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

[Velolover2]

Did Sanchez took the the 3 bonus secs on the top of the hill?

 

[Netserk]

That was Fuglsang.

 

[can3478]

Even though Demare didn't get to keep his yellow jersey, he's the best placed sprinter today. He's looking good for MSR.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Luis Leon Sanchez does a really good job for his GC today.

I'm surprised by Teunissen. He's really doing well

 

[Frankschleck]

Di Gregorio is strong this year, compared to he retired in December and chose to come back.

 

[Krokro]

Wheelsucker wins...Sanchez deserved the win but I guess he will be happy about the GC.

Irrelevant comment. Lulu wants the GC. As soon as he had those 2 on the wheel, he knew that the stage win was over.
You don't have to be genius to know that and to know that in such scenario, it's common sense.. Sanchez did not even try to attack. It does show you what was his real aim.
Hivert played it smart. He even pulled. And last but not least, he has been pretty strong to be there so well deserved!

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Re:

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

Ok, so I’m going to alter my pick slightly...

 

[Scarponi]

Wheelsucker wins...Sanchez deserved the win but I guess he will be happy about the GC.

Irrelevant comment. Lulu wants the GC. As soon as he had those 2 on the wheel, he knew that the stage win was over.
You don't have to be genius to know that and to know that in such scenario, it's common sense.. Sanchez did not even try to attack. It does show you what was his real aim.
Hivert played it smart. He even pulled. And last but not least, he has been pretty strong to be there so well deserved!

Exactly hate these comments. They are comparing it with 10km to go in a momument without a GC or stage win. Everyone did we expected and deserved their places

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Interesting time trial tomorrow without any one or two big favorite(s). I'm gonna go with Alaphilippe, but a lot of names could win: Sanchez, Wellens, De La Cruz, Izagirre bros, Poels etc.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Interesting time trial tomorrow without any one or two big favorite(s). I'm gonna go with Alaphilippe, but a lot of names could win: Sanchez, Wellens, De La Cruz, Izagirre bros, Poels etc.

Sanchez is a very good time trialist. He should be able to put time into all the other GC riders tomorrow.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Interesting time trial tomorrow without any one or two big favorite(s). I'm gonna go with Alaphilippe, but a lot of names could win: Sanchez, Wellens, De La Cruz, Izagirre bros, Poels etc.

Sanchez is a very good time trialist. He should be able to put time into all the other GC riders tomorrow.

Well, he used to be a good time trialist. In recent years he's been pretty mediocre actually with some good performances from time to time. In his only ITT this year, in Andalucia, he lost time to De La Cruz, Poels and Wellens. That said, he's in very good shape at the moment - but also spend a lot of energy today. I certainly wouldn't bet on him gaining time on his rivals tomorrow.

 

[Netserk]

Martin and Henao should lose a good chunk. I think he'll be near Ala.

 

[Krokro]

Izagirre showed some form and he is usually a good TTer. Even if he didn't shine recently. Expecting good results from him, Poels and Lulu.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

Izagirre showed some form and he is usually a good TTer. Even if he didn't shine recently. Expecting good results from him, Poels and Lulu.

I'm guessing you're referring to Ion and not Gorka. My only concern with Ion and the ITT is how much of a mental issue is he going to have with ITTs right now due to his crash at the Tour. Remember he also had a severe (and actually career threatening) injury from his Tour stage 1 crash. If he's gotten over that mental block, you're right he could have a good TT.

 

[Krokro]

Re: Re:

Izagirre showed some form and he is usually a good TTer. Even if he didn't shine recently. Expecting good results from him, Poels and Lulu.

I'm guessing you're referring to Ion and not Gorka. My only concern with Ion and the ITT is how much of a mental issue is he going to have with ITTs right now due to his crash at the Tour. Remember he also had a severe (and actually career threatening) injury from his Tour stage 1 crash. If he's gotten over that mental block, you're right he could have a good TT.

I'm indeed referring to Ion. Well, you are right. It's crazy how Valverde crash eluded Ion's one. Hope he will get his mojo back because I've always found him pretty talented and a good allrounder.

 

[Frankschleck]

gallopin ftw tommorrow.

 

[WheelofGear]

It's not a pancake flat time trial.

The first climb is 6k at 4%, the next is 1k at 6%. There isn't much flat on the route.

Only the first 1.5k and last 3k are flat. It's not an Aia-TT, but I don't think it be specialist who wins it.. it will be a GC rider. It's actually perfect for Sanchez if he isn't tired from today's efforts.

 

[Krokro]

Almost perfect for Ion Izagirre skills tbf

 

[Escarabajo]

Some of the climbers won't lose the time some people are expecting them to lose on that profile.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Quite technical and could be a bit of rain around

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Sidenote:

Did anyone notice Cort sitting with the GC guys in the front group, over the last climb today?

As a sprinter/classics hybrid, when guys like Trentin, Degenkolb, Viviani and Demare can't hack it, but Cort still can, that gives him an entirely new dimension, and a wider range of races to go for.

He is going to be one to watch in the ardennes classics

Oh, and on a purely national note.... When the peloton started the final climb, I saw 6 danes in the top 20 going in..... warms my heart, how well our boys are riding at the moment .

 

[Blanco]

Re:

Sidenote:

Did anyone notice Cort sitting with the GC guys in the front group, over the last climb today?

As a sprinter/classics hybrid, when guys like Trentin, Degenkolb, Viviani and Demare can't hack it, but Cort still can, that gives him an entirely new dimension, and a wider range of races to go for.

He is going to be one to watch in the ardennes classics

Oh, and on a purely national note.... When the peloton started the final climb, I saw 6 danes in the top 20 going in..... warms my heart, how well our boys are riding at the moment .

Maybe in Amstel, other two certainly no.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Izagirre showed some form and he is usually a good TTer. Even if he didn't shine recently. Expecting good results from him, Poels and Lulu.

I'm guessing you're referring to Ion and not Gorka. My only concern with Ion and the ITT is how much of a mental issue is he going to have with ITTs right now due to his crash at the Tour. Remember he also had a severe (and actually career threatening) injury from his Tour stage 1 crash. If he's gotten over that mental block, you're right he could have a good TT.

I'm indeed referring to Ion. Well, you are right. It's crazy how Valverde crash eluded Ion's one. Hope he will get his mojo back because I've always found him pretty talented and a good allrounder.

It seemed like Ion got lost with his crash even though his injury was actually more serious than Valverde's was and he spent longer in the hospital as well. I'm with you, I hope he fully recovers (mentally as it appears he has physically). I've always liked him and thought he had the talent to win some of the one week races (he has won Poland).

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Sidenote:

Did anyone notice Cort sitting with the GC guys in the front group, over the last climb today?

As a sprinter/classics hybrid, when guys like Trentin, Degenkolb, Viviani and Demare can't hack it, but Cort still can, that gives him an entirely new dimension, and a wider range of races to go for.

He is going to be one to watch in the ardennes classics

Oh, and on a purely national note.... When the peloton started the final climb, I saw 6 danes in the top 20 going in..... warms my heart, how well our boys are riding at the moment .

Maybe in Amstel, other two certainly no.

If you say so

The way I see it, if Sanchez had not gone off today, the Astana guys would have kept the front group away, instead of slowing it down, and Cort would have won it on the line, in that group..... But Sanchez's GC hopes are more important (obviously).

All I'm saying is, in a 1 day race, todays stage could have ended very differently.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Oh, and on a purely national note.... When the peloton started the final climb, I saw 6 danes in the top 20 going in..... warms my heart, how well our boys are riding at the moment .

That is an outrage! Who'd been dropped!

Well. Bak, Mørkøv, or Juul-Jensen, obviously...

About Cort; I'm pretty sure if he hadn't at a teammate up front he wouldn't he been quite so eager to make the moto go away from the group.