Paris-Nice 2022 (03/06 - 03/13)

[bajbar]

Wout can rest for the next two days, but he will be needed on Sunday. Kruijswijk is totally off form (plus has had a nasty crash) and Dennis alone will not be able to control stage 8. Tomorrow should be rather easy to control for the "flat" guys and on Saturday Roglič basically just needs to be delivered to the last 5 km.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

We need to talk about tomorrow's finish.

Here's my profile of the final kilometres, it helps clarify where the problems are.

The climb to Lascours and ensuing descent are on a relatively narrow road, only at the roundabout at 2.7 km to go do they return to wider roads. This roundabout is only open on one side, the next two aren't but the right side is shorter each time. Given that the road continues to head slightly downhill here, speeds will be pretty high.

After the final roundabout, they head onto a very sinuous road. One of the bends spits the riders out onto a traffic island which is marked in the roadbook and therefore won't be removed. Then, at 650 (!!) metres from the line, everyone is funneled into a single-lane, near-180-degree turn onto the finishing straight, which runs ever so slightly downhill, crossing the tram tracks at 150 metres from the line.

In other words, it hasn't been designed with a sprint in mind at all when a reduced bunch sprint is a distinct possibility tomorrow, especially as they will be riding into a headwind most of the day. I will therefore happily take a breakaway day here.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just hope Houle makes it to Nice!

#LastManStanding

 

[search]

I just hope Houle makes it to Nice!

#LastManStanding

I actually thought this would be a great day for him to go on the attack even.

But for whatever reason he is 11th in GC.

 

[Wvv]

Franck Bonnamour has impressed me over the last year or so, a quality breakaway rider.

And to know that he suffered a big crash and concussion in his first race this season.
They guy has no pro win yet. Hope that changes this year.

 

[Lequack]

Jasper Philipsen DNS

Meanwhile at IPT, a single rider continues

https://twitter.com/x/status/1502207372500082689

View: https://twitter.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1502207372500082689

 

[search]

and he says he'd still like to try to attack today, despite being up there in GC already

 

[Red Rick]

Trek to control this for Pedersen it seems

 

[Samamba]

Somewhat surprising that we didn't just get a 20 man break and there's a team trying to control this.

 

[search]

Somewhat surprising that we didn't just get a 20 man break and there's a team trying to control this.

definitely, surprised to see that as well. Probably caused by the massive headwind, but the race could still explode later on, either on the big climb, or because of the bonus second battle on that last little bump.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I worry that if there will be snow on Saturday. Rogla might show up in his ski jumping suit.

 

[Gargamel35]

I worry that if there will be snow on Saturday. Rogla might show up in his ski jumping suit.

Why not, eh?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

definitely, surprised to see that as well. Probably caused by the massive headwind, but the race could still explode later on, either on the big climb, or because of the bonus second battle on that last little bump.

I think action on the descent of Espigoulier is more likely than on the climb itself tbh.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It will be interesting to see if Rogla will get isolated on Col de l'Espigoulier.

 

[sir fly]

Cool to see this many spectators.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Seeing Sam Bennett dropped, i remembered having had a dream this week that he wanted to go back to QuickStep.

 

[search]

Seeing Sam Bennett dropped, i remembered having had a dream this week that he wanted to go back to QuickStep.

interesting. I had a dream about Fanta being sold out everywhere instead. I guess I need to watch even more cycling

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Somehow I doubt this section is actually 10%...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

interesting. I had a dream about Fanta being sold out everywhere instead.

People like Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig would call that a nightmare.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

It's a shame that Froome isn't at this race, because if he'd wanted to sprint today, it would have meant that Houle led the Dawg out.

I'll see myself out.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is the first time all season DSM have had any impact on the race, I'd almost forgotten what the jersey looked like...

Although tbh I'm surprised he hasn't been tasked with working for Cees Bol's eighth place in the sprint.

 

[Velolover2]

That little bump at last.. Will Roglic attack or is he saving himself for Turini? There is a sprint bonus at the top and more points at the finish line.

 

[Red Rick]

Destroying everyone on a descent while on the hoods what a chad

 

[Escarabajo]

My heart rate has been up for the last 10 minutes. This is one of the craziest descents that I have seen in my life!!!

 

[johnymax]

That little bump at last.. Will Roglic attack or is he saving himself for Turini? There is a sprint bonus at the top and more points at the finish line.

1,2 km at 6,6% sounds familiar. Jumbo to repeat stage 1 and finish 1, 2, 3 with Rogla, Wout and The Greatest.