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Paris-Nice (spoiler)
Last Post 03/12/2018 08:06 PM by Dale Dale. 9 Replies.
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79pmooney

Posts:3178

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03/04/2018 05:07 PM
Cyclng News had a photo of Demare leaning hard into Izagirre but neither Cycling News nor Velonews said anything re: maybe some irregular sprinting, just that the protaganists were an unusual pair and the sprint was hard and close.   I saw the photo and thought "huh?"

Turns out Demare slipped on the cobbles moments after crossing the line, fell into Izagirre and neither crashed.  Some good riding!  I never paid one second of attention to Izagirre, but after that, he has my respect.

http://www.velonews.com/2018/03/gallery/gallery-paris-nice-rain-crashes-cobbles-stage-1_458623  (photo 16 of the gallery of 19)

Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/04/2018 08:39 PM
Yeah, they ran together after the line....crazy close sprint, but one boring ass stage leading up to it.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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03/09/2018 11:27 AM
Good stage today (for most, not one certain Sky rider). Sanchez, wow! Flats on the fast descent to the final climbs where the whole race is focused on positioning for the short, steep Cat 1 climb to almost the finish. Oscar Friere hands him his bike. He makes it to the peloton just before the climb (as best I can tell from the Cycling News text) and is escorted by a teammate to the front group,all while the peloton is going full gas and totally strung out. Finishes 4th, st. Again, wow!

I hope he pulls this race off. He's earned it, in style. (And he got zero consideration for being in the yellow jersey and having a mechanical. Wout Poels attacked a couple of times while Sanchez was trying to rejoin the leaders. Is there karma?)

Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/11/2018 09:03 PM
That was a helluva finish to P-N.....two years in a row it comes down to the final finish line.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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03/12/2018 09:36 AM
Race to the cold rain.
zootracer

Posts:833

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03/12/2018 10:02 AM
I got cold just watching....
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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03/12/2018 11:55 AM
Sagan! Right behind Gaveria when Gaveria went down 8 km to go. Missed him but according ot Cycling news, got a bike change. Finished 2nd behind Kittel!

Getting back on after a bike change when Q-S is driving for the sprint in 5 miles!, then being able to almost catch Kittel? Crazy.

Has there ever been a rider with more tools in his bag in the closing miles of a race?

Edit: I just read Velonews.  Sagan locked up his wheels avoiding Gaveria and did indeed get a bike or wheel change. Then

"After catching the back of the bunch, Sagan weaved through traffic, at one point pulling off an unbelievable inside-line maneuver on a roundabout, hopping curbs and slotting into the top 10.

Around the final right-hand bend, a slight gap opened up in the sprint, and Kittel was forced to open up the throttle. Sagan was right on his wheel and made a late acceleration on the left side, but he couldn’t overcome the German speedster in the lunge to the line."  

(from http://www.velonews.com/2018/03/race-report/tirreno-adriatico-stage-6-kittel-wins-ahead-remarkable-sagan_459516#bKcJLVKMXysLD5Sg.99 )


Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/12/2018 01:33 PM
Yeah, I'm calling BS on the "bike / wheel change" storyline.....pack was in full-flight at that point. I see no way he got a bike change and caught back on inside of 7km. Until I see video of it, I'm not buying.

Hell, he woulda had to catch back on within a couple of KM because he was back up front when they went through he final roundabout....His line there was crazy though....a deft piece of bike handling and butter-smooth.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/12/2018 01:48 PM
Final km's of the race are below....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7AOuwf8YIE

Crash happens @ 8K to go. You can see Sagan catch back on w/ 4K to go....I see no way he got any kind of an equipment change and made up that difference in 4K. Just the crash itself delayed him enough to create the gap he needed to close.

But I will gladly admit I am wrong if video evidence shows up....
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Dale

Posts:1767

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03/12/2018 08:06 PM
The move at the roundabout was Tchmil-worthy
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