Arnaud Démare discussion thread

[Alexandre B.]

Didn't see a thread about this rider before so I'm opening one.

Arnaud Démare is known as an hardman sprinter, a type of cyclist who is fast enough to win a sprint after a tough day of racing. That's why his focus is on the Classics and bunch sprints in stage races.

He won Milano-Sanremo this year (as seen in the picture) and is a former U23 world champion and french national champion. He is also known for his rivalry with Nacer Bouhanni, another successful french sprinter and former teammate.

His schedule for 2017
- Etoile de Bessèges (1 au 5 février)
- Tour d'Algarve (15 au 19 février)
- Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (25 février)
- Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (26 fevrier)
- Paris-Nice (5 mars au 12 mars)
- Milan-San Remo (18 mars)
- A travers la Flandre/Dwars Door Vlaanderen (22 mars)
- Gent Wevelgem (26 mars)
- Tour des Flandres/De Ronde van Vlaanderen (2 avril)
- Grand Prix de l'Escault/Scheldeprijs (5 avril)
- Paris-Roubaix (9 Avril)
- Grand Prix de Denain (13 avril) - A confirmer
- Tro Bro Léon (17 avril) - A confirmer

-- Coupure --

- 4 Jours de Dunkerque - Tour des Hauts de France (9 au 14 mai)
- Critérium du Dauphiné or Tour de Suisse
- Championnat de France (25 juin)
- Tour De France (1er au 23 juillet)

His goals are the Classics and the Tour de France. He hasn't won a single GT stage in four participations, so that's a big objective.
Jacopo Guarnieri will join his sprint train.

 

[Flamin]

I always liked him, don't know why. Still waiting (and hoping) for him to make a step in the cobble classics.

 

[IndianCyclist]

He is equivalent to Bouhanni but hasn't won GT stages because of lack of sprint train in the finale or good strategy

 

[Tonton]

No train...very true. Better than Nacer IMO. I was expecting more after his MSR win. But with no train, it's tough to challenge the two Germans or Cav. One if not the best in long sprints. He's a horse. I see some great wins for him.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

He is equivalent to Bouhanni but hasn't won GT stages because of lack of sprint train in the finale or good strategy

Really? I always thought he was able to handle the hills a little better than Bouhanni and Bouhanni was the one with a little more pure speed.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

He is equivalent to Bouhanni but hasn't won GT stages because of lack of sprint train in the finale or good strategy

Really? I always thought he was able to handle the hills a little better than Bouhanni and Bouhanni was the one with a little more pure speed.

Bouhanni is also better in the hills. I can't recall anything from Demare that comes anywhere near what Bouhanni has done in the Vuelta a few times for example.

 

[May0maniac]

Bouhanni is better on the climbs, but Demare has more raw power and probably the better engine for hard one day races.
Guarnieri and Cimolai could be the right guys to improve his train.
Is there a reason why Reza is not a part of his train? He used to be a leadout man for Coquard, so you'd think that FDJ would use him as a part of Démare's train.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Bouhanni is better on the climbs, but Demare has more raw power and probably the better engine for hard one day races.
Guarnieri and Cimolai could be the right guys to improve his train.
Is there a reason why Reza is not a part of his train? He used to be a leadout man for Coquard, so you'd think that FDJ would use him as a part of Démare's train.

Yeah this is what I was thinking I guess.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Yeah, Demare reminds of Kristoff, though probably not as good on hills as Kristoff.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Hopefully he can get a win in some of the one days races and a stage at the tour.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Bouhanni is better on climbs but I'm not convinced he can do this.
https://youtu.be/49nCSxBlm1g?t=13m33s

 

[spiritualride]

Does Demare try to hitch a ride along his team car in every race? I just watched the 2014 Paris Roubaix.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Does Demare try to hitch a ride along his team car in every race? I just watched the 2014 Paris Roubaix.

Only in monuments.

Still never won a GT stage.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Beating Kristoff in February is usually very difficult. Chapeau!

 

[Der Effe]

He finally seems to have a decent train as well. Guarnieri should be a great addition.

 

[Flamin]

What I don't understand is how some somehow manage to make sillier looking helmets year after year.

Anyway, allez Arnaud!

 

[Tonton]

Bravo Arnaud!

With Guarnieri and Cimolai, FDJ seems to finally give Demare a fighting chance against the top-sprinters and their trains.

Vichot, now Demare: nice start of the season for FDJ.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Étoile de Bessèges - Stage 4

He made it look easy!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Good start into the season for him. Beating Kristoff twice and with this dominance is a huge moral boast. Watch out for MSR surprise win 2.0!

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Good start into the season for him. Beating Kristoff twice and with this dominance is a huge moral boast. Watch out for MSR surprise win 2.0!

Very strong form indeed, and quite a margin today. Give him a little train, and he can obliterate the field. He can now compete and win against Kristoff, I think that he may surprise the other big names too.

MSR 2.0? I would love it. He's the moral winner regardless, even before the race takes place .

Pokes at Netserk put aside, I'm happy for him. This could be his breakthrough year.

 

[IndianCyclist]

he is only 25. beating Kristoff may mean he has gone up a level.
More than MSR 2 i want to see PR 1.0

 

[portugal11]

We all know how he won milan san remo...

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

... by being the fastest sprinter on the Via Roma.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

... by being the fastest sprinter on the Via Roma.

Yes he was.

Let's not reignite the controversy, please, but instead look at 2017 and he's off a great start. Still not as good as the very best sprinters, but making strides. Confidence brings success, he's on a roll.

 

[Alexandre B.]

I throw this excellent piece by The Inner Ring on the Cipressa conspiracy theories and let's move on : http://inrng.com/2016/03/demare-cipressa-conspiracy-theories/