Paris - Nice 2020, March 8 - March 15

[Lequack]

Yeah screw this. The new top competitor list:

 

[Alexandre B.]

Non-MPCC teams really don't want to be tested more than usual.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Indeed:

Coronavirus: Jumbo-Visma announce withdrawal from Paris-Nice

Dutch team become seventh WorldTour squad to pull out of the French race

www.cyclingnews.com

P.S. I guess the race can still happen, but now it is likely more or less over, before it even started.

 

[Lequack]

I guess Nairo won't have to go all Quintana to win this one now.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Admittedly TJV and Roglič out, the race just lost like 70% of the appeal to me.

P.S. If it will still happen, hats off to the fear fighters squad.

 

[Lequack]

Admittedly TJV and Roglič out, the race just lost like 70% of the appeal to me.

P.S. If it will still happen, hats off to the fear fighters squad.

Yes both Kruijswik and Dumoulin had to delay their season. And now also Roglic it seems.

 

[BlueRoads]

It still sounds like a great startlist to me. Would like to see it.

 

[Pantani_lives]

I think I've got the flu.

 

[Gigs_98]

I wonder who it who watched this race in the last few years and thought, "I think we have a good formula here, the race design just needs some minor tweaks... the final stage clearly has to change"

 

[Rollthedice]

Trek to ride, Nibali leader, LRP gregario.

 

[Son of Amsterhammer]

Still should be good. just not as good.

 

[Pantani_lives]

New list of favourites:

****Alaphilippe, Quintana
***Pinot, Nibali
**Schachmann, Woods, Porte, Bardet
*Bilbao, Jungels, Higuita, Van Garderen, Kreuziger, Barguil

 

[Salvarani]

Ala dont seem to be in the same form he had last year, right now, so I dont consider him top favorite.

I would have

**** Quintana
*** Higuita, Schachmann
** Nibali, Pinot, Bardet, Porte, Ala
* The rest of them.

 

[geisterhome]

The profile isn't blowing me away, the medium mtn. stages for the most part probably wont be smth for the GC guys and climbers. The mtn. finish is tough but not super tough. Looking forward to Catalunya...

Paris Nice I feel could be a bit tougher, 20 years ago when the stars were still far from top shape this early in the season this would have been great.

I would add Schachmann to the ***Category.



EDIT:

New list of favourites:

****Alaphilippe, Quintana
***Pinot, Nibali
**Schachmann, Woods, Porte, Bardet
*Bilbao, Jungels, Higuita, Van Garderen, Kreuziger, Barguil

Ala dont seem to be in the same form he had last year, right now, so I dont consider him top favorite.

I would have

**** Quintana
*** Higuita, Schachmann
** Nibali, Pinot, Bardet, Porte, Ala
* The rest of them.

Didn't see those, seems your guys agree with me on the Schachmann part.

 

[hayneplane]

I like the chances of Higuita on this parcours with the competition.

Nairo is clearly the form rider but may not have enough helpful terrain to play to his strengths.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Sunweb (like DQ) also changed their Paris-Nice line up, to accommodate the riders focused on the spring classics.

The new line up (of 8) is:

Soeren Kragh Andersen
Nikias Arndt
Tiesj Benoot
Cees Bol
Nico Denz
Nils Eekhoff
Chris Hamilton
Michael Matthews

 

[BlueRoads]

My imaginary money is on Schachmann and Higuita for this.

 

[Brumdog66]

Alaphillipe should be big favourite for this imo, should take time on everyone in the time trial and don’t think the summit finish is hard enough for anyone to put big time into him

 

[tobydawq]

Alaphillipe should be big favourite for this imo, should take time on everyone in the time trial and don’t think the summit finish is hard enough for anyone to put big time into him

The problem is that he's not in shape.

 

[Red Rick]

The problem is that he's not in shape.

He's only ever been in a climbing shape to compete on a MTF like this one week in his entire career.

 

[Brumdog66]

The problem is that he's not in shape.

Think it’s difficult to gauge his shape at this point (he was decent in Colombia) and the Turini last year was much harder than Colmiane if you look at the results from 2018

 

[RedheadDane]

DAY-1 NEWS - Paris-Nice 2025

* In the special context of the protection against the propagation of the coronavirus, a series of measures have been taken to protect the riders and staff i

www.paris-nice.fr

The organisers of Paris-Nice are strictly following the regulations imposed by the French health authorities regarding the Covid-19 virus. But in agreement with the teams who accepted to race in Paris-Nice, making it possible for the race to go ahead and in addition to the usual hygiene measures put in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the 78th edition of Paris-Nice will be introducing its own measures during the event. The gate system will be reinforced. Speakers will not be interviewing the riders on the podium at the start and riders will be asked to say in their buses as long as possible. At the end of each stage, no press conference will be held. There will be no contact between the riders and public figures on the podium at the finish line. The organisers also changed the team accommodation to make sure no more than two teams are staying in the same hotel simultaneously. During the race, riders are asked not to throw their bottles away and are advised to avoid handshakes. A special ambulance, dedicated to potential coronavirus cases, will also follow the race each day.

 

[Faserr]

It will be windy in the first stages. Should be strong enough for echelons. It will be a nervous race.

 

[Laplaz]

New list of favourites:

****Alaphilippe, Quintana
***Pinot, Nibali
**Schachmann, Woods, Porte, Bardet
*Bilbao, Jungels, Higuita, Van Garderen, Kreuziger, Barguil

You forgot Teuns. 3 stars for him imo. He is in good shape and the route suits him.

 

[Anderis]

I wouldn't underestimate Kangert. He was very strong in small races in France recently and with ITT in mind, EF shouldn't sacrifice him for Woods or Higuita unless absolutely necessary.