Paris Nice 2014 (Spoiler tags til midnight)

Dr. Bre

Here's the start list http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-nice-2014/start-list

So whos gonna win?

No time trials this year. First three days are flat, 4th and 5th stages are lumpy but the final 3 stages have 1 Category climbs

Lusk_Doyle

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Here's the start list http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-nice-2014/start-list

So whos gonna win?

No time trials this year. First three days are flat, 4th and 5th stages are lumpy but the final 3 stages have 1 Category climbs

Tj or Rui Costa. Time to go check the odds!

Brian?

Nibali.

MPFG

I don't think Niabli is in full form yet plus he just had a baby so maybe tired

I think Chava has a good chance without mountain finishes and the need for tactics

Darkglasses

TJ out already

buffalo

Well bollocks. I thought I was watching this live on Eurosport, but I've just seen the name of the winner in my Twitter feed.

Darkglasses

Andy Schleck lost almost 2 minutes already, got caught the wrong side of a split after a crash and even then seems like he couldn't hang on. Good win for Bouhanni after falling in the same crash

letape

buffalo wrote: »

Well bollocks. I thought I was watching this live on Eurosport, but I've just seen the name of the winner in my Twitter feed.

Similar happened to me - thought it was live and took a quick look at cyclingnews to read about Roma Maxima...

TheBlaaMan

Niki Terpstra's strava track from Stage 1
http://app.strava.com/activities/119115253

Dr. Bre

seems to be bonus seconds up for grabs this year. will this also apply in the tour?

Brian?

Dr. Bre wrote: »

seems to be bonus seconds up for grabs this year. will this also apply in the tour?

Used to be the same in the Tour, it was great. It meant that there was sprinters fighting it out in the first week for yellow as well as green. It was the reason Kelly wore yellow AFAIK.

I don't think it's going to be back this year though.

pelevin

Time bonuses a big reason the first week of the Giro was fantastic last year.

Put a few euros on Chavanel at 12/1 to add a bit of interest in the week.

TheBlaaMan

Recap of Stage 2 from earlier today, - chaotic in last few km's
http://cyclingtv.neulion.com/cycling/console.jsp?&id=3030

buffalo

Anyone know if that Cofidis rider was docked time as well as Meersman?

TheBlaaMan

buffalo wrote: »

Anyone know if that Cofidis rider was docked time as well as Meersman?

Nope, but here's what did for Meersman (

now abandoned

)
"Meersman was docked 20 seconds for each of two lengthy spells in the slipstream of the Omega Pharma-QuickStep car, and a further 30 seconds for a hand sling inside the final kilometre."

buffalo

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Nope, but here's what did for Meersman (

now abandoned

)
"Meersman was docked 20 seconds for each of two lengthy spells in the slipstream of the Omega Pharma-QuickStep car, and a further 30 seconds for a hand sling inside the final kilometre."

Not to mention a 400CHF for both him and the DS.

But was wondering if they were making an example of him, or was Cofidis docked 20" for the time he spent drafting? Or is it okay, because it wasn't his own team car?

ragazzo

buffalo wrote: »

Not to mention a 400CHF for both him and the DS.

But was wondering if they were making an example of him, or was Cofidis docked 20" for the time he spent drafting? Or is it okay, because it wasn't his own team car?

The commissaire had to do something in that situation as it was fairly blatant and shown live on tv. Eurosport did not miss the handsling either.
Interesting that the handsling was deemed more serious than sitting on the car.

It was a savage ride and Meersman was on the rivet in his attempt to get back on. He still finished 18 seconds down on the winner. It seems a harsh penalty. He didn't get dropped and probably would have been sprinting for a stage win but for the crash.
That's racing...more bad days than good. Make sure you enjoy the good days because those memories will get you through the bad ones.

buffalo

ragazzo wrote: »

The commissaire had to do something in that situation as it was fairly blatant and shown live on tv.

I fully understand the situation, but I'm trying to figure out if the Cofidis rider was similarly penalised - he took a lengthy draft as well.

Along with sprinting for the stage win, he was in virtual yellow, and could've well held on to it.

ragazzo

buffalo wrote: »

I fully understand the situation, but I'm trying to figure out if the Cofidis rider was similarly penalised - he took a lengthy draft as well.

Along with sprinting for the stage win, he was in virtual yellow, and could've well held on to it.

There is no mention of the Cofidis rider being penalised although he may well have been. I doubt it though as he was mainly sitting on Meersman and was probably seen as a bit player. The comms screwed the main star both financially and timewise and probably were happy enough with that.

dastardly00

Julien Simon (the Cofidis rider) was 2min 30sec behind Bouhanni in the GC after Stage 2.

After today's stage...

he is still 2min 30sec behind Bouhanni. So he wasn't penalised for drafting in Stage 2.

Darkglasses

Stage finish

Tom Jelte Slagter wins on stage 3 just ahead of Geraint Thomas after making a succesful break. Wilcko Kelderman of Belkin completes the podium. Geraint Thomas is the new GC leader

Darkglasses

Stage finish

Carlos Betancur makes a great start to 2014 by winning today's stage! Another successful breakaway today with Jakob Fuglslang and Bob Jungels of Trek. Decent racing despite the relative lack of big names. Geraint Thomas retains the yellow jersey, however it has tightened up at the top. Betancur is now 4th, 5 seconds behind Thomas

buffalo

Really enjoying this year's edition.

Tightness at the top keeps it exciting.

dastardly00

We should see an exciting last 30km or so today

Darkglasses

We might also see our favourite Colombian in yellow this evening!

MPFG

Darkglasses wrote: »

We might also see our favourite Colombian in yellow this evening!

He has so much talent...pity he is so undisciplined ...bit like Jan Ulrich with the pies

Think if he can get his timing right he is a very good bet for a classic this year

Morrisseeee

Fcek, that's a steeep finish, ouch :pac:

Darkglasses

I called it! Betancur is the yellow jersey going into the final weekend

Brian?

There goes me fiver on Nibali.

He was aggressive enough on the descents, but he's nowhere near top form.