Paris-Nice 2017, 5th-12th March

[rhubroma]

Alien cycling again.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

GC

 

[sir fly]

Izaguirre, more than others, looks to me like a rival for Alaphilippe, considering the final stage.
QS looking strong, though.

 

[DNP-Old]

Surely Henao and especially Contador will have to start creating havoc on the penultimate climb on Saturday.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Alien cycling again.

Spot on!

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Surely Henao and especially Contador will have to start creating havoc on the penultimate climb on Saturday.

No. That really isn't sensible. Better to save what they have for the final climb and then go kamikaze on Sunday.

 

[dacooley]

alaphilippe seems to be improving his climbing even in comparison with last year's dauphine where he's already climbed quite decently, so bertie, henao and zaka should deliver something really forceful to crack him on saturday.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This is the perfect situation for a good race now, 3 hard days, some good spreading in the GC and Contador a fair amount down on a bunch of worse climbers. This is going to be goooood!

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

Surely Henao and especially Contador will have to start creating havoc on the penultimate climb on Saturday.

No. That really isn't sensible. Better to save what they have for the final climb and then go kamikaze on Sunday.

Is that stage hard enough to crack Alaphilippe though? I can see him gain some more time in the Fayence stage.

 

[shalgo]

[deleted]

 

[barmaher]

FDJ have really taken a step up in the last two years. Very notable.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Surely Henao and especially Contador will have to start creating havoc on the penultimate climb on Saturday.

No. That really isn't sensible. Better to save what they have for the final climb and then go kamikaze on Sunday.

Is that stage hard enough to crack Alaphilippe though? I can see him gain some more time in the Fayence stage.

With this shape Alaphilippe is going to trash the others in Fayence

 

[King Boonen]

20 years since a Frenchman won the GC at Paris-Nice. Would be great to see him take it.

 

[SKSemtex]

Great win for a great rider.
No way he will loose this time to Contador.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

This guy could very well challenge Sean Kelly for most overall victories in Paris - Nice. What a rider.

What the f...! Let him win his first, it's not a done deal, far from it...

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Surely Henao and especially Contador will have to start creating havoc on the penultimate climb on Saturday.

No. That really isn't sensible. Better to save what they have for the final climb and then go kamikaze on Sunday.

Is that stage hard enough to crack Alaphilippe though? I can see him gain some more time in the Fayence stage.

Nah, but it's the best chance they have.

 

[Red Rick]

Alaphillipe doesnt have a great climving team, but if they go on the penultomate climb saturday all dem 9th place defemders will be after them too

 

[Der Effe]

Re: Re:

When did he learn to TT that well?

You don't have to be amazing at TT's to perform well at a climbing TT like this if you are a good climber.

He was the fastest on the flat part as well

That's true, but it was a very short TT. If you look at the top 10 they are pretty much all guys that are excellent climbers.

Alaphilippe is such an amazing rider, too bad he rides for the most horrible team in cycling. But even considering that it's impossible to say anything bad about him and the greatness he is destined for.

French cycling is gonna own so hard the next couple of years.

Why is QST the most horrible team in cycling?

Lefevre and the entitlement he showcases. A few of his riders, with Terpstra being the most annoying one by far, show the same behaviour, unfortunately.

 

[sQiD]

I think it will be dificult to beat an extra motivated Julian. In last year's TOC he resisted to time trialists, now he will do the same and resist to climbers.
Does he have a thread ?

 

[hfer07]

Alaphilippe really impressive!! actually the parcour really suited him!! Contador did well despite being a mere 15K TT, but -damn! he should be frustrated with runner up

Alaphilippe has taken a great step towards the overall GC

 

[rghysens]

lol at QS: 4 riders in the top 15 of the stage, 5 in the top 20.

 

[Escarabajo]

Well QS was already good in the first stage. So good TT was expected. Alaphilippe have looked strong since day one. It will be difficult to crack. But it makes for a nice weekend of racing.

 

[Breh]

Re:

Alaphillipe doesnt have a great climving team, but if they go on the penultomate climb saturday all dem 9th place defemders will be after them too

Kind of a weird thing to say when they have 5riders in the first 20 on a TT like this.

Especially Martin and De La Cruz are more than decent climbers.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

Lefevre and the entitlement he showcases. A few of his riders, with Terpstra being the most annoying one by far, show the same behaviour, unfortunately.

Oh, yeah I agree that Lefevre is an arrogant *** and I'm not a fan of Terpstra either. I can't really think of any other riders I dislike except for Terpstra though. They have a lot of cool guys too like Boonen, Keisse, Trentin, Alaphilippe, Martin etc.

 

[Velolover2]

Alaphilippe = the new Valverde?

He is more than just a puncheur. Could be a great GC rider.