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

[WheelofGear]

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

You stole my words!
How we put puncheurs to climb this mountain with the pure climbers is beyond me. Having said that, I am not sure if the climbers that we have here are the best. We'll see.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Poels vs Alaphilippe for the win.

 

[rune1107]

(...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:

Thanks mate!

 

[rune1107]

Re:

The poll should include Esteban Chaves.

Chaves added

 

[Robert5091]

Nice warm up for Poels before he wins TdF this year.

 

[Gigs_98]

I actually really like the route. Hardly any really boring stages, a good mix between days with long climbs for real climbers and short ramps for guys like alaphilippe or wellens. Just like paris nice should be in my opinion

 

[Blanco]

Re: Re:

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

You stole my words!
How we put puncheurs to climb this mountain with the pure climbers is beyond me. Having said that, I am not sure if the climbers that we have here are the best. We'll see.

Alaphilippe finished 3rd at Jabel Hafaat, 15 sec behind Valverde and Lopez two of the very best climbers atm, and Wellens finished in the front group at Allanadas. I don't see that this climb is much more difficult than these two.

 

[MartinGT]

LOVE Paris-Nice.

I do hope that the start isnt as subdued as it was last year though.

Allaphillipe FTW!

 

[Valv.Piti]

I actually really like the route. Hardly any really boring stages, a good mix between days with long climbs for real climbers and short ramps for guys like alaphilippe or wellens. Just like paris nice should be in my opinion

Yeah I very much like it as well - its a very balanced route with only one 'boring' stage where we probably also can expect crosswinds. Very interesting route for sure.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

LOVE Paris-Nice.

I do hope that the start isnt as subdued as it was last year though.

Allaphillipe FTW!

What exactly are you referring to? The two insane crosswind stages that opened the race?

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

LOVE Paris-Nice.

I do hope that the start isnt as subdued as it was last year though.

Allaphillipe FTW!

What exactly are you referring to? The two insane crosswind stages that opened the race?

Yeah, subdued also isn't really the word I'd use to describe those stages. If anything, the flat and rainy beginning of the race marked a nice contrast to the latter stages where there were plenty of climbs and good weather. Truly a race to the sun.

 

[MartinGT]

Re: Re:

LOVE Paris-Nice.

I do hope that the start isnt as subdued as it was last year though.

Allaphillipe FTW!

What exactly are you referring to? The two insane crosswind stages that opened the race?

Hmmm, I must be thinking of another year.

When was the year where the commie had to go back to the peloton and chase Gilbert down? Or was that a stage last year when the weather was awful. I'm getting old and forget.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

The "phantom" of Alberto to materialise at the front on the run into Nice and make it to the line.
Old times ...

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

The "phantom" of Alberto to materialise at the front on the run into Nice and make it to the line.
Old times ...

Straight from the beach

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

The "phantom" of Alberto to materialise at the front on the run into Nice and make it to the line.
Old times ...

Yes !
We will miss him in the final stage

 

[jflemaire]

Re: Re:

The "phantom" of Alberto to materialise at the front on the run into Nice and make it to the line.
Old times ...

Yes !
We will miss him in the final stage

I'll miss him all season.

 

[Breh]

I don't expect too much from Zakarin unfortunately.

 

[Netserk]

Alaphilippe versus Skybots.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Dutch Delight with Mollema and Gesink taking command of the race.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

You stole my words!
How we put puncheurs to climb this mountain with the pure climbers is beyond me. Having said that, I am not sure if the climbers that we have here are the best. We'll see.

Alaphilippe finished 3rd at Jabel Hafaat, 15 sec behind Valverde and Lopez two of the very best climbers atm, and Wellens finished in the front group at Allanadas. I don't see that this climb is much more difficult than these two.

You could be right, Alaphilippe stepped up a notch this year. Not the one from year's past.

 

[Samamba]

Re: Re:

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

You stole my words!
How we put puncheurs to climb this mountain with the pure climbers is beyond me. Having said that, I am not sure if the climbers that we have here are the best. We'll see.

Alaphilippe finished 3rd at Jabel Hafaat, 15 sec behind Valverde and Lopez two of the very best climbers atm, and Wellens finished in the front group at Allanadas. I don't see that this climb is much more difficult than these two.

Alaphilippe yes!
Wellens... I don't know. His ride at Allanadas wasn't that big of a suprise seeing his numbers in training and knowing that the hard part of that climb was only 3km's long. Surviving a 16km long climb would be a big surprise though. He always said he's supposed to be good at 20' climbing performances, but not longer.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

I think you guys are underestimating Valdeblore La Colmaine. It's not the steepest climb but it's long and will create huge gaps if treated as a mountain TT. Some of the punchers are going to lose minutes there.

Zakarin, Ion Izagirre and De La Cruz can go high cadence on this one if they lose a lot of time to more explosive riders.

You stole my words!
How we put puncheurs to climb this mountain with the pure climbers is beyond me. Having said that, I am not sure if the climbers that we have here are the best. We'll see.

Alaphilippe finished 3rd at Jabel Hafaat, 15 sec behind Valverde and Lopez two of the very best climbers atm, and Wellens finished in the front group at Allanadas. I don't see that this climb is much more difficult than these two.

Allanadas is a different effort. It's a short, very steep climb.

We don't know if Wellens can handle a long, gradual, high cadence climb. I think he is likely to struggle. Same with Teuns, Gallopin, Slagter..

Alaphilippe seems to be able to it if it's just a MTF and not a multiple mountain stage. But if real climbers like Chaves are feeling well, they should be able to drop him.

 

[shalgo]

1. Henao
2. Mollema
3. Alaphilippe
4. Martin

 

[Gigs_98]

Looking at the profile of the mtf I must admit, I underrated that climb. I thought this is a Montevergine like climb, but it's definitely harder, most likely too hard for Wellens and I think a little bit too hard for Alaphilippe as well.