Vuelta 2017, Stage 2: Nîmes - Gruissan. Grand Narbon 203.4km

[sir fly]

Fernando Escartín commentary

Flat. This stage will be one of the few in this year's Vuelta to end with a sprint to the finish-line. The stage will take place entirely in France, with all the obstacles that this implies: lots of roundabouts and central isles, all of which will force the peloton to ride in a straight line. Special attention must be paid to the crosswind and the echelons found along the coastline.

Last km

Let's hope for the wind...

 

[Robert5091]

Too early to hope for a breakaway win?

 

[sir fly]

Far from the strongest sprinters' filed, so a breakaway might just keep away.

 

[Red Rick]

Another day. Another stage. Another thread

Alberto Contador will win this bike race

 

[deValtos]

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

 

[Orbit501]

Edward Theuns to lead out Degenkolb only to end up doing a Postlberger instead

 

[Sestriere]

Re:

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

Schwarzmann, Debuschere, Blythe, Lobato... But it's really thin. After that you already have to take guys like Mørkov, Haller, Reguigui or Anthony Roux. But I really don't know who would trust their sprinter enough to chase all day. Maybe the Lottos, but that's it.

 

[PremierAndrew]

South Easternly winds of around 25-35km/h expected - literally perfect

Massive potential for echelon action between 80-20 km to go. Dont see a breakaway surviving with the GC teams going ham

 

[bob.a.feet]

Degenkolb FTW

 

[sir fly]

Re:

South Easternly winds of around 25-35km/h expected - literally perfect

Massive potential for echelon action between 80-10 km to go. Dont see a breakaway surviving with the GC teams going ham

Are you sure about it?
NW in mid twenties of kph is what I've managed to see.
The direction is good, either way, but the strength makes a difference.

 

[Netserk]

So the best two sprinters here are Degenkolb and Modolo?!

 

[Nirvana]

Trentin will win this and grab the red jersey.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

South Easternly winds of around 25-35km/h expected - literally perfect

Massive potential for echelon action between 80-20 km to go. Dont see a breakaway surviving with the GC teams going ham

Love to see climbers doing echelons!

 

[benzwire]

Re:

Another day. Another stage. Another thread

Alberto Contador will win this bike race

 

[jaylew]

Cort says I.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

Schwarzmann, Debuschere, Blythe, Lobato... But it's really thin. After that you already have to take guys like Mørkov, Haller, Reguigui or Anthony Roux. But I really don't know who would trust their sprinter enough to chase all day. Maybe the Lottos, but that's it.

Blythe to bulls**t his way to at least one stage win, in his quest to become a lesser Matt Goss.

 

[Jspear]

There's very little for the sprinters here. I highly doubt they'll let the breakaway win.

Degenkolb for the win.

 

[Tank Engine]

Re: Re:

South Easternly winds of around 25-35km/h expected - literally perfect

Massive potential for echelon action between 80-10 km to go. Dont see a breakaway surviving with the GC teams going ham

Are you sure about it?
NW in mid twenties of kph is what I've managed to see.
The direction is good, either way, but the strength makes a difference.

The wind is from the NW (I guess you could say it's travelling SE). My forecasts predict mid 20s with gusts in the low 30s. So there does seem to be some potential for echelons.

Great to see such a plethora of sprinting talent on such a parcours. I'm expecting great things from Degenkolb and Modolo after they took the TTT easy

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Crosswind action with a couple of GC wannabees losing enough time to take them out of contention. Please.

 

[Robert5091]

Re: Vuelta 2017, Stage 2: Nîmes - Gruissan. Grand Narbon 203

Don't envy the likes of Chaves and Pozzovivo today - they'll have to find some big beefy chaps to hide behind.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

Schwarzmann, Debuschere, Blythe, Lobato... But it's really thin. After that you already have to take guys like Mørkov, Haller, Reguigui or Anthony Roux. But I really don't know who would trust their sprinter enough to chase all day. Maybe the Lottos, but that's it.

Modolo is here, I imagine UAE will chase

 

[axl]

Re: Vuelta 2017, Stage 2: Nîmes - Gruissan. Grand Narbon 203

Trentin is exactly 6s behind the red jersey. If he wins, he takes it (i doubt any of the bmc rider can do a top3).
But does he take it if he finishes 2nd ? I think the milliseconds make the decision but I cant find them.

Now Trentin finishing 1st or 2nd in a sprint is something quite possible, so BMC could be reticent to ride on the breakaway. Could they try to let go a breakaway with no dangerous rider (>40s in GC) and let them win with a short margin (<30s) ?

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

Schwarzmann, Debuschere, Blythe, Lobato... But it's really thin. After that you already have to take guys like Mørkov, Haller, Reguigui or Anthony Roux. But I really don't know who would trust their sprinter enough to chase all day. Maybe the Lottos, but that's it.

Mørkøv. But yeah, he's going for it. Which... means there are two Danes with - at least somewhat - realistic chances for a stage win on the same stage. Can't remember when that last happened...

 

[tobydawq]

And Søren Kragh is looking forward to the cross-winds and probably secretly has his eyes on the red jersey - but that will be very difficult as he lacks a little of the top-end speed. He isn't slow, though.

 

[Sestriere]

Re: Re:

What sprinters are even here? Degenkolb and Cort I know of but I imagine Trek and Orica won't do anything to bring a break back since GC things. Who else ??

Schwarzmann, Debuschere, Blythe, Lobato... But it's really thin. After that you already have to take guys like Mørkov, Haller, Reguigui or Anthony Roux. But I really don't know who would trust their sprinter enough to chase all day. Maybe the Lottos, but that's it.

Modolo is here, I imagine UAE will chase

Yep, seems I just missed him while scanning the start list... Of course he'll be one of the fastest in this field.