"I really wonder about the way they manage everything in that team" - Jan Bakelants heavily critical of Soudal - Quick-Step

As for Landa missing, I don’t see what the big deal is, could be any number of reasons but it seems it was a decision taken very early so probably something very specific. They teamed up well for Algarve, maybe it was decided as a test for Remco to manage alone. Maybe THEY weren’t all that bothered if he didn’t win (PL is nasty enough to even hope Remco wouldn’t if he thought that would push or motivate him to make more effort after, who knows what he secretly (and probably unrealistically) hopes for the TdF). Seems like an awful lot of similar interviews are being published on this unexpected Paris-Nice outcome. Instead of ALL discussing why Remco didn’t win, how about focussing more on MJ winning an future?

Mistake maybe but when you consider a Jonas, Tadej, Wout, Mathieu or even Primoz are always ready and capable of launching a blistering attack at just about any time to distance all but the absolute best in shape on the day and that Remco considers himself on their level on any given day I’d rather tend to think he was just not that strong on the day. Not sure about Jonas (maybe he doesn’t trust himself enough for it though his time-trailing results imply he should) but Tadej, Mathieu or Wout would have gone for bridging the gap, even if 30-60s, if they were in shape and saw a breakaway like those two.

Another idiot.

You win with brains as well as legs and that's Remco's stage racing weakness !

Landa missing = crap team in crucial moments, Van Wilder not withstanding

Matteo looked strong all week to me, maybe on par with Remco, and certainly on the last day. Remco definitely made a big mistake not going with Matteo or McNulty and Skelmose, but hopefully that was a valuable lessoned learned. I think getting the last stage win was very important for his self-confidence, as is helped save some amount of face and allowed him to leave Paris-Nice still with a positive outlook despite his mistakes. I'm sure privately he knows he and his team have a lot to work on.