Grand Départ 2020 - Stage 2: Nice Haut Pays - Nice 186 km *Spoilers*
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,730
Stage 2: Nice Haut Pays - Nice 186 km
At 186 kilometres, the Tour de Frances serves the first chance for climbers as early as the 2nd stage. The GC battle begins early as the Tour heads straight into the mountains with this punishing stage that encompasses 3,752 total meters of climbing.
The course resembles the last stage of the recent editions of Paris-Nice. On all occasions the mountainous route through the interior of the Provence resulted in exciting races.
A mountain stage with two passages at over 1,500m as soon as the second day of the race, that’s a grande première.
The course tackles two category 1 climbs: the Col de la Colmiane and the Col de Turini — both climbs soar above 1,500 meters — before descending to tackle the cat. 2 Col d’Èze and the steep Col des Quatre Chemins, which is actually the first part of the Col d’Èze. The final ascent is 5.5 kilometers at 5.5 percent, and there are bonus seconds of 6, 5, and 2 seconds on the line. The Tour won’t be won today, but it could be lost.
The 2nd stage commences with a prolonged false flat to the deserted village La Bollinette. That’s were the first proper climb of the Tour de France kicks in. The Col de Colmiane is 16.3 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6.3%.
The riders drops down to La Bollène-Vésubie to tackle the impressive Col de Turini, which served as finish climb to the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice 2019. The Turini Pass is 14.9 kilometres long and slopes at 7.3%. The mountain road is narrow and features a dizzying series of hairpins, while the summit lies at an elevation of 1,609 metres.
A downhill of almost 50 kilometres takes the riders down to sea level in Nice before the Col d’Èze looms. The 7.8 kilometres ascent at 7% is crested with 33 kilometres remaining.
The riders drop back down into Nice. They move through the finish on the Promenade des Anglais before turning back into the mountains for one last time. The Col des Quatre Chemins is actually the first part of the Col d’Èze. Atop the Quatre Chemins there are 9 downhill kilometres to the finish line remaining.
The parcours is tailor-made for long-range attackers, although it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise if GC riders show themselves this early. With the finishing descent into Nice the route is perfect for good descenders.
Favourites 2nd stage 2020 Tour de France
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Matej Mohoric, Max Schachmann,
** Egan Bernal, Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Davide Formolo,
* Alexey Lutsenko, Alejandro Valverde, Warren Barguil, Wout van Aert etc etc etc
On the road
Col d'Eze (507 m)
Twice ridden in the Tour de France, in 1953 and 2009, Col d'Eze has really become a cycling classic thanks to Paris-Nice, since the Race to the Sun climbed it 34 times. The greatest riders ever won at the top: Eddy Merckx, Raymond Poulidor, Joop Zoetemelk, Stephen Roche, Sean Kelly, Bradley Wiggins or Richie Porte, the last winner at Col d’Eze in 2015. It is logically Sean Kelly, record holder of victories in Paris- Nice, who won most often at Col d'Eze: five times. Briton Bradley Wiggins holds the record for the fastest ascent in 19:12.
At 186 kilometres, the Tour de Frances serves the first chance for climbers as early as the 2nd stage. The GC battle begins early as the Tour heads straight into the mountains with this punishing stage that encompasses 3,752 total meters of climbing.
The course resembles the last stage of the recent editions of Paris-Nice. On all occasions the mountainous route through the interior of the Provence resulted in exciting races.
A mountain stage with two passages at over 1,500m as soon as the second day of the race, that’s a grande première.
The course tackles two category 1 climbs: the Col de la Colmiane and the Col de Turini — both climbs soar above 1,500 meters — before descending to tackle the cat. 2 Col d’Èze and the steep Col des Quatre Chemins, which is actually the first part of the Col d’Èze. The final ascent is 5.5 kilometers at 5.5 percent, and there are bonus seconds of 6, 5, and 2 seconds on the line. The Tour won’t be won today, but it could be lost.
The 2nd stage commences with a prolonged false flat to the deserted village La Bollinette. That’s were the first proper climb of the Tour de France kicks in. The Col de Colmiane is 16.3 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6.3%.
The riders drops down to La Bollène-Vésubie to tackle the impressive Col de Turini, which served as finish climb to the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice 2019. The Turini Pass is 14.9 kilometres long and slopes at 7.3%. The mountain road is narrow and features a dizzying series of hairpins, while the summit lies at an elevation of 1,609 metres.
A downhill of almost 50 kilometres takes the riders down to sea level in Nice before the Col d’Èze looms. The 7.8 kilometres ascent at 7% is crested with 33 kilometres remaining.
The riders drop back down into Nice. They move through the finish on the Promenade des Anglais before turning back into the mountains for one last time. The Col des Quatre Chemins is actually the first part of the Col d’Èze. Atop the Quatre Chemins there are 9 downhill kilometres to the finish line remaining.
The parcours is tailor-made for long-range attackers, although it wouldn’t come as a complete surprise if GC riders show themselves this early. With the finishing descent into Nice the route is perfect for good descenders.
Favourites 2nd stage 2020 Tour de France
*** Julian Alaphilippe, Matej Mohoric, Max Schachmann,
** Egan Bernal, Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar, Davide Formolo,
* Alexey Lutsenko, Alejandro Valverde, Warren Barguil, Wout van Aert etc etc etc
On the road
Col d'Eze (507 m)
Twice ridden in the Tour de France, in 1953 and 2009, Col d'Eze has really become a cycling classic thanks to Paris-Nice, since the Race to the Sun climbed it 34 times. The greatest riders ever won at the top: Eddy Merckx, Raymond Poulidor, Joop Zoetemelk, Stephen Roche, Sean Kelly, Bradley Wiggins or Richie Porte, the last winner at Col d’Eze in 2015. It is logically Sean Kelly, record holder of victories in Paris- Nice, who won most often at Col d'Eze: five times. Briton Bradley Wiggins holds the record for the fastest ascent in 19:12.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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The all important weather forecast:
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
If Wiggins is the record holder, one would think that it would suit Dumoulin but I doubt we'll see him sticking his head above the parapet just yet. I suspect how everyone recovers from today will play a major part. I wouldn't be completely surprised if it was raced cautiously by the bigger teams and the break takes it. Did de Gendt fall today or was he backing off deliberately? He lost a chunk of time one way or another.0
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That's a beautiful day out. Few beers on the beach watching the sun go down. Fish supper. Perfect day0
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When I descended that side of the Turini a couple of years ago, the amount of rubber on the road from the Monte Carlo Rally was impressive, and the hairpins were really tight.
It's a great cycling base Nice.0 -
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Thanks as ever for these intro threads BS...1
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I was quite excited for this stage and interested to see what happens having big climbs so early in the stage but there's too many miles after the second one to see them really having an impact. I think a minor contender may get caught out though.0
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Mohoric eh? Doesn't really win that often but gets included in a lot of preview star ratings“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!2
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The steep part of the Col des Quatre Chemins could be a launchpad for an attack as per the Poggio. 🤔Pross said:I was quite excited for this stage and interested to see what happens having big climbs so early in the stage but there's too many miles after the second one to see them really having an impact. I think a minor contender may get caught out though.
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Based upon him being arguably the best descender in the peloton.tailwindhome said:Mohoric eh? Doesn't really win that often but gets included in a lot of preview star ratings
What was it that you said about yesterday's star ratings?
Actually I haven't got a clue who will win today, so I am wondering if this is some kind inverted magic spell, you are trying to cast.....tailwindhome said:Alexander Kristoff - for a rider who doesn't win a lot he's featured in a lot of preview star ratings....
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I think he was taking the Mick out of himself.1
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In the good old days Kwiatkowski would have been a favourite for this one and without yesterday's issues I'd have expected to see Gilbert up there.0
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It certainly is. You said yesterday it was like the traditional final day of Paris-Nice. This is much harder.rick_chasey said:Tough stage for a stage 2
2017
2018
2019
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
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I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find out how this stage compares in overall elevation to stage 2 in Yorkshire back in 2014 which is the toughest second stage I can recall.0
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I would expect today's stage has more elevation gain, as although the Yorkshire stage went up and down, the highest point was only 500m or so, whereas they go above 1500m twice today0
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Cough, cough someone's not been reading my thread.Pross said:I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find out how this stage compares in overall elevation to stage 2 in Yorkshire back in 2014 which is the toughest second stage I can recall.
I do try:
At 186 kilometres, the Tour de Frances serves the first chance for climbers as early as the 2nd stage. The GC battle begins early as the Tour heads straight into the mountains with this punishing stage that encompasses 3,752 total meters of climbing."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
The GC guys need to start something this race could get called off early"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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I rate the Yorkshire stage harder ...expecting a similar outcome sprint from elite groupPross said:I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find out how this stage compares in overall elevation to stage 2 in Yorkshire back in 2014 which is the toughest second stage I can recall.
"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Tommy D in the press last week saying their tactics will be based on it being a 3 weeker. (“If it’s not 3 weeks it’s not the Tour anyway”)mididoctors said:The GC guys need to start something this race could get called off early
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In fairness, that doesn't tell us how hard 2014's stage two was. Took a while to find it, but https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/300899927 suggests around 2,600m of height gain for Yok-Sheffield.blazing_saddles said:
Cough, cough someone's not been reading my thread.Pross said:I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find out how this stage compares in overall elevation to stage 2 in Yorkshire back in 2014 which is the toughest second stage I can recall.
I do try:
At 186 kilometres, the Tour de Frances serves the first chance for climbers as early as the 2nd stage. The GC battle begins early as the Tour heads straight into the mountains with this punishing stage that encompasses 3,752 total meters of climbing.
On the face of it the 2014 stage was easier - except it demanded regular short, sharp efforts with no real time to recover, and had the traditional Yorkshire attitude to flattening the maximum gradients within the climbs, eg "d'ye think we're made of cash, lad?" Sheer parochialism makes me want to claim that 2014 was at least as hard, but I'm not sure you can make it stand up statistically. I think it's clear they favour different types of riders though, so maybe a comparison isn't ever going to be fair?
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There's a tailwind out. There are a lot of KoM points on offer. There's a yellow jersey for the winner. Lot of teams will want to be in the break. The start could be pretty mad.Warning No formatter is installed for the format1
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Any sign of cross winds and klaxons.No_Ta_Doctor said:There's a tailwind out. There are a lot of KoM points on offer. There's a yellow jersey for the winner. Lot of teams will want to be in the break. The start could be pretty mad.
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No World Champs jersey on display today.0
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The full casualty list from yesterday:
William Bonnet (Groupama-FDJ) - Pain in right shoulder and left side
John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) - Knee injury
David De la Cruz (UAE Emirates) - Fracture in sacrum
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) - Sacrum complaints
Ryan Gibbons (NTT Pro Cycling) ) - Crash on rib that is already broken
Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) - Broken kneecap
André Greipel (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Four stitches in his leg
Ben Hermans (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Damage to the wrist joint and serious abrasions
Miguel Ángel López (Astana) - Abrasions, minor complaints
Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) - Knee injury
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) - Knee complaints and right shoulder pain
Wout Poels (Bahrain McLaren) - Fracture in rib and bruised lung
Nils Politt (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Back pain
Domenico Pozzovivo (NTT Pro Cycling) - Fracture in elbow
Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) - Knee Injury and Hip Injury
Rafael Valls (Bahrain McLaren) - Broken thigh and right shoulder pain"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Lucky they have an easy stage to ride those injuries off.blazing_saddles said:The full casualty list from yesterday:
William Bonnet (Groupama-FDJ) - Pain in right shoulder and left side
John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) - Knee injury
David De la Cruz (UAE Emirates) - Fracture in sacrum
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) - Sacrum complaints
Ryan Gibbons (NTT Pro Cycling) ) - Crash on rib that is already broken
Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) - Broken kneecap
André Greipel (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Four stitches in his leg
Ben Hermans (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Damage to the wrist joint and serious abrasions
Miguel Ángel López (Astana) - Abrasions, minor complaints
Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) - Knee injury
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) - Knee complaints and right shoulder pain
Wout Poels (Bahrain McLaren) - Fracture in rib and bruised lung
Nils Politt (Israel Start-Up Nation) - Back pain
Domenico Pozzovivo (NTT Pro Cycling) - Fracture in elbow
Pavel Sivakov (INEOS Grenadiers) - Knee Injury and Hip Injury
Rafael Valls (Bahrain McLaren) - Broken thigh and right shoulder pain0
