Paris - Nice, March 9, Stage 3: Cusset/Mont Brouilly *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Date: Wednesday 9th March
Type: Hilly
Distance: 168Km
Start/Finish: Cusset/Mont Brouilly


Stage map:



Profile:



Last 5km:



The General Classification after Stage 2:



Preview (© www.letour.com):

Interesting test for Matthews in Beaujolais vineyards

Paris-Nice takes a little bit of altitude in today's third stage to Mont Brouilly, a 3-km 7.7 pc climb on hillsides better known for the 13 pc percentage of alcohol in their world famous Beaujolais wines. Surprisingly strong in Sunday's prologue, impressively solid in his defence of his yellow jersey in Monday's tricky finale, winner again in swashbuckling fashion in Tuesday's bunch sprint in Commentry, Michael Matthews could again be the man to watch in a 168-km third stage that could actually suit him ideally. The Australian has always relished bumpy finishes and he insists he has worked on his climbing skills in the mid-season. “We've already been up Mont Brouilly in Paris-Nice two years ago,” he noted, aware that the finish line then lay at the bottom of the climb rather than the top. Still, as the Orica-Greenedge team leader puts it, this is bound to be an “interesting” finish, especially as weather forecasts are extremely gruelling. Winner of two of the three stages held so far, “Bling” is now the man to beat and the other contenders for final victory may be wary of waiting a little bit too long to try and topple him from top spot. Some of the leading favourites, like Alberto Contador, Geraint Thomas, Romain Bardet, Tom Dumoulin or holder Richie Porte will also be interesting to watch in the finale. With five third-category climbs and two second-category ascents, the stage will also be a fine opportunity for polka-dot jersey ambitions to reveal themselves along the way.

LIVE TV:
Eurosport 2 - 3.30pm

HIGHLIGHTS:
Eurosport 2 - 6:30pm & 9.30pm

Melodeon

The nip at the end looks nasty enough, especially as they'll be doing it twice.

Tirreno-Adriatico starts tomorrow, and appears to be getting priority for Live coverage from Eurosport.
Paris-Nice for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 3:30pm isn't denoted as 'Live Cycling' in the SKY EPG, but is at the same time as previously scheduled Live coverage, so I'm not entirely sure if it's live or delayed.
Time will tell, I suppose.

Anyone want to do stage threads for Tirreno-Adriatico???

MPFGLB

Paris Nice should be eventful tomorrow with that climb

Mostly to see if Matthews hangs on and also Dumoulin...or if Bert shows some of his brilliance of ore


( Just finished work and off to bed so cannot do TA thread - maybe knock something up tomorrow during the TTT )

Pudsy33

Gallopin for me

MPFGLB

Diary : http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-i-dont-know-how-they-managed-to-stay-up-in-sprint-34523746.html

stecleary

Stage 3 cancelled due to weather conditions, snow falling,

07Lapierre

Ok I know this photo is from Liege-Bastogne-liege...but I wonder what the Badger thinks of these new "Extreme Weather Protocals"?

https://rouleur.cc/sites/default/files/Hinault%20Liege%201980%20Offside.jpg

bazermc

Anybody else watch the highlights on ES2 not realising it was the highlights for yesterday stage that they had already watched???