Paris-Nice: Stage 2 - Contres - Limoges 201 km

[Mellow Velo]

Might as well get the next stage up an running. A bit more rolling, for tomorrow's finish.

 

[Jamsque]

More importantly, what is the weather forecast?

I would expect to see attacks on the final cat 3, possibly David Millar or Jens Voigt taking a shot at yellow, or maybe Gilbert having another go.

 

[Publicus]

More importantly, what is the weather forecast?

I would expect to see attacks on the final cat 3, possibly David Millar or Jens Voigt taking a shot at yellow, or maybe Gilbert having another go.

I saw earlier that snow is expected at some point on the route. So it's safe to say cold.

 

[tgsgirl]

There was a bit of snow in Belgium today and it's snowing in Spain atm if I am to believe twittering cyclists, so I think it's safe to assume the country in between Belgium and Spain isn't feeling too tropical.

 

[luckyboy]

Chance of a breakaway win tomorrow? Or something that means none of us'll win that musette anyway.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Cold, cloudless, but..........tail/crosswind. Gusts 35-60kph.

 

[theyoungest]

Some nice 3d category bumps there in the final. Should be a good one.

 

[Publicus]

Cold, cloudless, but..........tail/crosswind. Gusts 35-60kph.

Sounds like a recipe for a very exciting day tomorrow.

 

[Moondance]

Ummmmm..... Greipel?

Surely Columbia won't let themselves get ****ed by Caisse like they did today again? Boom should be able to hang on to the yellow.

 

[BikeCentric]

More importantly, what is the weather forecast?

I would expect to see attacks on the final cat 3, possibly David Millar or Jens Voigt taking a shot at yellow, or maybe Gilbert having another go.

If LuLu Sanchez has the uphill kick he had last year none of those guys are going to be able to stay with him.

I'm interested to see how Kreuziger goes on the climbs.

If AC has a charley-horse in his quadricept after that crash he should and probably will abandon.

 

[Oldman]

Ummmmm..... Greipel?

Surely Columbia won't let themselves get ****ed by Caisse like they did today again? Boom should be able to hang on to the yellow.

Sanchez and Valverde...could be a good opportunity.

 

[Jamsque]

If LuLu Sanchez has the uphill kick he had last year none of those guys are going to be able to stay with him.

I'm interested to see how Kreuziger goes on the climbs.

If AC has a charley-horse in his quadricept after that crash he should and probably will abandon.

I don't think those climbs are nearly long or steep enough for guys like LuLu to come to the fore.

 

[theswordsman]

I predict havoc and mayhem, hopefully without injury. If Contador starts, he and Caisse could mix things up near the end. But mostly I just think it will be action packed, especially if Jens Voigt is up front convincing guys to take turns whether they want to or not

 

[Publicus]

If LuLu Sanchez has the uphill kick he had last year none of those guys are going to be able to stay with him.

I'm interested to see how Kreuziger goes on the climbs.

If AC has a charley-horse in his quadricept after that crash he should and probably will abandon.

It's more like a deep thigh bruise. Depending on how the treatment goes, he should be fine (ice and heat throughout the night and prior to the start of the race). It will be a bit sore, but he should make it through the next stage.

 

[Anonymous]

It's more like a deep thigh bruise. Depending on how the treatment goes, he should be fine (ice and heat throughout the night and prior to the start of the race). It will be a bit sore, but he should make it through the next stage.

If he does start i imagine Caisse and saxo are really going to put the pressure on and try and hurt him.

 

[Publicus]

If he does start i imagine Caisse and saxo are really going to put the pressure on and try and hurt him.

It's not that type of injury such that ramping things up will hurt him. It will actually help speed the recovery. He has a pool of blood under his skin, which, as it solidifies, becomes stiffer without proper treatment. If he doesn't use it, it will be stiff until the blood starts to dissipate. Ice and heat, will speed the process, as will continued use.

When I played (American) football, it was a tough injury because of the impact nature of running and American football. I use to warm up on the exercise bike to help get it loose.

 

[Tugboat]

Results breed more results.... the sprinters will get over the climb and therefore I'm sticking with Henderson.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

It's not that type of injury such that ramping things up will hurt him. It will actually help speed the recovery. He has a pool of blood under his skin, which, as it solidifies, becomes stiffer without proper treatment. If he doesn't use it, it will be stiff until the blood starts to dissipate. Ice and heat, will speed the process, as will continued use.

When I played (American) football, it was a tough injury because of the impact nature of running and American football. I use to warm up on the exercise bike to help get it loose.

Did the same kind of thing playing basketball.

As for Stage 2, I expect a breakaway to survive, but if it's more of a crosswind, we'll see another shattered peloton.

 

[Jamsque]

Results breed more results.... the sprinters will get over the climb and therefore I'm sticking with Henderson.

Hendy has been looking good but if the bunch comes to the finish together I think Andre Greipel has to be the man to beat.

 

[maltiv]

Haussler is probably a good bet for tomorrow as well, as he's a lot better than the pure sprinters when it gets hilly.

 

[Jamsque]

Haussler is probably a good bet for tomorrow as well, as he's a lot better than the pure sprinters when it gets hilly.

Haussler hit the deck in the same crash as Contador and looked shaken up, but if he's not too hurt I agree he should be in the mix.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Haussler is probably a good bet for tomorrow as well, as he's a lot better than the pure sprinters when it gets hilly.

Good call.

By the way, does anybody know exactly what happened to his start in the prologue? Why was he late?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If LuLu Sanchez has the uphill kick he had last year none of those guys are going to be able to stay with him.

I'm interested to see how Kreuziger goes on the climbs.

If AC has a charley-horse in his quadricept after that crash he should and probably will abandon.

Haha

The climbs of tomorrow are not nearly enough for anyone to get away, or more importantly, stay away.
Tomorrow is a sprint stage or maybe a long breakaway, although I doubt Rabobank would allow it. They want to keep the jersey till the Mende stage and then it's up for grabs for Valverde/Contador/Sanchez/Kreuziger and co.

 

[luckyboy]

Could it blow out some of the sprinters if Rabo are chasing a breakaway down over that final Cat 3?

 

[rghysens]

Haha

The climbs of tomorrow are not nearly enough for anyone to get away, or more importantly, stay away.
Tomorrow is a sprint stage or maybe a long breakaway, although I doubt Rabobank would allow it. They want to keep the jersey till the Mende stage and then it's up for grabs for Valverde/Contador/Sanchez/Kreuziger and co.

Exactly my toughts. Tomorrow probably a large group sprinting for victory. I wonder what Boom will do in Mende.