Paris Nice 2014

[roundabout]

Good idea, but not the best execution

 

[Miburo]

It's better than T-A.

Your point? It's still bad.

 

[the asian]

A throwback to the old days when Paris Nice was a training race for the classics.

Good Opportunity for some hilly classics riders to to enhance their palmares with a prestigious race under their belt.

This year both T/A and P-N routes are terrible.

 

[burning]

The stage to Fayence is the only disappointing thing for me (Nice-Nice is somewhat weak as well though), apart from that I liked the route as there is clear favorite right now, even Sagan might be able to win GC.

 

[Arredondo]

I can see Betancur win it here. Just do a good sprint on the rise at Fayenne, and the victory is there

 

[barmaher]

I think this course sucks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Can't Sophia-Antipolis host a start instead of a finish? It's a real shame to have a decently hilly first half of a stage and then a rather lame finish. Remember it in 2011? When Rojas was going to be sprinting it out until he punctured with 15k to go and then you had a 1km at 5-6% finish that wasn't steep enough even for puncheurs?

 

[Jspear]

I think this course sucks.

I love your blunt honest thoughts. I agree this isn't a great course... I would personally like to see some more mtf's. Then again maybe sky won't be able to control things as much without a ton of mountains....

 

[VeloHuman]

No Greipel, Cavendish or Kittel and yet the first 3-4 days could all be sprint finishes... should be an interesting opportunity to see what other fast finishers are going well in the spring. Kristoff, Bouhanni, and Degenkolb will be in good position to pick up the first wins of the post-TDU WorldTour... And we'll get a good chance to see Bryan Coquard, too.

 

[42x16ss]

Any idea who is racing here yet? I can see guys like Voeckler, Valverde, Chavanel, Dan Martin, Costa Evans and Santamorita chasing the overall. Porte should be able to put in a solid defence but I can't see him winning unless he suddenly gets strong enough to simpl ride everyone off his wheel in these kind of finishes.

Shame there's no Caja Rural - they would have a field day. LLS would have to be a favourite if he was here.

 

[Peter von]

Any idea who is racing here yet? I can see guys like Voeckler, Valverde, Chavanel, Dan Martin, Costa Evans and Santamorita chasing the overall. Porte should be able to put in a solid defence but I can't see him winning unless he suddenly gets strong enough to simpl ride everyone off his wheel in these kind of finishes.

Shame there's no Caja Rural - they would have a field day. LLS would have to be a favourite if he was here.

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Paris_nice_2014-Startlist

I think you're right about your assesment, Voeckler had a slight setback in his build up and he is aiming at the Ardennes, but he's got the tools to take this one for sure. I'm very excided to see what the teams do with this route, Porte could have a chance if SKY put their backs into it as soon as the road goes up, but guys guys like Chavanel and Gallopin are very sharp so close to their big goals of the the pre-Tour season, so they should be able to withstand a lot of pressure from better climbers, especially if they feel they can win.

 

[del1962]

No Greipel, Cavendish or Kittel and yet the first 3-4 days could all be sprint finishes... should be an interesting opportunity to see what other fast finishers are going well in the spring. Kristoff, Bouhanni, and Degenkolb will be in good position to pick up the first wins of the post-TDU WorldTour... And we'll get a good chance to see Bryan Coquard, too.

For some reason along with Sagan they are all going to T-A Instead, this may have been an interesting race for Sagan GC wise.

 

[Oliver]

Any idea who is racing here yet? I can see guys like Voeckler, Valverde, Chavanel, Dan Martin, Costa Evans and Santamorita chasing the overall. Porte should be able to put in a solid defence but I can't see him winning unless he suddenly gets strong enough to simpl ride everyone off his wheel in these kind of finishes.

Shame there's no Caja Rural - they would have a field day. LLS would have to be a favourite if he was here.

Martin, Evans & Santaromita -> Tirreno

Valverde doesn't ride PN or Tirreno.

 

[ILovecycling]

I think this course sucks.

i agree,it a very bad joke.
however i dont mind, TA is always better,viva italia (except remo tho)

 

[VeloHuman]

For some reason along with Sagan they are all going to T-A Instead, this may have been an interesting race for Sagan GC wise.

I'm a bit surprised about no Sagan in Paris-Nice. Maybe he wants to face off against the big 3 as much as possible in the pre-TdF runup. Or maybe he wants serious mountain training and thinks he can hang on Stage 5?

 

[Jspear]

Any idea who is racing here yet? I can see guys like Voeckler, Valverde, Chavanel, Dan Martin, Costa Evans and Santamorita chasing the overall. Porte should be able to put in a solid defence but I can't see him winning unless he suddenly gets strong enough to simpl ride everyone off his wheel in these kind of finishes.

Shame there's no Caja Rural - they would have a field day. LLS would have to be a favourite if he was here.

Believe me, I would love to see Voeckler do well in this race - But going by his performance at the Volta ao Algarve and the Tour Méditerranéen, I don't think he'll do much. His broken collarbone set him back some.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Does anyone know how many bonus seconds there are at the finish line? + in intermediate sprints? 10-6-4 + 3-2-1?

 

[Netserk]

It was 10-6-4 at the finish line last year, so I guess it's the same this year.

Tbh I would prefer that instead of bonus seconds (at least on hill/mountain finishes), stages where the 3-km rule doesn't count, there would be individual timing with 1/100th of a second precision.

 

[TANK91]

Porte ftw, im psyhco u see i predict future results, R.P Paris Nice, R.P Giro, R.P TDF(5TH), R.P WITT, R.P WCRR, R.P Il Lombarida. His 2014 results.

 

[search]

Does anyone know how many bonus seconds there are at the finish line? + in intermediate sprints? 10-6-4 + 3-2-1?

yep, the same as last year.

someone posted the race regulations on twitter, can't find them at the moment though

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Sky would be better riding for Edvald than Porte on this route.

 

[MatParker117]

Sky Squad:
Edvald Boasson Hagen, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, David López, Richie Porte, Gabriel Rasch, Geraint Thomas, Xabier Zandio

 

[veji11]

This route would have been perfect for a Valverde or a Sagan. For a guy like Boasson Hagen, hard to know. On paper yes but all is needed is for a group of 6/8 guys to manage to drop him on one of the hardest hills/climbs, and he could end up buried in the GC. It will be indecisive.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

If Bardet would crush everybody, it would make my day.

edit: picture required.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

If Bardet would crush everybody, it would make my day.

I could definitely see Bardet doing well here.