Paris-Nice 2026, March 8-15

[YavorD]

Let the brothers go and stay on his wheel. Make him nervous with others maybe getting closer again and he has to ride. I just find it weird if you're with 4 vs 1 and doesn't win the stage. Martinez could've ended up a bit closer if Vingo had to work a bit for the stage. He just got a free ride from another team.

But why would Vingegaard even care about the brothers in a first place?
They are no threat to him, he can easily let them ride 4 minutes away (enough time for the back group to catch up).
Yes, you win the stage, but you risk creating a situation that puts your GC in a worse position than it could've been.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Especially because yesterday he said those 4" bonus sprints are not gonna decide this Paris - Nice.

Voodoogaard made sure Ayuso would crash out so it wouldn't become an issue.

 

[Netserk]

Especially because yesterday he said those 4" bonus sprints are not gonna decide this Paris - Nice.

he was right

 

[Squire]

sunny and 10 degrees

Nailed-on Vlasov breakaway win then.

 

[Berniece]

he was right

Indeed, more reason that this behaviour was weird

 

[Red Rick]

Tailwind should make it nailed on breakaway. If not Vingegaard will just attack the cat 2 for an easy win.

 

[Didinho]

But why would Vingegaard even care about the brothers in a first place?
They are no threat to him, he can easily let them ride 4 minutes away (enough time for the back group to catch up).
Yes, you win the stage, but you risk creating a situation that puts your GC in a worse position than it could've been.

Yes I know just my opinion. I would prefer a stage win with a rider who doesn't win much, you got something to celebrate after a hard day. And maybe Dani just ended up 2nd in the end from that group if they let them come back. That's talk after a stage, and I get what you mean. If I was a DS I rather do it this way.

 

[Heston]

I love how some people think Jonas would give a *** about an attack from Nico Denz or Mick van Dijke. Do you know Jonas here to win the GC?

 

[Netserk]

Indeed, more reason that this behaviour was weird

nothing weird about it

 

[Hugh Januss]

Again, I don’t care he didn’t take turns. I found it weird he went for the bonus sprint, commentators found it weird and RBH found it weird too. That’s all.

So he should have just let Martinez have them?

 

[Heston]

Yes I know just my opinion. I would prefer a stage win with a rider who doesn't win much, you got something to celebrate after a hard day. And maybe Dani just ended up 2nd in the end from that group if they let them come back. That's talk after a stage, and I get what you mean. If I was a DS I rather do it this way.

Dani would not have gained 3 minutes on Vauquelin and the other GC guys if Red Bull rode it any other way. They are here for the GC and are looking at a likely podium now.

You are analysing it as if it was a 1 day race.

 

[YavorD]

Yes I know just my opinion. I would prefer a stage win with a rider who doesn't win much, you got something to celebrate after a hard day. And maybe Dani just ended up 2nd in the end from that group if they let them come back. That's talk after a stage, and I get what you mean. If I was a DS I rather do it this way.

I would be happy for Van Dijke. He would absolutely deserve the win, but I think they realised that Vingegaard is just stronger and with the MTF they had no chance, so they played it safe GC wise.

 

[YavorD]

Dani would not have gained 3 minutes on Vauquelin and the other GC guys if Red Bull rode it any other way. They are here for the GC and are looking at a likely podium now.

You are analysing it as if it was a 1 day race.

I think the main point is that even if he gets 1.30, that's big enough buffer for the remaining stages, so they could try and win the stage.
But if Vingegaard doesn't play ball, they put themselves in even worse position

 

[search]

I don‘t get the numbers game talk, the Van Dijkes were 4‘53“ and 6‘59“ behind on GC respectively. Also Vingegaard could make up a minute on both of them on the final steep section, so Martinez would either give up the GC advantage he gained or still lose hard to Vingegaard. Of course they might win the stage, but it wouldn‘t be worth it.

I personally would think a stage win is worth more than 2nd on GC (compared to 3rd or 4th). And it's not like there was an imminent threat from behind, if, for example Tim van Dijke had tried to attack with 10k to go, and his brother starting to set a slightly slower pace behind.

But in the end, it obviously also came as a bit of a surprise that TvD was essentially as strong as Martinez, or even better.

 

[Didinho]

I personally would think a stage win is worth more than 2nd on GC (compared to 3rd or 4th). And it's not like there was an imminent threat from behind, if, for example Tim van Dijke had tried to attack with 10k to go, and his brother starting to set a slightly slower pace behind.

But in the end, it obviously also came as a bit of a surprise that TvD was essentially as strong as Martinez, or even better.

That's what I thought. Try one time to get both. Stage win and keep the gap. You can even start to ride with Vingo in the final. Now Vingo just didn't have to put some extra effort for the stage win.

 

[canina82]

When will they blame riders for riding like maniacs with 50-100 km to go? It's not like we are in PR or RVV

 

[Faserr]

Tailwind should make it nailed on breakaway. If not Vingegaard will just attack the cat 2 for an easy win.

Free Kämna.

 

[Squire]

Team Hoole came, he conquered, then he left again.

 

[tobydawq]

Indeed, more reason that this behaviour was weird

Aren't you fixating a bit now?

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

no, he did a great itw, even funny. bravo Jonas

Indeed, he surprised me there. But happy to be wrong about it, it's much nicer this way.

 

[tobydawq]

Vauquelin:

"Imagine you're first in line of the peloton and a rider pushes you into the ditch and you find yourself at the back of the bunch when the echelon starts.

I'm joking but still imagine it (someone from Soudal)".

I have a weird feeling he isn't joking.

 

[Hugh Januss]

But in the end, it obviously also came as a bit of a surprise that TvD was essentially as strong as Martinez, or even better.

This was the flaw in Bora's strategy IMO. The Bora DS would have looked like a genius if Martinez would have been able to follow Vingo and maybe even outsprint him at the finish, putting himself second by a handful of seconds with 4 stages to go. Alas, he almost couldn't even follow Van Dijke.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

A blow for twins trying to assert their individual autonomy: Mick and Tim awarded most combative rider of the day.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Vauquelin:

"Imagine you're first in line of the peloton and a rider pushes you into the ditch and you find yourself at the back of the bunch when the echelon starts.

I'm joking but still imagine it (someone from Soudal)".

I have a weird feeling he isn't joking.

It doesn't sound great, but perhaps he's good friends with Paret-Peintre and it is indeed a joke.

 

[search]

This was the flaw in Bora's strategy IMO. The Bora DS would have looked like a genius if Martinez would have been able to follow Vingo and maybe even outsprint him at the finish, putting himself second by a handful of seconds with 4 stages to go. Alas, he almost couldn't even follow Van Dijke.

on the other hand, Bora has had rather fortunate overall victories in Paris-Nice before, and 2nd in GC is of course not a bad position to get another one