Paris-Nice 2017, 5th-12th March

[Netserk]

It's his (Alaphilippe) twitter handle, afaik.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I got the feeling it was more about Alafpolak's nerves than about his shape to be honest. He was dropped way too soon based on his prior climbing performances.

Alafpolak? What is that about?

It's his twitter name, no idea what the idea behind it is though

 

[Red Rick]

Alaphilippe will hopefully win a truckload in big one day races. Not being a high mountain goat is nothing to be ashamed about.

 

[klintE]

I'm expecting doubles:
SKYBMC vs QSTREK

 

[kingjr]

Re: Re:

I got the feeling it was more about Alafpolak's nerves than about his shape to be honest. He was dropped way too soon based on his prior climbing performances.

Alafpolak? What is that about?

It's his twitter name, no idea what the idea behind it is though

It's obviously a reference to the great German sprinter Olaf Pollack.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

I'm expecting doubles:
SKYBMC vs QSTREK

What's in it for BMC? I doubt Porte can win this stage... Trek and QS will be on the opposite sides, I think. Alaphilippe should attack hard, the way I see it, and early, to put pressure on Trek and Sky. Dan Martin will wait and follow moves, and if everything is up together at the end he could very well win the stage. I doubt he can drop Henao on this stage, and even if he does, Contador will leave him in the dust. Of course if Henao is under pressure and forced to work himself, than it opens up an opportunity.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I'm expecting doubles:
SKYBMC vs QSTREK

What's in it for BMC? I doubt Porte can win this stage... Trek and QS will be on the opposite sides, I think. Alaphilippe should attack hard, the way I see it, and early, to put pressure on Trek and Sky. Dan Martin will wait and follow moves, and if everything is up together at the end he could very well win the stage. I doubt he can drop Henao on this stage, and even if he does, Contador will leave him in the dust. Of course if Henao is under pressure and forced to work himself, than it opens up an opportunity.

I'm not sure what QS will do. On one hand, I highly doubt they'll risk their podium position, in which case they'll likely chase down any attempts by Contador. On the other hand, Dan Martin should outsprint Contador 10 times out of 10 so working with Contador could work out in their advantage. It would be a different story if Contador was 1 second ahead of Martin. This would be the smartest tactic for QS because they could win the stage and GC, but I don't have much faith in them making the right decision.
Of course, it's definitely possible that Contador drops Martin on the way down to Nice in which case Martin will either still finish 2nd or drop down to 3rd, depending on where Henao finishes. I don't see Contador dropping Martin on Eze.
I know some people see Porte as a potential ally for Contador but I don't think so. If Porte gets away with Contador, he'll only suck his wheel in the hopes of outsprinting him at the finish. The only reason Porte worked with Contador against Sky last year was to secure a podium position.

 

[Red Rick]

http://www.rtvoost.nl/sport/default.aspx?nid=264662&cat=790

After Kruijswijk abandonded, Bram Tankink is team leader, for the first time in 17 years. His preferred tactic: make up the results, abandon and lie on the beach.

https://twitter.com/bramtankink/status/840510179535966208

 

[rick james]

Re:

Alaphilippe will hopefully win a truckload in big one day races. Not being a high mountain goat is nothing to be ashamed about.

totally agree

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re:

Alaphilippe will hopefully win a truckload in big one day races. Not being a high mountain goat is nothing to be ashamed about.

Maybe one day if he goes to Sky and turns into a skeleton!

 

[rick james]

Re: Re:

Alaphilippe will hopefully win a truckload in big one day races. Not being a high mountain goat is nothing to be ashamed about.

Maybe one day if he goes to Sky and turns into a skeleton!

LOL sky obsession

 

[frisenfruitig]

Strong dislike would be more accurate

 

[janraaskalt3]

Re: Re:

I got the feeling it was more about Alafpolak's nerves than about his shape to be honest. He was dropped way too soon based on his prior climbing performances.

Alafpolak? What is that about?

Join Twitter. It's Alaphillippe's account name.

 

[frisenfruitig]

I wish they would just broadcast the entire stage, it's just 115 km anyway

 

[miha-]

Re:

I wish they would just broadcast the entire stage, it's just 115 km anyway

hi

when does the first broadcast starts?

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

I wish they would just broadcast the entire stage, it's just 115 km anyway

hi

when does the first broadcast starts?

Not for another 1 hr 45 here

 

[Netserk]

J. Herrada Lopez
A. Jeannesson
L. Calmejane
M. Woods

In front on Levens.

Edward Theuns (Trek) tried to get away earlier together with Adam Hansen.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I'm expecting doubles:
SKYBMC vs QSTREK

What's in it for BMC? I doubt Porte can win this stage... Trek and QS will be on the opposite sides, I think. Alaphilippe should attack hard, the way I see it, and early, to put pressure on Trek and Sky. Dan Martin will wait and follow moves, and if everything is up together at the end he could very well win the stage. I doubt he can drop Henao on this stage, and even if he does, Contador will leave him in the dust. Of course if Henao is under pressure and forced to work himself, than it opens up an opportunity.

I'm not sure what QS will do. On one hand, I highly doubt they'll risk their podium position, in which case they'll likely chase down any attempts by Contador. On the other hand, Dan Martin should outsprint Contador 10 times out of 10 so working with Contador could work out in their advantage. It would be a different story if Contador was 1 second ahead of Martin. This would be the smartest tactic for QS because they could win the stage and GC, but I don't have much faith in them making the right decision.
Of course, it's definitely possible that Contador drops Martin on the way down to Nice in which case Martin will either still finish 2nd or drop down to 3rd, depending on where Henao finishes. I don't see Contador dropping Martin on Eze.
I know some people see Porte as a potential ally for Contador but I don't think so. If Porte gets away with Contador, he'll only suck his wheel in the hopes of outsprinting him at the finish. The only reason Porte worked with Contador against Sky last year was to secure a podium position.

Porte will race for his own interests. If that means he will work together with Contador for a stage win if Martin and Henao are dropped he will obviously do that, thats how it usually work. Thats in both best interests, they would be stupid not to do that in that scenario. All Contador needs to do is basically promise Porte the stagewin.Well, first he needs to drop the rest, but Porte could become an insanely good ally as he has shown to be the best climber in the race so far.

 

[Netserk]

Woods dropped.

Cannondale is useless.

 

[Arredondo]

Woods has really stagnated after his good showing in DU some years ago. Of he's even declining.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

I wish they would just broadcast the entire stage, it's just 115 km anyway

hi

when does the first broadcast starts?

Not sure, waiting for Sporza to start their livestream but they haven't even announced when they will start broadcasting -_-

 

[roundabout]

Re:

Woods has really stagnated after his good showing in DU some years ago. Of he's even declining.

It was 14 months ago.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: Re:

Woods has really stagnated after his good showing in DU some years ago. Of he's even declining.

It was 14 months ago.

And after that he was 12th in Flèche Wallonne and 2nd in Milano-Torino. Really a decline.

 

[Netserk]

Huge break (22+2), no Trek riders.

De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), De la Cruz (Quick Step), De Marchi (BMC), Colbrelli (Bahrain), Frank, Domont (Ag2R) , Herrada, Soler, Sutherland (Moivstar), Woods, Slagter (Cannondale), Lutsenko (Astana), Edet (Cofidis), Matthews (Sunweb), Ulissi, Petillil (UAE), Pauwels (Dimension Data), Mendes (Bora), Calmejane, Chavanel (Direct Energie), Jeannesson, Perichon (Fortuneo), El Fares, Pacher (Delko-Marseille)

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think the break will win. Looks like a very good stage for Ulissi