Paris-Nice 2023, March 5-12

[perico]

Could definitely see him on Jumbo next year.

I’d barf. He’s got the opportunity to be the clear #2 at Movistar opposed to the guy in front of Sepp Kuss in the Jumbo mtn train.

 

[Netserk]

 

[Didinho]

I'm gonna ride the last 2h of this stage now, loved the scenery!

Sidenote: I'll be riding indoors at home, watching out my window.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Even a sprinter stage would have been more exciting than this one. Unless you're a fan of Arabia/Slovenia of course.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

...if Gregaard finishes within the time cut. He went really deep early on today

8:30 behind, no problem.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Jorgenson out of contract this year, hopefully he doesn't go anywhere near TJV, UAE or Ineos.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Chapeau to Pogacar on the spectacular victory of the stage and the race! He took off on Eze and gained 45' on this relatively short climb and kept his lead till the end. How different feelings for Yates this year - last year he won after attacking while this time he was brutally counter-attacked by Le Patron.

 

[RedheadDane]

Jorgenson out of contract this year, hopefully he doesn't go anywhere near TJV, UAE or Ineos.

He needs to go to Ag2R, to make his thread title make sense!



(But of course, now both Latour and Champoussin have left...)

 

[Valv.Piti]

Even a sprinter stage would have been more exciting than this one. Unless you're a fan of Arabia/Slovenia of course.

Man, today was decent enough I think. Hard racing, and the best rider just took the race and won. That in itself is always pretty interesting to me.

Sure, some other years this stage has been a lot better, but they have also been incredible and probably overperformed a bit. We shouldnt expect that kinda racing every year.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

It has been a good litmus test for what kind of fan you are.

Do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who attacks every mountain stage and leaves his rivals scattered in a trail behind him, who constantly races aggressively and put on a show, but who leaves nothing to doubt or no suspense. Almost dominant to a depressing extent.


Or do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who wins every stage in a sprint and will win the GC on bonus seconds, who does nothing interesting or daring throughout the race, and possibly doesnt deserve to win, but does constantly give the impression that the race lead could change hands and looks sometimes vulnerable

 

[Extinction]

It has been a good litmus test for what kind of fan you are.

Do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who attacks every mountain stage and leaves his rivals scattered in a trail behind him, who constantly races aggressively and put on a show, but who leaves nothing to doubt or no suspense. Almost dominant to a depressing extent.


Or do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who wins every stage in a sprint and will win the GC on bonus seconds, who does nothing interesting or daring throughout the race, and possibly doesnt deserve to win, but does constantly give the impression that the race lead could change hands and looks sometimes vulnerable

Neither

 

[Netserk]

It has been a good litmus test for what kind of fan you are.

Do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who attacks every mountain stage and leaves his rivals scattered in a trail behind him, who constantly races aggressively and put on a show, but who leaves nothing to doubt or no suspense. Almost dominant to a depressing extent.


Or do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who wins every stage in a sprint and will win the GC on bonus seconds, who does nothing interesting or daring throughout the race, and possibly doesnt deserve to win, but does constantly give the impression that the race lead could change hands and looks sometimes vulnerable

Whatever race Landa is in.

 

[Boehmand]

You're not on high altitude for a long time even during high altitude stages. And watts at while chill pacing in the peloton are not the same as watts on the final MTF going full throttle.

You don’t need to be at altitude for long, for the effect to be profound, as the fatigue accumulates during the stage.

Also I find it odd you assert Jumbo are wrong about Vingegaard… I’m pretty sure they know better than you

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Underwhelming PN overall. Good first half and the TTT was surprisingly one of the better stages but after an entertaining final 15 minutes on stage 4 this was very dull.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Have the jerseys that are not yellow always given 0 UCI points in other stage races than the Grand Tours?

 

[Red Rick]

You don’t need to be at altitude for long, for the effect to be profound, as the fatigue accumulates during the stage.

Also I find it odd you assert Jumbo are wrong about Vingegaard… I’m pretty sure they know better than you

I'm pretty sure I know better than whatever *** they make up in the media. It just doesn't pass the most basic sniff test.

 

[OlavEH]

Question: Have they ever done Col d'Eze from the south via Saint Laurent to A500, then through the village of Eze and the last 1,5 km to the Col?

 

[Red Rick]

It has been a good litmus test for what kind of fan you are.

Do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who attacks every mountain stage and leaves his rivals scattered in a trail behind him, who constantly races aggressively and put on a show, but who leaves nothing to doubt or no suspense. Almost dominant to a depressing extent.


Or do you prefer the stage race dominated by a Slovenian, as expected, who wins every stage in a sprint and will win the GC on bonus seconds, who does nothing interesting or daring throughout the race, and possibly doesnt deserve to win, but does constantly give the impression that the race lead could change hands and looks sometimes vulnerable

I prefer not knowing who wins with a 99% certainty before a stage even starts. What Pogacar doesn't isn't daring because he knows he is the best in the race with 100% confidence so there's no risk in attacking and flying away.

But I love how Jumbo dominance is boring while this is apparently mesmerising to watch.

 

[BigCoward]

I prefer not knowing who wins with a 99% certainty before a stage even starts. What Pogacar doesn't isn't daring because he knows he is the best in the race with 100% confidence so there's no risk in attacking and flying away.

But I love how Jumbo dominance is boring while this is apparently mesmerising to watch.

It's only 70% certainty. Don't exaggerate.

 

[topcat]

It’s easier to cheer for Pog in the tour because of the JUV block than it was when we thought he was a sure thing. However, long range attacks are awesome whereas sprints are meh.
Moreover, I agree with myself.

 

[Andy schleck]

It’s easier to cheer for Pog in the tour because of the JUV block than it was when we thought he was a sure thing. However, long range attacks are awesome whereas sprints are meh.
Moreover, I agree with myself.

Jumbo visma block is not boring line sometimes sky was. They race hard and attack.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

At least Pogacar is up front and straight forward regarding his dominance. He shows up to races to win them and that's it, no vague PR nonsense beforehand about it.
Jumbo and Roglic fans continuously acting as if he's some plucky underdog before races just adds an unnessecary pathetic taste to the spectacle.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So 9 wins for Pog this season and it's still early March! At this time of the year Jan the Man was still at a Nutella eating camp.
Quote of the day: If I don't win anything until the end of the season, it's still not bad, so I can be more relaxed now.
Philosopher or comedian ?

 

[limak_]

I don't know how could you say guys that Pogacar makes cycling boring. If you want to have 100% of unpredictability, go and play some lottery. In general, cycling is a very unpredictable sport comparing to other disciplines. Pogacar is (putting clinic stuff aside) a truly, naturally gifted cyclist and I myslef enjoy cycling with figures like him much more than I would if every race would be won by a different rider and everyone would be complaining that it was mostly by accident and different tactic gimmicks.

 

[yaco]

Chapeau to Pogacar on the spectacular victory of the stage and the race! He took off on Eze and gained 45' on this relatively short climb and kept his lead till the end. How different feelings for Yates this year - last year he won after attacking while this time he was brutally counter-attacked by Le Patron.

Yates was OK but if he had his 2022 form he still would have been 20 or 30 seconds off Pogacar.