After two dramatic days Stage 3 promises calmer weather, just as there’s still the prospect of crosswinds and rain. This is the gourmet’s stage where the locations along the way read like names on a menu.
Stage 2 Wrap: with strong wind and pouring rain from the start the race began to split apart with six groups scattered over the road and there was still 150km to go. The lead group included GC contenders Ilnur Zakarin, Sergio Henao, Julian Alaphilippe and Tony Gallopin. Alberto Contador and Richie Porte were there too but were ejected. The race saw groups forming, splitting and regrouping. Contador would eventually get back to the front as part of large group but Richie Porte cracked under pressure and ended up losing 14 minutes.
Just as the race was regrouping six riders got away including Philippe Gilbert. The Belgian champion took off solo and looked to have a decent lead until he reached 8km to go where the course turned onto the long straight road to the finish and put him in a direct in the headwind. The agony of trying to hold off the bunch had him pulling faces à la Voeckler. He’d be caught and the bunch sprint looked inevitable.
Sonny Colbrelli jumped, sat down to change gears, and kicked again and held off the other sprinters. A big surprise win as Colbrelli has been a force on hillier days. But this was a hard day and the sprint proved to be a test of stamina as much as speed with several riders sprinting in oversized rain jackets and others saying just gripping hold of the bars proved tough given the cold and wet conditions. Colbrelli’s triumph was a surprise but he fully deserved the win.
The Route: 190km as the race continues its procession towards the sun. This is the gourmet’s stage: a start in Chablis and intermediate sprints in Epoisses and then Mércurey but of course it’s energy food for the riders. This is wine country and while it can make mouths water it means sloping terrain with vineyards that offer no protection from the wind.
The Côte de Grandmont marks the start of the hilly phase of the stage. Listed as 2.4km with an average gradient of 4.9%, it’s a regular climb up to the mountains prize point… and then the road keeps on climbing soon after. It’s nothing big but this marks the start of several short, sharp climbs that aren’t marked and it’ll begin to blunt the sprinter’s legs. Much of the route is exposed but this section runs along a ridge topped wind wind turbines, a clue and the forecast is for a mischievous three-quarters tailwind. This hilly parenthesis ends atop the Côte de Charrecey, 2.1 km at 6.7%, a big wide road with a steady gradient but with a rasping surface to make it just that bit harder. From the top of the climb there’s 25km to go on a main road to the finish in Chalon-sur-Saône, some of it past famous vineyards.
The Finish: fast and flat. The race rounds those identical roads you get on the periphery of any large town or city in France but with few obstacles and a long run for the final two kilometres beside the Saône river. With 400m to go the road rises a few metres to meet a bridge that spans the river and then it drops back town, the only technical detail in the finish.
The Contenders: we haven’t had a straight sprint yet. It’s likely today but two days of full on racing means many legs will feel wooden today. The hills and crosswinds could further dent a few chances, the wind could scythe the peloton again and the hills shouldn’t drop riders but they could could dull the legs. This means Marcel Kittel has his work cut out today, a dragstrip finish awaits but he’s got to get there first. Alexander Kristoff and Arnaud Démare are the two other strong picks because of their form, power and crucially their positioning during the race, they’ve not been caught out so far. André Greipel will find the course to his liking too.
In the next wave of picks comes Dylan Groenewegen while Bryan Coquard has been struggling and finished second last yesterday, a case of “retreat to better advance” as a French general once said or is Le Coq cooked? John Degenkolb should be in the mix too and these latter two will prefer the hillier nature of this course.
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Alexander Kristoff |
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Marcel Kittel, André Greipel |
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Démare, Degenkolb, Groenewegen, Coquard |
Weather (updated 10am CET): rain clearing and the sun might even come out later but temperatures will stay cool with a max of 9°C. There will be a tailwind for much of the stage but on the hillier section between the two KoM points the higher ground will be windier and it’s forecast to gust at 40km/h otherwise it’ll be calmer in the valley.
TV: coverage starts at 3.30pm and the finish is forecast for 4.40pm CET. Tune in to catch the action on the wind-exposed finishing circuit.
You should find it on the same channel as you watch the Tour de France. It’s on Eurosport and you can rely on Cyclingfans and steephill.tv for links to feeds and streams.
from the bits that Eurosport have allowed us to see so far, I have noted the great job that Rowe is doing looking after Henao, constantly looking over his shoulder checking where he is, driving the front group when required etc etc… I imagine Bardet and Porte in particular could have done with something similar – maybe Schar’s injury didn’t help Porte’s chances.
I really thought it might be Porte’s year for the Tour this year, particularly if Sky get distracted, but sometimes he just seems to lack that extra toughness (?..maybe that’s the wrong word) required. Contador was in a similar predicament yday, but battled back somehow.
The bits that Eurosport have allowed us to see so far?? They get the images from ASO……even if they want to broadcast more, it’s nog possible.
Rowe is indeed doing a great job, otherwise Henao would have lost some time in these conditions, think a very, very good GC is possible for him.
The images are from France Télévisions, don’t think any race owner does TV production.
One of the interesting things with Paris-Nice is many teams are full of their classics riders in training so this gives help to the GC contenders. Porte has lost Michael Schär to injury but they’ve still got a strong team but it seemed he cracked yesterday and fell out of the first group. Bardet should have had help from the likes of Oliver Naesen but easier said that done to get everyone in place.
Did the Contador group that got back on contain Tony Martin (and Zakharin?), who was doing a lot of work?
It’s amazing really that a few rain jackets has everyone flummoxed for rider identification?
The commentators must have been pulling faces a la Voeckler too, trying to work out who was who.
From what I’ve seen on the first two stages the wildcards don’t look to have had much chance at a breakaway?
Would today perhaps be more of an opportunity?
And, if so, could a BMC rider – or another without GC interest – join them and have a pop at the stage win?
Romaine Hardy from Fortuneo – Vital Concept was in the break at stage 1 and ended as 5th…
Its currently a very good race situation for Dan Martin and Sergio Henao who have time over all their rivals. This race isn’t usually won by much. I wonder if one of them can hold on once we get a proper mountain? Neither will have great support I think. Quickstep aren’t a mountains team and Sky look to have sent the B team to support Sergio whilst focusing on the early season Giro ambitions of G and Landa in the Giro. Their Tirreno team is much stronger than the one sent here.
This race is turning into a prime example of how racing often happens well before the finish – shame the TV isn’t showing it (where I am anyway).
Are BMC completely incapable of looking after Porte?
Great to see – and hear – Colbrelli win.
Stop sprinting in your rain jackets, you amateurs – take them off in the last few km.
As Inrng pointed out BMC have lost Schär already who might’ve saved Porte but apparently he also suffered from the harsh weather conditions. Not everybody survives as well in the cold.
“Stop sprinting in your rain jackets, you amateurs – take them off in the last few km.” Really, J Evans? I often agree with you and complain too much myself about modern riders having to do nothing but pedal the bike and wipe their own a__, but I think you’re being a bit harsh and impractical with this idea. Should the riders all agree to neutralize the race while jackets are removed and stashed away? And if they’re not already soggy and cold enough, they have to take ’em off at what might be the worst time?
I’d have thought there would be a possibility in the last 10km – then again, I’ve never been in that situation so I don’t know.
Can Bardet start tomorrow in Italy? Can he be added to his squad at T-A?
No. If a rider DNF’s, DQ’s or DNS a stage they cannot start another race until the original race has ended. Unless they can get special permission from the UCI, which they won’t give for a DQ.
Someone else will probably quote the full UCI rule, i cba to dig out the rulebook and find it in full :p
That’s correct. I’d add permission is needed from the UCI and the race that the rider has left.
Thanks, makes sense.