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

[Samamba]

Too bad for Chavanel en Wellens, lost some time due to a mechanical.

EDIT: I see that Wellens & Chavanel finished in the front group. Strong performance.

 

[HelloDolly]

See all the jackets discarded on that dirt track

If you were there you'd clean up !!!

 

[Jspear]

Re:

See all the jackets discarded on that dirt track

If you were there you'd clean up !!!

I would love to "clean up"! Those jackets are expensive. I could use a few.

 

[HelloDolly]

The one rider who had nobody was Richie Porte
At least Contador had helpers till the last climb

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Too bad for Chavanel en Wellens, lost some time due to a mechanical.

EDIT: I see that Wellens finished in the front group.

I thought Chavanel also made it back on, that was some bad luck then

 

[JRanton]

Good to see Demare back. Like I've said before Swift is like the striker in football who has gone 20 games without a goal. His confidence is shot.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

See all the jackets discarded on that dirt track

If you were there you'd clean up !!!

I would love to "clean up"! Those jackets are expensive. I could use a few.

You should have got a cheap flight and a large suitcase

 

[RedheadDane]

Glad I'm not a mechanic tonight!
The riders are probably glad I'm not their mechanic as well.

 

[HelloDolly]

Andrew Talansky & Simon Spilak lost 3.5 minutes today

 

[yaco]

S.Yates is riding for GC.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Swift worked for Thomas/sprinted too early. The bad luck continues!

That's hardly bad luck, his decisions.

True but Rowe and Stannard were nowhere and Swift, who has no cobbled pedigree that I know of, was the guy who (badly) tried to protect Thomas on the final dirt section. Had Rowe and Stannard been there he wouldn't have expended that energy and he might even have had a bit of a leadout. I can't believe Sky would have planned to leave Thomas with only Swift, so I think it is bad luck for Swift that Rowe and Stannard cracked on the final climb.

 

[BalearicBeats]

Re:

Bouhanni/Demare-rivalry continues

Bouhanni just can't beat Demare though, although he's way better in races where they are not racing together

 

[DBotero]

Ilnur Zakarin made it with the front group.Solo Katusha leader now.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Swift worked for Thomas/sprinted too early. The bad luck continues!

That's hardly bad luck, his decisions.

True but Rowe and Stannard were nowhere and Swift, who has no cobbled pedigree that I know of, was the guy who (badly) tried to protect Thomas on the final dirt section. Had Rowe and Stannard been there he wouldn't have expended that energy and he might even have had a bit of a leadout. I can't believe Sky would have planned to leave Thomas with only Swift, so I think it is bad luck for Swift that Rowe and Stannard cracked on the final climb.

They put in alot of work to be fair. Henao & Nieve were in the lead group but probably couldn't make it to the front or something ...they were at the back the whole time.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ilnur Zakarin made it with the front group.Solo Katusha leader now.

Nice grande Zakaaa

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Swift worked for Thomas/sprinted too early. The bad luck continues!

That's hardly bad luck, his decisions.

True but Rowe and Stannard were nowhere and Swift, who has no cobbled pedigree that I know of, was the guy who (badly) tried to protect Thomas on the final dirt section. Had Rowe and Stannard been there he wouldn't have expended that energy and he might even have had a bit of a leadout. I can't believe Sky would have planned to leave Thomas with only Swift, so I think it is bad luck for Swift that Rowe and Stannard cracked on the final climb.

They put in alot of work to be fair. Henao & Nieve were in the lead group but probably couldn't make it to the front or something ...they were at the back the whole time.

And in fact Stannard finished last of the leading group.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

Swift worked for Thomas/sprinted too early. The bad luck continues!

That's hardly bad luck, his decisions.

True but Rowe and Stannard were nowhere and Swift, who has no cobbled pedigree that I know of, was the guy who (badly) tried to protect Thomas on the final dirt section. Had Rowe and Stannard been there he wouldn't have expended that energy and he might even have had a bit of a leadout. I can't believe Sky would have planned to leave Thomas with only Swift, so I think it is bad luck for Swift that Rowe and Stannard cracked on the final climb.

It's not really surprising they cracked considering how hard they had been working, plus cobbled pedigree doesn't really count for to much seeing as there were no cobbles. He had no bad luck, he had his chance but was beaten by faster guys

 

[May0maniac]

Kittel always finds a way to get dropped, you'd think that someone with his engine and his TT pedigree (2x junior ITT WC, U23 european ITT Champ and 3rd in the U23 ITT WC) shouldn't be dropped on that kind of final.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Bouhanni/Demare-rivalry continues

Bouhanni just can't beat Demare though, although he's way better in races where they are not racing together

True. Head to head, Demare rules. Good for him after a mediocre '15 vintage.

 

[bullomaniak]

Re:

Kittel always finds a way to get dropped, you'd think that someone with his engine and his TT pedigree (2x junior ITT WC, U23 european ITT Champ and 3rd in the U23 ITT WC) shouldn't be dropped on that kind of final.

Kittel is unable to make two efforts in the same race (just sprint or ITT).

 

[Lemonbaloon]

Kittel has to be the most one dimentional rider out there? I feel like every time there is even a speedbump he gets dropped.
And some people call Kristoff a one trick pony!

 

[JRanton]

Really poor performance by BMC. They are normally one of the best in these conditions. On the other hand I saw a really strong LRP. He's here to win.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Kittel has to be the most one dimentional rider out there? I feel like every time there is even a speedbump he gets dropped.
And some people call Kristoff a one trick pony!

Well, he was very impressive on Hatta Dam in Dubai.

 

[Lexman]

Re:

Kittel always finds a way to get dropped, you'd think that someone with his engine and his TT pedigree (2x junior ITT WC, U23 european ITT Champ and 3rd in the U23 ITT WC) shouldn't be dropped on that kind of final.

all the more since che climbed real good in Oman or Dubai (can't recall) so he had to be on form... Etixx should have ridden on and torn the field apart...

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

Kittel always finds a way to get dropped, you'd think that someone with his engine and his TT pedigree (2x junior ITT WC, U23 european ITT Champ and 3rd in the U23 ITT WC) shouldn't be dropped on that kind of final.

all the more since che climbed real good in Oman or Dubai (can't recall) so he had to be on form... Etixx should have ridden on and torn the field apart...

t was an uphill sprint, but before that the stage was mostly flat, so he was still fresh at the start of the short uphill sprint, he produces around 2000 Watts maximum power in a sprint, so he's still able to be with the best if it's just a few hundred meters long uphill sprint, if the rest of the stage is flat.