Click to see full-size image. |
The race for the sun is a week long stage race with a little of everything.
Prologue Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 1 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 2 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 3 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 4 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 5 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 6 Click to see full-size image. |
Stage 7 Click to see full-size image. |
Previous Winners2015 PORTE Richie
2014 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto
2013 PORTE Richie
2012 WIGGINS Bradley
2011 MARTIN Tony
2010 CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto
2009 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon
2008 REBELLIN Davide
2007 CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto
2006 LANDIS Floyd
A grand tour compressed into 8 days. Race against the clock for the power men? Yup. Flat finishes to excite the sprinters? Check. Classic type stages for the puncheurs? You bet. Mountain top finish to seperate the men from the boys? Of course, what do you take us for?
Outright winner contendersAlberto Contador7 time grand tour winner(officially) and dual winner of this race. His three Tour de France wins(one wiped out by a doping ban) have all been preceded by racing here where he finished 1st, 4th and 1st. His first visit to this race for 6 years as he tries to end his career with another TDF victory.
Geraint ThomasSky's joker in the pack. A beautiful all round cyclist, capable on almost any stage. This makes him dangerous in a race like this. Will hope to take time in the prologue and hilly stages before trying to defend on the mountain top finishes.
Tom DumoulinLast season's breakout performer, showed incredible courage in the Vuelta, leading the race with around 50kms of real racing left before he finally cracked under sustained Astana attacks. A supremely strong time trialler, he would perhaps have preferred a longer TT. Don't underestimate.
Richie PorteAnother dual winner, Richie is into his first season with BMC and his first taste of being the head honcho. Porte has spoken of peaking for certain races this season and has played down his chances in this race as "a chance to get more race days in the legs". His previous wins have come when Sky allowed him to lead the team in thanks for his continued support of Froome in the TDF. May not be as motivated this time around.
Romain BardetThe next, next, next, next, next, next big French hope. Will probably lose time in the prologue, hang around in the hilly stages then be left with a fair sized deficit to make up in the mountains. Love watching him race but would prefer more mountain kms and may well have too much to do.
Other contendersAs previous winners have shown, it's possible for TTers, puncheurs or mountain men to win this race, we can't rule many out barring the sprinters so riders like Gallopin, Rui Costa, Spilak, Kelderman + 30 others have chances.
BetsNot a race for getting too heavily involved in punting wise but being the degenerate I am I just can't resist.
I like the look of a couple of guys at bigger prices who can time trial well and also climb a bit.
Simon Spilak from Katusha is a very good rider who can tt and climb very well when in form. A decent price to find out.
Same goes for LottoNL-Jumbo's Wilco Kelderman, a second tier grand tour rider, he can be competitive in a race like this.
Recommendation1 pt ew
Simon Spilak 22/1 Paddy Power
1 pt ew
Wilco Kelderman 33/1 Will Hill
https://m.oddschecker.com/t/cycling/paris-nice/winnerIf you made it this far thanks for reading and of course good luck.