale.

But mostly it's not a star-studded start list so I don't think we'll see a whole lot of surprises. Count on Gilbert to open his account.

http://www.steephill.tv/classics/strade-bianche/
t.v.
cheers
big george makes his return
cheers

v.news says

Philippe Gilbert admits he’s not at the same level as last year when he blasted to victory going into this weekend’s Montepaschi Strade Bianchi across the white roads of Tuscany.

Gilbert’s dream spring began last year when he roared to victory ahead of an elite pack of contenders that includes now-BMC teammate Alessandro Ballan and Damiano Cunego.

Ballan will join Gilbert on Saturday, along with George Hincapie, who makes his season debut for Team BMC, as Gilbert will feel the pressure early to try to live up to impressive spring campaign last year that included a clean sweep of the Ardennes classics.

“I will start this race with motivation because it’s a nice race,” Gilbert said in a BMC release. “My feeling was not great last weekend like last year at the same moment. But there’s still no stress for me. The season is long and my goals will come later.”

With Tour de France champion Cadel Evans lining up as a helper, BMC will be the favorite to defend Gilbert’s title.

Gilbert will see tough competition in the first major Italian race of the season. Former winners Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) and Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) stand out on the official entry list of 14 teams for what’s one of the most dramatic and spectacular days of racing of the year.

The 190km route rolls over the steep, green hills of Tuscany and barrels over eight unpaved sectors of white, loose gravel roads from Giaole to Sienna’s Piazza del Campo.

Ryder Hesjedal will lead a strong Garmin-Barracuda squad that also includes Christian Vande Velde, Paris-Roubaix champion Johan Vansummeren and Dan Martin.

Other pre-race favorites include Giovanni Visconti (Movistar), Fabio Duarte (Colombia-Coldeportes), Daniel Bennati (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) and Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini), back earlier than expected from a fractured collarbone in Qatar. Liquigas-Cannondale also brings a strong squad with Peter Sagan, Moreno Moser and Vincenzo Nibali.

I know where I will be...
 

Looks like earliest live video starts at 0830 eastern. Time to put Google TV to work!

My pick is Gilbert.

Anyone know why Eurosport streaming is going to start at 9:30am Eastern according to cyclingfans, when the race is expected to be over at 9:45am? Are they doing a rebroadcast or just showing the last few minutes of the race?

Live in Italian here;

http://videochat.gazzetta.it/index_S...ismo_Libero#cf

Nice. Ballan just got off the round about at the wrong exit.

So, is Spartacus back?

boy was i wrong
:beer: cheers

That was cool!
 

No spoiler here since the race is in delayed broadcast, but the Italian live broadcast has just seen the finish. A beautifully timed move and display of power does it.

Cancellara's bike handling skills are amazing, even more so than his power.

He's back..... That winning move was great!!!!

+1 :beer:

I missed the broadcast.
Is there a replay (other than highlights) available on the 'net?