Review of the Spring Classics : Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:22 am
King of the Classics - CancellaraUndisputed surely. Kept Sagan out of winning races that everyone had already pencilled him in for. Shame Boonen was unfit/injured this year - maybe next year we might see the showdown we've been wanting.
Flop of the classics - Gilbert
Thought briefly about Sagan but I think he was just too young and too inexperienced. Gilbert on the other hand is looking like he is going to have a 'curse of the rainbow stripes' type year. The Ardenne classics are all about his type of racing and he just wasn't ready despite the domestiques always looking like they were doing a job for him.
Most popular win of the classics - Dan Martin
Good old 'Irish' Dan Martin (we can't criticise with Belgian Bradley and Kenyan Froome) was certainly my most popular win of the year so far. He looked in great shape with an attack that was just too late in Fleche Wallonne but the two card trick Garmin played in LBL was superb.
Surprise of the classics - Ciolek
Not much could be said here - he wasn't a surprise when you looked at the final bunch but i don't think anyone would have tipped him for La Primavera.
Best team of the classics - Radioshack
Really? The first time they have looked like a team. The difference this year? Well Bruyneel not being there looks to have done them the world of good. The work they did in the first 200 km of Cancellaras wins was immense.
Most disappointing team of the classics - Team Sky
Dave Brailsford said they were targetting the classics and they have left them empty handed. Only Henao made a podium - Stannard looked liked he peaked too soon, Thomas looked out of his depth, EBH looked like a shadow of his former self, Froome looked like he was not fit enough for the challenge. Sky don't have a clue when it comes to the classics. They consistently tried to 'boss' the third quarter of the hillier classics by riding tempo at the front but you don't win long races by doing that. They needed 2 or 3 cards to play in the last 20 kms but consistently looked like they had burned all their matches way before the business end of the races.
Any disagreement out there?
