I’ve just heard French journalist Jean-Paul Brouchon announce that the wind is “terrible, blowing at 80km/h” near the finish of Stage 2 in Paris-Nice. Conventional weather reports suggests it’s much calmer but that a 20km/h breeze is possible. Note the map of the stage, in particular the section at the end. The race heads in … Read more
The route had leaked out but today sees official confirmation of the Paris-Nice stages, starting on Sunday 6 March without a short prologue but a road stage instead. The 2011 “race to the sun” is also an edition with other differences, notably featuring a 27km time trial across the rolling hills of Provence. Stage 5 … Read more
We’re too used to seeing TV coverage that looks at the action in reverse, the motorbike cameraman looks backwards. But of course this is not how a rider sees things, he is looking ahead, sometimes to the side and only occasionally will he glance over his shoulder. So here’s a great photo from L’Equipe that … Read more
I’d put out a quick guide to the early stages on Sunday and promised to return with the later stages in due course. I got lucky, my predictions came true, from the crashes and crosswinds on Stage 1, to Stage 3 likely to cold as well as selective than might think. So here is the … Read more
I blogged about Laurent Fignon and his book on Monday hoping that he’d be with the Paris-Nice race. He’s been part of the race since he first rode it in 1982, later winning a stage in 1987. On retirement he took over the race organisation from Corrine Leulliot. He sold the race onto ASO – … Read more
A surprise winner of the prologue in Paris-Nice today. But it was 2°C and windy, the sort of conditions you’d expect a Dutch cyclo-cross rider to “enjoy”, even if Boom is much more than a cross rider, he’s long been mentioned as a real talent. He’s only 24 but has already won the Tour of … Read more