Paris-Nice 2024, March 3-10

[nightowl]

None of the climbs tomorrow are overly hard, and there’s enough teams who will feel they have a chance to win so they’ll chase the break. The sprinters who can’t climb will be dropped but the winner will probably come from the same group of riders who contested stage 1.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

The last 150 km of the stage was all on the Route Napoléon, the main road.

That explains some things (dunno why this stage is pure gone from my memory)

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations to Santiago Buitrago Sánchez for winning the stage and to Lucas Plapp for taking the leaders jersey.

Bora clearly interested in preparing the terrain for Roglič, doing a good job at it. Likely lack of interest from other teams prevented the fireworks. That is UAE likely happy with giving leaders jersey to Plapp, Remco usually doesn't show any interest to contest such finishes against Roglič, especially when ahead, Ineos likely believing Bernal would not have much chances ... Anyway, conditions for stage win were less favourable today, for Rogla. So in my opinion a smart move not to go for it on stage 4.

 

[Froome]

Congratulations to Santiago Buitrago Sánchez for winning the stage and to Lucas Plapp for taking the leaders jersey.

Bora clearly interested in preparing the terrain for Roglič, doing a good job at it. Likely lack of interest from other teams prevented the fireworks. That is UAE likely happy with giving leaders jersey to Plapp, Remco usually doesn't show any interest to contest such finishes against Roglič, especially when ahead, Ineos likely believing Bernal would not have much chances ... Anyway, conditions for stage win were less favourable today, for Rogla. So in my opinion a smart move not to go for it on stage 4.

He simply didn't had the legs to do better.

 

[CyclistAbi]

He simply didn't had the legs to do better.

To sprint for third place?

 

[Froome]

To sprint for third place?

To win the stage or go for the third place, just like vingegaard didn't had the legs to do better in the TT on monday. Quite simple.

 

[CyclistAbi]

To win the stage or go for the third place, just like vingegaard didn't had the legs to do better in the TT on monday. Quite simple.

Nah. For example most people, reading about it, believe Rogla did a bad TTT too. Anyway, based on what i have seen so far legs are in my opinion good. And there is still plenty of terrain left to achieve the set goals. Finishing third today was highly likely not one of them. And once stage win was out of the question any additional effort would be wasted effort.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Nah. For example most people, reading about it, believe Rogla did a bad TTT too. Anyway, based on what i have seen so far legs are in my opinion good. And there is still plenty of terrain left to achieve the set goals. Finishing third today was highly likely not one of them. And once stage win was out of the question any additional effort would be wasted effort.

But losing time wasn’t highly likely one of the goals as well.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

@CyclistAbi Roglic said himself he didn’t have the legs. The team too - “he didn’t have the very best legs.” You don’t believe them?

 

[CyclistAbi]

But losing time wasn’t highly likely one of the goals as well.

A couple of seconds, when you are minute down, that makes little difference. I am sure that stage 4 was underlined as a potential stage to win and that is on why it was approached, by Bora, the way it was. The reduction was not big enough and other teams were not interested, not much you can do here so best to move on.

@CyclistAbi Roglic said himself he didn’t have the legs. The team too - “he didn’t have the very best legs.” You don’t believe them?

During the race all sort of things are being said.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Wait a second, what cancellation on Saturday??

 

[SHAD0W93]

Wait a second, what cancellation on Saturday??

Nothing is confirmed yet but some or all of the stage could be canceled due to weather.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just watched the stage...that moment just before 3K to go, when Roglič drifted back to find Remco's wheel, was peak Roglič.

 

[Rob5091]

Wonder how UAE team of team leaders will be going forward, as no one seems to think they should be the one doing the chasing and miss out on a possible stage win. Vine was dropped early yesterday (Wednesday) so I suppose it was his job to lead out the GC group at the end.

 

[red_flanders]

Nah. For example most people, reading about it, believe Rogla did a bad TTT too. Anyway, based on what i have seen so far legs are in my opinion good. And there is still plenty of terrain left to achieve the set goals. Finishing third today was highly likely not one of them. And once stage win was out of the question any additional effort would be wasted effort.

Despite what his team posted about him not having good legs?

So the other option is that he doesn’t have a finishing sprint anymore?

 

[Unchained]

It's early in the season for sure but when Plapp was really really going well in Tour Down Under and I was liking national team vibe of trying to get an Australian up the road,get a good result,
I was super bummed when Plapp fell, got lots of his body turned to chopped meat and had to abandon.. So seeing him wearing the leaders jersey and really jamming today was super satisfying, I like his style and hope that his questionable team doesn't make this a one off..

 

[Oldermanish]

Congratulations to Santiago Buitrago Sánchez for winning the stage and to Lucas Plapp for taking the leaders jersey.

Bora clearly interested in preparing the terrain for Roglič, doing a good job at it. Likely lack of interest from other teams prevented the fireworks. That is UAE likely happy with giving leaders jersey to Plapp, Remco usually doesn't show any interest to contest such finishes against Roglič, especially when ahead, Ineos likely believing Bernal would not have much chances ... Anyway, conditions for stage win were less favourable today, for Rogla. So in my opinion a smart move not to go for it on stage 4.

If he could have, he would have. He lost the line to not lose 2 seconds to Remco 3 turns before the finish. His effort was mailed in at that point but, for both of them; they accomplished what should have been the goal: UAE worked, Ineos worked and UAE gave up the lead and several of their contenders.

The strategy gets a little more complicated because that big Visma guy, Bernal (didn't someone on this thread say he was "done") and a few others need to be distanced. Eliminating a mountain stage due to snow doesn't help R&R but they should still collaborate until the podium is better sorted, IMO.

 

[SafeBet]

Pretty impressive to lose only 2 secs on a day when the legs aren't good.

He actually lost 39".
Buitrago is very much in the mix for the overall win at this point and Roglic is almost a minute behind him in GC.

 

[tobydawq]

Nah. For example most people, reading about it, believe Rogla did a bad TTT too. Anyway, based on what i have seen so far legs are in my opinion good. And there is still plenty of terrain left to achieve the set goals. Finishing third today was highly likely not one of them. And once stage win was out of the question any additional effort would be wasted effort.

They're not good, otherwise he would have attacked in the final today to take some time back. You're delusional if you think otherwise.

Bah, why do I even bother?

 

[Salvarani]

They're not good, otherwise he would have attacked in the final today to take some time back. You're delusional if you think otherwise.

Bah, why do I even bother?

It is unbelievable that he didnt attack to put in a big effort for little gain on this stage.

Why would anyone think that?

 

[Berniece]

It is unbelievable that he didnt attack to put in a big effort for little gain on this stage.

Why would anyone think that?

He sprinted for bonus seconds during the stage but then he would ignore them at the finish knowing they also calculate a gap difference? Sure…

 

[DNP-Old]

He sprinted for bonus seconds during the stage but then he would ignore them at the finish knowing they also calculate a gap difference? Sure…

Copium is a helluva drug.

 

[Salvarani]

The guy making excuses after every race seems to suffer from it the most.

 

[Blanco]

Just watched the stage...that moment just before 3K to go, when Roglič drifted back to find Remco's wheel, was peak Roglič.

Roglic drifted to talk to Vlasov, possibly to tell him that he doesn't feel the best, but hey, you can think whatever you want.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

you're quite fixated on the guy that is in pole position to win the race, it seems, but in quite a negative state of mind.
I wonder if you enjoy watching the race?

Being in pole position is usually first place among the GC contenders. He isn‘t fixated on Buitrago