Bad weather

Snow, lack of security for riders lead to neutralisation and subsequent cancellation of Mont Brouilly finish. Over at Tirreno, Blues finish 10th in opening TTT

Paris-Nice was forced to stop and ultimately cancel its third stage -168km from Cusset to the Mont Brouilly- due to bad weather also affecting the rain early during Day One to Vendôme.

Snow seriously sticking on the highest climbs of the race, forced to stop, 65 kilometers from the finish, a break originally formed by 16 riders and later reduced to five that included Jesús Herrada, which held a 3'30" gap at the point the race was neutralized. As the riders were initially moved by car to Villié-Morgon, the race organisers and the Jury later decided the race would not be resumed.

Ion Izagirre remains 4th overall and leader of the KOM standings, only classification together with the Points one that was updated today, as times were annulled as a result of the cancellation. The Basque allrounder and his team-mates will try to get back into racing on Thursday during stage four, a flatter 195.5km journey between Juliénas and Romans-sur-Isère with just three minor rated climbs along the way.

Tirreno-Adriático: Start under radar for Blues in Lido di Camaiore

With Castroviejo and Malori out due to injuries and a smaller chance of glory for the squad into a completely flat route, lacking any technical difficulties, the Movistar Team could only take 10th place at the opening, 22.7km team time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico, 29" behind BMC, which brought Daniel Oss into the lead of the 'Race of the Two Seas.'

Keeping its group compact until the finish and riding strong into the second part of the course, where they limited losses after a difficult, opening 9km out of Camaiore, the Blues kept Alejandro Valverde into a decent position GC-wise, the Italian event offering plenty of opportunities for him. The first one should come on Thursday, as a tricky, demanding finish in Pomarance puts an end into the 207km stage two.

Results: Tirreno-Adriatico | Paris-Nice (only GC)