Tour Méditerranéen Cycliste Professionnel 2014 (2.1), Feb 13 - 16

[Afrank]

it;'s like 3 km at 3%. how is that going to hurt sprinters

Set a fast and furious pace into it, as soon as you hit it explode off the front and full gas for those 3 km's. But would depend heavily on how hard you made it for the sprinters over the whole of the stage.

And even then a sprinter that's better on the climbs like Hushovd or Degenkolb could still have a good chance of hanging on to take the win. Not too likely to happen IMO.

 

[Pentacycle]

The race seems to have exploded though... Only 35 riders left in the first peloton.

 

[Sykhrzon]

"Il y a maintenant 6 pelotons !"

Nice!

 

[Pentacycle]

Apparently LLS, Degenkolb, Chavanel and Betancur(!) in the first group.

 

[Sykhrzon]

Apparently LLS, Degenkolb, Chavanel and Betancur(!) in the first group.

The weight gain has turned him into a great rouleur.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Damn, this is turning out much better than expected. Video ffs.

10km to go. Degenkolb with a mech.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Degenkolb with a mechanic ~10k from the finish

 

[Roude Leiw]

Degenkolb takes it

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

But he makes it back and wins

 

[Jancouver]

Degenkolb takes it

Income of nowhere, the German sprinter ahead Napolitano (Robert Wanty-Group) and Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF).

 

[jens_attacks]

i think giant will own this race

too bad for napolitano, i hope he can get a win

 

[Sykhrzon]

Degenkolb wins

 

[Netserk]

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

The race seems to have exploded though... Only 35 riders left in the first peloton.

from climbs? if napolitano finishes 2nd the group must've bene big

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

from climbs? if napolitano finishes 2nd the group must've bene big

nope, it was from crosswinds, so that's why Napolitano made the group

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

well then a lot of riders came back because the group finishing was well over 100 riders I think

 

[Wallenquist]

How hard is the last climb ? It's HC category so might split the group.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Despite being categorized as HC and despite being nicknamed 'le petit Galibier', the climb - pas de la Couelle - is in fact 6km at 4,5%

 

[del1962]

well then a lot of riders came back because the group finishing was well over 100 riders I think

Yeah 90 finishers on the same tiem, Tommy V six minutes down though

 

[Lexman]

Nice to see Napolitao get second, must be his first race or did he Bessèges?

Good signing of Wanty

 

[Christian]

Nice to see Napolitao get second, must be his first race or did he Bessèges?

Good signing of Wanty

Well he already rode for Accent-Wanty last year and got one win the whole year, a stage at Driedaagse. After that he got a few podium spots in the late season.

They initially wanted to let him go but then re-signed him last minute

 

[greenedge]

Evans to win the overall just saying

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Evans to win the overall just saying

Ain't part of the race:

51.CUMMINGS Stephen
52.MOINARD Amaël
53.EIJSSEN Yannick
54.HERMANS Ben
55.HUSHOVD Thor
56.LODEWYCK Klaas
57.PHINNEY Taylor
58.WARBASSE Lawrence

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ain't part of the race:

51.CUMMINGS Stephen
52.MOINARD Amaël
53.EIJSSEN Yannick
54.HERMANS Ben
55.HUSHOVD Thor
56.LODEWYCK Klaas
57.PHINNEY Taylor
58.WARBASSE Lawrence

Well that should shut him up.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

How hard is the last climb ? It's HC category so might split the group.

Its Chava and Lulu terrain, but once again it requires serious pace from km 0 to get enough doms moved out of the way before the last climb. Otherwise the heavies will be guided down to the line quickly for a reduced bunch sprint.

Even a serious break could take it now we have quite a few riders at +6 minutes or more.

Anyway I'm looking forward to it.