Paris-Nice 2020 *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
edited March 2020 in Pro race
Well, the race is at least starting so here's the thread. Might as well add a stage at a time and see how it goes.

The intended route which can be viewed alongside a virus map of France if anybody has found one:





Richie Porte out the back already, with some very early echelon action.
Peloton in two bits chasing two escapees.

I am sorry but have tried to post the stage profile from 2 sources. It is even showing up in edit, but no joy.
This site is pretty useless in this respect.



"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Ok, more professional than my effort! I ride a bit of the cause this morning and it's pretty windy. Often good racing round here and today there are a couple of steel climbs, one of the near the finish. Not sure the sprinters will appreciate them.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Pederson stops driving at the front now that Porte is back on ;)
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 4,993
    That cobbled climb should be interesting next time round
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    inseine said:

    Ok, more professional than my effort! I ride a bit of the cause this morning and it's pretty windy. Often good racing round here and today there are a couple of steel climbs, one of the near the finish. Not sure the sprinters will appreciate them.

    Soz.
    Didn't see it as I didn't look for it. Too used to starting these things. :D

    Hatch and Kelly, crowds on the testing climb and a very nervous peloton.
    So nice to have some racing to watch.

    Hatch says the quarantine boys are on their was home from the UAE too.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    They'll be passing me in a couple of minutes. Cold wet and windy
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    My man alaphilippe ( see ptp pick!) Driving largish break. EF driving the peloton.
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,224
    Proper echelons!
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 6,873
    Groups all over the place. horrible conditions, & race in pieces!
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    I'm on the next climb. It's tough
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Ewan well off the back
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,224
    Alaphlippe and Benoot lead with 30 secs on chasing group.
  • ocdupalais
    ocdupalais Posts: 4,224
    15.5km to go..
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,217
    When the big boys know this might be it for the classics season, they get on with it.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,217
    Only one bora chaser with QS playing stop behind
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,217
    bahrain sending one in to chase.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,217
    at 11.8km to go gap is up to 43s
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Pederson was sitting at the back of the laughing group. On the other hand Quintana looking very comfortable right in the front of the chase ( main) group
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Exciting finale


    1. Maximilian Schachmann (Gemrany, Bora-Hansgrohe)
    2. Dylan Teuns (Belgium, Bahrain-McLaren)
    3. Tiesj Benoot (Belgium, Sunweb)
    4. Julian Alaphilippe (France, Deceuninck-Quick Step) 3 seconds behind
    5. Cees Bol (Sunweb) 15 seconds.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Alaphilippe picked up useful intermediate time bonuses along the way
  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,549
    Barguil DQ’d for (not very subtle) drafting.
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Was it Bardet that got DQ'd a few years ago on the opening stage?
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    How did Higuita (1.63 , 54kg)finish 8th in a day like that? One place behind Nizzolo. Impressive
  • inseine said:

    Was it Bardet that got DQ'd a few years ago on the opening stage?

    Yeah. As I watched Barguil drafting I thought it must be that time of year, when a French flaneur gets shelled out the back on PN
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 12,607
    inseine said:

    How did Higuita (1.63 , 54kg)finish 8th in a day like that? One place behind Nizzolo. Impressive

    My PTP pick for the overall GC! Good start. However, did Viviani actually take part in today's stage.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    orraloon said:

    inseine said:

    How did Higuita (1.63 , 54kg)finish 8th in a day like that? One place behind Nizzolo. Impressive

    My PTP pick for the overall GC! Good start. However, did Viviani actually take part in today's stage.
    9.33 down. Well ahead of Ewan if that helps
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    So, Alaphilippe managed a miraculous improvement in form from last week, which made him cancel stage recons for this race.
    Given how the ASO have spoiled the final stage this year and have included a lengthy ITT, they really needed the wind to blow in order to stir things up.
    The wind duly did it's job and we got what we wanted: an action packed stage 1.

    Stage 2 looks to be a cert to end in a sprint, unless the wind works it magic again.



    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • david37
    david37 Posts: 1,313
    dam, sounds like a corker and i never watched
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,091
    ITV have a highlights programme thatI presume is available on catch up. Not the same as watching live, but...
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    I completely forgot about this. Bummer.

    Looks like PTP scoring could be difficult this year, so possibly a major setback :)
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    Jonathan Hivert up the road again, building on his KoM points from yesterday.
    Going to be a funny finish with no fans. Chinese style, ironically.