Paris-Nice: Stage 3-Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire Nuits-Saint-Georges: 202 km

[Mellow Velo]

Climb:Km 179.0 - Côte de Bécoup - 5.1 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 2

Time for a subtle change in the parcour, as we head into very expensive wine country.

 

[will10]

Henderson.


I don't think he'll get over the hill, but I didn't want to say Sagan, Haussler or Goss

 

[taiwan]

Sagan, Gavazzi, LLS.

Actually Bole is more likely, don't know if Rojas will hang on.

Actually it doesn't look that hard. Even Haussler might still be there.

 

[search]

Climb: Km 179.0 - Côte de Bécoup - 5.1 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 2

that's the important fact: it's not ~12km from the top of the hill to the finish (as you could assume watching the profile - and, as for example, Team Movistar mentions in it's preview), it's more than 20km. I think a very large bunch of riders will make it to the finish in the first group

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes, it's 23 kms to go, according to the time schedule.
Wednesday, it's 35kms from the top of the final climb.
With a pretty long ITT, I'm really not liking the overall look of this edition.
Could well be the first year in a while that this race doesn't end up as the best stage race of the season.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yes, it's 23 kms to go, according to the time schedule.
Wednesday, it's 35kms from the top of the final climb.
With a pretty long ITT, I'm really not liking the overall look of this edition.
Could well be the first year in a while that this race doesn't end up as the best stage race of the season.

This had TT decider written all over it from the day they released the route - frankly Wiggins should be designing his season around it if he ever wants to win something worthwhile.

 

[hrotha]

Bole! Hopefully.

 

[Jamsque]

I 100% guarantee that if Vino is there at the start of the Bécop he will attack.

 

[El Pistolero]

This had TT decider written all over it from the day they released the route - frankly Wiggins should be designing his season around it if he ever wants to win something worthwhile.

Well, he has one worthwhile victory on the road

 

[Captain_Cavman]

that's the important fact: it's not ~12km from the top of the hill to the finish (as you could assume watching the profile - and, as for example, Team Movistar mentions in it's preview), it's more than 20km. I think a very large bunch of riders will make it to the finish in the first group

Yeah the profile is misleading. After the Cote de Becoup, the route goes uphill and down dale for a few Ks before heading downwards through gorgeous scenery with about 19 to go. The next 13Ks are all gently downhill until a final 6K dash along the valley bottom.

Edited to say - I suppose the profile describes this except that the Cote de Becoup is at 179 not 190 and the scale means that none of these slopes are very steep for very long. Bunch finish.

 

[roundabout]

Another worthless profile where a 5% climb looks like Monte Zoncolan in steepness.

 

[spetsa]

Hendo keeps the jersey for sure. He goes uphill at elevation in Boulder pretty well. The course isn't that tough.

 

[theyoungest]

Hendo keeps the jersey for sure. He goes uphill at elevation in Boulder pretty well. The course isn't that tough.

The green jersey you mean? He's not the race leader atm.

 

[spetsa]

Yes, sorry. Just cheering for a good guy. IMO

 

[hfer07]

I think LuLu Sanchez is going to give it a shot- even Vino might try as well

 

[Frosty]

That climb's distance and average gradient is similar to the one on stage 3 of the tour of britain where henderson got dropped i think?

 

[M Sport]

Haussler ftw

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador will appear on the final climb, attack, drop them all and flip them off before leaving again.

 

[nvpacchi]

Bole if he was just holding something in reserve the past two days....

Haussler otherwise

 

[thirteen]

I 100% guarantee that if Vino is there at the start of the Bécop he will attack.

that would be sweet!

 

[The Hitch]

Id like to see Samuel Sammy Sam Samu Sanchez have a go. Problem is hes possibly the best climber and possibly the best descender there, so he could be left all alone for 20k and he could have bad memories of St Jaunne de Maurrienne.

 

[spetsa]

That climb's distance and average gradient is similar to the one on stage 3 of the tour of britain where henderson got dropped i think?

Was he riding to keep a jersey or possibly take the gc lead? Interest facilitates action, even on a bike.

 

[nvpacchi]

Id like to see Samuel Sammy Sam Samu Sanchez have a go. Problem is hes possibly the best climber and possibly the best descender there, so he could be left all alone for 20k and he could have bad memories of St Jaunne de Maurrienne.

Or Vino/Samu tandem to the finish... Samu takes a minute out of the pack on the descent, Vino takes another minute out in the flat run-in

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If Sammy attacks on the descent chances are his namesake Luísle will go with him. I'll be very surprised if they drop Lulu on that climb.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lulu will win this whole thing.