Paris-Nice 2017, 5th-12th March

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

First race of Micheal Matthews. We will see if he can really challenge Peter for the green jersey this year.

the guy wants to win the green jersey and spent 2 mounths in training camps, so i want to see if he has improved a lot his form.

He wants but he has no chance of winning the green jersey... he can't beat or even be in the top 3 in a flat sprint against kittel, greipel,cav, etc

 

[Alexandre B.]

I think it will be between Contador, Porte and Team Sky.

I'm maybe more interested in the sprint battles. Huge field.

 

[Jspear]

AC will win if no stage is canceled or shortened.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

The last stage is just screaming for Contador to do some mad man's stuff again. Hope he won't be in the yellow by then.

This

Last 3 stages look absolutely fantastic!! Probably just need a prologue for the perfect parcours. As it is the first 3 days look a little dull.

I don't think that the ITT will be all that important. There is ample opportunity to take back time on stages 6 and 7. Unless the difference between Porte and Contador in stage 4 is in excess of 15 seconds, I don't think that this stage will be all decisive.

 

[jaylew]

I'll go:

*****Porte, Contador
****Zakarin, Valverde
***Bardet, Henao, Izaguirre
**Martin, Talansky, Barguil, Poels
*Yates, Fuglsang, Kruijswijk

Juicy sprint field with the 3 Frenchies, the 3 Germans, Kristoff and Groenewegen among others.

 

[rick james]

I just hope we get the Gc men battling out with no cancelled stages

 

[Liiio]

Porte, Contador, Valverde, Zakarin battle for the win. I think Porte will be the best.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Contador to win a stage and GC.
Demare to win 3 stages.
Valverde to win stage and finish 2nd.

 

[jaylew]

Re:

Contador to win a stage and GC.
Demare to win 3 stages.
Valverde to win stage and finish 2nd.

No way Démare wins 3 stages with that sprint field. He'll be hard-pressed to get even one. He isn't exactly a prolific winner except when it comes to the smaller French races.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Re: Re:

Contador to win a stage and GC.
Demare to win 3 stages.
Valverde to win stage and finish 2nd.

No way Démare wins 3 stages with that sprint field. He'll be hard-pressed to get even one. He isn't exactly a prolific winner except when it comes to the smaller French races.

Don't hate the dream. You just have to believe.
Plus he will be going against Bouhanni so that always helps him.

 

[The Hegelian]

Great to see such a high quality field. Whoever wins it will have to earn it. I think Porte, with Bardet and Contador to podium. Be very interesting to see how Zakarin, Yates and Kruijswijk go ~ prelude to bigger battles in the Giro. Is it just me or is there an abundance of GC talent at the moment?

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Contador to win a stage and GC.
Demare to win 3 stages.
Valverde to win stage and finish 2nd.

No way Démare wins 3 stages with that sprint field. He'll be hard-pressed to get even one. He isn't exactly a prolific winner except when it comes to the smaller French races.

Don't hate the dream. You just have to believe.
Plus he will be going against Bouhanni so that always helps him.

Well, I'll always be for Bouhanni in that matchup. Actually, I prefer Coquard as well but good luck to your boy nonetheless!

 

[Max Rockatansky]

In the past five years, four future Sanremo winners (Demare, Degenkolb, Kristoff and Gerrans) rode here. Is the Sanremo winner once again in this field? All four past winners are starting here as well.

 

[staubsauger]

In the past five years, four future Sanremo winners (Demare, Degenkolb, Kristoff and Gerrans) rode here. Is the Sanremo winner once again in this field? All four past winners are starting here as well.

Gaviria races T-A instead!

 

[Netserk]

Haven't you heard? Sagan will win with a solo attack from Poggio

 

[sQiD]

Re:

Haven't you heard? Sagan will win with a solo attack from Poggio

Where did you here it ? Peter never has a plan in advance.

I share the same opinion with Max Rockatansky. I think Peter should ride Paris Nice instead of Tirreno and have more time to rest before MSR. The winner is the one who'll have the fresher legs.

 

[Lexman]

given the stages and a real sprinters fest the first days I hope TA starts soon or we can forward to the last stages immediately of PN

1. Contador
2. Zakarin
3. Valverde
4. Porte
5. Bardet

 

[Alexandre B.]

Elissonde replaces Poels.

Op updated.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Elissonde replaces Poels.

Op updated.

Great news, if there's one rider I'll never get to like its Poels. Maybe apart from the rider, as LS put it, who would wheelsuck the crap out of a regional Aussie crit in order to win.

Edit: Most important, obviously, is the fact that Henao now will be undisputed leader. Very deserved.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Elissonde replaces Poels.

Op updated.

Great news, if there's one rider I'll never get to like its Poels. Maybe apart from the rider, as LS put it, who would wheelsuck the crap out of a regional Aussie crit in order to win.

Edit: Most important, obviously, is the fact that Henao now will be undisputed leader. Very deserved.

Good point re. Henao. He looks very dangerous, with a strong team and with his potential to grab bonus seconds, he is a definite threat. Possibly could have won last year as well if he didn't have to babysit Thomas.

Haven't seen much mention of Izagirre in this thread, he's dangerous as well I think. Apparently he didn't suffer much from the crash in Andalucia so should be pretty fresh and he was already going well there, climbing with the best. TT looks very good for him, but weak team may make it tough to defend a lead in the mountains

 

[DBotero]

Poels have some injury and he doesn't want to risk.Too bad as he was targeting this race and Suisse this year.
Now Henao has a free rein
Porte should be the main favorite but i think Valverde is very interested about this race considering he skipped Strade Bianche for it.

 

[Lexman]

Poels replaced by Ellisonde :

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/1.2906340

which one shall Kirby chose : Reichenbach or Ellisonde?

 

[GraftPunk]

Re:

Poels replaced by Ellisonde :

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/1.2906340

which one shall Kirby chose : Reichenbach or Ellisonde?

I think he just likes the way Reichenbach rolls off of his tongue.His seeming obsession can be strange and off-putting at times.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Elissonde replaces Poels.

Op updated.

Great news, if there's one rider I'll never get to like its Poels. Maybe apart from the rider, as LS put it, who would wheelsuck the crap out of a regional Aussie crit in order to win.

Edit: Most important, obviously, is the fact that Henao now will be undisputed leader. Very deserved.

Good point re. Henao. He looks very dangerous, with a strong team and with his potential to grab bonus seconds, he is a definite threat. Possibly could have won last year as well if he didn't have to babysit Thomas.

Haven't seen much mention of Izagirre in this thread, he's dangerous as well I think. Apparently he didn't suffer much from the crash in Andalucia so should be pretty fresh and he was already going well there, climbing with the best. TT looks very good for him, but weak team may make it tough to defend a lead in the mountains

Yeah, who knows. He was really strong last year! He will at least be as strong this year, he should also be very motivated when he is the designated leader with Poels gone. Heres the hope of him not crashing or held back from clinic suspicion - I still think he has one level more that we haven't seen yet due to that stuff. This year could be his season.

 

[portugal11]

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