Paris-Nice, March 11, Stage 5: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux/Salon-de-Provence *SPOILERS*

Melodeon

Date: Friday 11th March
Type: Mountains
Distance: 198Km
Start/Finish: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux/Salon-de-Provence


Stage map:



Profile:



Main climb, Km 71.5, Chalet Reynard - Mont Ventoux. Category 1:



Last 5km:



The General Classification after Stage 4:



Preview (© [URL=hhttp://www.letour.com/paris-nice/2016/us/stage-5/news/enj/matthews-does-not-fear-ventoux.html]www.letour.com[/URL]):

Matthews does not fear Ventoux

The word Ventoux is one of the most feared in cycling but it does not really impress Paris-Nice leader Michael Matthews, nor most of the peloton as the ascent to Chalet-Reynard takes place 126.5 km before the finish line in Salon-de-Provence. Still three cold and rainy days as well as several climbs already proved a bit hard for several sprinters like Marcel Kittel or stage 1 winner Arnaud Demare, forced out with a knee injury, and the yellow jersey holder admitted he saw the 198-km stage 5 as a possible objective. "Tomorrow is another hard day but I think I can get over the Ventoux. If that's the case and there's a few sprinters left, I'll be among those who stand a good chance," the Australian said, refusing to choose yet between a stage win and a GC position. His Orica-Greenedge team director Laurenzo Lapage was more straightforward: "Of course Michael wants to win a third stage and I believe stage 5 suits him better. We climb the Ventoux, but it's very far from the finish line so it shouldn't be a problem. Michael is in great shape, he can look for a good GC standing. But winning Paris-Nice? No. Saturday's and Sunday's stages are too hard." With the first category Ventoux on the course and three more second category climbs on offer - which could prove more decisive -, the mountain classification is prone to changes but current holder Evaldas Siskevicius of Lithuania is already more than happy to be sporting the polka-dot jersey on the most famous mountain in the sport.

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MPFGLB

Well done melodeon

I didn't have the time to do a TA thread ...I probably would have stayed up late but there doesn't seem to be an appetite for these threads at the moment

I mean the purpose is to share views but not happening

Might as well finish PN for now

dastardly00

I haven't been able to watch any of the cycling this week unfortunately. I must catch up this weekend. Cheers for doing the threads and previews though.

Inquitus

Not sure if this has been posted already, but some great onboard footage from the abandoned Stage 3, you can't really argue with the decision.

https://www.facebook.com/katushacycling/videos/959098407479262/

Melodeon

I quite enjoy making these threads, even if they aren't overwhelming the forum with traffic.

As I wrote sometime last year when I was making similar threads, I usually don't get to see much of these stages/races as they happen live during the day. I generally end up watching the recorded 'live' stage as I have my dinner and settle in for the evening.
So, I'm not in a position to contribute as things unfold, and I deliberately avoid the thread until I've actually seen the stage.
I suspect lots of others are in similar positions.

These 1 week stage races aren't as compelling to follow as the Grand Tours, so people are less inclined to schedule holidays to dedicate to watching them or to keep an eye on them in work; this all adds up to much less live traffic in the thread than we'd see in the 3 week tours or the classics held during a weekend.

MPFGLB

Melodeon wrote: »

I quite enjoy making these threads, even if they aren't overwhelming the forum with traffic.

As I wrote sometime last year when I was making similar threads, I usually don't get to see much of these stages/races as they happen live during the day. I generally end up watching the recorded 'live' stage as I have my dinner and settle in for the evening.
So, I'm not in a position to contribute as things unfold, and I deliberately avoid the thread until I've actually seen the stage.
I suspect lots of others are in similar positions.

These 1 week stage races aren't as compelling to follow as the Grand Tours, so people are less inclined to schedule holidays to dedicate to watching them or to keep an eye on them in work; this all adds up to much less live traffic in the thread than we'd see in the 3 week tours or the classics held during a weekend.

Well that is fine as long as you like doing the threads...keep it up ...you are doing a great job