2018 Paris-Nice, 4/3-11/3

[rune1107]

Spring is here! Or at least on the calendar it is...

While everyone is getting caught up in the Strade hype, I am hyped for this Sunday and the real beginning of the GT contenders' seasons. This years P-N is not as starstuddered as the past few years, but nonetheless we do have some interesting profiles who have preferred France over Italy. The route is as classic as they come, with stages favoring sprinters, puncheurs and climbers.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Fuglsang takes this. Those Astana boys are in the shop window

 

[WheelofGear]

You should change the Poels option to "Henao/Poels/De La Cruz".

Henao is the defending champion and just as punchy as Poels for the uphill sprint stages and De La Cruz could win the ITT.

 

[rune1107]

Re:

You should change the Poels option to "Henao/Poels/De La Cruz".

Henao is the defending champion and just as punchy as Poels for the uphill sprint stages and De La Cruz could win the ITT.

True - both added to the poll

 

[WheelofGear]

I'm going with De La Cruz. Sky always win Paris-Nice.

 

[Velolover2]

I hope Dylan Teuns will test himself in this race. Need to improve his ability against the clock and on the longer climbs.

He is not a favorite but I think he is joker. At least for a top 5.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

You should change the Poels option to "Henao/Poels/De La Cruz".

Henao is the defending champion and just as punchy as Poels for the uphill sprint stages and De La Cruz could win the ITT.

True - both added to the poll

Great. Since the strongest riders (Porte, Nibali, Landa, Froome, Uran, Bardet, Dumoulin, Aru) are targeting T-N or not racing at all (Valverde, Quintana), I wouldn't be surprised to see all three in top 5. A full Sky podium is even possible.

Henao/Poels/De La Cruz are up against Mollema, Tejay and Fuglsang. Riders they can easily beat.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I'm going with Mollema, always good this time of the year definitely in terrible conditions.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

You should change the Poels option to "Henao/Poels/De La Cruz".

Henao is the defending champion and just as punchy as Poels for the uphill sprint stages and De La Cruz could win the ITT.

True - both added to the poll

Great. Since the strongest riders (Porte, Nibali, Landa, Froome, Uran, Bardet, Dumoulin, Aru) are targeting T-N or not racing at all (Valverde, Quintana), I wouldn't be surprised to see all three in top 5. A full Sky podium is even possible.

Henao/Poels/De La Cruz are up against Mollema, Tejay and Fuglsang. Riders they can easily beat.

Chaves and Ion Izagirre is there too. It's not gonna be a walk in the park for Sky.

And classics riders like Wellens, Alaphilippe and Teuns are serious candidates on this course.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I'm going with De La Cruz. Sky always win Paris-Nice.

Sky has said on their website that they’re backing Henao.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

I'm going with De La Cruz. Sky always win Paris-Nice.

Sky has said on their website that they’re backing Henao.

I'm not sure about that. In another article, they are hyping Poels. But with the ITT, De La Cruz might be their strongest card.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

I'm going with De La Cruz. Sky always win Paris-Nice.

Sky has said on their website that they’re backing Henao.

I'm not sure about that. In another article, they are hyping Poels. But with the ITT, De La Cruz might be their strongest card.

I think Sky will sacrifice one of them. Having two leaders is fine, but three is a bit overkill in a one-week race.

 

[rune1107]

Re: Re:

I'm going with De La Cruz. Sky always win Paris-Nice.

Sky has said on their website that they’re backing Henao.

I'm not sure about that. In another article, they are hyping Poels. But with the ITT, De La Cruz might be their strongest card.

I think Sky will sacrifice one of them. Having two leaders is fine, but three is a bit overkill in a one-week race.

I agree, but I think they will let the decision be made on the road. Henao might be the leader on paper, but it will make sense to have all three within reach of the podium before the final 3 stages.

 

[Samamba]

De La Cruz will probably be ahead of both after the TT, knowing that it's pretty similar to the TT in the Ruta del Sol. Don't think he's strong enough to win the GC though, Poels and Henao seem way more obvious.

 

[GuyIncognito]

(...for some reason my computer won't let me post the images, so if a friendly soul would attach the route map and profiles you would help out

Edit this into your post:

 

[Blanco]

I'll go with Alaphilippe. It's time for a big win, and his climbing is getting better and better, as we saw in Abu Dhabi. I doubt he will concede much time on MTF, and other stages including ITT suits him like a glove.

 

[can3478]

The poll should include Esteban Chaves.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I'll go with Alaphilippe. It's time for a big win, and his climbing is getting better and better, as we saw in Abu Dhabi. I doubt he will concede much time on MTF, and other stages including ITT suits him like a glove.

Agree, he is also my favourite. Ja-JaPhilippe!

 

[GuyIncognito]

Not a selective route. Could be anyone and the gaps are going to be small.
10-6-4 time bonuses, right?

 

[Red Rick]

I will watch the peloton climb Col de Peille and wonder who will step up to the plate this time

 

[WheelofGear]

Bonus secs could be crucial.

The final 500m of Cote Meudon is on cobbles. Wellens to win the stage? Tiny gaps + bonus secs could give some of the riders a good start before the ITT.

 

[WheelofGear]

Meudon is made for the punchers. It's not 2k of 6% but a lots of double-digit ramps followed by false flat/false descending. Alaphilippe might win the stage and hold the lead all the way to Nice.

 

[Koronin]

I'm going with Alaphilippe only because I don't think Soler has enough experience yet as a race leader.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

The course is too easy, climbing-wise, for the likes of Fuglsang and perhaps Martin to a lesser degree. I think the route favours Alaphilippe or any other puncheur with a good time trial and decent climbing like Gallopin or Wellens, who both appear to be in great shape.

 

[Koronin]

The LL Sanchez has been riding he could do well.