Snowy third stage of Paris-Nice cancelled
After a certain amount of humming and hawing over treacherous conditions, race organizers of Paris-Nice cancelled Wednesday's first medium mountain stage.
After a certain amount of humming and hawing over treacherous conditions, race organizers of Paris-Nice cancelled Wednesday’s first medium mountain stage. Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) retains the yellow leader’s jersey. Saturday’s queen stage will now be the main GC battleground.
Conditions were nasty, with seemingly enough snow to enact the extreme weather protocol.
Paris – Neige #ParisNice
1 k before top Mont Brouilly #ParisNice (Photo by @EquipeFDJ pic.twitter.com/ttmAG35n7j
— ProCyclingStats.com (@ProCyclingStats) March 9, 2016
An immense breakaway of 16-riders scuttled up the road on their way to the first of seven categorized climbs. The peloton didn’t give them a long leash and caught most of the escapees between climbs two and three. By that time, the breakaway had splintered and four fugitives carried on in front. Once Stage 1 breakaway Thomas De Gendt (Belgium/Lotto-Fix All) bridged to the move, its gap increased.
Then, with the gap 3:30, a chase group between the break and the peloton, and the third climb, the Col des Écharmeaux, dispatched, race organizers announced the stage would be neutralized.
⚠⚠La course est neutralisée et repartira de Villié-Morgon / The race is neutralised and will start again in Villié-Morgon ⚠⚠#ParisNice
— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 9, 2016
Villié-Morgon was 40-km from the finish, meaning that the riders would still assail Mont Bouilly twice. And so the riders and their machines slowly loaded into cars and started the 29-km journey. But then 16-minutes later…
Stage 3 is cancelled https://t.co/mfosMT4ytU #ParisNice
— Radio Tour – EN (@radiotour_en) March 9, 2016
The riders were thankful for the decision.
Everybody ok after hot shower & warm clothes! @tonygallopin,@Tim_Wellens,@AndreGreipel,@HansenAdam,@DeGendtThomas pic.twitter.com/zdTERbhSkg
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) March 9, 2016
@ParisNice ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????#Respect
— Joaquim RodrÃguez (@PuritoRodriguez) March 9, 2016
Like this finished stage 3 in Paris-Nice.Right decision,was no possible to go on.A pitty sportively. pic.twitter.com/NHvwEeMzJD
— Alberto Contador (@albertocontador) March 9, 2016
Very happy with the Jury decision to cancel the stage. Snow on the road is too much, health and safety of the riders should have priority.
— Simon Geschke (@simongeschke) March 9, 2016
Anyway, good that they cancelled the stage. I think esp in a stage race that decision is very important for the remainder of the race.
— Marcel Kittel (@marcelkittel) March 9, 2016
Kittel’s other Tweet of the day perhaps gave some people more than they wanted to know about the pro peloton.
What an epic, EPIC, EEEEPIC day in Paris-Nice!!!1!! OR maybe just a ridiculous cold one with rain, snow, wind & bibshorts full of warm pee.
— Marcel Kittel (@marcelkittel) March 9, 2016
2016 Paris-Nice GC
1) Michael Matthews (Australia/Orica-GreenEdge) 9:41:46
2) Tom Dumoulin (The Netherlands/Giant-Alpecin) +0:14
3) Patrick Bevin (New Zealand/Cannondale) +0:19
63) Antoine Duchesne (Canada/Direct Energie) +1:20
