Paris - Nice 2020, March 8 - March 15

[Lequack]

Latest update on Sam Bennet:
One of the main favourites on what was going to be the first bunch sprint of this year’s Paris-Nice, Bennett was up there in the tense and aggressive finale, but that incident stopped him from fighting for the win. After the stage, Sam was examined by the Deceuninck – Quick-Step medical staff, and fortunately, it was soon revealed that he hadn’t sustained any fractures, just a gash in one of his right hand fingers, which required four stitches.

“I lost some skin and needed those stitches, because when I went into the barrier, I hit the metal part, but luckily, everything else seems pretty ok. In the beginning, as I was lying on the road, there was a bit of shock, as I had no idea how serious it was, but it’s a good thing nothing is broken. I will continue the race and start Wednesday’s individual time trial. I’m quite happy it will be a short stage tomorrow and I hope things will turn around for me at some point”, a confident Bennett said at the team hotel.

Bad luck for Bennett in Paris-Nice | Deceuninck - Quick-Step Cycling team

The Irish Champion couldn’t contest the bunch sprint at the end of the long stage 3, after a rider crashed into him on the run-in to the line.

www.deceuninck-quickstep.com

 

[Broccolidwarf]

That was an odd lead out for DQ.

Anyone know why Moerkoev and Lampaert suddenly both eased up, with 600 meters to the line, and left Bennett to himself?

Either they were making a statement to him (internal trouble? ) - or he has said he prefers not getting a real lead out, the final 600 meters, because that seemed completely weird?

 

[BlueRoads]

That was an odd lead out for DQ.

Anyone know why Moerkoev and Lampaert suddenly both eased up, with 600 meters to the line, and left Bennett to himself?

Either they were making a statement to him (internal trouble? ) - or he has said he prefers not getting a real lead out, the final 600 meters, because that seemed completely weird?

Maybe they thought what I thought - that Bennett is better at looking after himself in a finale than at following Morkov - but the way it ended didn't exactly prove that...

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1237413610751692801

View: https://twitter.com/daanvandenberg/status/1237413610751692801


QS was riding really reckless today. One example

Sam Bennet got fined 800 Swiss francs and 40 points for that, as if the fall wasn't enough.

 

[Rollthedice]

ITT profile tomorrow:

 

[Vroome.exe]

Maybe they thought what I thought - that Bennett is better at looking after himself in a finale than at following Morkov - but the way it ended didn't exactly prove that...

Or Morkov was just empty and couldn't do a proper leadout, so he didn't want to hold Bennett up.

 

[Flamin]

That was an odd lead out for DQ.

Anyone know why Moerkoev and Lampaert suddenly both eased up, with 600 meters to the line, and left Bennett to himself?

Either they were making a statement to him (internal trouble? ) - or he has said he prefers not getting a real lead out, the final 600 meters, because that seemed completely weird?

Because they were done. Lampaert did his thing and Morkov wasn't able to deliver a proper lead-out in UAE either.

Edit: beaten to it.

 

[jaylew]

Latest update on Sam Bennet:
One of the main favourites on what was going to be the first bunch sprint of this year’s Paris-Nice, Bennett was up there in the tense and aggressive finale, but that incident stopped him from fighting for the win. After the stage, Sam was examined by the Deceuninck – Quick-Step medical staff, and fortunately, it was soon revealed that he hadn’t sustained any fractures, just a gash in one of his right hand fingers, which required four stitches.

“I lost some skin and needed those stitches, because when I went into the barrier, I hit the metal part, but luckily, everything else seems pretty ok. In the beginning, as I was lying on the road, there was a bit of shock, as I had no idea how serious it was, but it’s a good thing nothing is broken. I will continue the race and start Wednesday’s individual time trial. I’m quite happy it will be a short stage tomorrow and I hope things will turn around for me at some point”, a confident Bennett said at the team hotel.

Bad luck for Bennett in Paris-Nice | Deceuninck - Quick-Step Cycling team

The Irish Champion couldn’t contest the bunch sprint at the end of the long stage 3, after a rider crashed into him on the run-in to the line.

www.deceuninck-quickstep.com

Karma? Anyway, inexcusable behavior from Bennett. The fine was well deserved.

 

[Bonimenier]

That was an odd lead out for DQ.

Anyone know why Moerkoev and Lampaert suddenly both eased up, with 600 meters to the line, and left Bennett to himself?

Either they were making a statement to him (internal trouble? ) - or he has said he prefers not getting a real lead out, the final 600 meters, because that seemed completely weird?

Probably a combination of them being empty and seeing Ewan and his leadout pass them so they figured Bennett could take Ewans wheel, which he did.

 

[BlueRoads]

So, what do you expect for tomorrow?

 

[Lequack]

So, what do you expect for tomorrow?

Victor Campenaerts wins of course.

 

[Bonimenier]

I also think Campenaerts is favourite for tomorrow. Kung and a bunch of DQS riders should be his biggest rivals.

 

[Velolover2]

I don't think a specialist will win it.

The yellow jersey to take another stage.

 

[Joelsim]

Well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1237494134648102912

View: https://twitter.com/Vaughters/status/1237494134648102912?s=20

 

[Escarabajo]

Well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1237494134648102912

View: https://twitter.com/Vaughters/status/1237494134648102912?s=20

He shouldn't have put the pressure on Higuita before the stage. I guess everyone has their own method.

 

[Joelsim]

I’m not sure he has put the pressure on him with this tweet. He isn’t expected to do anything anyway by most people, so he hasn’t really got too much to lose.

 

[sir fly]

He shouldn't have put the pressure on Higuita before the stage. I guess everyone has their own method.

If they communicate through Twitter, then there's probably a bigger issue than eventual pressure.

1	13:38:00	113	JONATHAN HIVERT	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
2	13:39:00	15	DANIEL MCLAY	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
3	13:40:00	167	KEVIN REZA	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
4	13:41:00	153	TOM DEVRIENDT	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
5	13:42:00	127	BEN O'CONNOR	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
6	13:43:00	141	JULIEN EL FARES	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
7	13:44:00	115	JULIEN SIMON	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
8	13:45:00	124	MICHAEL GOGL	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
9	13:46:00	128	MAXIMILIAN WALSCHEID	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
10	13:47:00	156	BOY VAN POPPEL	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
11	13:48:00	5	RYAN MULLEN	TREK - SEGAFREDO
12	13:49:00	163	CYRIL BARTHE	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
13	13:50:00	114	ADRIEN PETIT	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
14	13:51:00	38	MICHAEL SCHWARZMANN	BORA - HANSGROHE
15	13:52:00	54	ALEXIS GOUGEARD	AG2R LA MONDIALE
16	13:53:00	55	PIERRE LATOUR	AG2R LA MONDIALE
17	13:54:00	3	KENNY ELISSONDE	TREK - SEGAFREDO
18	13:55:00	97	CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON	TEAM SUNWEB
19	13:56:00	145	RAMUNAS NAVARDAUSKAS	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
20	13:57:00	58	NANS PETERS	AG2R LA MONDIALE
21	13:58:00	117	ANTHONY TURGIS	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
22	13:59:00	86	DOMEN NOVAK	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
23	14:00:00	143	ROMAIN COMBAUD	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
24	14:01:00	133	JENTHE BIERMANS	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
25	14:02:00	66	CALEB EWAN	LOTTO SOUDAL
26	14:03:00	4	ALEX KIRSCH	TREK - SEGAFREDO
27	14:04:00	2	MADS PEDERSEN	TREK - SEGAFREDO
28	14:05:00	32	PASCAL ACKERMANN	BORA - HANSGROHE
29	14:06:00	161	BRYAN COQUARD	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
30	14:07:00	164	JENS DEBUSSCHERE	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
31	14:08:00	17	DIEGO ROSA	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
32	14:09:00	88	JAN TRATNIK	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
33	14:10:00	68	ROGER KLUGE	LOTTO SOUDAL
34	14:11:00	134	GUILLAUME BOIVIN	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
35	14:12:00	53	BENOIT COSNEFROY	AG2R LA MONDIALE
36	14:13:00	76	ANTHONY PEREZ	COFIDIS
37	14:14:00	107	SEP VANMARCKE	EF PRO CYCLING
38	14:15:00	16	DAYER QUINTANA	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
39	14:16:00	165	CYRIL GAUTIER	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
40	14:17:00	105	TOM SCULLY	EF PRO CYCLING
41	14:18:00	64	THOMAS DE GENDT	LOTTO SOUDAL
42	14:19:00	95	NICO DENZ	TEAM SUNWEB
43	14:20:00	73	NICOLAS EDET	COFIDIS
44	14:21:00	36	JURAJ SAGAN	BORA - HANSGROHE
45	14:22:00	132	RUDY BARBIER	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
46	14:23:00	112	NICCOLÒ BONIFAZIO	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
47	14:24:00	158	PIETER VANSPEYBROUCK	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
48	14:25:00	116	NIKI TERPSTRA	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
49	14:26:00	151	XANDRO MEURISSE	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
50	14:27:00	144	JOSE MANUEL DIAZ GALLEGO	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
51	14:28:00	12	WINNER ANACONA	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
52	14:29:00	62	SANDER ARMEE	LOTTO SOUDAL
53	14:30:00	138	TOM VAN ASBROECK	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
54	14:31:00	118	DRIES VAN GESTEL	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
55	14:32:00	103	G LAWSON CRADDOCK	EF PRO CYCLING
56	14:33:00	166	QUENTIN PACHER	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
57	14:34:00	1	RICHIE PORTE	TREK - SEGAFREDO
58	14:35:00	162	FREDERIK BACKAERT	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
59	14:36:00	44	TIM DECLERCQ	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
60	14:37:00	96	NILS EEKHOFF	TEAM SUNWEB
61	14:38:00	111	LILIAN CALMEJANE	TOTAL DIRECT ENERGIE
62	14:39:00	106	TEJAY VAN GARDEREN	EF PRO CYCLING
63	14:40:00	102	ALBERTO BETTIOL	EF PRO CYCLING
64	14:41:00	83	DAMIANO CARUSO	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
65	14:42:00	71	ELIA VIVIANI	COFIDIS
66	14:43:00	57	AURÉLIEN PARET PEINTRE	AG2R LA MONDIALE
67	14:44:00	146	DUSAN RAJOVIC	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
68	14:45:00	148	JULIEN TRARIEUX	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
69	14:46:00	67	FREDERIK FRISON	LOTTO SOUDAL
70	14:47:00	152	AIME DE GENDT	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
71	14:48:00	33	JEAN-PIERRE DRUCKER	BORA - HANSGROHE
72	14:49:00	87	HERMANN PERNSTEINER	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
73	14:50:00	168	SEBASTIAN SCHÖNBERGER	B&B HOTELS - VITAL CONCEPT P / B KTM
74	14:51:00	78	JULIEN VERMOTE	COFIDIS
75	14:52:00	52	MIKAEL CHEREL	AG2R LA MONDIALE
76	14:53:00	26	TOBIAS LUDVIGSSON	GROUPAMA - FDJ
77	14:54:00	43	SAM BENNETT	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
78	14:55:00	72	PIET ALLEGAERT	COFIDIS
79	14:56:00	28	MARC SARREAU	GROUPAMA - FDJ
80	14:57:00	108	MICHAEL WOODS	EF PRO CYCLING
81	14:58:00	126	ROMAN KREUZIGER	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
82	14:59:00	125	MICHAEL VALGREN HUNDAHL	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
83	15:00:00	123	RYAN GIBBONS	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
84	15:01:00	47	MICHAEL MØRKØV	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
85	15:02:00	75	GUILLAUME MARTIN	COFIDIS
86	15:03:00	14	NACER BOUHANNI	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
87	15:04:00	8	EDWARD THEUNS	TREK - SEGAFREDO
88	15:05:00	77	DAMIEN TOUZE	COFIDIS
89	15:06:00	45	BOB JUNGELS	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
90	15:07:00	22	ANTOINE DUCHESNE	GROUPAMA - FDJ
91	15:08:00	85	HEINRICH HAUSSLER	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
92	15:09:00	135	HUGO HOFSTETTER	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
93	15:10:00	24	MATTHIEU LADAGNOUS	GROUPAMA - FDJ
94	15:11:00	122	VICTOR CAMPENAERTS	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
95	15:12:00	46	YVES LAMPAERT	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
96	15:13:00	25	OLIVIER LE GAC	GROUPAMA - FDJ
97	15:14:00	82	PELLO BILBAO LOPEZ DE ARMENTIA	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
98	15:15:00	18	CONNOR SWIFT	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
99	15:16:00	155	ANDREA PASQUALON	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
100	15:17:00	63	JASPER DE BUYST	LOTTO SOUDAL
101	15:18:00	23	STEFAN KÜNG	GROUPAMA - FDJ
102	15:19:00	51	ROMAIN BARDET	AG2R LA MONDIALE
103	15:20:00	147	EVALDAS SISKEVICIUS	NIPPO DELKO PROVENCE
104	15:21:00	74	CYRIL LEMOINE	COFIDIS
105	15:22:00	84	IVAN GARCIA CORTINA	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
106	15:23:00	42	KASPER ASGREEN	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
107	15:24:00	48	ZDENEK ŠTYBAR	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
108	15:25:00	92	NIKIAS ARNDT	TEAM SUNWEB
109	15:26:00	11	NAIRO QUINTANA	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
110	15:27:00	94	CEES BOL	TEAM SUNWEB
111	15:28:00	41	JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE	DECEUNINCK - QUICK - STEP
112	15:29:00	35	PATRICK KONRAD	BORA - HANSGROHE
113	15:30:00	65	JOHN DEGENKOLB	LOTTO SOUDAL
114	15:31:00	91	MICHAEL MATTHEWS	TEAM SUNWEB
115	15:32:00	98	SØREN KRAGH ANDERSEN	TEAM SUNWEB
116	15:33:00	104	TANEL KANGERT	EF PRO CYCLING
117	15:34:00	154	FABIEN DOUBEY	CIRCUS - WANTY GOBERT
118	15:35:00	61	PHILIPPE GILBERT	LOTTO SOUDAL
119	15:37:00	21	THIBAUT PINOT	GROUPAMA - FDJ
120	15:39:00	27	RUDY MOLARD	GROUPAMA - FDJ
121	15:41:00	56	OLIVER NAESEN	AG2R LA MONDIALE
122	15:43:00	93	TIESJ BENOOT	TEAM SUNWEB
123	15:45:00	81	DYLAN TEUNS	BAHRAIN - MCLAREN
124	15:47:00	31	PETER SAGAN	BORA - HANSGROHE
125	15:49:00	6	VINCENZO NIBALI	TREK - SEGAFREDO
126	15:51:00	34	FELIX GROSSSCHARTNER	BORA - HANSGROHE
127	15:53:00	136	KRISTS NEILANDS	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
128	15:55:00	131	NILS POLITT	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
129	15:57:00	101	SERGIO ANDRES HIGUITA GARCIA	EF PRO CYCLING
130	15:59:00	137	MADS SCHMIDT WÜRTZ	ISRAEL START-UP NATION
131	16:01:00	7	JASPER STUYVEN	TREK - SEGAFREDO
132	16:03:00	121	GIACOMO NIZZOLO	NTT PRO CYCLING TEAM
133	16:05:00	37	MAXIMILIAN SCHACHMANN	BORA - HANSGROHE

 

[The Hegelian]

Has anyone else mentioned how much better PN is without TA attracting half the good riders?

 

[sir fly]

Has anyone else mentioned how much better PN is without TA attracting half the good riders?

Well, yes, there is some sense of identity, both between the races and your personal preferences, that meet at the point of value judgment.

 

[jaylew]

Has anyone else mentioned how much better PN is without TA attracting half the good riders?

Can't say I agree with this one, especially since half the good riders are sitting out anyway.

 

[The Hegelian]

Can't say I agree with this one, especially since half the good riders are sitting out anyway.

True!
Maybe it's more that the field at PN has been really poor over the last few years....

 

[Lequack]

So are they testing the riders every day for corona?

 

[Red Rick]

So are they testing the riders every day for corona?

Doubt it.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Has anyone else mentioned how much better PN is without TA attracting half the good riders?

The first days of the race have always been solid these last editions.

 

[Lequack]

Doubt it.

I feel like they might be pressured not to test now.