Paris-Nice 2012 - Stage 6: Suze-la-Rousse - Sisteron, 178.5 km

[Geraint Too Fast]

Is this finally the day for a bunch sprint?
Is the Côte des Marquises close enough to the finish to spoil the party?
Or will the breakaway succeed?

 

[Fetisoff]

I'm gonna go with Boonen.

 

[Swede1]

Yeah I think OPQS is strong enough to bring in the break and set it up for boonen. Kittel will probably be dropped as there is quite a bit of climbing during the stage. So yeah, ill say Boonen also.

 

[Afrank]

Boonene will easily win again, he's the best sprinter in the race with his current form.

 

[Swede1]

Boonene will easily win again, he's the best sprinter in the race with his current form.

I dont understand why he got whipped in Oman when he was obviously still in good form. Is he maybe not so quick compared to other sprinters on a completely flat stage?

 

[Afrank]

There were much better sprinters in Oman then are currently competeing in Paris-Nice. Griepel, Farrar, Cav, Sagan, Kittel, plus others. If Kittel can make it over the climbs with the front group he will be the one that can match Boonen, either him or Viviani I can see having the biggest chance of beating Boonen. Hutarovich and Vanmarke also seem to be in pretty good form so far this season.

 

[greenedge]

This stage screams Haussler but it also does for Boonen so therefore Boonen ( even if Kittel does somehow survive ). I think Meersmann might want to try his hand as well maybe.
I would love if Cunego attacked ( maybe accompanied by a certain GVA ).

 

[Afrank]

This stage screams Haussler but it also does for Boonen so therefore Boonen ( even if Kittel does somehow survive ). I think Meersmann might want to try his hand as well maybe.
I would love if Cunego attacked ( maybe accompanied by a certain GVA ).

Cunego attacking on Côte des Marquises, now that would make it a exciting stage. Maybe if LL Sanchez, Kloden, GVA followed they could survive until the finsih. Or the breakaway may survive, like Carlos Barredo did when he won from the break on a similar profile in 2008.

 

[Oliver]

I believe this is something for Haussler or Boonen.

 

[Richeypen]

De Gendt will be in the break I would have thought. He wants the mountains jersey and although Vacansoleil already hold it they will want someone in the break to hoover up the points.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Looks like a stage for a good-sized break to go away and not be chased down

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Looks like a stage for a good-sized break to go away and not be chased down

Agree, many teams will like a break being successful, but a team like Project 1T4i would want to show ASO that they are relevant in this kind of stage race.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

It seems FDJ are another team suffering from illness at this race. After Casar pulled out yesterday, Pauriol DNS today;

https://twitter.com/#!/rpauriol

 

[Museeuw]

Breakaway will win this stage. 99% sure.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Non-starters are also Lodewijck (BMC), Larsson (VAC), Fofonov (AST) & Neyens (LTB)

 

[palmerq]

have rabobank missed the break yet?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Km 6 - The peloton split in two parts and Alejandro Valverde is currently in the second echelon. The yellow jersey group comprises 28 riders and leads the rest of the pack by 35 seconds.

Interesting...

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Interesting...

Damn! Just as I was about to go out...

 

[theyoungest]

Echelons, not quite what I expected... but Movistar will bring Alejandro back on that first climb.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Km 12 - A group of 28 riders, including Bradley Wiggins, Lieuwe Westra and Tejay Van Garderen are in the lead. A second echelon of 30 riders follows, 20 seconds behind. The main bunch, including green jersey Alejandro Valverde, is 48 seconds adrift.

Lots of action. Shame we can't see it.

 

[TeoSheva]

what's going on?

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Valverde clearly not paying attention and the others trying to do some fun about it. MOV are only some 30s behind now, will catch the first group, a break will go away and the pace will settle down.

 

[will10]

Breakaway stage once everything is back together. Sky aren't going to hold Movistar at 30 seconds for 150km.

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Over the cat 3 and the gap's gone up. Where's Levi?

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Breakaway stage once everything is back together. Sky aren't going to hold Movistar at 30 seconds for 150km.

Gap is 40 seconds now...