If one was hoping for a deep analysis of BMC Racing's disappointing performance on stage 2 of Paris-Nice then talking to the riders wasn't the best place to start.
Dripping wet and shivering in the cold conditions, only Nicolas Roche offered up any dialogue as he clambered onto the bus. 'I feel dead' the Irishman said after a brutal day of racing that saw Richie Porte's chances of winning the race implode after the Australian lost over 14 minutes.
During the morning briefing, BMC and Porte team knew that the weather would play its part, with driving rain and wind once again on the menu. The loss of Michael Schär, who crashed out on stage 1, was a blow but the team truly felt the effects once Porte and his teammates were scattered in the blustery conditions on the road to Amilly.
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"It was a really hard day for us. Of course we lost Schär yesterday and he was an important guy for this sort of race," Valerio Piva told Cyclingnews.
"Without this guy we couldn't keep Richie in the front. Richie was there but in one moment he was in a bad position and no one was there for us. He was dropped and of course with this weather, and temperature it's not the best for him."
Piva was in the team's second car during the stage but was aware of the team's situation when race radio crackled into life and confirmed Porte's predicament.
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