Paris-Nice 2023, March 5-12

[Bertram Wooster]

I also liked this format. It makes a TTT more tactical and less boring.
It would be nice to see what happens if a hill was included.

UAE did well. I expected them to lose 30"-40".

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogi, Vinge and Yates to take off and distance the rest. It's only a question of gaps: I'm definitely expecting bigger gaps behind the top3 than within it (they can finish together). Pogi to win the stage.

 

[Bolder]

Kudos for trying new things, minor races are for sure the place to try them out - but what is the point of having a TTT if you're going to make it like an ITT? Why not just have a ITT or if you're really bothered about GC implications, have a short one.

I suppose next year they'll try experimenting with having a ITT but one where they start with their teammates...

It was somewhat different than an ITT, in that a train of riders is still going to offer huge efficiency advantages, so add in the strategy of WHEN to let your protected rider sprint for home and you have a lot of calculations to make. So that involves the team more than an ITT, but marginally less than a traditional TTT. That's what made it interesting to me.

It was worth trying and seemed to offset some of the disadvantages of a traditional "top 4 across the line" TTT, which is that teams that take it seriously had a huge advantage over those that didn't, so some GC hopefuls would lose minutes bc they had a weak/untrained team.

 

[Lequack]

Climb profile

 

[Red Rick]

I think it's a bit of a question whether Pogacar waits for the sprint or goes hard halfway.

I do lean towards him launching half way. That penultimate km is enough recovery to never lose a sprint to Vingegaard or Yates even if he does pull.

 

[Monsi]

I think it's a bit of a question whether Pogacar waits for the sprint or goes hard halfway.

I do lean towards him launching half way. That penultimate km is enough recovery to never lose a sprint to Vingegaard or Yates even if he does pull.

I can see Pogacar testing Jonas and the other rivals with an attack or two to split the group and to know how his rivals' legs are looking. I do think it will end in a sprint between Pogacar, Jonas, Yates, and maybe Gaudu and Martinez, with Pogacar winning the sprint. I read that it will be a tailwind on the climb so there might be more attacks.

 

[search]

it looked like Pogacar had to invest quite a bit more than Vingegaard yesterday, and with the strong crosswinds, I think this is also going ot be the case today. He still remains the favourite of course, but the circumstances for Vingegaard to beat him aren't too bad.

 

[Netserk]

Vingegaard mentioned the potential of crosswinds during tomorrow's stage - and it looks like he's right, going by the current forecast.

Around Cérilly and Le Montet are the most windy parts.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

35 km/h - the potential is there.

 

[wansteadimp]

I agree, the first over the line rule is a real improvement. Maybe they should use it in mass start stages to really improve the fairness.

Now you're just trolling the Ewan and Lotto fans!

 

[CyclistAbi]

Cycling is a conservative sport, so I think it's sometimes healthy to consider the hypothetical scenario that a change happens in reverse of what is the case, if you want to really assess whether a change is good or bad instead of just falling into the automatic "all change is bad" mantra that prevails in our sport.

This.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Matthews is waiting for an apology from Van Hooydonck: "It was certainly not okay"

Matthews wacht op excuses van Van Hooydonck: "Het was zeker niet oké"

Michael Matthews is van mening dat Nathan Van Hooydonck zijn excuses moet aanbieden voor zijn actie in de finale van de tweede etappe van Parijs-Nice. De renner van Jumbo-Visma leek een stevige beuk uit te delen aan de Australiër. Van Hooydonck reageerde al dat hem geen enkele blaam trof, maar...

www.wielerflits.nl

I think he might be waiting for a while.

They should do it ASAP. Mainly due to having some self respect. As if they don't then next time it's likely their turn. To hit the deck.

P.S. The mob enjoining it.

 

[Earns1985]

Seems like a nervous start, no breakaway yet..

 

[Netserk]

They are past Cérilly.

Domestique

@Domestique___


#ParisNice - 129 KM The leading group: Calmejane Ballerstedt Skaarseth Eenkhoorn Warbasse Houle Gregaard The peloton is 1' behind. #DomestiqueLive


1:29 pm · 8 Mar 2023

 

[Tim Cahill]

PCS showing 12 riders including Pogacar/Vinge/Cort with a small gap of 10s in the wind

Edit: gap now 25s?!

 

[Nick2413]

Up to 25 seconds now.. too bad it’s not a bigger group.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Up to 25 seconds now.. too bad it’s not a bigger group.

four jumbo and 3 fdj.. will they want to do all the work just for pog to beat them though?

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

answer no. all back together again...nervous times.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

audience today must be in a 2023 hi..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1633429023559745536

View: https://twitter.com/MRasmussen1974/status/1633429023559745536

 

[Earns1985]

Question is:
Will UAE already catch the break before the bonus sprint?

 

[BR2]

It's boring. Teddy go, attack.

 

[Didinho]

Matthews for the boni seconds lol.
Pogi 2sec closer.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Pogačar: You always need to attack after the bonus sprint. It makes perfect sense.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Matthews for the boni seconds lol

He's helping a good friend while putting pressure on the JBV guy who was rude. It serves him.

 

[DNP-Old]

Vingegaard had to chase for 0.2 seconds and immediately starting looking behind where his team was.