2016 Paris - Nice, March 6th - 13th, WT

[Samamba]

Re: Re:

Can Côte de la Roque d'Anthéron (4,2 km à 5,5%) and Col de Séze (1,7 km à 7,2%) make a selection after a tough start ?

The only good about that profile with the last two bumps is to encourage a strong breakaway to adventure, but I guess Sky will be interested in controlling the race for G as well as Giant for Dumoulin

Why would these teams control a breakaway (if there are no threats for the GC in it)? Controlling it would mean that Matthews can sprint for some boni's.

 

[Christian]

Re:

Can Côte de la Roque d'Anthéron (4,2 km à 5,5%) and Col de Séze (1,7 km à 7,2%) make a selection after a tough start ?

Beautiful stage! I will be sad to miss it. I lived in that area for four years and did a lot of rides around there. The area of Lourmarin is really beautiful. I hope to go back there sometime in the future...

In other news I am surprised with how well Trek is doing. On the first stage Theuns nearly stole the win, the second day Bonifazio featured prominently, and now Theuns again. For their means, they have really done a good race so far

 

[The Barb]

Yeah it's a bit sucky having Ventoux so early but it's still an interesting stage.

Most likely: Break away of riders 4 mins plus down on GC get away (Jesus Herrada for example) and aren't pulled back.

Possible: Orica bring it back and try to drop drop Kittel, Bouhanni (not easy) etc on the Cat 2 climbs to try to get bonus seconds for Matthews.

Less likely: Matthews dropped on Ventoux and Saxo, Sky go super hard thereafter.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Interesting stage design. This one can go to either a strong break, a well climbing sprinter like Matthews, Bouhanni or Kristoff or, if the race is a bit harder, a puncheur like Felline or Gallopin. Theuns and Bonifazio could also both win this stage.

I really don't think anything GC related will happen. It would require a massive combined effort from Sky, Movistar, Tinkoff and BMC to keep the peloton at bay for that many km's and the teams would have to send riders up the road early on. They can't just wait till Ventoux.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Interesting stage today, Orica will obviously want to control things for Matthews to be there for a sprint to get some more bonus seconds, however if Ventoux is raced hard then he could well be left with Yates and possibly Txurruka as support,
I suppose there is a chance he gets dropped, but there is far too much road afterwards for him not to have a chance of getting back on.

 

[dacooley]

that's just a fantasy. there will be zero action at ventoux. it's high time to think rationally

 

[classicomano]

They will put the hammer down on Ventoux and put Bling in real difficulty. Its gonna be a bloodbath.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Interesting stage today, Orica will obviously want to control things for Matthews to be there for a sprint to get some more bonus seconds, however if Ventoux is raced hard then he could well be left with Yates and possibly Txurruka as support,
I suppose there is a chance he gets dropped, but there is far too much road afterwards for him not to have a chance of getting back on.

Matthews could be distanced on Ventoux and not get back becasue of the wind

I think they have to try anyway ....maybe not go ballistic but if they can put OGE and Matthews in trouble that could mean he loses energy and does not contest the finale and get bonus points.....

SKY, Tinkoff & Movistar have enough climbers to try .... A good high pace up the climb by one rider from each team

I'd be surprised if no one tries it....and if they do my money is on Tinkoff as Contador can sacrifice men and he is used to riding by himself

 

[HelloDolly]

I would also put a good climber in the break to make OGE , etc chase. There is a chance they stay away but if not at least OGE will expend energy

SKY, Tinkoff, Movistar etc could spare a climber for this

 

[Lexman]

sh*tty design, way to much flat roads after the last climb...

we're used at this with ASO

 

[DBotero]

I think Sky won't bother today as is rather useless.They might try to put Swift in the break to put pressure on the other teams.

 

[Lexman]

8 riders with 8 minutes advance in the bunch

Theuns, Vandenbergh, Wippert, Boom, Courteille, Duchesne, Brändle, Jesus Herrada.

 

[ferryman]

Ventoux for Ventoux's sake. Pointless in a stage like this. Nice bumps near the end but spoiled by the 30K of flat to the finish. Still, fingers crossed...

 

[TommyGun]

they should be climbing to Chalet Reynard right now, no?

 

[Samamba]

Re:

they should be climbing to Chalet Reynard right now, no?

Yes, as expected nothing is happening except for Greipel and some other riders being dropped from the peloton and Brandle from the breakaway.

 

[TommyGun]

Alexis Gougeard just abandoned .

 

[TommyGun]

Re: Re:

they should be climbing to Chalet Reynard right now, no?

Yes, as expected nothing is happening except for Greipel and some other riders being dropped from the peloton and Brandle from the breakaway.

Yep, it seems nothing has happened...

 

[Samamba]

Bouhanni and Kittel are also being dropped. 7'30 is the gap between the break and the peloton. Is going to be a boring stage.

 

[dark_horse]

Talansky dropped

 

[HelloDolly]

Only 60 left in a fracturing peloton

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Talansky dropped

Surprising

 

[dark_horse]

Abandon d'André Greipel

 

[HelloDolly]

Greipel abandons

 

[classicomano]

Re:

Talansky dropped

What the hell is he doing.

 

[Samamba]

Re:

Greipel abandons

No surprise, hasn't fully recovered yet from his bruised ribs.