Strade Bianche

And so, yeah, it's pretty harsh.

A lot of criticism of him, actually, on social media also because people saying, where is the success from earlier this year when he was so good at Strade Bianche and Flash Valon and all those races? I mean, give him a break, guys.

He's young and it's his first real season, isn't it? Yeah, exactly.

At the top, give him a little bit of chance.

Let's say, Paris-Roubaix, it's maybe an extreme example because there are several other factors than just the...

the pedal, but let's say, you know, a thing like Stradé Bianché, you know, where it's like, there's a lot of little boats around the flanks, where there's a lot of little bosses, and then, one after the other, the pros, not the pros, but the favorites, they attack, and then they try to drop the others, and then, like, you see, the peloton, it's cream, it's cream, it's cream, it's cream, it's like a day like that, let's say, for you, which is like, which is in the pack, and which is like, in the pack, it's just, well, I'm not able to be, I'm not able to do it, you know? Yeah, that's it, lights out, exactly, that's it, it's when it shuts down, in the moment, it's like,

well, I went as far as I

could, yeah, that's it, exactly.

But Magdalene has done her job well.

And to say that she hasn't been there, I remember seeing her at Strada Bianca in that very elite group.

Yeah, that was a really impressive ride.

It was fantastic.

He won La Fleche second in Liège.

He won Strade Bianche fourth in the Tour.

What did I say? He was second in Strade.

Yeah, you said he won Strade Bianche.

Well, he may as well have done.

But he's supported by such a strong squad, which is pretty much all focused around Hitler.

That Armoury is going to be there on the front, really controlling things.

Labrosse as well was, I think he was with Sextas and Strade Bianche, the two of them.

So that would be nice to see them work

together.

I vaguely remember that, but Francisca Koch doing it this time in 5th place is a strong performance and highlights the level we've seen all year.

We've seen the rider that could win Paris-Roubaix, for example, be a relevant role in Strade Bianche as well, but to drop a top 3 at the podium of the World Champs ITT, that's a really strong performance.

He had a baller really strong to tee as well in 5th place.

I was expecting less from Kopecky today too, if I'm being honest.

I've done a little bit of gravel.

I've never done the long stretches of the Strade Bianche, which is so famed.

I have done a bit of riding on them, but not huge swathes of it.

Yeah, I was going

to say that's sort of what it's known for in modern day cycling, isn't it? Yeah.

The Strade Bianche.

The Strade Bianche is beautiful and it's funny because the Strade Bianche, obviously you've got very specific and sort of set sections of that Strade Bianche.

I think the Strade Bianche was on the Tour de France in 2024.

It's got a really iconic finish.

I mean, probably not quite Strade Bianche levels, but the finish up Michael Gate along the cobbles.

If the crowds are out, there's hardly any room on the cobbles.

You can't ride the gutter.