Paris-Nice 2017, 5th-12th March

[May0maniac]

Re:

Henao isn't a threat at all... he doesn't do good time trials, he isn't a pure climber that can gain time in the high mountains (stage 7), so the only chance for him is winning bonus seconds (stage 6 comes to my mind). He can't drop contador or porte because this is not pais vasco's muritos

Henao is pretty good in hilly ITTs and this one has a climb at the end, he isn't the main favourite, but he could finish on the podium.

 

[Alexandre B.]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/talansky-absent-from-cannondale-drapac-roster-for-paris-nice/
Talansky out, Koren in

 

[sir fly]

It's going to be a week of good racing.
Plenty of riders to watch besides expected podium contenders.

 

[dlwssonic]

With the TT this should be pretty easy for Porte

 

[Singer01]

Re:

With the TT this should be pretty easy for Porte

i'm erring toward porte, but not that confident that it will be easy.
i'm just worried that neither porte or contador quite have the jump to drop the other, and they just follow each other around all week.

 

[manolo57]

Do you think Alaf can podium ?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

Sucks. Absolutely blows. Oh well, go Henao!

Might mean he will be fresher for the later targets such as the Vuelta and Lombardia.

 

[Velolover2]

Heart: Henao
Brain: Porte

Henao should be able to drop all of them on stage 6 if they arrive to the finish now Valverde is gone.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

Sucks. Absolutely blows. Oh well, go Henao!

Might mean he will be fresher for the later targets such as the Vuelta and Lombardia.

Vuelta and Lombardia.... You know when those races will be ridden right?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

Sucks. Absolutely blows. Oh well, go Henao!

Might mean he will be fresher for the later targets such as the Vuelta and Lombardia.

Vuelta and Lombardia.... You know when those races will be ridden right?

Not the exact dates, no, but Im pretty sure its in the fall!

I think the point you are making is he will be exhausted at that point and I see it, but no Giro and no TdF leadership etc. could lead to him being better than usual. I don't believe for one second he can win the worlds on that course, tho.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

Sucks. Absolutely blows. Oh well, go Henao!

Might mean he will be fresher for the later targets such as the Vuelta and Lombardia.

Vuelta and Lombardia.... You know when those races will be ridden right?

Not the exact dates, no, but Im pretty sure its in the fall!

I think the point you are making is he will be exhausted at that point and I see it, but no Giro and no TdF leadership etc. could lead to him being better than usual. I don't believe for one second he can win the worlds on that course, tho.

I only found it quite funny to already talk about a possible connection between not riding a stage race in March and being fresher for some races in September.

But i agree he should be fresher now in la Vuelta and Lombardia then he was in the past seasons. If he's able to reach 2013/2014 shape, he's got a big chance to win (mainly Lombardia, i don't think he will actually win a GT anymore). However, i think that with his original schedule (so Paris-Nice and Catalunya), he would have been fine too for the spring-races.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I've learned to always look at the bright side of things.

Henao is at 17,00, but more interestingly, Contador is at 4,00 at the bookies. Not bad value at all there for those looking to spice the race a little up.

 

[King Boonen]

Barguil to smash this...

 

[johnymax]

Re:

Valverde out with sickness
https://twitter.com/alejanvalverde/status/837647861248634880

De la Parte replaces him.

Meh. It's a pity. Was looking forward to see a three way battle with him, Contador and Porte. Let's hope somebody from the Zakarin, Bardet, Henao, Ion... group can challenge the duo for the victory.

 

[Valv.Piti]

So Movistar will count on Jesus Herrada and Gorka Izaguirre to get a random top-10, they don't even have Ruben Fernandez who have done well in the past here.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

It's time for Marc Soler to shine.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Romain Bardet said he feels ready in the recent interview (seriously, he rivals the Sky-debacle at this point in terms of coverage.. almost) and the usual stuff. Mentions the new TT bike he has helped design.

I found this passage interesting considered the debates we've had whether it was the right preparation to go to Abu Dhabi for Contador: “It’s a shame, the race could be more difficult, I guess,” he said. “You just have one climb, less than 30 minutes full gas – it’s not really enough.

“So it was important to train around it and do some big efforts to sharpen my top-end condition. I’m happy with the work we’ve done here. It’s given me a good base and I can’t wait to get back to Europe for the serious stuff.”

The ceiling for him in this race is top-5 IMO. I can't see him move any further up.

 

[Red Rick]

Bardet helped design a TT bike?

That can't be good

 

[sir fly]

Re:

Bardet helped design a TT bike?

That can't be good

I wouldn't mind riding that bike.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Apparently Elissonde is sick so Sebastian Henao is set to ride.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Going with a safe bet here: LRP.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Apparently Elissonde is sick so Sebastian Henao is set to ride.

Are you kidding me? :lol:

 

[Velolover2]

All-in for Sergio Henao.

Hope he does well.

 

[HelloDolly]

1= Contador
2= Zakarin
3= Henao