Paris - Nice 2021, March 7 - March 14

[happytramp]

Actually that would be sprinting on the tops.... Might be saving that one for tomorrow.

 

[johnymax]

In the provisional results there are quite some gaps from 30th position down. Surely they'll be given same time, I suppose.

 

[Lequack]

So is Bennet just going to win every sprint stage?

 

[Gregor_Slovenia]

Such a bad luck for Richie, ah. But, you can see how cycling dreams are fragile at any moment. Also, take a look at the last km, where FDJ rider went down, Primož Roglič had some luck there, that he did not crash. One bad moment and you are gone. Hope everyone stay safe and we see nice battles in next days.

 

[Breezy1985]

If Sam could begin his post-race interview with "Well, yes . . . " he would sound just like Sean Kelly.

Or just nod for yes and no

 

[Breezy1985]

So is Bennet just going to win every sprint stage?

So is Bennet just going to win every sprint stage?

Its not called Le Championnat des Irlandais for nothing

 

[Lequack]

 

[RedheadDane]

I see Adam has toned down his style significantly since the Giro a few years ago.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Looking at that sprint again, there was actually a very impressive display of sustained power from Demare. I’ve no idea what he thought he was doing putting his face in the wind that far out on an uphill finish, but he opened up his sprint long, long before Ackermann opened up his, kept sprinting while Ackermann sprinted and then kept going after the German ran out of gas and died. Really bad sprinting in terms of positioning and timing, but he must have been holding serious watts for a very long time.

Ackermann by contrast was not impressive in any way. I believe in the guy, he will show that he’s a top sprinter again, but that really wasn’t great. In UAE he looked like he was getting his timing wrong, today he just didn’t look good enough. It may partly be that he’s just less competitive against a Bennett or Demare on an uphill finish than he is in a true flat sprint.

 

[tobydawq]

Looking at that sprint again, there was actually a very impressive display of sustained power from Demare. I’ve no idea what he thought he was doing putting his face in the wind that far out on an uphill finish, but he opened up his sprint long, long before Ackermann opened up his, kept sprinting while Ackermann sprinted and then kept going after the German ran out of gas and died. Really bad sprinting in terms of positioning and timing, but he must have been holding serious watts for a very long time.

Ackermann by contrast was not impressive in any way. I believe in the guy, he will show that he’s a top sprinter again, but that really wasn’t great. In UAE he looked like he was getting his timing wrong, today he just didn’t look good enough. It may partly be that he’s just less competitive against a Bennett or Demare on an uphill finish than he is in a true flat sprint.

What do you think of Pedersen? I am beginning to rate him quite highly. Today, he might have been able to challenge Bennett if Démare hadn't shut the door on him.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

What do you think of Pedersen? I am beginning to rate him quite highly. Today, he might have been able to challenge Bennett if Démare hadn't shut the door on him.

I‘m very impressed with him as a sprinter. With the current crop of freak all rounders (MVDP, WVA, Pidcock..,) it’s easy to overlook just how unusually versatile Pedersen is. He’s a top classics specialist, has ITT wins as a pro and having decided to take up sprinting he’s almost immediately able to compete with top professional sprinters.

He‘s fast. There’s a relatively small sample of sprints to draw conclusions from, but I suspect that he doesn’t have the acceleration of a Ewan, Bennett or Groenewegen and will be more like a Demare or younger Kristoff in style. Its also remarkable that he seems to mostly make good decisions. He’s racing against guys who have been specialists since they were espoirs or even juniors and he already seems to have a better split-second tactical brain than some of them.

I don’t think he will win a bunch sprint here against all of Bennett, Demare, Ackermann and a bucketload of slightly lower tier guys. But it wouldn’t be a real shock if he did, which is notable in its own way given that nobody thought of him as a sprinter until very recently.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

They should ask me! They could label me as "can point out Nice on a map".

 

[gregrowlerson]

They should ask me! They could label me as "can point out Nice on a map".

I could point out my understanding that it's pronounced differently to "nice guys finish last", although in this case with Richie I suppose it is one and the same.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I could point out my understanding that it's pronounced differently to "nice guys finish last", although in this case with Richie I suppose it is one and the same.

"Expert Nice pronounciator". Boom, done. We can start our own show!

 

[tobydawq]

They should ask me! They could label me as "can point out Nice on a map".

Or me. "Nice guy".

 

[gregrowlerson]

Or me. "Nice guy".

He's a dawg of a guy. But he's a dawq of a guy.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Red Rick]

Spoiler: Can't beat the BBC tho

Can't beat BBC tbh

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Today’s sacrificial lambs are Armee and De Bondt. Peloton pedalling as soft as they can

 

[Bonimenier]

There were echelons for a little bit. Most notable name in the 2nd echelon was Kruijswijk. Everything back together now, including the early breakaway.

 

[sir fly]

Fine roads and fields for the echelons, but the wind just doesn't make the cut.

 

[MartinGT]

Good news on LRP nothing major.

 

[MartinGT]

Fine roads and fields for the echelons, but the wind just doesn't make the cut.

I am gutted lol. The riders are nipping though.

 

[MartinGT]

SPLITS!!!!

 

[MartinGT]

They'll come back I think.