Paris Nice Stage 8: Nice → Nice 124 km

[Dekker_Tifosi]

To do what? There were no climbing stages there

 

[hrotha]

Yes, Luisle failed but the team didn't try anything to make up for his failure. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations for Rabobank because they've been so strong so far, but I'd have liked Mollema to be more aggressive.

 

[Jamsque]

To do what? There were no climbing stages there

The ITT there is more suited to his characteristics, he would have had no problem getting a top 5.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes, Luisle failed but the team didn't try anything to make up for his failure. Maybe I have unrealistic expectations for Rabobank because they've been so strong so far, but I'd have liked Mollema to be more aggressive.

Mollema was hanging on by a thread.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I thought that Geraint Thomas and Mick Rogers were lining it up ready for a stinging attack from Wiggo to be countered by Kloden but no!

That is one of the most baffling ideas ever. I said before the stage, I will die of shock if Wiggins even attacks. Let's face it, the guy has done next to nothing since that Tour in 2009. There's a lot riding on him, he probably feels already that he's proven some of the doubters wrong with a podium in a major stage race - I have consistently said that I would take him more seriously as a GC rider if he had proven himself at any race other than that one - just so that we knew it wasn't a fluke.

Well, it wasn't a fluke, we know that now; the guy can climb a bit, but he's only really shown himself well on relatively neutered TT-friendly parcours that are raced defensively. But given that he had managed nothing of note in 18 months and needs to justify a huge salary, I'm not surprised (nor do I really blame him) for riding to protect 3rd place.

I just don't think that that's what Paris-Nice should be about, and the organisers dropped the ball by allowing it to be about that.

 

[Jamsque]

Bradley Wiggins has attacked in the mountains of top-level races twice in his entire life, and neither move worked. He is the paragon of diesel climbers: he can ride tempo with (nearly) the best in the world but he can't accelerate uphill.

I would love to have seen him take a flyer on the Col d'Eze, but he had no chance of dropping Tony Martin and said as much himself. He never looked like winning Paris-Nice.

I do think he can make the top 10 in the Tour this year if he gets his form right and rides more consistently, and he'll probably win a TT heavy stage race or two over the next few years. Anyone know if he's doing Cali this year?

 

[adamski101]

Bradley Wiggins has attacked in the mountains of top-level races twice in his entire life, and neither move worked. He is the paragon of diesel climbers: he can ride tempo with (nearly) the best in the world but he can't accelerate uphill.

I would love to have seen him take a flyer on the Col d'Eze, but he had no chance of dropping Tony Martin and said as much himself. He never looked like winning Paris-Nice.

I do think he can make the top 10 in the Tour this year if he gets his form right and rides more consistently, and he'll probably win a TT heavy stage race or two over the next few years. Anyone know if he's doing Cali this year?

Cali is not on the schedule, he said that he is doing Crit International, Paris-Roubaix, then taking a break and then Bayern Rundfahrt and prob Tour du Suisse. Imagine Rogers will be Sky man for Cali.