Strade Bianche Report

My boyfriend and I had a difficult conversation a few years back. We decided it was best if I didn't pick him for my pool teams. Fabs said he didn't need any added pressure. That's too bad. Because yesterday was one of those days when those who built their team around him were rewarded. In fact, it was one of those days where those who didn't build their teams around him should be worried. Very worried. It is too early to tell of course. But the way he rode away from everybody suggests he might be on form to repeat the show of force that was 2010.

Chris O won the vicarious Strade Bianche. He had 600 points thanks to Fabs and Ballan. How much more would he have had if Ballan didn't take a wrong turn with a few kms to go? I suppose we will never know. Lyle picked up 535 points to finish second. That is good. We were starting to wonder whether he might lay a goose egg for the whole Spring Classics Pool. He won't. He now has 535 points overall. In third place was Mike G with 410 points. A few years ago, Mike set the vicarious racing world on fire the way Fabs did in 2010 for the real racing scene and Gilbert did last year. Do we have the old Mike back in 2012? That would be fun. We miss him.

In the overall race, we've had a change at the very top of the standings. Brad the Impaler is the new leader. He has 1185 points. Troy has dropped down to second overall. He is exactly 100 points behind Brad. Jason is only 60 points back of Troy. Behind the top three, people are lining up to take their shots. Andy, Jonny G, and Chris O are all within striking distance. Each of them is just one good race away from the overall lead.

We'll have to wait awhile before we see if they can make a move. The next race is the Nokere Koerse on March 14. Right now it's early season stage racing time. Paris-Nice is currently underway. And the so-called Race of the Two Seas, Tirreno Adriatico, starts on Wednesday. This would be a good time to do a little advance scouting for the 2012 Giro and TdF Pools.

Full results and overall standings here.