2014 Paris - Nice, stage 5: Crèche-sur-Saône - Rive-de-Gier 152.5km

[BigMac]

2014 Paris - Nice, stage 5: Crèche-sur-Saône - Rive-de-Gier 152.5km

So far this race has been amazing. Could not ask for better racing.

Côte de Saint Martin en Haut
Côte de Sainte-Catherine

Will the sprinters survive?

 

[jens_attacks]

i don't think that the sprinters can survive to that beast. except van hummel

bouhanni ftw

 

[Christian]

I often ride the train through the Saône region. It looks quite lovely, I'd love to ride my bike there some time

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hofland please

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Amazing race? Not quite, but stage 4 was pretty good.

This stage can also work, but a team must step up on Côte de Saint Martin en Haut. So lets see.... Tinkoff appeared to tank on stage 4 with very little to play for now unless they get back in business.

Note the 2nd best placed Sky rider is +10 minutes down (quick scan, could be wrong). Team weak here or just tactics?

 

[BigMac]

Amazing race? Not quite, but stage 4 was pretty good.

This stage can also work, but a team must step up on Côte de Saint Martin en Haut. So lets see.... Tinkoff appeared to tank on stage 4 with very little to play for now unless they get back in business.

Note the 2nd best placed Sky rider is +10 minutes down (quick scan, could be wrong). Team weak here or just tactics?

It was mainly a joke at all the hate on this race and its route. But overall I still think it is quite good.

Definetely, if something is to be made, they better do it on the climb to Saint Martin. And for Sky, I'd say it is tactics. They had GT well placed and protected before he attacked. They are all in with him.

 

[Parrulo]

God this route is terrible. . . . if any further proof was need, all we need to do is check the amount of posts the race threads have been getting.

 

[roundabout]

I'd happily post more if it finished an hour later.

 

[Leonardus]

Another day and back to crappy route design, hopefully the riders make something out of it. Can't see Degenkolb getting dropped here, so the obvious choice to take the stage and yellow back. But I just hope some teams go ballistic and tear the peloton to pieces.

 

[CycloAndy]

Who's favourite for this stage?
Degenkolb, Nibali, Slagter or Thomas?

Sky need to let the sprint teams do the hard work at the start then finish them off on the Cote de Sainte-Catherine!

 

[Parrulo]

Degenkolb appears to be the clear favourite. I highly doubt he will get dropped on the false flat ASO calls a 2nd cat climb

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Degenkolb definately. And maybe more sprinters will survive because this hill is easier.
Apart from Rojas/Dumoulin etc who survived today as well, it's possible guys like Bouhanni, Kristoff, Hushovd, Hofland etc will survive as well.

 

[greenedge]

Michael Matthews

 

[podunavac]

Promising profile.
I don't believe any sprinter will be in the front group at the finish line. Something like in Belleville more likely.

 

[jaylew]

Michael Matthews

I was thinking the same

 

[Jspear]

I'd like to see Voeckler get in a break away and win the stage.

 

[hfer07]

I'd like to see Voeckler get in a break away and win the stage.

^This^

10 char

 

[theyoungest]

God this route is terrible. . . . if any further proof was need, all we need to do is check the amount of posts the race threads have been getting.

Until Costa wins... then it's the best race ever

Promising profile.
I don't believe any sprinter will be in the front group at the finish line. Something like in Belleville more likely.

Matthews, Degenkolb, maybe Hofland can survive this.

 

[Roude Leiw]

If there is a race on, i would go again for Slagter, if it is a glorified training ride, Matthews or Degenkolb

 

[NUFCrichard]

Degenkolb for me today.
I'm not loving the PN route either but it is different I guess. With everyone complaining that Milan-San Remo is becoming the same as the other monuments, it's nice to have something a bit different in a fairly major stage race.

 

[achenk]

yeah These are very exciting

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

tghere are steeper parts in the final climb right? how steep?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Degenkolb for me today.
I'm not loving the PN route either but it is different I guess. With everyone complaining that Milan-San Remo is becoming the same as the other monuments, it's nice to have something a bit different in a fairly major stage race.

it's not different ata ll. we already have a ton of stage races with no mountains in them

 

[manafana]

Degenkolb for me also, the routes can never be prefect, most unreasonable fans want the typical mtf that cracks everyone and lots of hill finishes, but it just doesnt work like that, these stages have been decent and gc is going down to wire.

I think as long as a race isn't solely decided by a time trial ride its a good one.

 

[trevim]

I often feel depressed about the lack of proper climbs around my hometown but then I guess I have some HC climbs for ASO. What the hell is a 2.8% climb?!