The Tour Of France 2021

[hash tag]

The Dauphine is over done and dusted and we ride on the the grandest of the grand tours.
The official site Official website of Tour de France 2021
Wiki 2021 Tour de France - Wikipedia
Whats good, whats missing, who will be wearing yellow on The champs Elysees.
Let the fight commence.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Rouleur preview here

The 2 Slovenians are stronger but then Ineos have a mega team.
Padun to take a stage victory.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

It’s an interesting looking route this year, lots of stages where things will be a bit harder for Ineos/team trains to control than usual.

 

[hash tag]

Rouleur preview here

The 2 Slovenians are stronger but then Ineos have a mega team.
Padun to take a stage victory.

Sadly it's got IGD all over it/strangle it. The big question there is who will be leader and will the leader win?

 

[1927]

Sadly it's got IGD all over it/strangle it. The big question there is who will be leader and will the leader win?

They’ve already said G will be leader, but expect Porte to be joint leader and they’ll see who is best suited to take over as leader. Expect both to be on podium in Paris.

 

[rubbershoes]

The non cycling press will ask about his chances, and I think Froome should manage top 100

 

[1927]

The non cycling press will ask about his chances, and I think Froome should manage top 100

Why are you so confident?

 

[stavros]

but then Ineos have a mega team.

Could the same not be said of Jumbo? Especially if they leave Groenewegen out and ignore the sprints like Ineos do.

 

[hash tag]

I would not be surprised if Froome did not ride. He is still far from decent form yet.

 

[stavros]

I would not be surprised if Froome did not ride. He is still far from decent form yet.

Is Martin riding the Tour, having done the Giro? Looking at Israel SUN's roster I can't see another GC pick.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Could the same not be said of Jumbo? Especially if they leave Groenewegen out and ignore the sprints like Ineos do.

Sure, haven't seen their team yet and Roglic has been away for a while so everyone is focused on how good Pogacar is. Indivudally Pogacar is better than anyone in the Ineos team right now.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

I would not be surprised if Froome did not ride. He is still far from decent form yet.

He could retire gracefully. Living in Monaco i'm sure he never needs to do days work again knowing how much he's earned.

 

[hash tag]

I think Froome feels like he has points to prove, a competitive urge and the need to win another TDF, but not this year

 

[1927]

I think Froome feels like he has points to prove, a competitive urge and the need to win another TDF, but not this year

I dont think he''ll ever podium again.

 

[twistedAM]

Is Martin riding the Tour, having done the Giro? Looking at Israel SUN's roster I can't see another GC pick.

Michael Woods is the same level as Martin (he'd be better if he could TT but at least he doesn't crash on descents) but both will probably try to stagehunt as either would have to be on top form to get a top 10 on GC.

ETA - ISN have confirmed Woods is the team leader. Not announced the rest of the squad apart from Martin. Good luck to him stagehunting against Ala, MvdP, WVA and whoever Bahrain throw up the road.

ETAA - Froome is in the team as road captain

 

[hash tag]

I see Pippa York is not impressed with Froome's selection Philippa York: I struggle to see Chris Froome as a Tour de France road captain

The big question remains; will Bennett be fit or will it be Cavendish who gets the ride. It seems more of a sprinter tour than a climbers as well.

 

[hash tag]

Looks like no cav then Mark Cavendish set to miss Tour de France selection with Sam Bennett cleared to race

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Looks like no cav then Mark Cavendish set to miss Tour de France selection with Sam Bennett cleared to race

Yeah. Sad in a way but given the choice of him or Bennett it’s pretty obvious who’s going to pickup more wins.

 

[Nivag]

I see Pippa York is not impressed with Froome's selection Philippa York: I struggle to see Chris Froome as a Tour de France road captain

The big question remains; will Bennett be fit or will it be Cavendish who gets the ride. It seems more of a sprinter tour than a climbers as well.

Well it'll give the team TV coverage every time he gets spat out of the back.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

 

[hash tag]

Very pleased for Cav; he must be over the moon. It is a bit of a sprinters year as well.
Good luck to him.

 

[1927]

I might just have something in my eye!
Hope Cav does something incredible!

 

[hash tag]

Stage 3 from Lorient could be Cavs first chance of a stage.

 

[stavros]

Who are his biggest sprint rivals this year? I've just had a scan down the team lists and Ewan stands out a mile, especially after his first week of the Giro. Sagan, Démare, Coquard?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Ewan and Demare are going to be the main threat I think.

 

[twistedAM]

Also, Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Fenix.
Plus if there's an uphill drag at any of the sprint stages don't rule out Van Aert, MvdP, Ballerini, Colbrelli and a few others.

 

[twistedAM]

Apparently stages 1 and 2 have been deemed uphill finishes so there is no 3km rule for crashes or mechanicals.
Some main contender is probably going to lose out big time.
It's an evil start to an otherwise fairly standard parcours.
Oh, and since it's Britanny there might also be echelons

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Looking at the stages and it really brings home the gulf between what I consider a tough ride and what those guys manage.

Stage 3, a “flat” sprint stage, apparently still has something like 6000 ft of climbing

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Stage 1 is designed for Alaphilippe so he can be in yellow for a few days. Wout van Aert has the best hair in the peloton ….perhaps he’ll win it?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

It’s designed for JA, but MvdP is going to win it…