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

[FF'Wilco]

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

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map:

top 10 general:

1. LARSSON Gustav VACANSOLEIL-DCM 0:11:19
2. WIGGINS Bradley SKY PROCYCLING 0:00:01
3. LEIPHEIMER Levi OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 0:00:04
4. VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC RACING TEAM 0:00:09
5. DE GENDT Thomas VACANSOLEIL-DCM 0:00:12
6. CHAVANEL Sylvain OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 0:00:12
7. TAARAMAE Rein COFIDIS LE CREDIT EN LIGNE 0:00:13
8. IRIZAR Markel RADIOSHACK-NISSAN 0:00:13
9. PAURIOL Rémi FDJ-BIGMAT 0:00:15
10. COPPEL Jérôme SAUR-SOJASUN 0:00:15

Favourities for today:

Anthony Ravard, Francesco Gavazzi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Thor Hushovd, Samuel Dumoulin, Sebastien Chavanel, Yahueni Hutarovich, Heinrich Haussler, Leigh Howard, Alexander Kristoff, Grega Bole, Elia Viviani, Greg Henderson, José Joaquín Rojas, Tom Boonen, John Degenkolb, Marcel Kittel, Mark Renshaw, Romain Feillu, Kris Boeckmans, Aidis Kroupis.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kittel will have to be the favorite. Hutarovich has been looking good so far, and Viviani has been going great as well so those three are my podium today.

 

[greenedge]

I think Haussler will win, he seems in great form. Kittel and Huta of course should not be discounted, nor should Viviani. That is my top 4 in no particular order.

Boonen and Renshaw to round out the other 2.

 

[TeoSheva]

Favourities for today:

Anthony Ravard, Francesco Gavazzi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Thor Hushovd, Samuel Dumoulin, Sebastien Chavanel, Yahueni Hutarovich, Heinrich Haussler, Leigh Howard, Alexander Kristoff, Grega Bole, Elia Viviani, Greg Henderson, José Joaquín Rojas, Tom Boonen, John Degenkolb, Marcel Kittel, Mark Renshaw, Romain Feillu, Kris Boeckmans, Aidis Kroupis.

The sprinter of Lampre I think will be Pietropolli and not Gavazzi or Bole
and I'm interesting to see who will do the sprint for Vacansoleil (Feillu or Boeckmans) and for GreenEdge (I think Kruopis, but there are also Howard and Keukeleire)

 

[insideout leadout]

Pietropolli? He's not much of a sprinter, maybe you think of some one else.

 

[dlwssonic]

well this time I really cannot think of any BMC rider with a chance at all. I guess its kittel.

 

[Leonardus]

Can't see past Kittel for today with Hutarovich and Viviani to complete today's podium.
But I hope for a windy stage, could be very interesting in that case with some nice splits in the peloton.

 

[insideout leadout]

If there is crosswind today BMC can win

Seriously look at that map, things might happen...

 

[taiwan]

The sprinter of Lampre I think will be Pietropolli and not Gavazzi or Bole
and I'm interesting to see who will do the sprint for Vacansoleil (Feillu or Boeckmans) and for GreenEdge (I think Kruopis, but there are also Howard and Keukeleire)

I don't really think of Pietropolli as a sprinter, surely Bole is the fastest of the three in a big bunch finish?

Anyway, Kittel, Viviani and Hutarovich have all been great this year, but my dark horse is Henderson.

My CQ team is rooting for the New Zealander, or a Degenkolb victory somehow.

Gavazzi doesn't ride for Lampre

Very good point.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

The sprinter of Lampre I think will be Pietropolli and not Gavazzi or Bole
and I'm interesting to see who will do the sprint for Vacansoleil (Feillu or Boeckmans) and for GreenEdge (I think Kruopis, but there are also Howard and Keukeleire)

Gavazzi doesn't ride for Lampre who probably won't even compete in the sprint. Feillu will probably be the man for Vacansoleil - after all he's on home soil and did OK last year against stronger opposition. I think Kruopis for GE as well, but I would like if they gave Howard a chance.

 

[FF'Wilco]

40% chance for a rain in Orlean. Also wind 35km/h. Might be interesting if these conditions appear during the stage.

 

[UselessToo]

My outside bet is Geraint Thomas...

 

[theyoungest]

well this time I really cannot think of any BMC rider with a chance at all. I guess its kittel.

I feel a BMC win coming up

 

[Aguirre]

how is weather? rain? wet?

usually crosswinds are in the first 2 stages of P-N, also crashes, this is like a small TdF so we have everything is there including surprises in flat stages.

I wish a bit of wind today...

 

[Aguirre]

ok, I got it the 40% of rain possibility, good

 

[Ruudz0r]

Gavazzi doesn't ride for Lampre who probably won't even compete in the sprint. Feillu will probably be the man for Vacansoleil - after all he's on home soil and did OK last year against stronger opposition. I think Kruopis for GE as well, but I would like if they gave Howard a chance.

Boeckmans has great form though he was pretty amazing in Samyn with some attacks and still finishing 2nd in the sprint (in which he went a bit to early ).

 

[TeoSheva]

sorry for Gavazzi...
ok, maybe even Pietropolli is not a bunch sprinter, but Bole as well... so no sprinter for Lampre

 

[hatcher]

My outside bet is Geraint Thomas...

I wonder if Sky will try to get in their 1st break of the season.

(unless I'm forgetting one. Omloop doesn't count).

 

[airstream]

Hutarovich for the win. Rojas the 2nd. Kittel the 3rd.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

According to some dutch reporter there is a lot of wind so a good chance of echelons

 

[cineteq]

According to some dutch reporter there is a lot of wind so a good chance of echelons

@brentbookwalter: Nice day in France, if you are looking to fly a kite.

 

[TeoSheva]

According to some dutch reporter there is a lot of wind so a good chance of echelons

which team can try something? Sky? or OPQC?

 

[jens_attacks]

headwind for now,let's wait for the peloton to make a turn.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

which team can try something? Sky? or OPQC?

Team De Gendt

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

which team can try something? Sky? or OPQC?

Rabobutchers, like PN in 2009