Paris-Nice 2024, March 3-10

[Volderke]

It's nice that he always has an eloquent explanation for why he didn't win. Interesting that that explanation is never 'the winner was better than me today'. Remco is truly the greatest.

Given the time splits of teams riding in wet conditions / changed wind direction, it’s clear the winner wasn’t necessarily better. Finn fisher black admitted the weather played a key role and he won. But you know better?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's nice that he always has an eloquent explanation for why he didn't win. Interesting that that explanation is never 'the winner was better than me today'. Remco is truly the greatest.

Motivated (and not too fat) Remco is still undefeated!

 

[Wvv]

Overtaking a tractor is always a challenge. Being Belgian, Remco should know better.

Best possible response. And dangerously true.

 

[Faserr]

Best possible response. And dangerously true.

I nearly died in a triathlon competition while overtaking a tractor which then started to run me over without indication before. Luckily I wasn't directly hit and only my TT bike frame broke. Thats my slightly offtopic story.

 

[Blanco]

Another moral victory for Rogla. He didn't even want to drop Vlasov in the end but the stomp was just too strong. Meanwhile Remco tried hard to drop Van Vilder, but couldn't.

Yeah, Van Wilder needed to brake to not surpass Remco

 

[jmdirt]

Rain/wind did affect it. Quickstep, Visma and Bora al shipped 30 seconds to UAE in second half.
Why were Bora not ready? They'd as much time too prepare for this than anyone else.

I don't know why they weren't ready?

 

[Rob5091]

Roglic was obviously the big loser today, but luckily for Bora, there's no TTT in the Tour. Stage 4 should tells us how the individual strengths are and how good UAE are at defending the leader's jersey.

 

[Didinho]

I’ve also been testing some helmet lately and not only good in the wind tunnel but also fast in wet conditions.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Outclassed? They took less than 4" on Bora in the first half.

Easy to lose "only 4 sec" when you pace as if the finish line is at the first time check... The poor pacing by Bora largely explains why they lost almost double the time loss of SOQ in the second half. So yeah, not optimal preparation by them.

 

[rghysens]

Frustrated Remco bodes well for tomorrow´s race, but I guess 4 UAE riders is too much.

 

[Lequack]

If they will ride like in the UAE Tour, Remco should have no problems.

 

[tobydawq]

Frustrated Remco bodes well for tomorrow´s race, but I guess 4 UAE riders is too much.

Well, how will they play it? UAE, that is? Who's the boss?

Usually, they say it's a problem if there are two. In this case there are four.

 

[Oldermanish]

I don't know why they weren't ready?

How can you be ready for a shifting, unfavorable wind and water on corners? Maybe have a giant blower truck out in front of you TTT formation? It'd work, I bet. Stoopid weather/1

 

[Froome]

Well, how will they play it? UAE, that is? Who's the boss?

Usually, they say it's a problem if there are two. In this case there are four.

The boss is Pogacar.

 

[Oldermanish]

Frustrated Remco bodes well for tomorrow´s race, but I guess 4 UAE riders is too much.

Frustrated Remco and motivated Roglic in combination could take out a few contenders and maybe gain some time. There are more stages where that unified strategy could get them both close enough to make it interesting.
I hope they do this and make it a very, very fun race to watch.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Prediction for tomorrow: long range attack by Rogla and Remco!

 

[tobydawq]

The boss is Pogacar.

That's not particularly relevant for this race.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Outclassed? They took less than 4" on Bora in the first half.

Bora finished with 3, so I'm not sure what you aren't getting. QS had 6 guys when they set the best intermediate time.

The weather turned which caused a much slower second half second. Unless you're going to make the ridiculous argument that the weather didn't affect the result, and somehow Cofidis who went 62.2 kph in the second half while Soudal went 59.9 kph just because Soudal "miscalculated".

 

[Valv.Piti]

Now Roglic actually has to ride his bike, thats good

 

[Froome]

That's not particularly relevant for this race.

It's relevant because without him they don’t know how to race as a team, so it will be every man for himself.

 

[jmdirt]

How can you be ready for a shifting, unfavorable wind and water on corners? Maybe have a giant blower truck out in front of you TTT formation? It'd work, I bet. Stoopid weather/1

If the weather was the only issue, they would have all been together for the finish (or at least more of them).

 

[tobydawq]

It's relevant because without him that they don’t know how to race as a team, so it will be every man for himself.

Yes, that was my point originally. No need to draw Pogacar into that.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Do you have an example of a similar occurrence that led to such a reaction?

Many ever since 2018 and they’ve gotten worse and worse every season, most likely to combat Evenepoel’s major fans.

 

[Poursuivant]

Roglic to take yellow on Sunday

 

[SHAD0W93]

So much projection it's not even funny.

Pot calling the kettle black.