March 7, 2009 - Okay, the season really is starting this weekend, with the 67thedition of Paris-Nice. Gone are the training camps, and the thousands of miles of training for those camps. Gone too are the preparatory races of Australia, Qatar, California, Italy and Spain- races that have prepared 300-400 elite cyclists for a rendezvous such as Paris-Nice or its sister in Italy, Tirreno-Adriatico. Yes, we had an exciting appetizer last weekend in Belgium with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but that was a race purely for the one-day riders, a few of whom might play some early role in the sprinting stages of the 'Race to the Sun'. The truly serious stuff begins on Sunday, with the GC riders of the peloton showing their full weaponry to one another for the first time in the European season.

Paris-Nice is a race that can only be loved, and I place myself near the top end of its list of admirers. Consider why: an eight-day jaunt from nearby Paris to Nice that takes one through the dead-centre of a country so full of diversity. Although the first four days can be cold and miserable at times, the scenery is to die-for, at a time of the year when France is devoid of tourists and other spoiling factors. P-N allows all of its followers to experience once again the unique flavor of France, from people-watching at some pavement café in a Provençal village, to eating and drinking oneself silly. Cycling and gastronomy seem to go hand-in-hand, and Paris-Nice affords an excellent opportunity to indulge one's curiosity in the dark evenings. It has to be noted that stage two takes us close to white-wine Sancerre and red-wine Burgundy, while the following days spent close to the water sources of St-Yorre and Vichy, allow weary photographers and journalists to flush their systems before the wines of Cotes de Rhone and Provence take their toll.

In between these decadent social hours, the work stimulates both mind and body, for Paris-Nice is an aggressive race if ever there was one. This is a time of the year when riders like Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voeckler or Jens Voigt apply their strengths in full against more tentative rivals like Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans or Luis Leon Sanchez - for whom the Tour de France is the real target. The teams of Astana, Silence-Lotto and Caissed'Epargne need to be on their guard against the individualism of such early-fit legends, another tempting prospect for race-followers to savor. Of course, both sets of cyclists will clash on the race's hillier stages in the south, and this year's race has four such days to enjoy. With Astana graciously allowed back into the race, and 2007 winner Contador ready to perform and imitate Levi Leipheimer's win in California a few weeks back, it can be assumed the little fellow will put in a very decent Day 1 TT, then launch the first of many attacks on the stage to La Montagne de Lure, the only uphill finish of the race.

Contador has a lot more in reserve if the initial attack does not work, as he proved in 2007 by winning the overall on the very last day, and on the very last climb/descent before Nice. If there is one person who stands in the way of another Contador/Astana victory, it is Italy's RinaldoNocentini. A great friend of last year's winner, DavideRebellin, Nocentini is on his own in 2009 as far as team and rider combines are concerned - and his AG2R team is likely to be wanting in respect of any support. But it appears that anyone coming out of the California race, like Nocentini, can expect to be more in-form than those that did not ride in the USA last month. The weather conditions in California would have prepared Nocentini well for Paris-Nice, and who's to say his French team won't ride above themselves? Once again, the organisers have rewarded its followers with a route suitably dove-tailed for surprises and traditional racing, at the end of which should be found a very, very, talented winner. As ever, there is a feeling with Tour de France-associated races that the sport is in a very healthy state - and they are so well organized that everyone travels from north to south of France with a big smile on their faces, a smile that grows wider as the racing gets better and the sun comes out to play. Yes, the season starts here!

Previous 2009 Views:
January 19
February 12