2012 Speculation (and confirmation) thread - rider schedules and parcours

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Paris Nice will end with a TT on the Col d'Eze this year?!

 

[theyoungest]

The Sky team here is ridiculously strong so might as well say just "sky" instead of just Froome. Löfkvist, Sivtsov, EBH, (Nordhaug), Froome, Wiggins...Imagine the leadout they can do for Contador in the mountains!

It's basically one uphill finish and one TT, I see only Froome and Wiggins doing well on GC.

Paris Nice will end with a TT on the Col d'Eze this year?!

You're a bit late to the party...

 

[maltiv]

It's basically one uphill finish and one TT, I see only Froome and Wiggins doing well on GC.

If Löfkvist rediscovers his "pre-Sky" legs he could very well be on the podium, but I realize it's very long since he's done anything significant. Anyway, you shouldn't forget how early this race is in the season, the best climber won't necessarily win. Remember who won the MTF last year?

 

[theyoungest]

If Löfkvist rediscovers his "pre-Sky" legs he could very well be on the podium, but I realize it's very long since he's done anything significant. Anyway, you shouldn't forget how early this race is in the season, the best climber won't necessarily win. Remember who won the MTF last year?

I was talking about the overall. Malhao is just a 3k climb, basically anyone with good early season form can survive within shooting distance, but the TT decides.

 

[Christian]

Paris-Nice Parcours:

Etape 1 : dimanche 4 Mars : Dampierre-en-Yvelines - Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse (9.4 km, contre-la-montre)
Etape 2 : lundi 5 Mars : Mantes-la-Jolie - Orléans (185 km)
Etape 3 : mardi 6 Mars : Vierzon - Le Lac de Vassivière (194 km)
Etape 4 : mercredi 7 Mars : Brive-la-Gaillarde - Rodez (183 km)
Etape 5 : jeudi 8 Mars : Onet-le-Château - Mende (178 km)
Etape 6 : vendredi 9 Mars : Suze-la-Rousse - Sisteron (176.5 km)
Etape 7 : samedi 10 Mars: Sisteron - Nice (220 km)
Etape 8 : dimanche 11 Mars : Nice - Col d'Èze (9.6 km, contre-la-montre)

En lire d'avantage sur Cyclism'Actu : http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-par...de-l-epreuve-devoile-21888.html#ixzz1kUdSsfV2

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I kinda like it. Better than last years edition anyway.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

It's a nice route to Nice.

Gonna be an open race with showdown at the col d'Éze. Classic Paris-Nice stuff.

 

[theyoungest]

I kinda like it. Better than last years edition anyway.

It's still decided in one climb and one TT, what's more exciting about it? The Mende finish is pretty good, that's true.

 

[The Hitch]

Purito loves Mende and wont be too shabby in the final tt. The opening tt is a problem but if he can limit his losses to 35 seconds (to Valverde and Samu) then take 10 seconds + bonus in Mende he will be within range in the mtt for an upset.

Edit: oh wait is he not doing TA.

 

[will10]

Nice to see Mende back, a nice finish. That stage to Nice is ridiculous. A final climb 45km from the finish and then a false flat descent all the way into Nice? What a waste. I suppose they want to keep it tight until the Eze TT but...

 

[El Pistolero]

Purito loves Mende and wont be too shabby in the final tt. The opening tt is a problem but if he can limit his losses to 35 seconds (to Valverde and Samu) then take 10 seconds + bonus in Mende he will be within range in the mtt for an upset.

Edit: oh wait is he not doing TA.

It will be a non-contest, Valverde will win. It's really the weakest competitor field in years. T-A will have an extremely good field though. Luckily Sporza show both live even when it takes place on the same days.

 

[theyoungest]

Rodriguez is doing TA

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...for-Liege-Bastogne-Liege-victory-in-2012.aspx

He wanted to do TA because he assumed Montelupone would be back... but it's not. Maybe he'll change his mind.

 

[killswitch]

He wanted to do TA because he assumed Montelupone would be back... but it's not. Maybe he'll change his mind.

RCS should have kept last year's route.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Nice to see Mende back, a nice finish. That stage to Nice is ridiculous. A final climb 45km from the finish and then a false flat descent all the way into Nice? What a waste. I suppose they want to keep it tight until the Eze TT but...

Really? It is over used. imo the route is a bit 'meh'. Not overly exciting imo.

 

[greenedge]

I think Sanchez would have just as good a shot as Valverde at P-N. Glad that Tony Martin will probably be out of contention.

 

[maltiv]

Sky once again excluded from Strade Bianche. Poor Löfkvist, it's like the only race he can win nowadays and yet they don't get invited! Löfkvist has been 1st and 2nd, EBH has been 4th, Rogers has been 3rd...but clearly that's not enough to get an invite this year either.

 

[Christian]

A new route to the Cauberg this year, it is supposed to work in favour of solo attacks:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...-with-changes-to-Amstel-Gold-Race-finish.aspx

 

[Duartista]

Castroviejo's schedule: San Luis, Paris-Nice, Tour de Med, GP Lugano y GP Suiza, Criterium Internacional y Sarthe. Then short stage races like Romandie, Switzerland, Eneco Tour, or Poland.

He is not scheduled to ride any GTs.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=46971

The team want him to improve his climbing enough to be able to target GC in races like those listed above.

 

[Lupetto]

Think that's a good idea. He really can go for victories with shorter tt and shorter climbs.

 

[Parrulo]

A new route to the Cauberg this year, it is supposed to work in favour of solo attacks:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...-with-changes-to-Amstel-Gold-Race-finish.aspx

that's fantastic news. if the organization does it right AGR could go from a good race to a fantastic race

 

[El Pistolero]

that's fantastic news. if the organization does it right AGR could go from a good race to a fantastic race

This will make it only easier for Gilbert to win. He now has to chase the attacker(s) 1-2k less

 

[greenedge]

Last year at AGR though Frank and Fabian did crash though. That might have changed the dynamics of the finish, especially since PG and Vanendert tired themselves out by chasing Andy. It was still amazing by Gilbert to win considering he had to chase Andy.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

that's fantastic news. if the organization does it right AGR could go from a good race to a fantastic race

lets not overreact

all they do is make the the route from the 3rd lap the same as the first and second laps so the distance between keutenberg and cauberg is 2.5km less

It's still 9.5km solo from keutenberg to finish... which is. Long.

 

[Thomsena]

Agree. Good sport from organizers to react but I doubt there will be a different outcome.

 

[Parrulo]

lets not overreact

all they do is make the the route from the 3rd lap the same as the first and second laps so the distance between keutenberg and cauberg is 2.5km less

It's still 9.5km solo from keutenberg to finish... which is. Long.

oh i thought it would be less then that to be honest. they should find a way to reduce it to around 5 or so k btw the second to last and the last climb.

is that possible in that area?