2014 Paris - Nice , stage 1: Mantes-La-Jolie - Mantes-La-Jolie 163km

[the asian]

1. Bouhanni 2.Degenkolb 3.Meersman.

Bouhanni injured and still beats Degenkolb, impressive !, even though Degenkolb was a bit boxed.

 

[ianstannard]

As a GC rider, yes. Porte climbs much better but Thomas is arguably better suited to this route because there's no summit finish and he's more likely to pick up bonus seconds along the way.

There are still a lot of big climbs in the race, how is Thomas bette suited to this race? Also, I don't think Thomas can win a sprint with the other guys.

 

[GuyIncognito]

There are still a lot of big climbs in the race, how is Thomas bette suited to this race? Also, I don't think Thomas can win a sprint with the other guys.

None are big enough or close enough to the finish to be decisive. Thomas is much better in short punchy efforts than Porte, who is good on long efforts. All the stages here will be decided by short climbs

Meanwhile at Tirreno Porte will have proper mountains to work with

 

[Hugo87]

None are big enough or close enough to the finish to be decisive. Thomas is much better in short punchy efforts than Porte, who is good on long efforts. All the stages here will be decided by short climbs

Meanwhile at Tirreno Porte will have proper mountains to work with

And more decisive than those climbs a individual time trial, usually present at Paris-Nice, but not this year, only at Tirreno.

 

[ianstannard]

Are guys like Rui Costa, Nibali, Betancur all better than Thomas? Does Thomas have a chance to go head to head with them?

 

[trevim]

I can't believe this.

One of TVI24 commentators (who have broadcast the stage live here in Portugal) said something along this lines:

''Stay tuned to find out if Rui Costa can face Nacer Bouhanni. 7 stages to go!''

They are huge morons: Breschel it's Agnoli for them, Fleche is a cobblestoned race, etc. Very amusing though

 

[trevim]

Unfortunately they "stole" some huge races tv rights from Eurosport.

It's not like the Eurosport guys are much better.

 

[hfer07]

Are guys like Rui Costa, Nibali, Betancur all better than Thomas? Does Thomas have a chance to go head to head with them?

No & No

10 char

 

[dicanio_michael]

Looks like they're going all out for Meersman. Unless he's really just interested in the points classification?

It's a dumb move to go for the intermediate sprint and wasted energy

 

[manafana]

intermediates dont waste much energy if done right with big help from your train like gerrans did in oz.

great days racing looking forward to the harder days now

 

[janraaskalt]

It's a dumb move to go for the intermediate sprint and wasted energy

It was also dumb of Meersman to start the sprint without a real leadout. Bouhanni and Degenkolb easily jumped over Meersman.

 

[search]

It's a dumb move to go for the intermediate sprint and wasted energy

this race is likely to be decided by bonus seconds. And Meersman has a shot to win

 

[rghysens]

this race is likely to be decided by bonus seconds. And Meersman has a shot to win

I think the stages to Nice and Fayence are a bit too difficult for Meersman.

 

[search]

I think the stages to Nice and Fayence are a bit too difficult for Meersman.

most likely they are, yes, but we have always had sprinters (like Rojas for example) in the mix on those stages to Nice, so it's not too far fetched

 

[Jason_Mercier]

None are big enough or close enough to the finish to be decisive. Thomas is much better in short punchy efforts than Porte, who is good on long efforts. All the stages here will be decided by short climbs

Meanwhile at Tirreno Porte will have proper mountains to work with

? Porte has always shown his best in 20' efforts.

 

[Christian]

Main loosers seem to be @1:19
Bardet, sepulveda, f schleck, gerrans

Little schleck lost 2 min

I think he was working for Fränk in the 2nd group for a bit. They didn't show that group much, but once I saw him in 2nd position behind Busche. Tim and Tom didn't even see Fränk until much later, because he was further down in the group. On the radio they also said that Laurent Didier was in the first group, but the results show him even further down than Andy

 

[search]

On the radio they also said that Laurent Didier was in the first group, but the results show him even further down than Andy

Didier finished 161st but was was classified with the same time as the winner (same for Albasini btw), so he must have been in the 1st group but crashed or had a mechanical

Edit: yep, he crashed:

Les coureurs porteurs des dossards:
(52) ALBASINI Michael OGE
(93) CHAVANEL Sébastien FDJ
(123) DIDIER Laurent TFR
Victimes de crevaison lors des 3 derniers km sont crédités du temps de leur groupe.