Critérium du Dauphiné 2024, June 2 - 9

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shadowrider

May 18, 2023
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tobydawq said:
You don't get fit during the Tour. If you're not fit at the beginning, you're ***. One of the rather annoying cycling myths.
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Oh yes. Some riders get fit during the Tour. Of course not starting at 96 or 97 %. But at 98/99 %. As Evenepoel will start at that level and maybe even Vingegaard.
One of the best examples of the last years was Van Aert three years ago who developed appendicitis in May, then underwent surgery. He had to stop training two or three weeks. Then gradually build up the intensity again. He couldn't participate to the Dauphiné. He started the Tour without competition. So, he couldn't react the first days when Alaphilippe and van der Poel won their stages. He was good, but still not at his best during the first TT... and afterwards crush the opposition as a stage hijacker and luxurious teammate.

But the opposite is also possible. Starting reasonably well, but then fell through during the second half of the GT. I don't know in which of both categorys Evenepoel and Vingegaard will be.
 
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AnotherArmChair

Mar 8, 2024
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With that Boro team its hard to see past Roglic for the win here

But really looking forward to seeing how Jorgenson, Ayuso and Rodriquez go
They have all won stages races this year and will be looking to step up here as possibly not leaders at the Tour (well not sure about Rodriquez and if Bernal is INEOS leader at the Tour or what)

They are also the riders from the 2nd tier who could be a threat at the Tour ( if anything happened to their leaders)
 
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Extinction

Extinction

Jan 8, 2020
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Froome said:
The race needs a top Vingegaard and a top Pogacar, otherwise the Tour 2024 will not be so entertaining as the Tour 2023 and Tour 2022.
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Nah, the drama was in slaying the Pog. Now it's potentially slaying the fisherman. It's just that nobody recognized the latter to be the greater feat. The problem is Pog has uped his game to try and resist a superior Vingo, who crashed so can't be in top shape. So my original point lies herein.
 
Logic-is-your-friend

Logic-is-your-friend

Jun 7, 2011
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AnotherArmChair said:
But really looking forward to seeing how Jorgenson, Ayuso and Rodriquez go
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Frankly, i don't share the faith in Jorgenson becoming the climber/GT/GC rider with some people since PN. What happened in PN needs to be seen in the right context. He was further along in his preparations, because for him the cobbled classics that started less than 2 week later, were a big goal. This was not the case for the other competitors who were at best eyeing the Ardennes. He won the GC because the chasing group was playing games in a crucial stage and let him, McNulty and Skjelmose gain time. The guy lives in Nice and basically was riding on his daily training route. There were no HC climbs in PN, let alone multiple in one stage for two or three stages in a row. And the guy is 1m90, which makes it extremely difficult to become an elite climber, especially when trying to combine that with being a classics rider.

I'm also curious, but i think people should manage their expectations.
 
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Ulle97

Ulle97

Oct 25, 2020
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Is anyone else surprised with the difficulty of both the Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse?

Dauphiné has 5 summit finishes. Granted, there are 2 of them that are more hill finishes than mountain finishes but, Collet d'Allevard, Samoens and Glieres are all tough, steep climbs 3 days in a row.

Then the Tour de Suisse seems to have 5 summit finishes in a row. A mountain time trial to top it all off. Seems unusual to have so many uphill finishes in just a week long race. Sprinters can stay at home.
 
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tobydawq

tobydawq

Nov 16, 2013
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Ulle97 said:
Is anyone else surprised with the difficulty of both the Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse?

Dauphiné has 5 summit finishes. Granted, there are 2 of them that are more hill finishes than mountain finishes but, Collet d'Allevard, Samoens and Glieres are all tough, steep climbs 3 days in a row.

Then the Tour de Suisse seems to have 5 summit finishes in a row. A mountain time trial to top it all off. Seems unusual to have so many uphill finishes in just a week long race. Sprinters can stay at home.
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Yeah, it could be a bit repetitive. But I was thinking the same thing of Tour de Suisse last year, yet it shifted all the time who was the strongest on the specific day.
 
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Zoetemelk-fan

Zoetemelk-fan

Oct 5, 2009
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tobydawq said:
Yeah, it could be a bit repetitive. But I was thinking the same thing of Tour de Suisse last year, yet it shifted all the time who was the strongest on the specific day.
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I don't see the contradiction here and you are absolutely right. Stronger climbers saving something in the bag for Le Tour against a tad less strong climbers, not selected for the big one, can form the basis for some indeed interesting stages.
 
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shadowrider

May 18, 2023
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Zoetemelk-fan said:
I don't see the contradiction here and you are absolutely right. Stronger climbers saving something in the bag for Le Tour against a tad less strong climbers, not selected for the big one, can form the basis for some indeed interesting stages.
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I don't think it's smart to organise such hard Dauphinéz and TDS's. Riders who go for it completely (especially in the several mountain stages) risk to run out of fuel during the last Tour week. The Dauphiné was very notorious for that in the past. Several riders who performed well or even won, received quite a severe relapse during the second half of the Tour. I know, times have changed. Riders are better prepared (in terms of nutrition, medical.....). But still. As a teamleader I wouldn't allow Roglic and Evenepoel (but not able to at this moment) to go all out. Certainly not every day. Even if it costs day victories or the final victory.
 
Zoetemelk-fan

Zoetemelk-fan

Oct 5, 2009
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shadowrider said:
I don't think it's smart to organise such hard Dauphinéz and TDS's. Riders who go for it completely (especially in the several mountain stages) risk to run out of fuel during the last Tour week. The Dauphiné was very notorious for that in the past. Several riders who performed well or even won, received quite a severe relapse during the second half of the Tour. I know, times have changed. Riders are better prepared (in terms of nutrition, medical.....). But still. As a teamleader I wouldn't allow Roglic and Evenepoel (but not able to at this moment) to go all out. Certainly not every day. Even if it costs day victories or the final victory.
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Still up to the riders (and their team DS and coaches) to decide whether use Dauphiné and TdS as warmup or to clamp down gas pedal to the medal.

However I acknowledge that time changes, with much eager top riders as of today with a completely other level of press focus and money by now.
But still some excellent warmup races for Řogliç and Evenepoel..if just they manage to adjust their eagerness.
 
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KZD

KZD

Feb 21, 2019
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The course is really hard as it has been said. The last three stages in sequence are going to be brutal and ensure that the winner of this race will be a top level climber.

Roglič has to be the favourite for this race as the route suits and Bora is bringing their A team to this race. The reports that come also seem to indicate that Roglič is in good shape but Hindley and even Vlasov can also be used tactically.

I don't think the route suits Evenepoel that much and since he doesn't seem to be in great shape, this might become a golden opportunity for Landa even though he is also coming from a broken collarbone. Still, he is a threat at least in the beginning.

I think Ayuso will actually be Roglič's biggest rival as he is both a very good climber and time trialist and didn't have any setback that I know of, before this race. UAE's team is far from the Tour one but still a force to be reckon with.

Ineos should also be in the mix with Bernal and Rodriguez, the route suits Carlitos really well.

Even though this is not a good route for Jorgenson, I still expect him to be better than Kuss.
 
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Rob5091

Rob5091

Apr 8, 2023
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I hate to burst the bubble here, but this is not the Tour and it's basically training with the opportunity to see how well your rivals are doing. It will be more interesting to see who gets dropped as soon as the road goes up, then who wins.(Yes, I'm talking about you, Gaudu! and why's Mas not here?)
It's a "last chance saloon" for guys to get on the Tour team so expect monster performances by unexpected guys (and guys without a contract for next year).
 
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