2014 Paris - Nice, Stage 6: Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon - Fayence (221.5 km)

[Ryo Hazuki]

Great ride by Betancur. He just needs to learn how to position himself. And hats off to Vuillermoz.. What a ride today! Oh yeah, and great performance by Thomas as well.

betancurt is great in positioning himself

 

[jaylew]

Can we ban him now? Like, permanent?

Seriously? I don't see the problem. People can be so harsh sometimes. I think he is being truthful about his(or her) cycling knowledge. And if not, no big deal - we've just answered some noob questions unnecessarily. No harm done, and if someone were to get some perverse joy out of that they've got some serious issues.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

A lot of riders have the same characteristics as Ricco

how wrong you are.

 

[Parrulo]

how wrong you are.

You are the one that are wrong Ryo!!! I see riders climbing on the drops all of the time

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Seriously? I don't see the problem. People can be so harsh sometimes. I think he is being truthful about his(or her) cycling knowledge. And if not, no big deal - we've just answered some noob questions unnecessarily. No harm done, and if someone were to get some perverse joy out of that they've got some serious issues.

Agree, answer or ignore. How hard can it be.

 

[theyoungest]

Two Dutchies in the top-10... it's inevitable they both have a mechanical right before or on the final climb. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

 

[Parrulo]

Two Dutchies in the top-10... it's inevitable they both have a mechanical right before or on the final climb. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Well they both looked pretty good so it's their job to grab the race by the horns and make it their own. Particularly Slagter who i think would have won today and has nothing to lose and all to win.

But i highly doubt that will happen . . .

 

[scholar]

Agree, answer or ignore.

Or sit back and laugh. Whether or not he's deliberately trolling, he's much, much funnier than UKCyclingExpert on tw*tter.

 

[theyoungest]

Well they both looked pretty good so it's their job to grab the race by the horns and make it their own. Particularly Slagter who i think would have won today and has nothing to lose and all to win.

But i highly doubt that will happen . . .

A Frenchie rode the spokes out of Kelderman's wheel at 2 k to go, and Wilco still managed to finish at 40 secs... chances are he did the fastest climb of them all. Add a lilttle anger and frustration, and I think we can expect a big attack from him in the final weekend.

 

[CycloAndy]

Can we ban him now? Like, permanent?

Glad to see this forum, doesn't conform to the stereotype of internet forums being closed to newcomers interested in learning....

 

[jens_attacks]

very bad race though, i hope the organizers won't ever make this stuff happen again

bananito's surge and frank schleck's attack, the only highlights for me. still can't believe betancur will win this wow.

 

[therhodeo]

You guys will whine about almost anything won't you?

 

[RedheadDane]

You guys will whine about almost anything won't you?

Yepp...
Because obviously a race can only be exciting when it's nothing but MTFs and the big guns attacking from KM zero.

 

[classicomano]

So Kelderman actually hit the back of Slagters bike ruining his wheel while while Slagter had his derailleur damaged and then was stuck in 1 gear, the thing then blew apart on the climb.

We really know how to screw ourselves over

 

[Marco Pantani]

It's no coincidence that the big guns prefer Tirreno more and more. ASO really has to think about their parours. It seems to get worse every year.

 

[JRanton]

Thomas surprised me there. Thought he'd finish about 20 seconds down on Betancur on that type of finish. Sky will regret yesterday's stage, where Betancur took 12 seconds (including bonus). That's where the race was likely won.

 

[Jspear]

You guys will whine about almost anything won't you?

We ain't the only one's who think this course isn't so great. The riders obviously think so as well....compare the field of Paris Nice with Tirreno's.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

We ain't the only one's who think this course isn't so great. The riders obviously think so as well....compare the field of Paris Nice with Tirreno's.

Last year's T-A also offered a much stronger field when using PCS rankings.
Parcours might have an impact, but there is more to it than that.

 

[Catwhoorg]

I just read those tweets and not a single one of them is even remotely funny

Humour is subjective.

Personally I think whomever is the writer does a pretty good job. Not everyone is funny, but a good portion are.

 

[Christian]

e

still can't believe betancur will win this wow.

That would be huge for AG2R. Must be the first time a french team has won Paris-Nice in... like forever. They need to hold on to Betancur for as long as possible, he is pure gold for them

/edit: Last person to win P-N for a french team seems to have bean Sean Kelly in 1985, riding for Skil-Sem-Reydel. Last frenchman Laurent Jalabert in 1997 for ONCE

/edit2: Tony Rominger won in 1991 for Toshiba, also a French team

 

[trevim]

I'm still watching the stage but I'm quite surprised that Rui managed to stay with Betancourt in such a finish. It would be a decent result if he can hang on to the podium. Anyway maybe the jersey has a curse considering that Rui is starting to compete with Colbrelli in the "placing-but-no-wins-throphy"

Also good to see one of my favourite riders, Frank Schleck, back with a good performance. Andy should look up to him in terms of professionalism.

Thomas surprised me there. Thought he'd finish about 20 seconds down on Betancur on that type of finish. Sky will regret yesterday's stage, where Betancur took 12 seconds (including bonus). That's where the race was likely won.

He may loose some more time on the Col d'Eze depending on how it's raced.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I'm still watching the stage but I'm quite surprised that Rui managed to stay with Betancourt in such a finish.

He couldn't. Costa was suddenly in front when the guy who was leading crashed and the people behind him were held up by that, but Costa steered clear of it and attacked and had a decent gap. Betancur came from waaaaay back to beat him just in team for the finish. Certainly Costa was very good btw, but Betancur was even better.

 

[trevim]

He couldn't. Costa was suddenly in front when the guy who was leading crashed and the people behind him were held up by that, but Costa steered clear of it and attacked and had a decent gap. Betancur came from waaaaay back to beat him just in team for the finish. Certainly Costa was very good btw, but Betancur was even better.

Fair enough, I'm still at 11k to go

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Fair enough, I'm still at 11k to go

Sorry for spoiling!

 

[Jspear]

Last year's T-A also offered a much stronger field when using PCS rankings.
Parcours might have an impact, but there is more to it than that.

Yes, there's most likely other factors. We know that the parcours were the deciding factor for Porte at least.