Paris-Tours 2010

[sublimit]

Here we go again people another bike race on Sunday. (10/10/2010) 233k of fun and games.

Philip Gilbert defends.

start list

Some sort of coverage on Eurosport which is nice.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Cervélo TestTeam isn't taking part so Hushovd won't be racing till Giro del Piemonte and then Giro di Lombardia.

Philip Gilbert will be going for his three-in-a-row though and Tom Boonen will be there, to early to expect him to challenge ?_?

 

[The Hitch]

Why on earth isnt Greipel doing this? Cavs not there, so he can go, and Farrar isnt coming which automatically makes him best sprinter in the race. And this is a sprinters race.

I didnt think Gilbert would be able to hold off the sprinters but seeing as there arent many there, im thinking maybe he can.

I mean who is there? Bennati. Mcewan. Freire. Lucas Haedo. Injured Boonen. Weylands. Pozzato. Hutarovic. Chavanel.

Im going with Bennati or Freire.

 

[El Pistolero]

Why on earth isnt Greipel doing this? Cavs not there, so he can go, and Farrar isnt coming which automatically makes him best sprinter in the race. And this is a sprinters race.

I didnt think Gilbert would be able to hold off the sprinters but seeing as there arent many there, im thinking maybe he can.

I mean who is there? Bennati. Mcewan. Freire. Lucas Haedo. Injured Boonen. Weylands. Pozzato. Hutarovic. Chavanel.

Im going with Bennati or Freire.

Boonen is no longer injured. It's "Out of form Boonen".

I'm going for either Gilbert or otherwise a random sprinter.

Bennati or Freire don't seem to have good form, but one is looking for revenge and the other one is Oscar Freire.

 

[Anonymous]

Off the wall completely. Haedo

 

[The Hitch]

Boonen is no longer injured. It's "Out of form Boonen".

I'm going for either Gilbert or otherwise a random sprinter.

Bennati or Freire don't seem to have good form, but one is looking for revenge and the other one is Oscar Freire.

Bennati won that race a few weeks ago.

 

[hrotha]

Gilbert has been downplaying his chances for this race but whatever, he's Gilbert.

I'll try to be original: Ravard wins.

 

[maltiv]

I hope the organisers are regretting their non-selection of Cervelo now...

 

[Damiano]

It's gonna be a secure win for Matti Breschel

 

[star06]

Looking at the start list, there are probably 25 racers who could win this, half of those are the sprinters. This is going to be an exciting race.

 

[Tuarts]

So I take it this is a course more suited for the strong "climber" sprinters?

Interesting to see Travis Meyer has gotten over his Commenwealth Games pull out.

 

[Faserr]

Why on earth isnt Greipel doing this? Cavs not there, so he can go, and Farrar isnt coming which automatically makes him best sprinter in the race. And this is a sprinters race.

He started racing in January in good shape. I think he also wants to start at the Tour Down Under in good shape next January. So he should take his well deserved time out now.

 

[ingsve]

So I take it this is a course more suited for the strong "climber" sprinters?

Not really. There are some bumps in the end but it's even easier than Milano - San Remo for the sprinters. There is chance of breaks holding in but if it ends up a sprint it's usually a big field sprint on a flat finish like most GT stage sprints.

 

[ingsve]

I'm surprised at how poor the lineup is for some teams for this. It's like they are there with their C-squad. I'm guessing it's the worlds and even the commonwealth games that's to blame or something like that.

I guess this race has lost qute a bit with the removal of the World Cup.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Robbie mcewen!!!!! revenge for not being selected for the worlds.

 

[Tuarts]

Like he took revenge at the Franco-Belge?

 

[insideout leadout]

Can someone like McEwen ever take revenge at Franco-Belge? I mean he's bigger than the race itself. It's Paris-Tours or nothing.

 

[khodder]

Go with the man Ciolek from Milram....

 

[sublimit]

Adam Blythe is bang on form but will probably work for Gilbert.. Dont know - Jurgen Roelandts for the win. Steegmans to do nothing again.

 

[The Hitch]

I guess this race has lost qute a bit with the removal of the World Cup.

Good.

Too many big races start with the word "Paris". Then you have the big one finishing in Paris. Thats before you look at the many other big races in France. Im not saying we should replace big european races with the TDU for example, but maybe its a good thing to have 1 of their races die down a bit.

 

[craig1985]

I thought Wigans had finished his season. I see Peter Sagan is riding, he has this in the bag.

 

[Mich78BEL]

Good.

Too many big races start with the word "Paris". Then you have the big one finishing in Paris. Thats before you look at the many other big races in France. Im not saying we should replace big european races with the TDU for example, but maybe its a good thing to have 1 of their races die down a bit.

its still a nice race to have on a riders palmares even though it has lost some of its prestige

 

[hrotha]

McEwen taking revenge for not being selected for the WC... even though it's clear he wouldn't have made the front group, and the guy most people would have got rid of to make room for him was 3rd?

 

[El Pistolero]

its still a nice race to have on a riders palmares even though it has lost some of its prestige

Paris-Tours+ Giro di Lombardia double in one season is quite prestigious actually.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Hutarovich FTW!
Sagan, Gilbert to round out podium after Gilbert just gets caught before the finish in the last 100 metres. Truly epic.
Paris - Tours always provides some action. Mark my words.