Paris Nice Stage 2

Im hoping meersman or Boeckmans may do something for me today, but they should go well on stage 3, especially after the way boeckmans flew up the climb on the TT yesterday

My theory is that the race only really has two GC days, stages 5 and 8, with the remainder being probably sprints, breakaways or uphill strong sprinter type stages. As a real GC contender TJvG will be marked out and nullified finishing top 20 in a few stages but not up near the front (hopefully otherwise my team is going to fall away quite quickly).

I might pick him up, Wiggins and another GC guy before stage 5 but I'm not going to try and stack my team with top 10 GC guys this early in the race. Fingers crossed I can figure out a way to shoehorn everyone I want into my team with only two transfers a stage.

Well 2 obvious inclusions for today - Boonen and Kittel
form should get me a good points total.

Keeping Levi and Wiggo as GC contenders

In
Huntarovich (on current form the likely winner, though maybe replaced by Hushovd or Haussler tomorrow)
Tom Boonen (long term pick)

Out
Tony Martin
Levi (same as others for dropping TJVG) can get more than 9 (GC & PC jersey) points with Boonen

In team
Degenkolb hopefully his day tomorrow + good finish today.
TJVG can't see him losing the white jersey or top 5 position

Dont understand people dumping TeeJay with the hills just around the corner....If he rides well today he must challenge over the next couple of days....Or am I missing something...

I've brought in Kittel and Boonen - the latter could also get good GC points if he picks up time bonuses (10 secs bonus for stage win, he's currently 11 secs off third). Got rid of Van Gard and Martin with same reasoning as drheaton above. Will probably offload Gretsch and Phinney after today, at least Gretsch gets a teammate bonus if Kittel wins. Also have Viviani and possible minor points from Kruopis so hoping for a good day! (Its all so easy until the stage starts innit?)

Hmm, I went for

Out
Martin and Van Garderen

In
Hushovd and Boonen

I figured the guaranteed 10 points or so for TJVG would be outwayed by a possible 35+ for either one of my two sprinters. Plus I reckon they're more likely to get points over the next two or three stages anyway.

Righto well lets post as deadline is so close

Ive put in Kittel and Haussler for Taaramae and Peraud

I cant see past Viviani (He is in my team also)

Plan on one transfer for tomorrow to give me more flexibility the day after in order to get viviani out then

I think haussler could have the legs to be there on stage 3

Wanted Huntarovich really as think he may podium but could afford thus why i went haussler

Cannot see past Kittel,Renshaw or Boonen today...Degenkolb if he finds a little form...Low score for me today as planning for the hills... :-)...

Are there any time bonuses at the finish line or along the way in this race?...

Ooops missed the name Schleck put of the last post. Second to last word line 1 (they) replace with... the Schleck's. Should now make some sense

Wondering how RADIOSHACK-NISSAN's race/season is going to pan out, if they continue their usual ITT form or lack there of. Can not see either of them gaining two minutes over Wiggo between now and next Sunday which they would need to do if they are going to repeat today's performance stage 8 ITT. They might have more chance in the Tour but then again the ITT is longer and there are 3 TTs.

Anyway not expecting a good score tomorrow got my fingers crossed for a winning break by Kroon and Fofonov. Position 1000 here I come.

Martin gets the heavho, hoping I do better than todays meagre offering

Boonen and Kittel in. Lu-Lu and Martin out.

I knew it was going to rain, and the later riders like Martin might struggle.. Go Larsson.
Anyway, I reckon i might see how well i might do all tour without Wiggo, even if he goes on to win it as i expect

Ive made my transfers Gkam, aiming for a decent points score tomorrow and then some luck on stage 3 and hopefully in a good position for stage 4

Andy D, everyone will only have 2 transfers at this moment in time

I am making no changes, going pursuit for a few stages

I missed the deadline by 10 mins (got confused with Eurosports coverage timings!) so was unable to change my team before the start of prologue, at that time it was saying i had 4 transfers, now i only have 2 available. Surely i should have 4 as i didnt make any transfers on previous stage.

Please give me a chance, at the momement I potentially only have 1 scoring rider before i make any transfers!!!

I've plumped for two strong sprinters who I reckon will see me through a few of the later stages too which are a bit more uphill.

As a purist I have to rely on my sprinters Haussler and Aaen Jorgensen.

Martin out. Vacillated between Boonen (already in GC points, could do well in other stages) and Kittel (more likely to win tomorrow). Chose one of them.