2014 Paris Nice, Stage 8: Nice - Nice 129km

[jaylew]

Rojas for the win.

And by win I mean fourth place.

Hey, occasionally he gets 5th. Or 3rd. Or 6th. But yeah, mostly 4th.

Seriously, Rojas has absolutely no killer instinct whatsoever.
Good lord, he hasn't won a race in 2 years. Been almost as long since he's even been 2nd. Even Farrar and Napolitano show up every once in awhile. Leonardo Duque wins races for ***sake! Graeme freaking Brown got 2nd in a race this year!!

 

[BigMac]

Hey, occasionally he gets 5th. Or 3rd. Or 6th. But yeah, mostly 4th.

Seriously, Rojas has absolutely no killer instinct whatsoever.
Good lord, he hasn't won a race in 2 years. Been almost as long since he's even been 2nd. Even Farrar and Napolitano show up every once in awhile. Leonardo Duque wins races for ***sake! Graeme freaking Brown got 2nd in a race this year!!

The problem with Rojas is he is not as good as the best on the flat, so he never wins, and even though he is better than the common sprinter on fairly hilly terrain, he ends up losing to the puncheurs or even climbers, because he is not the best there either.

That being said, he is doomed to collect as many 4th places as he can.

 

[jaylew]

That's a lot of it but he also loses sprints in Spanish races against 3rd and 4th tier sprinters and flat, reduced-group sprints as well.

Pretty sure I remember him being out-sprinted by Talansky at the Tour last year.

 

[VeloHuman]

EBH should get his act together now that Thomas is out. He should be great on this stage but he hasn't really done a thing in this race.

 

[achenk01]

incredible race

 

[movingtarget]

The leader looks like he has the race wrapped up. Costa's only chance was a final stage TT and this year there isn't one. Slaghter has also had a very good race. Thomas was never going to win the race but gave it his best until the crash.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Thomas will DNS today.

It is Slagters sprint to loose.

 

[gunara]

The problem with Rojas is he is not as good as the best on the flat, so he never wins, and even though he is better than the common sprinter on fairly hilly terrain, he ends up losing to the puncheurs or even climbers, because he is not the best there either.

That being said, he is doomed to collect as many 4th places as he can.

I stop caring about Movistar when it comes to fast finish, so I don't know if he's ever got any help at all, has he? From whom usually? Jesus?

 

[RedheadDane]

I stop caring about Movistar when it comes to fast finish, so I don't know if he's ever got any help at all, has he? From whom usually? Jesus?

Why not?



After all; he is in the race.

 

[maltiv]

EBH should get his act together now that Thomas is out. He should be great on this stage but he hasn't really done a thing in this race.

I think he's sick (probably stomach issues), he looked horrible yesterday, getting dropped while the peloton was barely even moving.

 

[dicanio_michael]

Waiting Stybar to attack, just like what he did in last year Eneco Tour

 

[murali]

Waiting Stybar to attack, just like what he did in last year Eneco Tour

an attack in the final climb and he might reach the finish. stybie is a very good descender.


but i think this is more likely to be a "everyone watches others" sort of stage finish.

 

[rghysens]

... José Joaquín Rojas can defend a top 5 GC placement, which for a sprinter at P-N is pretty hilarious.

Well, I remember Peter Van Petegem getting a top 3 in the final GC once and Museeuw and Tchmil getting top-10's. It's not that P-N has always been as difficult as some editions of the last couple of years.

 

[Kwibus]

I kind of hope that Costa will be able to take the GC win. He deserves it, but so does Betancur. Which I also like..... Tough choices. I guess they will have to decide it for me

Costa has been trying to hard to show off his WC jersey and imo he's been a lot more visual and aggresive than last years.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Race in progress..

EBH, Thomas, Simon, Matthews and Cummings DNS.

 

[roundabout]

Well, I remember Peter Van Petegem getting a top 3 in the final GC once and Museeuw and Tchmil getting top-10's. It's not that P-N has always been as difficult as some editions of the last couple of years.

Exactly. Van Petegem even led until the last Eze TT.

 

[murali]

the difference is a bit more due to non-c****c performance by a certain team than anything else.

 

[BigMac]

Maybe Rojas is starting to become a true all-rounder and will be the next Sean Kelly. I mean, how far can we consider him a sprinter?

 

[murali]

Race in progress..

EBH, Thomas, Simon, Matthews and Cummings DNS.

is this paris-nice or some training race for these ppl?

 

[trevim]

is this paris-nice or some training race for these ppl?

Thomas crashed, EBH is sick it seems. Don't know about the others though.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Sprinters win races, ergo Rojas isn't a sprinter. He's basically a crap puncheur who likes to get involved in sprints.

 

[jens_attacks]

how many minutes until we go live? seems like lanciano fireworks will be live from start

 

[trevim]

Vamos Rui!!! Another second place is waiting for us Seriously now, he's doing justice to the rainbow jersey. It's just that damned curse that turns a proper winner into a second place finisher!

 

[BigMac]

Look at the where the intermediate sprints are placed. Costa should try to get some bonus seconds there.

18km's and Sabatini abandons.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Thomas crashed, EBH is sick it seems. Don't know about the others though.

Saddle sore for Matthews apparently. Might he have had a chance today?