Weather Interferes in the Spring Stage Races

In the first half of March the traditional European WorldTour stage races were held.

 

March 6–13: Paris–Nice;

March 9–15: Tirreno–Adriatico;

 

Paris–Nice (the Race to the Sun) has been held since 1933, and Tirreno–Adriatico (the Race of the Two Seas) since 1966. The French and Italian races open the European stage-race season and are highly valued in the cycling world, though those targeting the Grand Tours still see them as a preparation stage where they check their condition and the level reached according to their training plan.

Still, nobody comes here for a stroll, and the big names (the “bigs” — those fighting for the general classification at the Grand Tours) always give their all here to stand on the top step of the final podium.

 

So it was this time too: the legendary El Pistolero (Spain’s Alberto Contador, multiple winner of all three Grand Tours) rode the French race, and Lo Squalo (Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali, winner of all three Grand Tours) rode the Italian one.

 

 

In both races the weather forced serious changes, which ruled out the decisive mountain battles, and victory proved out of reach for the bigs.

Still, on the last stage of Paris–Nice, Russian team Tinkoff, led by Alberto Contador, gave us a beautiful race; but Britain’s Geraint Thomas, who hit a serious crisis during the stage, managed with his team’s help to minimize his losses, which was enough to win the general classification. The Welshman’s dedication and his team’s heroism are well worth emulating. I must note that, unfortunately, for years now Alberto hasn’t had a lieutenant who would stay at his side to the end.

 

 

In the Italian race, after the cancellation of the mountain stage — which Vincenzo strongly complained about — the classics riders fought for victory, and here too Tinkoff’s world champion Peter Sagan had to settle for second place.

 

 

BMC’s Belgian Van Avermaet beats Peter yet again with the right tactics; the Belgian’s smart racing can’t fail to delight lovers of the classics, and I think that ahead of the classics — the first Monument of which is held today — Greg should be considered the top favorite. He is in excellent form, and I wish him further success.

 

 

The legendary Spartacus (Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara) is leaving top-level cycling after this season, and I can’t fail to note his latest success in his final season. First Spartacus won the Strade Bianche, which keeps growing and is highly valued in the cycling world, and now at Tirreno–Adriatico he gave nobody his trademark individual time trial.

 

 

 

 

Featured image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com

Inside post thumbnail image: Yuzuru SUNADA/www.yuzurusunada.com

 

Special thanks to the Japanese photographer Yuzuru SUNADA for permission to use his works in our publications.

 

 

 

Translated from Georgian with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), reviewed by the Velorbola editors.