Paris-Nice 2024, March 3-10

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The point still exists. And I like Remco, but this stuff is getting old. It makes for great entertainment and memes, but it doesn't help him or his team with their racing.
Maybe others have it wrong as well, from time to time, but most aren’t interviewed about it, and many aren’t that outspoken about all those little details. The fun thing is that all there is in Remco’s head, is shared by him. Often it’s interesting, sometimes it’s insightful, from time to time you’d wish he would just shut up, but it’s always entertaining.
 
Almeida: Hey remember when you used to work for me?
Remco: Belgian laughter

GH_vOE2XEAAQmv3
 
Allow me to assist!
  • It's a minor prep race for the Tour.
  • The others aren't really trying to win.
  • There isn't any real climbing in this race.
  • Pogi and Vingo aren't here.
  • Roglič is aiming for July.
Please bookmark and use for future reference. Most will work for the Dauphiné as well. :D
It's actually the most historic one week race in the calendar. But let's ignore that.

It seems when Remco is doing well, it's convenient to say nobody wants to win.

There was 3500m of climbing today, a mountain top finish on Saturday and a lot of climbing to come on Sunday.

I agree here. Pog and Vingo are stronger than him.

Roglic aiming for July.......... And you think Remco is peaking for this??
 
At least someone is reading the race correctly. So someone saw it:
And here's what stage 4 winner Buitrago said after finishing...

"I didn't really expect it today, but I came in with fantastic condition and when I saw Roglič put the pace down on the climb, I decided to try. In the end you never how things will play out. I'm very happy with the victory today."
 
It's actually the most historic one week race in the calendar. But let's ignore that.

It seems when Remco is doing well, it's convenient to say nobody wants to win.

There was 3500m of climbing today, a mountain top finish on Saturday and a lot of climbing to come on Sunday.

I agree here. Pog and Vingo are stronger than him.

Roglic aiming for July.......... And you think Remco is peaking for this??
I was being facetious. Meant to be a poke at some of the funnier justifications on "why Remco won" which we see at times...
 
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What other possible routes can happen if they can't finish on auron?
If Auron is not an option, conditions are probably bad enough to cancel the stage. Certainly bad enough to skip Saint-Martin. No other host will be ready on short notice, maybe they can finish in the town at the foot of the climb to Auron.

I still think it's most likely that Saint-Martin is cancelled, but that they'll manage to clear the road of snow and finish on Auron.
 
Sisteron is always a massive breakaway stage. Nothing will happen in the bunch.
Yes, plenty of possibilities for tight quircky slopes at smaller roads in the region.
Of which partly is the case for mid section of the stage. Unfortunately the ramp-in to Sisteron and the loop is too simple and miss complexity, hence sprint trains have the chance to catch up on the break.
Unless the break turns out to be really strong, consisting of riders from the sprint teams.

I wouldn't fully count on a sprint in Sisteron.
Especially taking into account of possible cancellation of Auron stage, and, hence, that every meter counts in the GC.

*Edit;
I'm devastated regarding the indeed very likely cancellation on saturday - been extatic since stage was revealed, having climed it two times myself, 1.st time with Cîme de la Bonette du Restefond (2802m.a.s.) as a "starter" (quite a portion, though), 2nd time in larger group from Nice with 90k ramp up at speed. Both times Auron climb felt far harder than the cold numbers tells.
 
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I'm devastated regarding the indeed very likely cancellation on saturday - been extatic since stage was revealed, having climed it two times myself, 1.st time with Cîme de la Bonette du Restefond (2802m.a.s.) as a "starter" (quite a portion, though), 2nd time in larger group from Nice with 90k ramp up at speed. Both times Auron climb felt far harder than the cold numbers tells.
Did you do go to the village or to the parking lot at the end of the road?
 
Did you do go to the village or to the parking lot at the end of the road?
Turned uproads at right side right when entering the village, both times using hotel still in the village but some further 75m upwards as I reckon, so profile would seem like still steady ascent.
Profile 7-8% is right. To my memory the buttom part was steepest, maybe 9-10% and then more forgiving 6-7% for last 2/3rds of the climb.
 
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Stage 3 of the 2020 Tour de France.

stage-3-profile.jpg
Profile is one thing. And often don't tell the real story (sry don't remember map details for final 25k of '20 Tour stage).
As I mentioned plenty of possibilities for quircky route, but not taken in use in this years design (and guess not in Le Tour '20 neither I reckon).

But at least reading the MAP of the official race page I identify quite some opportunities for breakaways mid stage before entering Sisteron proper.
 
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