2012 Paris - Nice

[maltiv]

This route is really dissapoitning but I think TJVG has a good chance of winning.

I don't he could do particularly well on Mende and there's no TT where he could take lost time back.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Really? What about Volta ao Algarve last year on the Alto de Malhao? Also I think he would do quite well on both tt's.

 

[skidmark]

This route is really dissapoitning but I think TJVG has a good chance of winning.

Oh no, I forgot that he's with BMC now. Crap, how am I gonna cheer for a rider I like without feeling like I'm going to be associated with ACF's undying fanboyism?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

froome is doing a reconnaisance of paris-nice,looks like he will be the top favourite there.

Kloden for me. You can't rule out OPQS, either. Anyway, I think it'll be close.

Not sure about Valverde. I don't think he's ready yet.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

lol. Tirreno better than Paris Nice???

Tireno, the race Alessandro "climber" Petacchi almost won

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirreno-Adriatico_2005

The Paris Nice parcours is and has always been more difficult than Tirreno's one.

Vive la France!

Did you watch TA last year?
I agree that historically PN is the better race, but last year wasn't even a contest. PN was boring last year while TA was the best one week race of the year.

 

[airstream]

Klodi for the win! Without Contador they can hit the top of Mende 5-10 best together or at least Andreas will lose a little bit. TT is his.

 

[El Pistolero]

Klodi for the win! Without Contador they can hit the top of Mende 5-10 best together or at least Andreas will lose a little bit. TT is his.

Lol, you're totally clueless aren't you.

As for the time trial, it isn't his. Tony Martin will win the time trial. Klöden is an old fart.

 

[El Pistolero]

Kloden for me. You can't rule out OPQS, either. Anyway, I think it'll be close.

Not sure about Valverde. I don't think he's ready yet.

They're going to send pretty good squad. I think Chavanel, Boonen and Tony Martin have all been confirmed for Paris-Nice.

 

[airstream]

Lol, you're totally clueless aren't you.

As for the time trial, it isn't his. Tony Martin will win the time trial. Klöden is an old fart.

I don't mean literally, regarding the stage win. Kloeden can take a big step to mj in the TT.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't mean literally, regarding the stage win. Kloeden can take a big step to mj in the TT.

There still won't be 5 to 10 guys finishing together on Mende

And in this race every single second will count, so gap of 5 seconds will already be relatively big. I'd put my money on Valverde, he's been second on Mende before.

 

[airstream]

There still won't be 5 to 10 guys finishing together on Mende

And in this race every single second will count, so gap of 5 seconds will already be relatively big. I'd put my money on Valverde, he's been second on Mende before.

Klodi will be among them. The Schlecks will tow him. I don't think hes afraid of tight competition. Are there bonus seconds?

 

[theyoungest]

Klodi will be among them. The Schlecks will tow him. I don't think hes afraid of tight competition. Are there bonus seconds?

"The Schlecks will tow him"... I think last time they did Mende in Paris-Nice, Fränk Schleck came in 30th or thereabouts. And Andy... dunno, probably DNF.

There still won't be 5 to 10 guys finishing together on Mende

And in this race every single second will count, so gap of 5 seconds will already be relatively big. I'd put my money on Valverde, he's been second on Mende before.

Don't know, if Tony Martin finishes the Mende stage 30 secs or more back, he still has a chance on the MTT.

 

[gregrowlerson]

This course is tailor-made for Kloden, but of course we do not know if he will ever recover from last years injuries. IF he can approach his Pais Vasco form of 2011 then he would be favourite. Mende should suit him (he did well on the short, steep climbs of the Basque country), plus we also have a short flat ITT and a fairly shallow, but nevertheless MTT. This race has got Klodi written all over it.

 

[TeoSheva]

Big contenders are also Leipheimer, Wiggins and Froome...

 

[Gloin22]

Big contenders are also Leipheimer, Wiggins and Froome...

Wiggins sais he'll target Cataluyna and Romandie and will work for Froome at the Paris Nice

 

[TeoSheva]

Wiggins sais he'll target Cataluyna and Romandie and will work for Froome at the Paris Nice

ok, so the big contenders are Leipheimer and Froome

 

[theyoungest]

It's a pretty small field of contenders, actually... Klöden, Sammy Sanchez, Leipheimer, Valverde, Froome...?

edit: and Tony Martin of course.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

They're going to send pretty good squad. I think Chavanel, Boonen and Tony Martin have all been confirmed for Paris-Nice.

Leipheimer said he would target it. The same goes for Martin and Chavanel, I'd imagine. They'll send a very good squad.

I guess Velits will lead the team in T-A, but his form is still lacking at the moment.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

It's a pretty small field of contenders, actually... Klöden, Sammy Sanchez, Leipheimer, Valverde, Froome...?

edit: and Tony Martin of course.

Don't forget the French teams. Coppel could do well here.

 

[theyoungest]

Yeah, but only for a top 10. Contenders for the win (or podium) I mean.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Is Mollema a contender?

 

[theyoungest]

For a spot in the lower reaches of the top 10, sure.

 

[Kvinto]

I think it will be all seen after Algarve. I wouldn't rule out Lulu or maybe even Brajkovic as well but basically it's only one road stage to gain time plus bonifications. I don't mind the Col d'Eze TT but with road stage designing being so poor the stage 1 TT should be no longer than 4-5km. Mende is a great climb and no way it'll end up with a group of about 10 riders on the finish but this is not enough...

 

[Oliver]

Don't forget the French teams. Coppel could do well here.

Taaramae & Peraud?

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Rolland and Pinot for the French as well....