Paris-Nice 2017 - Stage 2 ***SPOILERS***

Melodeon

Stage Map:



Stage Profile:



The General Classification after Stage 1:


It's a flat stage that would normally be a shootout between the sprinters, but we all saw what happened yesterday...

robyntmorton

Looking at the forecast for today, it's going to be wet and cold, with some gusty southerly winds (up into mid 30's at times)

Could add to the fun for the peloton today.

Melodeon

It'll be fascinating to see how this plays out.
Will the gaggle of big shots who are at 1 minute and more off the lead give it a determined go and try to make it back into contention, or will they throw their hats at it and treat it as a 'training and conditioning' race, or might they work for their teammates who find themselves unexpectedly up at the sharp end?
I'll be shouting for Dan anyway!

Inquitus

Melodeon wrote: »

It'll be fascinating to see how this plays out.
Will the gaggle of big shots who are at 1 minute and more off the lead give it a determined go and try to make it back into contention, or will they throw their hats at it and treat it as a 'training and conditioning' race, or might they work for their teammates who find themselves unexpectedly up at the sharp end?
I'll be shouting for Dan anyway!

Porte and Contador are not out of this at all yet, it just makes it more interesting. Porte is still the bookies favourite...

TheBlaaMan

There was a week long race a few years ago that started out just like this, with GC guys all losing a minute on day 1 (or 2) - it may even have been P-N the year Betancur won it?? Anyway, it all all came back together by day 5 or 6 and I suspect this one will too....

Inquitus

Its getting tasty out there

Melodeon

Ooooh, that looks bleak! :eek:

Inquitus

It's been snowing according to Quickstep

https://twitter.com/quickstepteam/status/838715828702965762

brocbrocach

Why did Bennett try so hard yesterday I wonder? He was on his own 2+ minutes down at the end. If he wasn't going to win, and he wasn't, that was no good at all to him - he should've just sat back and lost 15 minutes and be fresh for today.
That said, fair play to him, he looks like he's getting a real handle on classics racing.

cunavalos

Dan caught behind the split with contador at 35 seconds. Porte is even further back.

Allaphillippe and Gallopin are the main GC guys who are in the front group but Sam Bennett is also in the front group with the likes of Kittel, Demare and Degenkolb

cunavalos

Scratch that Zakarin and Henao also in front group and Dan, Contador now at 50 seconds. With Alaphillippe up the road Dan will have to sit on and see if other teams will lead the chase

Inquitus

Porte over 3 minutes back now.

Melodeon

Looks like Dan has dropped out of the pursuing Contador/Gilbert group

Inquitus

Zakarin, Allaphilippe, Henao or Gallopin the only 3 riders in the GC hunt if this sticks which looks likely, 2nd group on the road going backwards, most teams have someone up front, so not much help for Contador.

Inquitus

Some hope for Dan if true, lots of mixed reports as the race is all over the road.

Group with Yates, Martin came back to the group Contador and are now chasing hard. Gap is already 40" down.

cunavalos

Yeah, confirmed Dan is back with the Contador group and 55 seconds behind the lead group which still contains Bennett.

Inquitus

Back together at the front, Dan, Contador, Yates all back in, Sam there too. Lil Richie 5 minutes back.

dastardly00

Anyone know where Roche is?
I know he was ahead of Porte on the road earlier, but I don't know if the team called him back.

https://twitter.com/BMCProTeam/status/838744096214814720

robyntmorton

Live coverage now on ES1. Just finishing up their summary of yesterday.

velo.2010

Just catching this now. Thought I saw a Quickstep rider waving as if there was an upcoming obstacle.... he wasn't... he was trying to get some heat back into his hands!
#itscoldoutthere

robyntmorton

velo.2010 wrote: »

Just catching this now. Thought I saw a Quickstep rider waving as if there was an upcoming obstacle.... he wasn't... he was trying to get some heat back into his hands!
#itscoldoutthere

Nobody mention Rule 5. I think they've proven their credentials! #brrrrr

TheBlaaMan

dastardly00 wrote: »

Anyone know where Roche is?
I know he was ahead of Porte on the road earlier, but I don't know if the team called him back.

https://twitter.com/BMCProTeam/status/838744096214814720

Any suggestions as to what happened to Porte?

I dont think yesterdays headline about him is appplicable any more....
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/porte-it-was-a-disaster-but-not-too-much-of-a-disaster/

robyntmorton

Nothing from BMC on Twitter about cause, but this was posted about 30 mins ago
https://twitter.com/BMCProTeam/status/838764182346551296

robyntmorton

Colbrelli (TBM) at the end of a fantastic sprint. Degenkolb (TFS) in second. Demare (FDJ - 3rd) keeps Yellow.

TheBlaaMan

robyntmorton wrote: »

Nothing from BMC on Twitter about cause, but this was posted about 30 mins ago
https://twitter.com/BMCProTeam/status/838764182346551296

Ah well, maybe Nico will be relieved of babysitting duties and be alowed to go in a break

Somedude9

Dan's gonna win this

robyntmorton

Somedude9 wrote: »

Dan's gonna win this

It is looking more and more possible!

Inquitus

14m16s down for Porte, and Roche helping, on today's stage.

robyntmorton

I'd say the Quick Step chat over dinner will be exactly on how to control the race from here on out. Having Alaphilippe, Gilbert, and Martin all up there makes it very much theirs to run with.

Inquitus

robyntmorton wrote: »

I'd say the Quick Step chat over dinner will be exactly on how to control the race from here on out. Having Alaphilippe, Gilbert, and Martin all up there makes it very much theirs to run with.

There's too much climbing for Gilbert to be a factor, but the other 2 lads are certainly in the hunt.

TheBlaaMan

robyntmorton wrote: »

I'd say the Quick Step chat over dinner will be exactly on how to control the race from here on out. Having Alaphilippe, Gilbert, and Martin all up there makes it very much theirs to run with.

Inquitus wrote: »

There's too much climbing for Gilbert to be a factor, but the other 2 lads are certainly in the hunt.

With Alaphilippe already ahead on GC, albeit only marginally, I'd have thought that Dan may have to support him - it's a French race after all and he is well capable of sticking in on a lot of tough climbs - that said, Col de la Couillole on Saturday may be far better suited to Dan?? I think I heard Kelly say that it was the highest P-N has ever climbed?

dastardly00

The weather has been shocking and the racing has been hard... fatigue may set in quite early for a lot of riders. I wouldn't look too far ahead in the week to be honest!

buffalo

Roche is doing his usual column:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicholas-roche-we-took-a-severe-beating-today-and-lost-all-hope-of-winning-this-race-35508385.html

Here's stage one as well:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/hopefully-today-was-the-storm-before-the-calm-35504244.html

(Try not to read the next piece in the cycling section, it's completely incoherent and you'll never get those two minutes of your life back.)