Paris-Nice 2017, 5th-12th March

[Valv.Piti]

In memory of once great Carlos A. Betancur:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5YzPu38osM

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

In memory of once great Jonathan Tiernan-Locke:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp-U1jvmfLA

FTFY.

 

[Netserk]

Vive La Ronca!

 

[Alexandre B.]

Formolo abandons.

No more GC contender for Cannondale.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Km 32 - Alberto Contador (Trek) and Simon Yates (Orica) were briefly dropped in the descent of l'Espigoulier but finally made it back into the bunch comprising some 60 riders.

 

[indianfanboy]

Re:

Km 32 - Alberto Contador (Trek) and Simon Yates (Orica) were briefly dropped in the descent of l'Espigoulier but finally made it back into the bunch comprising some 60 riders.

Did they crash or something?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Km 32 - Alberto Contador (Trek) and Simon Yates (Orica) were briefly dropped in the descent of l'Espigoulier but finally made it back into the bunch comprising some 60 riders.

Did they crash or something?

It doesn't say.

 

[Laplaz]

Strong break today:

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC)
Axel Domont (AG2R)
Winner Anacona (Movistar)
José Herrada (Movistar)
Michael Valgren (Astana)
Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates)
Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie)
Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo)

 

[Der Effe]

Swift to solo away from the breakaway but still finish second!

 

[Netserk]

I guess they were badly positioned and the peloton then broke in half. Probably a furious start of the stage with many eyeing a chance for the break to take the stage.

 

[fauniera]

Chavanel the best placed rider at 17 minutes. This break got a chance.

 

[Escarabajo]

In memory of once great Carlos A. Betancur:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5YzPu38osM

Betancur looks fit in that video. If we compare it with what he looks today it is like night and day.

 

[Poursuivant]

Re:

I guess they were badly positioned and the peloton then broke in half. Probably a furious start of the stage with many eyeing a chance for the break to take the stage.

I agree.

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

When the time comes and he is ready I am sure ASO will prepare the special "hilly classic" route for the first French winner since Hinault in 1985 (waw already 32 years). But I am afraid Tinkoff was right. We still have several years of Froome and Sky. However, who knows what can happen with Sky team after the incoming FOX takeover.

Actually, even with Froome in the mix, I can just about see Alaphillipe winning on something not terribly unlike this year's Tour route. Just take away a hill or two, add one or two more descents, and maybe give the defending team time trial champions of the world a lovely little jaunt to open affairs. The caveat is that we don't yet know if he has the consistency to avoid bad days. Well, even one bad day, surely, since on a route like that the whole thing looks likely to come down to the parsing of seconds.

So if he does prove durable enough, I'm more than confident that a route can be found that suits him quite well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, the here and now is proving to be a treat. One week at a time, for now, before we can more boldly speculate about three.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Why would he even want to be a GT contender when he is already capable of winning classics though? I would just stick to what I'm good at and go for some stage wins in GTs

 

[Alexandre B.]

Contador attacks.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Why couldn't Berto wait 10 minutes so we could watch it instead

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re:

Why couldn't Berto wait 10 minutes so we could watch it instead

Better yet, why do we only get to see the final 40k?

 

[Pennino]

Re:

Why would he even want to be a GT contender when he is already capable of winning classics though? I would just stick to what I'm good at and go for some stage wins in GTs

Because it increases his prize perhaps?

 

[wheresmybrakes]

He'll soon get dragged back then lose about 3 mins at the end.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Why couldn't Berto wait 10 minutes so we could watch it instead

Better yet, why do we only get to see the final 40k?

Good question - RCS gives up double up in T-A, but it is very relevant, especially in this edition of P-N.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

Why would he even want to be a GT contender when he is already capable of winning classics though? I would just stick to what I'm good at and go for some stage wins in GTs

Because it increases his prize perhaps?

Eh, I hope he doesn't go that route. GT riders are boring

 

[portugal11]

Berto is really the god of cycling!! How I love this man!!! I was depressed after armstrong's retire but a spanish dude was emerging and demolish everyone in the mountains like pantani

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Why couldn't Berto wait 10 minutes so we could watch it instead

Better yet, why do we only get to see the final 40k?

Good question - RCS gives up double up in T-A, but it is very relevant, especially in this edition of P-N.

Tomorrow is worse, there's a possibility we'll miss the entire Col Saint-Martin.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Why couldn't Berto wait 10 minutes so we could watch it instead

Better yet, why do we only get to see the final 40k?

Good question - RCS gives up double up in T-A, but it is very relevant, especially in this edition of P-N.

Tomorrow is worse, there's a possibility we'll miss the entire Col Saint-Martin.

And probably all of Peille on Sunday. And 2 echelon stages.....