Paris-Nice 2012: Stage 2 Mantes-la-Jolie - Orléans (185 km)

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You have a rabo bitter mouth

oh yes i forgot everyone most love leipheimer, wiggins and van garderen here.

Can't have your own likes & dislikes

 

[El Pistolero]

These WT points will come in handy for OPQS when the classics start.

 

[cineteq]

Casualties:

111. BRAJKOVIC Janez ASTANA PRO TEAM + 10' 58"
112. BASSO Ivan LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE + 10' 58"
113. SCHLECK Andy RADIOSHACK-NISSAN + 10' 58"
124. DEKKER Thomas GARMIN - BARRACUDA + 10' 58"
126. IRIZAR Markel RADIOSHACK-NISSAN + 10' 58"
127. DE GENDT Thomas VACANSOLEIL-DCM + 10' 58"
131. PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE + 10' 58"
132. TAARAMAE Rein COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 10' 58"
138. LLOYD Matthew LAMPRE - ISD + 10' 58"
146. PORTE Richie SKY PROCYCLING + 10' 58"
147. ANTON Igor EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 10' 58"
175. LE MEVEL Christophe GARMIN - BARRACUDA + 17' 35"

 

[Machu Picchu]

Casualties:

111. BRAJKOVIC Janez ASTANA PRO TEAM + 10' 58"
112. BASSO Ivan LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE + 10' 58"
113. SCHLECK Andy RADIOSHACK-NISSAN + 10' 58"
124. DEKKER Thomas GARMIN - BARRACUDA + 10' 58"
126. IRIZAR Markel RADIOSHACK-NISSAN + 10' 58"
127. DE GENDT Thomas VACANSOLEIL-DCM + 10' 58"
131. PERAUD Jean-Christophe AG2R LA MONDIALE + 10' 58"
132. TAARAMAE Rein COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE + 10' 58"
138. LLOYD Matthew LAMPRE - ISD + 10' 58"
146. PORTE Richie SKY PROCYCLING + 10' 58"
147. ANTON Igor EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 10' 58"
175. LE MEVEL Christophe GARMIN - BARRACUDA + 17' 35"

Anyone know what happened here?_?

 

[Frosty]

That's kind of a cliche... the current crop of Dutch featherweight climbers simply suck at echelon riding. Gesink falls from his bike at the thought of an echelon (although power-wise he should be quite good at it, like Wiggins).

You're probably right but cliches often have some truth in them - maybe experience should have helped overcome of their difficulties? Valverde, Jeannesson, for instance made it up there.

There is always going to be someone who misses out i suppose - not everyone who wants to be in first 20/30 in the peloton can be there.

 

[Frosty]

Anyone know what happened here?_?

Dunno, nothing on the offiicial site. He does have an active twitter account. Maybe he will say something later

http://twitter.com/#!/chrislemevel

 

[DominicDecoco]

It looks like this year is not going well for the Schlecht bro's

Let's not get carried away here shall we. It's March.

I assume Wiggins follows his calender and has everything under control but he does look in top form already.

 

[theyoungest]

You're probably right but cliches often have some truth in them - maybe experience should have helped overcome of their difficulties? Valverde, Jeannesson, for instance made it up there.

There is always going to be someone who misses out i suppose - not everyone who wants to be in first 20/30 in the peloton can be there.

Mollema only started bike racing at age 18, and soon found out he was a climber and rode races that suited him. So I don't think he's more experienced than those guys at echelon riding.

 

[jens_attacks]

pretty cool stage.
damn wiggins is looking strong,i think he will smoke col d'eze.i still think levi will beat him on mende.
valverde also very strong,doing turns at the front all day.tomorrow-stage win for him.

tom boonen,looking better and better.

 

[LaFlorecita]

pretty cool stage.
damn wiggins is looking strong,i think he will smoke col d'eze.i still think levi will beat him on mende.
valverde also very strong,doing turns at the front all day.tomorrow-stage win for him.
tom boonen,looking better and better.

I'm gonna cross my fingers for that.

 

[El Pistolero]

He didn't look that strong to me, all of them were taking turns...

 

[Hartog]

Dunno, nothing on the offiicial site. He does have an active twitter account. Maybe he will say something later

http://twitter.com/#!/chrislemevel

He now has, apparently crashed hard and rode 45 km solo, if my French is good enough.

Lourde chute sur Paris-Nice mais j'ai réussi à finir l'étape bon dernier seul pendant 45km! Dur pour le moral...

 

[jens_attacks]

He didn't look that strong to me, all of them were taking turns...

nah i checked his position all the time,he was always at the front,him and wiggins taking most of the turns.you will see tomorrow.

 

[El Pistolero]

He now has, apparently crashed hard and rode 45 km solo, if my French is good enough.

Lourde chute sur Paris-Nice mais j'ai réussi à finir l'étape bon dernier seul pendant 45km! Dur pour le moral...

Heavy crash in Paris-Nice, but I have succeeded in finishing the stage all on my own for 45 km! Hard for the morale...

 

[Stingray34]

Zero Greenedge in front group; 3 GE's @ 2.29. Rest in laughing group. Hmmmm

Andy's rubbish. As usual. It isn't July. I'll do a nudey run if he's even close to the front on the stage to Mende.

Wiggins is too strong too early. My feeling is, and I realise it's worth not a drachma, that if he wants to win in July, he needs to build up more slowly. His powder is visibly damp. I can't see him losing this race, but so what?

Hope Nuyens can recover in time for Flanders. Saxo really needs this guy.

Good on you Tommeke.

 

[FF'Wilco]

Zero Greenedge in front group; 3 GE's @ 2.29. Rest in laughing group. Hmmmm

Andy's rubbish. As usual. It isn't July. I'll do a nudey run if he's even close to the front on the stage to Mende.

Wiggins is too strong too early. My feeling is, and I realise it's worth not a drachma, that if he wants to win in July, he needs to build up more slowly. His powder is visibly damp. I can't see him losing this race, but so what?

Hope Nuyens can recover in time for Flanders. Saxo really needs this guy.

Good on you Tommeke.

I doubt he's in top shape yet. He's just benefiting from winter training and mountain camps. If he really win Paris Nice this year he will officially join exclusive club of riders who are able to fight for overall in almost every race they start (f.e. from last year: Evans, Valverde, Contador, Scarponi)

 

[El Pistolero]

I doubt he's in top shape yet. He's just benefiting from winter training and mountain camps. If he really win Paris Nice this year he will officially join exclusive club of riders who are able to fight for overall in almost every race they start (f.e. from last year: Evans, Valverde, Contador, Scarponi)

Valverde raced last year? And you forgot about one particular rider unless you're only talking about stage races of course.

 

[Midnightfright]

I wouldn't discount jeanesson either I think he is more than capable of a top 5

 

[Midnightfright]

Valverde raced last year? And you forgot about one particular rider unless you're only talking about stage races of course.

I think he is or you could probably stick Spartacus in with that also.

 

[Sophistic]

now 3 stages where Valverde can and has to win time bonuses at the finish.

 

[El Pistolero]

I think he is or you could probably stick Spartacus in with that also.

Spartacus was rather mediocre in the Tour and Vuelta. Due to illness or so I've heard.

 

[theyoungest]

Oh God, someone forgot to mention Gilbert... clearly he's talking about stage racers, Pisti.

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh God, someone forgot to mention Gilbert... clearly he's talking about stage racers, Pisti.

Then why did he mention Valverde lol?

Oh god, at least I'm not talking about Rabobank or some other Dutch rider in 99.9% of my posts.

 

[Spine Concept]

Then why did he mention Valverde lol?

Oh god, at least I'm not talking about Rabobank or some other Dutch rider in 99.9% of my posts.

I guess the Dutch ought to be happy with that fact.

 

[hrotha]

Then why did he mention Valverde lol?

Oh god, at least I'm not talking about Rabobank or some other Dutch rider in 99.9% of my posts.

Are you saying Valverde isn't a stage racer?