Episode Topics:
Classics style racing and super-teams meet for Paris Nice.
Social Media:
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Strava:
Aaron - https://www.strava.com/athletes/777347
Sam - https://www.strava.com/athletes/150453
Strava…..Stats of the week!
Sam - 43 miles, 1000ft
Aaron - 180 miles, 4900ft
Ride of the Week:
Sam - Sunday neighborhood add on ride 43 miles, 1000ft
Aaron - Monday prepping for rain 65 miles, 2200ft
Pro Cycling News:
Race Coverage:
Paris Nice
Stage 1 - Echelons create a split in the race including 5 Sunweb riders doing no work. Barguil spends a massive amount of time coming back to the race behind the team car and seems to be calling it a day but continues behind the car (later disqualified). Benoot and Alaphillipe initiate proceedings with 30km to go and the peloton finally wakes up to bring the gap down going into the final climb. Tuens and Schachmann go in pursuit of the two leaders which brings the group of 4 together. Schachmann closes down the gap to Alaphilippe and Benoot and eventually takes the stage win.
Stage 2 - Sagan leads out Schachmann for 3 sec time bonus. Echelons split the peloton around 30k and shortly after a crash by Nairo and flat by Alaphilippe. 2 main groups form with Schachmann, Nibali and Higuita in the front group. Around 10k Sagan hits the front and further splits the group. Sunweb tactics? They had 4 in the front group and sent back 3 to help Benoot. Sagan does the lead but but Nizzolo comes around Ackerman for the win
Stage 3 - Headwinds. A few minor crashes but action starts around 12k where teams look to split and make the race harder. Crash at 6k and Alaphilippe goes to the front to make it harder. Crash in the final 500 taking out Ewan and Bennett by Hofstetter. Sagan in perfect p2 but couldn’t make an attempt to come around Cortina who wins. Sagan I will say looking stronger these last few days and doing a good amount of work.
Stage 4 - TT. Impressive win by Kragh Andersen. Biggest takeaways though are Schacmann a close 5 seconds in 2nd and how much time he’s put into his rivals; looking like the start of a great stage racer. That and Higuita only conceding 46 seconds putting him better than the main GC riders (Nibali, Pinot, Nairo, showing he can do a decent TT despite his size and knowing he can climb. Disappointing for Alaphilippe at 36 seconds back coming in as a favorite for the stage. Not bad for Porte at 34”.
Stage 5 - Breakaway can they stay away? Tejay goes home for fear of flights to the US being cancelled. Tratnik from the break takes them to the line...almost. He’s caught within the last 100 by the bunch and Bonifazio takes the sprint.
Stage 6 - Kragh Anderson in the lead group and appeared to be going for yellow. Peloton reels it back near the end of the 2nd to last climb. Benoot and Nibali attack the peloton but Benoot is too strong and drops Nibali. Benoot catches up with Anderson who gives him one token pull and he goes solo. Peloton behind is not really working together. Splits happen and as they come back together no one really wants to do any work. In the end Benoot takes a solo win and the main competitors come in together with very little time gaps. Higuita secures a podium spot overtaking Andersons slot.
Stage 7 - The queen stage. This came down to the final climb as expected but at least in recent years an unexpected attacker, Nairo makes a move around 3.5k that is never brought back. Benoot makes the next decisive attack just over 1k to go and ends up gaining 12 seconds on Schacmann who does everything he can to hold on to the overall. Good to see Benoot and Schacmann clearly going deep as 2 riders that aren’t 100% known as stage or gc riders.
Takeaways...
