Le Tour 2014

[offbyone]

Betancor, Kwiakowski and Wiggins too.

The only reason I would ever consider mentioning Andy Schleck's name in the context of bike racing anymore would be in jest. Such as, he is suffering so bad he looks like Andy Schleck. Or he has all the potential in the world but he is even lazier than Andy Schleck.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Don't worry about Van den Broeck. You won't notice him in the Tour anyway. Frankly, he's the most boring rider in the peloton.

 

[Pippo_San]

Don't worry about Van den Broeck. You won't notice him in the Tour anyway. Frankly, he's the most boring rider in the peloton.

Man I was even starting to think he retired. Every time I see him in a list of contenders for the Tour I just can't avoid go laughing around

 

[observer]

Voeckler? He should at least take some camera time and go on the attack.

 

[SafeBet]

Haven't seen Romain Bardet name mentioned yet.
We've all seen the emergence of riders born in 1990 and even 1991 during the Giro. I think he's in for a big Tour, barring crashes.

 

[murali]

frankly speaking, just chuck Schleck from the list. that one act alone might bring him to top-20


if Evans is riding, he should get entry. i'm not sure whether Horner is around. He is bound to retire soon, and would like to go with a top-5 Tour finish.


i like Kwiato a lot. so i am not going to ask him to be added. Whatever it is, OPQS will have one rider for GC. their primary focus is Cav, so kwaito may not get enough climbing domestiques.

Europecar will give someone. its their home GT + they desperately need UCI points. they only have 159 pts iirc.

 

[Gotland]

I think Mathias Frank will be a solid top 10 in the tour and a mabye even podium in Suisse. Has very good support too. König will also fight hard for a top 10 but don't think it will be enougth for him this year. Bardet will probally impress but will have to do some work for Betancur so don't think he will ride for GC.

 

[barmaher]

How do we think Betancur will do? What are AG2R's aims for the Tour?

 

[johnymax]

Spilak is another interesting option I think. He will focus on a GT for the first time in his career. He was very strong in spring in one week races. If he has similar form in july he could very well top 10 at the Tour. I'm not sure if he will focus on GC though. He said, he might rather try to win a stage.

 

[xanadu]

OK lets talk break aways. The old favourites such as Voeckler, Chevanel and Luis Leon Sanchez are familiar sights in the break, but who are the young opportunists. Rolland will have a go in the mountains but who else?

 

[johnymax]

If Spilak won't ride for GC, we will see him in breakaways in mountain stages for sure.

 

[Flamin]

Don't worry about Van den Broeck. You won't notice him in the Tour anyway. Frankly, he's the most boring rider in the peloton.

In most races besides the Tour, sure, but in the Tour?

 

[Escarabajo]

Take Schleck out and people will stop throwing any other names in.

That is the problem, because you have him anybody can make that list!

 

[Ruby United]

In most races besides the Tour, sure, but in the Tour?

Agreed. As I've previously said he always surprises in the tour.

 

[christopherrowe]

Take Schleck out and people will stop throwing any other names in.

That is the problem, because you have him anybody can make that list!

But then what reason would I have to follow the Tour de Luxembourg?

I look on him as comic relief, and I'm sure he's not the only one on my list that won't light things up in July. If seven of my ten are top ten in Paris, then I'll be astonished and delighted.

The purpose of my list isn't really to predict the Tour's top ten, anyway, it's just meant to narrow down my focus from the hundreds of potential Tour riders to a handful I can reasonably follow closely through June. It's sort of what I'm doing instead of trying to build a fantasy team for the board's Tour contest (since I lack the expertise to do that anyway).

 

[Ruby United]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-den-broeck-not-certain-for-tour-de-france

 

[Escarabajo]

But then what reason would I have to follow the Tour de Luxembourg?

I look on him as comic relief, and I'm sure he's not the only one on my list that won't light things up in July. If seven of my ten are top ten in Paris, then I'll be astonished and delighted.

The purpose of my list isn't really to predict the Tour's top ten, anyway, it's just meant to narrow down my focus from the hundreds of potential Tour riders to a handful I can reasonably follow closely through June. It's sort of what I'm doing instead of trying to build a fantasy team for the board's Tour contest (since I lack the expertise to do that anyway).

Fair enough.

 

[Albert Fishwick]

Has anyone found a link to the roadbook yet? I would have thought it should be available by now.

 

[Archibald]

Both of them whine about descents however.

ouch. Pinot doesn't whine, he's just a rubbish descender.
Schlecklet on the other hand...

 

[karlboss]

Has anyone found a link to the roadbook yet? I would have thought it should be available by now.

http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/ but it is nearly always finalised quite late, some stages may not be complete until after our de suisse.

 

[McLovin]

Anyone knows what climb this is?
https://twitter.com/tgouvenou/status/474106715022295040/photo/1

I don't think it's Bonette and for sure it's not Galibier.

 

[McLovin]

Double post

 

[el_angliru]

I'm aware your question was asked a couple of weeks so you probably know the answer already. In one of the recent replies to that tweet someone suggested Col des Champs. It looks just about right (Google streetview screendump):

And don't miss Linkinito's excellent recent post of this climb which indeed confirm this as Col des Champs:
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?p=1497055#post1497055

There's also a youtube video up that ascent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqiWEk5XElo