32ème édition du Tour de l'Ain (2.1) // August 7th - 9th 2020

[Logic-is-your-friend]

THE FUTURE IS NOW!
All new improved, and more exciting than Tour de Pologne!

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Date: 2020-08-07 - 2020-08-09 Race class: 2.1 Race category: Men Elite UCI-Tour: Europe Tour

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Startlist PCS Stages PCS Top competitors PCS Top GC riders PCS

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INTERESTING CONTENDERS (SO FAR AND SAVE CANCELLATIONS): Yes, yes yes, Bernal is riding. Yes, Roglic too. And Quintana, Froome and Thomas, Aru, Dumoulin, Oomen, Mollema, G Bennett, Kruijswijk, French Martin and Irish Martin as well... But seriously, who gives a flying ***? Even if you are bothering to read this, you 'll have to agree that races like this generally mean nothing when it comes to those guys. Some will bother to stretch their legs, others will play hide and seek, or they'll have vastly different goals, meaning the race will serve as a different preperation for many. No, what makes this race interesting this year, is that there is a BUNCH of young and humongous talent on the startlist. Tour de l'Avenir has been cancelled, the U23 that are already pro, or those that just "graduated" from the U23 will take Tour de l'Ain to show us what they're made of. They can't go to the TDF. They won't go to the Giro. Chances to show themselves, to test themselves are scarce with COVID-19 on the prowl. Look at the REAL gems on the startlist: Arensman, Bagioli, Van Wilder, Almeida, Vansevenant, Vermaerke, Quinn, Champoussin, Vanhoucke, Hailemichael, Ries, Hanninen, Bjerg, Bissegger... it's a schmorgasboard!


LAST YEAR'S TOP 10:

1	Pinot Thibaut	Groupama - FDJ	10:01:10
2	Frank Mathias	AG2R La Mondiale	1:08
3	Taaramäe Rein	Team Total Direct Energie	1:25
4	Gesbert Élie	Team Arkéa Samsic	1:38
5	Rybalkin Aleksey	Gazprom-RusVelo	1:40
6	Nych Artem	Gazprom-RusVelo	2:30
7	Pronskiy Vadim	Vino - Astana Motors	2:52
8	Simon Julien	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	2:54
9	Moreno Javier	Delko Marseille Provence	3:07
10	Edet Nicolas	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	3:32

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[tobydawq]

Yeah, I care about the Tour contenders, not really about the youngsters.

Nice job with the layout, though.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Yeah, I care about the Tour contenders, not really about the youngsters.

Nice job with the layout, though.

After checking the rulebook, it appears that it is also allowed to care about the Tour contenders, however frowned upon.

 

[tobydawq]

Phew.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Stages 2 and 3 would be better the other way around (could be some great racing over Menthières and in the run-in if people aren't concerned about tiring themselves out for Grand Colombier) but in a race that lasts just 3 days that's a minor concern. A lot of courses have felt the pinch with the shortened editions and revised routes, so this one is a bit of a breath of fresh air, actually!

 

[jaylew]

Yeah, sorry Logic. I don't care too much about the young guys either. It's all about Ineos v Jumbo v Nairo.

I'm really curious to see how Dumo looks. I think Froome's raced more than he has in the last year or so.

 

[johnymax]

Is this like the best startlist for a 2.1 race ever?

 

[Jspear]

I think Jumbo’s train will do its job a little better in this race because of who they have. Bernal won’t be dropped. It’ll come down to Bernal, Roglic, and Quintana IMO. From there it’ll become a battle between Quintana and Bernal. In my head it’s gonna be awesome.

 

[Escarabajo]

Quintana is nurturing a knee injury. We'll see if he has recovered on Thursday.

 

[RedheadDane]

Who of the youngsters do you think will do best?
Personally, I'm not so sure about Bjerg; unlike what his name might suggest, he's not actually a climber.

 

[SafeBet]

Who of the youngsters do you think will do best?

Almeida is the obvious answer.
Although doing best in this kind of field could mean barely be in the top10.

 

[repre]

Is this like the best startlist for a 2.1 race ever?

Certaintly better than WT race in Poland!

Will Eurosport show this???

 

[DNP-Old]

Who of the youngsters do you think will do best?

Hm, my money is on Bernal.

 

[RedheadDane]

Hm, my money is on Bernal.

Naah, Bernal's not a youngster! He's an experienced, established guy!

(Yeah, I know he's only 23, which is why it's really crazy that he's not being considered among the youngsters.)

 

[DNP-Old]

Naah, Bernal's not a youngster! He's an experienced, established guy!

(Yeah, I know he's only 23, which is why it's really crazy that he's not being considered among the youngsters.)

Egan's only a month or 4 older than first year pro Foss, crazy.

 

[RedheadDane]

Egan's only a month or 4 older than first year pro Foss, crazy.

Which one is it? One month, or 4 months? Bit of a difference.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

So wish Remco was here to really see his potential against grown up riders.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Who of the youngsters do you think will do best?
Personally, I'm not so sure about Bjerg; unlike what his name might suggest, he's not actually a climber.

Bjerg will not be in the conversation. My guess would be, excluding Bernal and including Vanhoucke (he's only 5 months younger):
Almeida/Vanhoucke>Van Wilder>Arensman/Champoussin/Bagioli>Ries/Hailemichael/Vansevenant

But i don't know where the Americans fit in. And Vanhoucke seemed to be very good in February and over his physical problems of the past years. Van Wilder was peaking for Tour de l'Avenir so i expect him to boss it here. Normally Bissegger shouldn't be in the conversation either since he isn't a true climber, but he's a great allrounder who could finish among the best of this lot as well.

 

[Poursuivant]

Roglic will win this.

 

[Lequack]

It's time for Dayer Quintana to show he's the better Quintana.

 

[hayneplane]

Amazing that the likely top 5 for the Tour are all going to be here in a minor status race and the parcours are decent as well.

 

[Red Rick]

If Dumoulin is on a great day, Grand Colombier from this side is the perfect climb for him. But I'll settle for him just being solid.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

TIZ stream at 14.00 CET

 

[johnymax]

Amazing that the likely top 5 for the Tour are all going to be here in a minor status race and the parcours are decent as well.

Who you've got? Nairo, Aru, Porte and?

 

[RedheadDane]

Who you've got? Nairo, Aru, Porte and?

The INEOS trio. The Jumbo-Visma trio.