Paris - Nice

Raam

I see Nick Roche will be riding: http://twitter.com/irishcycling/statuses/1275348494

Chips Lovell

Hope he goes well and builds on gains he made last season. I think I read him say that he was planning on an early peak this year specifically to have a bash at Paris - Nice. As far as I know though, AG2R are riding for Nocentini.

Anyone want to tip for the overall? Could be interesting given that Rebellin won't be around.

sy

Well apart from the obvious, lets make our predictions. We know Condador is in good form and he won in 2007, but Nocentini who was second behind Rebelin last year might push him all the way. Luis Sanchez is another possible contender and I do think Roche will be in the top 10.
Is Evans riding?
Beat me to it el tonto!

Chips Lovell

Provisional start list at cyclingnews.

Evans is down to ride it, but I can't see him or Contador overextending themselves this early in the season. It was different for Contador two years ago since he wasn't Discovery's number one rider at the time. Then again, he does have the air of a man who wants to win all around him this year given he was excluded from the Tour last year. Andy Schleck is riding it too and it might be too early in the year for him, but given that he's younger and has less on his palmaries it might be worth a punt for him. Slipstream are sending a strong team with Vande Velde and Zabriskie.

Luis Leon Sanchez is deinfitely one to watch in this one. Might be a race to suit Sylvain Chavanel, but I've a feeling Quick Step would want to save his legs for the rest of the Belgian season given how valuable he was this weekend. Voeckler was going really well this weekend too and it would definitely be a target.

Oh and Philip Deignan and Dan Martin are both on the list. Three Irish lads.

mr. pleasant

well, looking at the profiles:http://forodeciclismo.mforos.com/30984/7737987-paris-nice/#75332756
with the climb to 1600m, i'd be really surprised if anyone would be able to beat contador.

other big names are there as well: cunego, evans, sammy sanchez, kreuziger, but i don't know whether they are in form already. maybe evans.

i'd expect a.schleck, colom and moncoutie in the top 5 at the end.

my dark horse is gomez marchante. CTT seems to have a good doctor, i meant team spirit, this year.

TinyExplosions

I'm going either with Zabriskie, or with an Astana rider (I can see them trying to win every major race they enter this year)

Raam

Looking back at the last 8 winners...

2000 Andreas Klöden not racing
2001 Dario Frigo retired, doper
2002 Alexandre Vinokourov doper
2003 Alexandre Vinokourov doper
2004 Jörg Jaksche not racing, doper
2005 Bobby Julich retired
2006 Floyd Landis not racing, doper
2007 Alberto Contador
2008 Davide Rebellin not racing

Based on that, I'm going to go for Contador.

Funkyzeit

Was thinking with the TT Levi might have a chance (with Berti riding for the jersey) but it's just been announced he's pulled out.

Can't wait to see the Irish lads in action.

As for a winner.... Finger in the air.... Vande Velde...

It's on Eurosport aswell btw.

Chips Lovell

Funkyzeit wrote: »

It's on Eurosport aswell btw.

Yep, and since it overlaps with the Tirreno Adriatico, it means that David Duffield will be let out of his box to comment on the latter since Harmon will be doing Paris Nice. Expect rhapsodies to last night's dinner as the attack of the day goes off, riders who aren't even in the race announced as stage winners and utter confusion about team names and jerseys. A blind chimpanzee would do a better job than this clueless old buffer.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Yep, and since it overlaps with the Tirreno Adriatico, it means that David Duffield will be let out of his box to comment on the latter since Harmon will be doing Paris Nice. Expect rhapsodies to last night's dinner as the attack of the day goes off, riders who aren't even in the race announced as stage winners and utter confusion about team names and jerseys. A blind chimpanzee would do a better job than this clueless old buffer.

And he has worse dress sense than George Hook.

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

And he has worse dress sense than George Hook.

The man has no redeeming qualities.

Chips Lovell

Moncoutie's riding too. He always puts in a good showing at this one, but I doubt if he'd be contender for overall given his medical regime or lack thereof.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

The man has no redeeming qualities.

Not true... it's always a pleasure when he stops talking

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

Not true... it's always a pleasure when he stops talking

That's a quality of the silence, not Duffield.

Raam

I wonder how Cervelo will do. They put in a show of force at Qatar, but that was a totally different kind of race. They also did well last weekend with Thor at Het Nues-somethinorother and third in KBK.

Who would have a shout from their start list?

TinyExplosions

el tonto wrote: »

The man has no redeeming qualities.

He sometimes wears some nice, funky socks...

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

That's a quality of the silence, not Duffield.

Touché

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

Who would have a shout from their start list?

Angel Gomez Marchante, late of Saunier Duval, as mr. pleasant has pointed out.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

Angel Gomez Marchante, late of Saunier Duval, as mr. pleasant has pointed out.

I read that earlier post and I was wondering who the hell CTT were. Duh

Chips Lovell

I'd say Astana were targetting this one for Leipheimer given that it dovetails nicely with the Tour of California. There goes that plan and now they've no sop to offer him for this year.

Funkyzeit

el tonto wrote: »

Yep, and since it overlaps with the Tirreno Adriatico, it means that David Duffield will be let out of his box to comment on the latter since Harmon will be doing Paris Nice. Expect rhapsodies to last night's dinner as the attack of the day goes off, riders who aren't even in the race announced as stage winners and utter confusion about team names and jerseys. A blind chimpanzee would do a better job than this clueless old buffer.

BU-URNS ! Leave Duffers alone !! He may be 113 and dress like a circus clown but he is David Duffield...

Ps What ever happened to Mike "back in Paris" Smith ?

Chips Lovell

Funkyzeit wrote: »

BU-URNS ! Leave Duffers alone !! He may be 113 and dress like a circus clown but he is David Duffield...

Ps What ever happened to Mike "back in Paris" Smith ?

Duffield is probably the most incompentant fool to have ever walked into a television studio. It just goes to show that no one senior at Eurosport has a clue about cycling or he'd be off the air in a flash. He's an embarrassment.

Isn't Mike in Paris only wheeled out for the Tour?

sean_d

According to Andy's CN diary, he and Frank are swapping schedules so it should be Frank lining out in P-N. He looked pretty sharp at the end of California, so could be a good bet?

Outsiders?...Jurgen Van den Broeck of Silence Lotto can time trial and climb(with Evans, Gilbert, Matt Lloyd supporting...) or one last hurrah by Moreau?

Raam

They need Backstedt in there commentating more.

Funkyzeit

el tonto wrote: »

Isn't Mike in Paris only wheeled out for the Tour?

Normally but wasn't there last year - just wondering was he dumped...

EDIT: Quick google - now commentating on snooker...

Raam

Funkyzeit wrote: »

Normally but wasn't there last year - just wondering was he dumped...

EDIT: Quick google - now commentating on snooker...

Who did they have back in Paris then? There was defo someone.

Funkyzeit

Raam wrote: »

Who did they have back in Paris then? There was defo someone.

Carlton Kirby (does a lot of motor sports)

sy

el tonto wrote: »

Duffield is probably the most incompentant fool to have ever walked into a television studio. It just goes to show that no one senior at Eurosport has a clue about cycling or he'd be off the air in a flash. He's an embarrassment.

I think you might be a little harsh here tonto. He was the original of the species and he wasn't nearly as bad back then as in later years. We were damn glad of some extended coverage of cycling on tv at the time, even if, as he got older, the old clangers increased exponentially! Mind you he knew which restaurants had the best food and wine:)