Re: Re:
For his sake, it would be better if this were true but unfortunately it isn't. Martin got a top 10 last year, without even the support of even a single semi-competent climber to get him a bottle or a wheel. There was very little difference in level between any of the ten riders from 2nd to 11th, with the exception of Porte who probably should have been a semi-clear second (but who is also not guaranteed to ever put a good three weeks together again). Particularly, with a slightly weaker field, any of them could top 5 or even podium with only minor improvements in form or luck.
As a result, because Tour GC is so unreasonably important in modern cycling, Martin will want to ride seriously for GC and the team will certainly want him to do so. I'd prefer him to go all out as a stage hunter. It suits his attacking style better and more stages will look better on his palmares after he has retired than a few more top 10s or a couple of top 5s. But precisely because both he and the team can look at this years experience and think, basically correctly, that only a very small improvement or a bit of luck would be required to top 5 or even podium, that's what the realities of cycling mandate that he goes for.
In a better world anyone who can't actually hope to win the whole thing shouldn't be bothered about GC.
staubsauger said:
For his sake, it would be better if this were true but unfortunately it isn't. Martin got a top 10 last year, without even the support of even a single semi-competent climber to get him a bottle or a wheel. There was very little difference in level between any of the ten riders from 2nd to 11th, with the exception of Porte who probably should have been a semi-clear second (but who is also not guaranteed to ever put a good three weeks together again). Particularly, with a slightly weaker field, any of them could top 5 or even podium with only minor improvements in form or luck.
As a result, because Tour GC is so unreasonably important in modern cycling, Martin will want to ride seriously for GC and the team will certainly want him to do so. I'd prefer him to go all out as a stage hunter. It suits his attacking style better and more stages will look better on his palmares after he has retired than a few more top 10s or a couple of top 5s. But precisely because both he and the team can look at this years experience and think, basically correctly, that only a very small improvement or a bit of luck would be required to top 5 or even podium, that's what the realities of cycling mandate that he goes for.
In a better world anyone who can't actually hope to win the whole thing shouldn't be bothered about GC.
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