2014 Paris - Nice, stage 2: Rambouillet - Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche 205km

[ianstannard]

Betancur didn't lose time, Gerrans and Barbet lost time. I think Thomas will be a podium contender also.

 

[RedheadDane]

Is Meersman and Bouhanni likely to win this tour?

The chances of them both winning are pretty slim...

 

[Der Effe]

Betancur didn't lose time, Gerrans and Barbet lost time. I think Thomas will be a podium contender also.

You're right about the time losses. Thomas could easily do well, but - like wirral said - basically anything is possible without mountaintop finishes and time trials.

 

[del1962]

Will OGE work for someone else for GC? Simon Yates?

I note that BMC where going to have Cummings as their GC Leaders after TJ dropped out, that obvioulsy hasn't worked out, did Phinney try and help pull second group back yesterday

 

[ianstannard]

Are sprinters like Bouhanni and Meersman likely to get dropped in climbs? There are a few catagory 2 and 1 climbs in the latter stages.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Will OGE work for someone else for GC? Simon Yates?

I note that BMC where going to have Cummings as their GC Leaders after TJ dropped out, that obvioulsy hasn't worked out, did Phinney try and help pull second group back yesterday

Cummings was pretty unfortunate yesterday, he made the split but punctured with about 10-15K to go.

 

[RedheadDane]

Are sprinters like Bouhanni and Meersman likely to get dropped in climbs? There are a few catagory 2 and 1 climbs in the latter stages.

Generally sprinters are rather big (compare Kittel to Quintana), which means they have to haul quite a lot of weight over the climbs.
However, sprinters also tend to be good descenders (in that situation being big is actually an advantage) and since there are no MTF finishes in this race...

But honestly though, I really don't know.

 

[del1962]

Cummings was pretty unfortunate yesterday, he made the split but punctured with about 10-15K to go.

no team cars inbetween?

 

[manafana]

no team cars inbetween?

at time I think all the cars were stuck behind so he was caught by the 2nd group and had to ride with them, thought they rode bit hard for a crash causing a spilt yesterday

 

[Roude Leiw]

Is Meersman and Bouhanni likely to win this tour?

If the hilly stages are raced, in the sense of the word, ie there is actually a race, both will be dropped. If they are taking it more easily, a Meersman in top form could hang on on certain of these stages, but if guys like Betancur have any ambition regarding this race, they will make the race hard enough to drop them. More interesting will be to see if a guy like Thomas is able to hang on in select groups on steep climbs.

 

[del1962]

at time I think all the cars were stuck behind so he was caught by the 2nd group and had to ride with them, thought they rode bit hard for a crash causing a spilt yesterday

Yep, unfortunate that some GC chances went up in smoke

 

[theyoungest]

I was hoping my sarcasm would be easier to trace.

That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if Hofland gets a good result. I would be surprised if he won, though.

So if he gets 2nd, you wouldn't be surprised

Typical Dutch reaction... "hij mag me verrassen".

 

[Netserk]

Meersman got third in the first intermediate sprint and is now in the same time as Bouhanni.

 

[vladimir]

One hour left to race and still five and a half minutes. The peleton should still be able to catch them, but it will be a very hard last hour.

 

[hfer07]

With 4:20 and 32k left is likely the peloton will catch them near the 5k segment.

 

[JRanton]

Andy dropped on the flat

 

[TeoSheva]

With 4:20 and 32k left is likely the peloton will catch them near the 5k segment.

3:30 at -25km.
The peloton took 50sec in 7km... they should speed up to catch them

 

[Netserk]

Atm I think they have ~70% chance to stay away.

 

[TeoSheva]

3:00 at -20km... now it is really difficult to catch them...

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Looks like a very hard finish. Will be fun!

 

[therhodeo]

they should speed up to catch them

John Madden has spoken.

 

[Pharazon]

breaks going to be caught i feel

 

[Der Effe]

So if he gets 2nd, you wouldn't be surprised

Typical Dutch reaction... "hij mag me verrassen".

Haha yeah

Hofland showed good form and I think he is able to beat anyone in this (sprinting) field atm - if not totally flat - but for some reason I can't see him beating all of them at the same time!

 

[manafana]

orica showing 6 men at the front interested see if its all for goss to let them down again surely this much work they would want a top 5 at least.

 

[Netserk]

Meersman down!