69th Paris-Nice 2011~March 6 to 13 (WT) 1.307k

[VinoKash]

Lulu is always good at P-N. Should be interesting, I love PN

Its just like sign of spring begining. This race is really great i even got an vacation to see race in full-coverage.
Vino will win it!!! Infa 100%.

 

[Andy99]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, but UK Eurosport coverage as below;

Paris-Nice 2011: British TV guide
Sun March 6: 12.15-2pm: Paris- Nice stage one, LIVE, British Eurosport 2
Sun March 6: 5-6pm: Paris- Nice stage one, highlights, British Eurosport

Mon March 7: 2.45-4.15pm: Paris- Nice stage two, LIVE, British Eurosport
Mon March 7: 7-8pm: Paris- Nice stage two, highlights, British Eurosport

Tues March 8: 2.45-4.15pm: Paris- Nice stage three, LIVE, British Eurosport
Tues March 8: 6-7pm: Paris- Nice stage three, highlights, British Eurosport

Wed March 9: 2.45-4.15pm: Paris- Nice stage four, LIVE, British Eurosport
Wed March 9: 10.30-11.30pm: Paris- Nice stage four, highlights, British Eurosport

Thurs March 10: 2.45-4.15pm: Paris- Nice stage five, LIVE, British Eurosport
Thurs March 10: 7-8pm: Paris- Nice stage five, highlights, British Eurosport

Fri March 11: 2.45-4.15pm: Paris- Nice stage six, LIVE, British Eurosport
Fri March 11: 10.30-11.30pm: Paris- Nice stage six, highlights, British Eurosport

Sat March 12: 2.30-4.45pm: Paris- Nice stage seven, LIVE, British Eurosport 2
Sat March 12: 6-7pm: Paris- Nice stage seven, highlights, British Eurosport

Sun March 13: 12.30-2pm: Paris- Nice stage eight, LIVE, British Eurosport
Sun March 13: 7.45-8.45pm: Paris- Nice stage eight, highlights, British Eurosport

Also in HD on Eurosport HD (Yeah - Sod those crappy feeds!), so I guess the schedule is the same throughout Europe...

 

[Christian]

Fränk Schleck: "I will be satisfied with a top-10 placement at Paris-Nice"

"I start the race without pressure, but I know my form is good enough to get into the top-10. I will also be happy to help another rider, such as Maxime Monfort, Jens Voigt or Jakob Fuglsang.

To be honest, I haven't had time to look at the other riders yet, but I think Jurgen Van den Broeck will be very good. I would have said Robert Gesink, but he is doing Tirreno-Adriatico. Therefore I predict guys like Van Garderen, Chavanel, Kreuziger, Vinokourov. It won't be a pure climber. But for me, top-10 would be nice."

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_nice_frank_schleck_se_satisferait_d_un_top_10-13063.html

 

[VinoKash]

Fränk Schleck: "I will be satisfied with a top-10 placement at Paris-Nice"

"I start the race without pressure, but I know my form is good enough to get into the top-10. I will also be happy to help another rider, such as Maxime Monfort, Jens Voigt or Jakob Fuglsang.

To be honest, I haven't had time to look at the other riders yet, but I think Jurgen Van den Broeck will be very good. I would have said Robert Gesink, but he is doing Tirreno-Adriatico. Therefore I predict guys like Van Garderen, Chavanel, Kreuziger, Vinokourov. It won't be a pure climber. But for me, top-10 would be nice."

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_nice_frank_schleck_se_satisferait_d_un_top_10-13063.html

My top 10 is the next:
1 Vino
2 LL Sanchez
3 Kloden
4 Kreuziger
5 Karpets
6 F.Schleck
7 Levi
8 Van Gardren
9 Van Den Broeck
10 Wiggy

 

[mombus]

TV in the US???

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Fränk Schleck: "I will be satisfied with a top-10 placement at Paris-Nice"

"I start the race without pressure, but I know my form is good enough to get into the top-10. I will also be happy to help another rider, such as Maxime Monfort, Jens Voigt or Jakob Fuglsang.

To be honest, I haven't had time to look at the other riders yet, but I think Jurgen Van den Broeck will be very good. I would have said Robert Gesink, but he is doing Tirreno-Adriatico. Therefore I predict guys like Van Garderen, Chavanel, Kreuziger, Vinokourov. It won't be a pure climber. But for me, top-10 would be nice."

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_nice_frank_schleck_se_satisferait_d_un_top_10-13063.html

hmm interesting. Frank must rate gesink to some degree to name hi a favorite. Yet I've rarely heard baby schleck even acknowledge gesink's existance.

 

[luckyboy]

Looks like I should be able to watch everything but stages 3 + 5. Can't wait

 

[Ryaguas]

My top 10 is the next:
1 Vino
2 LL Sanchez
3 Kloden
4 Kreuziger
5 Karpets
6 F.Schleck
7 Levi
8 Van Gardren
9 Van Den Broeck
10 Wiggy

If you put TVG there Das Panzerwagen SHOULD be there... TBH I'd like to see TVG taking 1 stage here... He deserves a win, that will give him more confidence... also He looks to be in form...

 

[Parrulo]

Fränk Schleck: "I will be satisfied with a top-10 placement at Paris-Nice"

"I start the race without pressure, but I know my form is good enough to get into the top-10. I will also be happy to help another rider, such as Maxime Monfort, Jens Voigt or Jakob Fuglsang.

To be honest, I haven't had time to look at the other riders yet, but I think Jurgen Van den Broeck will be very good. I would have said Robert Gesink, but he is doing Tirreno-Adriatico. Therefore I predict guys like Van Garderen, Chavanel, Kreuziger, Vinokourov. It won't be a pure climber. But for me, top-10 would be nice."

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_nice_frank_schleck_se_satisferait_d_un_top_10-13063.html

man i really like frankie. looks like a very nice guy

 

[El Pistolero]

Rabo better support Lulu.

He's better than Gesink in such a stage race in my opinion.

 

[Andy99]

TV in the US???

From steephill.tv;

'Versus will have delayed coverage in HD: March 6-11 @ 4pm, March 12 @ 2pm and March 13 @ 4pm'

 

[El Pistolero]

hmm interesting. Frank must rate gesink to some degree to name hi a favorite. Yet I've rarely heard baby schleck even acknowledge gesink's existance.

A lot of people see the Schlecks as one, but I actually really like Frank Schleck and I can't say the same about Andy.

While Frank doesn't win a lot he does actually do well in some races before the Tour like Paris-Nice and Tour de Suisse.

This is not the first time I've seen Frank talk about Gesink. Andy does seem to talk more about Jurgen though, which seems strange as Gesink is probably a better climber.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rabo better support Lulu.

He's better than Gesink in such a stage race in my opinion.

That maybe so, but you're badly informed if you think Gesink starts here.

It's known for months already Sanchez will do Paris Nice and Gesink the Tirreno.

 

[Mellow Velo]

That maybe so, but you're badly informed if you think Gesink starts here.

It's known for months already Sanchez will do Paris Nice and Gesink the Tirreno.

An odd choice.
Maybe they have spotted some climbs in the Tirreno profile that I've missed.

 

[Havetts]

Maybe Gesink will soft pedal in the tirreno, as it isnt really a mountainous stage race. Or he just could be there for the two time trials to practice for his TT position and test it out.

 

[El Pistolero]

That maybe so, but you're badly informed if you think Gesink starts here.

It's known for months already Sanchez will do Paris Nice and Gesink the Tirreno.

No, I just don't follow Gesink like at all except in the races I watch. But Rabobank usually favors their Dutch riders over other nationalities. God knows why Freire is still with Rabo, but he seems to do well.

And yes OPL does that as well before you start bringing Belgium up again

 

[theyoungest]

An odd choice.
Maybe they have spotted some climbs in the Tirreno profile that I've missed.

That final climb where Ignatiev won last year is back. And there's a 240 km to Chieti which seems quite climby near the finish. But he's mainly there to improve his explosiveness, like he was the last two years.

The Paris-Nice course doesn't seem difficult enough to make a real difference either, so he might as well do the Tirreno.

 

[El Pistolero]

That final climb where Ignatiev won last year is back. And there's a 240 km to Chieti which seems quite climby near the finish. But he's mainly there to improve his explosiveness, like he was the last two years.

The Paris-Nice course doesn't seem difficult enough to make a real difference either, so he might as well do the Tirreno.

Paris-Nice is more difficult than T-A?

 

[Spine Concept]

No, I just don't follow Gesink like at all except in the races I watch. But Rabobank usually favors their Dutch riders over other nationalities. God knows why Freire is still with Rabo, but he seems to do well.

And yes OPL does that as well before you start bringing Belgium up again

Exactly, let's not be hypocrites now.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

An odd choice.
Maybe they have spotted some climbs in the Tirreno profile that I've missed.

Just good preparation for the ardennes. Only the finish in Macerata could be something for him, but even that is I think to easy/too explosive. Probably end up somewhere between 5th and 15th

 

[The Hitch]

...................

"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of involving Rabobank or Robert Gesink approaches 1. In other words, Godwin put forth the sarcastic observation that, given enough time, all discussions—regardless of topic or scope—inevitably wind up being about Rabobank and Robert Gesink

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Also, it can be noted that more and more of the times, it is without my involvement the discussion suddenly goes on about Gesink.

So, my powers are weakening

 

[maltiv]

Last year when Sky entered Paris-Nice they didn't have a single candidate for the GC. This year they have 3: Wiggins, Rogers (although I am not sure about his form) and Uran. I also have a feeling that Geraint Thomas will do well. Looks like an extremely strong team at least, will be interesting to see their tactic.

 

[stefrees]

Last year when Sky entered Paris-Nice they didn't have a single candidate for the GC. This year they have 3: Wiggins, Rogers (although I am not sure about his form) and Uran. I also have a feeling that Geraint Thomas will do well. Looks like an extremely strong team at least, will be interesting to see their tactic.

I hope they continue attacking and trying to animate the race. Geraint Thomas had a decent 6th last Sunday so could be able to put in a decent ride, I hope they don't just do a radioshack and defend in hills and use tt to get decent placing, uran and gerrans can go up the road and animate.

 

[Ryaguas]

Astana looks scary...

Di Gregorio
Kiserlovski ------> In shape
Kreuziger
Vino