Paris - Nice, Stage 4 Brioude -> Saint-Vallier 200 km, Thursday 7th March

[rghysens]

Can someone please explain to me the mountain categories? How is a 2.5 km @ 8% grade considered a category 2? Makes no sense.

There is no official way of categorizing climbs, each race has its own system. In paris-nice, climbs often are one category higher than they would be in the tour de france. A 2,5km long climb @ 8% probably would be a 3rd cat in the tour, so it makes sense to be a cat 2 in P-N.

 

[hfer07]

Can someone please explain to me the mountain categories? How is a 2.5 km @ 8% grade considered a category 2? Makes no sense.

found this 4 U:

Climbs Classification

Climbs in cycling are rated from Category 1 (hardest) to Category 4 (easiest), based on steepness and length. A climb harder than Category 1 is designated as hors catégorie. Hors catégorie translates as “beyond categorisation”, and signifies an extremely tough climb.

The categories were originally used for mountain roads and the gear needed in a car to pass over them. So, a Cat 1 climb could be passed in a car in first gear, cat 2 in 2nd gear etc. and hors category was impassable by car.

How do the organizers of the Grand Tours evaluate the ratings for the climbs in their races? The Tour organisers use three criteria:
(1) The length and steepness of the climb
(2) The position of the climb in the stage
(3) The quality of the road surface

General guidelines for classification are as follows:
Hors Category (HC) – the hardest, climbs of 1500m+
1st Category – climbs of 1100-1500m
2nd Category – climbs of 600-1100m
3rd Category – climbs of 300-600m
4th Category – the lowest category, 100-300m

but quite honestly- those numbers mean nothing in Italy where a mere 3 CAT there is a 1 CAT elsewhere.....

 

[Unkown]

There is no official way of categorizing climbs, each race has its own system. In paris-nice, climbs often are one category higher than they would be in the tour de france. A 2,5km long climb @ 8% probably would be a 3rd cat in the tour, so it makes sense to be a cat 2 in P-N.

Thats the only explanation then, I never knew that, kinda thought everyone followed the same classification to an extent.

found this 4 U:



but quite honestly- those numbers mean nothing in Italy where a mere 3 CAT there is a 1 CAT elsewhere.....

That right there shows that there is a difference in categorizing climbs between different races because according to that the climb in question would probably be a category 3 like I thought it should be.

 

[will10]

There's too many guys close in GC for a big break to be too much freedom. Someone from the break may well take the stage but BMC and in particular Sky aren't going to give away a few minutes for free.

I'll plump for Gerrans.

 

[postmanhat]

Whatever happens, will someone other than Sky please get their act together! All the other teams were woeful today, couldn't even wheelsuck properly

Hivert looks like he's in good from and nice stage profile for him

 

[manafana]

hard see break go out way too many guys with an interest overall, sky always do a bit, and now garmin holding the jersey will do their part.

 

[Museeuw]

GC Contenders
1 Andrew TALANSKY USA GRS 4:06:15
5 Richie PORTE AUS SKY +0
11 Lieuwe WESTRA NED VCD +7
14 Nicolas ROCHE IRL TST +7
23 Andreas KLÖDEN GER RLT +7
24 Nairo QUINTANA COL MOV +7
26 Tejay V. GARDEREN USA BMC +7
27 Robert KISERLOVSKI CRO RLT +7
28 Michele SCARPONI ITA LAM +7
34 Robert GESINK NED BLA +1:05
35 Heinrich HAUSSLER AUS IAM +1:05
36 Michael ALBASINI SUI OGE +1:05
37 Jakob FUGLSANG DEN AST +1:05
42 Maxime MONFORT BEL RLT +1:05
43 Jerome COPPEL FRA COF +1:05
45 Denis MENCHOV RUS KAT +1:05
50 Thomas VOECKLER FRA EUC +1:22

Peraud should be on that list, also many other names. Shame on you.

 

[SafeBet]

I can see a break staying away. Otherwise I'd pick among Chava, Ulissi and Hivert.

 

[greenedge]

I will go Porte, Quintana or Westra, to hopefully drop Talansky and win.
If not Voeckler, Inglinsky or De Gendt to get a break somewhere and win.

 

[xrayvision]

Slight chance of rain and not much wind today.
Great rides by Ulissi, Quintana and Navarro yesterday btw, had not expected to see them up there in this kind of weather.

I think todays stage is one Gilbert had his eyes on, so Gilbert ftw.

 

[Roude Leiw]

hard see break go out way too many guys with an interest overall, sky always do a bit, and now garmin holding the jersey will do their part.

It would actually be good tactics by GRS if they let go a break composed of guys having 5+ min. If a group comes in with the favourites for the win, either talansky wins the sprint or the jersey will go to the winner of the stage. There are a bunch of people within 10 secs to him.

So if Garmin wants to keep the jersey, don't bring back a break which is not really dangerous

 

[pastronef]

I will go Porte, Quintana or Westra, to hopefully drop Talansky and win.

me, almost the same wish, just add three letters

I will go Porte, Quintana or Westra, to hopefully NOT drop Talansky.

 

[Lexman]

Yes. Looks good for De Gendt.
Wonder if Gilbert will fancy his chances. Didn't look bad so far, although not in top shape.

Gilbert just here to "train", read in belgian newspaper he never wins something at PN, but the sensations for the classics feel good

De Gendt FTW ...

 

[HiCadence]

Potential break-away stage for Voeckler?

 

[BlenJones2]

Sounds like he's trying!

 

[del1962]

Potential break-away stage for Voeckler?

1.17 is to close on GC to be allowed surely.

 

[Lexman]

Indeed :

Javier Moreno (MOV) has been dropped by the leading group. Three men in the lead: Voeckler, Meersman and Tschopp.

25 sec on the bunch

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Yep, this break is getting caught before the end - good news if it provides an extra incentive for the bigger boys, although there is bound to be action at the end even if the time bonuses are off the table

 

[Lexman]

Yep, this break is getting caught before the end - good news if it provides an extra incentive for the bigger boys, although there is bound to be action at the end even if the time bonuses are off the table

they are getting more time on the bunch : 45 seconds

 

[Lexman]

two riders countered

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Dupont and Sicard on the counter

 

[tomorrow]

Dupont and Sicard on the counter

where do you get the info?

 

[Lexman]

where do you get the info?

from here :
http://www.letour.fr/paris-nice/2013/us/live/aso/

4 counter attackers :
Dupont
Morkov
Sicard
Barguil

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

where do you get the info?

Twitter.

Also can try the live ticker http://www.letour.fr/paris-nice/2013/us/live/aso/

That says it is 4 in the second group, Sicard, Dupont, Morkov and Barguil

Still only 1:30 up for the leaders with second group a minute behind

 

[Lexman]

Dennis Vanendert countered as well

Bunch broke in two