Tour de France 2017
It is approaching that time of year again.
Anyone care to throw in their two-pennies.
Could be the most open TdF in years.
Who has shown any consistent form in recent races?
Chris Froome looked inconsistent at Dauphine.
Richie Porte looked strong-ish, but just can’t see it over three weeks.
Nairo Quintana didn’t meet expectations at Giro… again
Tom Domoulin climbed consistently and time trailed his way to victory in Giro over Quintana, but again, can’t see it over three weeks.
Jacob Fuglsang ? I wish he didn’t ride for Astana
What of the others, Fabio Aru, Nibali, Valverde, Angel-Lopez, Esteban Chaves, Roman Bardet, Contador, Yates bros?
Head says Froome, heart says Roman Bardet
It would be too easy for me to say Froome, so I will go with Quintana just so Ian has to choose someone else. 
Comments
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I think that Froome would want to 'prove himself' anyway. After all, it's worth mega-bucks to him to win any big competition.
And he does seem to be a very 'driven' person and an excellent pro cyclist.
Regarding Team Sky......who would have thought that 'marginal gains' would turn out to mean 'stretching the doping rules to the very extremes of their limits......and maybe a bit more' ?
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Just had a look at the team selections and route.
Really difficult one to call, the route only has two short time trails and two proper summit finishes.
Could make it really wide open.
Rather than seeing all the favourites holding back to the final climbs, we might see loads of attacking on innocuous stages that could gain time that normal GC contenders won't have the opportunity to gain back. This is going to make everyone super attentive to break aways almost anywhere.
I am hoping it will be really exiting as a result (but might be wrong)The route does not play to either Froome or Quintanas strengths, but their two teams are far and away the strongest on paper. Surely if either want victory it has to come from those two stages. With only short time trials Froome will need every marginal gain he can get.
I wonder what is going through the heads of riders like Dan Martin and Steve Cummins.
On the assumption they could get away, riders like that can get in a break and sustain an attack on hard finishes. With time bonuses on offer too there could be opportunities for such riders. With only two real summit finishes they could limit their losses and keep things really tight at the top.Vincenzo Nibali says he is riding for Aru, maybe he is, maybe he is past his best, but to me this route has his name written all over it.
Bring it on.
Stage 1 Prologue. Tony Martin on home soil, or either of the BMC boys Porte or Rohan Denis
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I'll go for Aru. Not read a lot about anyone's form so just feeling that it's his time for this race.
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Now that was a surprise, and a very pleasant one at that. Just goes to show what kind of form he was in before the unfortunate crash in the Giro. Well done Geraint.
Shame about Valverde though. Could a broken kneecap put an end to his racing career, I wonder?
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Well I've got a stage winner at least. The way Aru shot away from the bunch give me some confidence that I've pick the right guy.
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Watching the race! Quite open at the moment, one mistake/accident by Sky and it could all blow open. Personally, I hope no one from Astana wins.
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Not his Sky skin suit but one supplied by the tour organisers, the same with all the Yellow Jerseys that he's worn throughout most of the tour.
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Eurosport reckoned he had textured panels on his forearms and thighs under the uci regulation skin suit. Not as efficient as his Sky skin suit but still a marginal gain over standard.
I enjoyed the race as much as usual. It was a shame for the race, that Valverde crashed out in the prologue, that Cav threw himself into a hole that didn't exist, taking Sagan out in the process, that Aru does not use his brain (if he has one), that AG2R didnt have a stronger team and Bardet can't time trail. But the biggest shame of all was the one goal, supremely executed team tactics of Sky, not allowing Nieve one chance to ride up the road and secure a stage win and second or third overall. 1 sec for goodness sake !
I reckon if he had been staying at Sky, they would have let him.
But now he goes to Movistar with Quintana looking a spent force and Valverde having lost his biggest opportunity. Movistar have got to consider him as leader, at least in the Giro or Vuelta next year, He will be a future tour winner for sure.
Interesting race, Sky were epic, if Froome wasn't, what a force.
Dan Martin and Yates were great. Love Contador's spirit.
Looking forward to the Vuelta. Oreca are rumoured to be feilding both Yates twins. Can't wait
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OK, I'm very late with this thread but we've not been back from France very long. We watched The Tour on the Peyragudes, brilliant!
Will try to post a photo.
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Looks as if Sky will have to bring in few new members, as Luke Rowe has broken his leg this week and could well be out of racing for up to 12 months & Pete Kennaugh is leaving at the end of the season to join Sagan at Bora-Hansgorhe.
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Star of the race for me was warren barguil hands down. Gotta love the guys style.
I really felt Richie could push Froomey this year but his descending was really bad. Bad fall which stuffed Dan along the way.
Whilst I was happy that Sky as a team went and won the tour for Froomey, and Froomey was a humble deserved winner......the spark was just not there!.
I was shocked by the Boos in Marseille, twas a bit much!
Roll on the Vuelta, maybe Bertie can exit on a high note, but I wonder if he is just past his prime.
Can Sagan win 3 rainbows in a row, let's hope so, the guy brings so much to cycling! Pure Class.0 -
Star of the race for me was warren barguil hands down. Gotta love the guys style.
I really felt Richie could push Froomey this year but his descending was really bad. Bad fall which stuffed Dan along the way.
Whilst I was happy that Sky as a team went and won the tour for Froomey, and Froomey was a humble deserved winner......the spark was just not there!.
I was shocked by the Boos in Marseille, twas a bit much!
Roll on the Vuelta, maybe Bertie can exit on a high note, but I wonder if he is just past his prime.
Can Sagan win 3 rainbows in a row, let's hope so, the guy brings so much to cycling! Pure Class.0
