Dazed and Confused said:
You might be right, although the TT segment is pretty competitive these days with solid young riders emerging. Still think its stage races with a TT and perhaps smaller climbs/hills which might be best for him. Anyway lets see what he can do here.
True, I think this is the right range. What I meant is that since the 2012 Tour, everytime their is a real mountain type climb, more than 6/7kms at 6/7% he struggles and can't keep up with the best. For a guy like him to still play the general standings in a GT or Stage Race, he needs to be able to stay with the top dogs until there are only 12/15, and only then start peeling off. For the last 2 years he oftens arrives to the last climb in the second group already.
Add to that that he never was really explosive to be competitive on the shorter steep climbs à la Mont Faron, and his mountain range becomes very problematic.
Take the Ospedale for example, in The past (2010-2012) it would have been the perfect type of climb for him : longish, not too steep, climbed at a high regular tempo. Nowadays I expect him to drop quite early, even with a limited field.
Shame, he had a very nice Michael Rogers lite type of profile, quite rare in France, but it has been going downhill since the 2011 tour, and fast since 2012.