'Individual Timing for Each Rider in Paris-Nice Team Time Trial' - A glance at the Paris-Nice cycling event featuring separate time records for each team member
In an exciting departure from tradition, the 2023 edition of Paris-Nice will feature a modified team time trial (TTT) on stage three. This change aims to level the playing field and force each team to adopt the best strategy to lead out their leader in the final stretch.
The TTT, taking place in Nevers, will be the first of its kind in over three decades. Its counterpart in Auxerre on stage one of the race will also be a spectacle to behold, as teams race against the clock in this unique format. The times in this TTT will be registered on the first rider of each team across the line.
This year's TTT format is a departure from the usual, with each team's time being based on the individual times of their riders, rather than the fourth rider's time as is common. This change may result in all seven riders getting different times on the general classification (GC).
Former TTT team member Dan Martin believes that stage three will be a race of two halves. He anticipates teams shedding riders as they go, especially if they follow his theory that five riders are ideal for a TTT group. Alex Dowsett, a six-time British time trial champion, shares this sentiment, suggesting that teams might keep a cohesive group until 10km to go, and possibly even the last 8km.
The new rule is intended to prevent one team from dominating the Paris-Nice race, especially when the TTT comes early in the week. This could lead to a more evenly shared general classification, as teams strive to balance their efforts to ensure their leader crosses the finish line first.
Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, two formidable riders, are confident they can perform well in the team time trial, despite the new rules potentially allowing them to be head off alone. However, Dan Martin thinks that isolating the leader with 5km to go would result in losing time due to having only two or three riders left.
The new TTT rule is not just about competition; it's also about the spectacle. The potential for egos clashing, as more than one rider might finish at the front, could make for an interesting watch. Dan Martin expects a decent number of riders to be present in the final few kilometers of the team time trial.
The team time trial on stage three of Paris-Nice is a 26.9km rolling test around Auxerre. The second team race against the clock at Paris-Nice will take place in Auxerre as well, making it a fascinating watch for cycling enthusiasts.
Alex Dowsett, finding the new innovation 'brilliant', believes that it should stop a whole team sweeping the top GC standings. This change, he believes, will add an extra layer of excitement to the race, as teams strategize to ensure their leader emerges victorious.
The 2023 Paris-Nice race promises to be an exciting one, with the new team time trial format adding a fresh twist to the competition. Stay tuned for more updates as the race unfolds!
And, in a further exciting development, the team time trial format is also scheduled for stage one of the 2026 Tour de France in Barcelona. Cycling fans can look forward to more of this innovative format in the future.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
