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

[Netserk]

Don't worry, Kokoso, you are still way ahead.

 

[yaco]

Somehow MS had the wrong riders at the end of the race - Of course Chaves crashed and got ill - Kreuziger who had been brilliant all week somehow disappeared between the third last or second last climb, so I am wondering if he crashed or had a mechanical - Have one of those two there on the last climb and Yates retains the yellow jersey - Anyway, PN lived up to its recent history as an exciting race.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

How is it possible that the same freakin thing happens in this stage year after year. I think Soler won this time but again by less than 5 seconds, again after an attack on the same climb and again after the race leader already seemed to crack on the last climb but came back to the group in front of him again.

Bike races have become too predictable

I know it was tradition, but these short Nice-Nice stages have for years provided a better finale to Paris-Nice than the Col d'Èze TT.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Great race with a solid winner.
Congrats to Soler.

 

[tobydawq]

How is it possible that the same freakin thing happens in this stage year after year. I think Soler won this time but again by less than 5 seconds, again after an attack on the same climb and again after the race leader already seemed to crack on the last climb but came back to the group in front of him again.

Bike races have become too predictable

I know it was tradition, but these short Nice-Nice stages have for years provided a better finale to Paris-Nice than the Col d'Èze TT.

Yes, they are much, much better as the final stages.

Tirreno should take a look and see how it could be done.

 

[Forever The Best]

Wow, the stage to Nice delivers again
Soler <3.
Even though I didn't like Soler's tactics in last years final stage of P-N, he imitated Contador today, long range attack on the road to Nice. From now on I'm a big fan

 

[Koronin]

Who was saying that Spanish cycling was dead after Contador/Purito/Sanchez/Valverde/etc retire. (This is assuming Valverde eventually gets around to retiring which well is a bit of a question). This generation is a once in a lifetime generation especially with Contador and Valverde at the same time as they are really once in a life time type of riders as well. The next generation which the Izagirre brothers and Landa are a part of are good. Soler is part of the generation following them along with some of even younger kids like Samitar and Castrillo (I hope I spelled bother their names correctly). Spanish cycling is going to be just fine. Plus Spain now has 3 Pro Conti teams. Alberto's got a Continental team along with a Junior team and Valverde has a amateur team which is also teaching kids.
Excellent win for Soler. This will definitely help with his confidence.

 

[Salvarani]

Soler rides differently than say Valverde, Contador, Rodriguez... Maybe he is more the Indurain type? Of Spanish cyclists before him.

Interesting to see how he continues to race this season. Nice win! :razz:

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Definitely more an Indurain type with his length of almost 1m90 and his time trial results lately

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Definitely more an Indurain type with his length of almost 1m90 and his time trial results lately

Significantly taller and lighter than Indurain. Pure climber.
Bear in mind almost every source has Indurain's height/weight wrong, listing what are actually his brother's measurements (which annoys Indurain to no end)

 

[Netserk]

What were his actual measurements then?

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

What were his actual measurements then?

1,85-76 while his brother was the often quoted 1,88-80

 

[Escarabajo]

What happened to Chaves? this cannot be normal. Sick, crash, cold? anybody knows.

It looks like he tried and finish today but outside the legal time.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Is Soler really that tall? Kinda explains the odd body shape.

 

[yaco]

The effects of the crash three days ago and some illness - Chaves was in good form and he was the number one seed for MS in PN.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Is Soler really that tall? Kinda explains the odd body shape.

According to Movistar's webpage his height is 186cm.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Is Soler really that tall? Kinda explains the odd body shape.

According to Movistar's webpage his height is 186cm.

Then he's not as tall as I thought. Same height as Indurain, much much lighter. 68kg the website says.

 

[search]

Re:

It looks like he tried and finish today but outside the legal time.

yeah, he finished at 29:17 together with Hayman and Sutherland.

all those "lapped" riders (actually they weren't lapped but taking the shortcut to the finish) getting in the way was a bit unfortunate by the way

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Is Soler really that tall? Kinda explains the odd body shape.

Still not too fond of Soler for chasing a stage win last year??

 

[RedheadDane]

And meanwhile UAE managed to finish the race with a grand total of absolutely zero riders!
Gesink and Molard were both the best finishers on their teams, though they were also the worst placed riders.
Just to emphasize how tough he is; while no less than three BMC riders called it quits during the stage, De Marchi (obviously) finished.
And only AG2R and Movistar managed to get all their riders to the finish.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

And meanwhile UAE managed to finish the race with a grand total of absolutely zero riders!
Gesink and Molard were both the best finishers on their teams, though they were also the worst placed riders.
Just to emphasize how tough he is; while no less than three BMC riders called it quits during the stage, De Marchi (obviously) finished.
And only AG2R and Movistar managed to get all their riders to the finish.

Zero? Wow, that is crazy. Wow. That will be one of the crazier things for the season.

 

[GuyIncognito]

I can't recall an entire team DNFing in a major stage race

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I can't recall an entire team DNFing in a major stage race

Saunier Duval, 2008 Tour

 

[jaylew]

Great stage. Really dramatic with the various time gaps. A shame the Izagirres crashed, they had like 10-15 secs on Yates at the time. No telling what the outcome would have been if they hadn't. Could've had like 5 guys within seconds.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

I can't recall an entire team DNFing in a major stage race

Every rider on the team got sick apart initially from Martin. Then he got sick too.