Paris–Tours 7 Oct 211 km

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

I think Terpstra was overreacting to Cosnefroy. The guy had bridged up to the break, but had his team leader chasing behind. Ok, they were unlikely to come back, but that doesn't mean he's obliged to work now. But I wouldn't call Terpstra a disgrace, he's also entitled to be upset that there's a passenger along in the break.

I think Kragh would've won that race no matter who did or didn't work in the trio, he was clearly the strongest on the day.

An entertaining race, but as I said before, while P-T is constantly struggling for its identity, it will struggle for recognition as a true classic, and this was a completely different race to what we saw in recent years; and we have had good racing in recent years. Even the long finish straight was shorter this year.

To me, it's a trade-off between identity and entertainment for Paris - Tours. Yes, today's race was, objectively, more entertaining than in previous years, but it lacked identity. That said, I do think, if they decide to go for the same route next year and forward, it would not be a bad idea, if Paris - Tours can build up a new tradition of epic races. Very much just try to copy the same strategy that has been a succes for the organizers behind Strade Bianche.

They just need to make a choice and not use alternating routes from year to year.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

I think Terpstra was overreacting to Cosnefroy. The guy had bridged up to the break, but had his team leader chasing behind. Ok, they were unlikely to come back, but that doesn't mean he's obliged to work now. But I wouldn't call Terpstra a disgrace, he's also entitled to be upset that there's a passenger along in the break.

I think Kragh would've won that race no matter who did or didn't work in the trio, he was clearly the strongest on the day.

An entertaining race, but as I said before, while P-T is constantly struggling for its identity, it will struggle for recognition as a true classic, and this was a completely different race to what we saw in recent years; and we have had good racing in recent years. Even the long finish straight was shorter this year.

To me, it's a trade-off between identity and entertainment for Paris - Tours. Yes, today's race was, objectively, more entertaining than in previous years, but it lacked identity. That said, I do think, if they decide to go for the same route next year and forward, it would not be a bad idea, if Paris - Tours can build up a new tradition of epic races. Very much just try to copy the same strategy that has been a succes for the organizers behind Strade Bianche.

They just need to make a choice and not use alternating routes from year to year.

Agree with that.

Brian Smith was saying in the finale that he's suggested in the past having a "gravel race world tour" or similar. If P-T isn't on the proper WT, then it can be on that one, with the likes of Strade, Tro Bro Leon, and get some international races into the mix like Dirty Kanza.

 

[Tonton]

That has always been the problem with this race: identity. {aris-Tour, Tour-Versailles, Blois-Montlhery, and I forget some. The only reason why that's the only classic that Eddy never won: he didn't know where the start and the finish were . All in all, I think that there's a winning formula with the '18 course.

Great winner, Nikki being Nikki, Cosnefroy showing his potential, and Valentin: the kid is for real.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

I think Terpstra was overreacting to Cosnefroy. The guy had bridged up to the break, but had his team leader chasing behind. Ok, they were unlikely to come back, but that doesn't mean he's obliged to work now. But I wouldn't call Terpstra a disgrace, he's also entitled to be upset that there's a passenger along in the break.

I think Kragh would've won that race no matter who did or didn't work in the trio, he was clearly the strongest on the day.

An entertaining race, but as I said before, while P-T is constantly struggling for its identity, it will struggle for recognition as a true classic, and this was a completely different race to what we saw in recent years; and we have had good racing in recent years. Even the long finish straight was shorter this year.

To me, it's a trade-off between identity and entertainment for Paris - Tours. Yes, today's race was, objectively, more entertaining than in previous years, but it lacked identity. That said, I do think, if they decide to go for the same route next year and forward, it would not be a bad idea, if Paris - Tours can build up a new tradition of epic races. Very much just try to copy the same strategy that has been a succes for the organizers behind Strade Bianche.

They just need to make a choice and not use alternating routes from year to year.

Agree with that.

Brian Smith was saying in the finale that he's suggested in the past having a "gravel race world tour" or similar. If P-T isn't on the proper WT, then it can be on that one, with the likes of Strade, Tro Bro Leon, and get some international races into the mix like Dirty Kanza.

I'd propose a late classics calender instead. In the spring, you ride on cobbles and in the autumn, you ride on gravel.

Strade (the gravel Flanders) will be the first race in the late September so that climbers have a chance of participating. While the climbers will continue their late season path with Giro dell'Emilia, the classics riders will travel to France to race the odd Tro-Bro Léon and later Paris-Tours (the new gravel Roubaix).

A WT calender could look something like this:
Omloop
K-B-K
Sanremo
E3
G-W
Dwars
Ronde
Roubaix
Amstel
Fleche
Liege
San Seb
Hamburg
Bretagne
Strade
Emilia
T-B-L
Torino
Lombardia
Tours

You might also add Chrono des Nations to the late season in order to have at least one ITT race on a WT level.

 

[Bolder]

That has always been the problem with this race: identity. {aris-Tour, Tour-Versailles, Blois-Montlhery, and I forget some. The only reason why that's the only classic that Eddy never won: he didn't know where the start and the finish were . All in all, I think that there's a winning formula with the '18 course.

Great winner, Nikki being Nikki, Cosnefroy showing his potential, and Valentin: the kid is for real.

I agree with this — the course is always being fiddled with, it’s a bit short for a classic and from a TV watching POV, is really not that interesting. The gravel tracks make for better viewing and IMO a better race for spectators/sponsors, which is really all that matters. However, if you have too many punctures then you need to rethink how the tracks are set — maybe you need to go over them with a tractor or the riders need to use more puncture resistant tires. If the race could actually consistently start FROM Paris, Versailles even, that would also be a plus. Can you imagine the imagery of rolling past the chateau on a Sunday morning? Or, what would be really cool, would be starting from Longchamps hippodrome — You’ld already have 2,000 fans already kitted out in Lycra for their training around the hippodrome...

Even P-R starting from Compiegne is a little meh.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I find it hard to understand complaints about a race that has been in long term decline trying to reestablish itself by becoming more entertaining and unusual. This edition was really good.

 

[kingjr]

Gaviria's attack from 700m out in 2016 was more entertaining than anything I saw this Sunday.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

Gaviria's attack from 700m out in 2016 was more entertaining than anything I saw this Sunday.

Virenque in '01 wasn't bad either . We can all find one year, one outcome that suits our taste. But let's be real: this was one of the dullest races on the calendar. Not yesterday...

 

[Leinster]

Re:

I find it hard to understand complaints about a race that has been in long term decline trying to reestablish itself by becoming more entertaining and unusual. This edition was really good.

It’s been a very entertaining race for the past several years. There’s been a few bunch sprints won by the likes of Degenkolh, Zabel, Petacchi, but there’s been more wins from small groups by van Avermaet, Gilbert, Trentin etc. The race has a reputation as a sprinter’s classic, but the evidence of the last 2 decades is that anybody stands a chance, including but not limited to the sprinters.

This year was a good race, but as soon as Kragh attacked the final time, the race was over. The old route could have you guessing right to the line who would win.

 

[el chava]

However, if you have too many punctures then you need to rethink how the tracks are set — maybe you need to go over them with a tractor or the riders need to use more puncture resistant tires.

Maybe SKA did exactly that. Sometimes the mechanics know what they are doing, but often it seems they are clueless. Sadly I didn't see the race, but the top10 suggests that there was no luck deciding this race (not more than a freak crash in a sprinters classics anyways).

 

[tobydawq]

However, if you have too many punctures then you need to rethink how the tracks are set — maybe you need to go over them with a tractor or the riders need to use more puncture resistant tires.

Maybe SKA did exactly that. Sometimes the mechanics know what they are doing, but often it seems they are clueless. Sadly I didn't see the race, but the top10 suggests that there was no luck deciding this race (not more than a freak crash in a sprinters classics anyways).

Gilbert punctured while looking strong and his presence in front would have changed the finale fundamentally. But yeah, it's just one puncture for the very top riders, and that also happens in other races.

Maybe Benoot also punctured? Suddenly he was gone before coming back again.

 

[Carols]

I finally was able to watch this race, it was on my dvr. The new parcours are very welcome and it made for some great racing! Congrats to Andersen, nice move and great rde!

 

[jaylew]

Re:

I find it hard to understand complaints about a race that has been in long term decline trying to reestablish itself by becoming more entertaining and unusual. This edition was really good.

Agree with this.

 

[Valv.Piti]

However, if you have too many punctures then you need to rethink how the tracks are set — maybe you need to go over them with a tractor or the riders need to use more puncture resistant tires.

Maybe SKA did exactly that. Sometimes the mechanics know what they are doing, but often it seems they are clueless. Sadly I didn't see the race, but the top10 suggests that there was no luck deciding this race (not more than a freak crash in a sprinters classics anyways).

Gilbert punctured while looking strong and his presence in front would have changed the finale fundamentally. But yeah, it's just one puncture for the very top riders, and that also happens in other races.

Maybe Benoot also punctured? Suddenly he was gone before coming back again.

Probably Lampaert as well, but yeah.