Pre Tour de France-thread

[Parker]

Delete

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

... otherwise they are just a boring team.

"Boring teams" tend to do well at GT's

Okay, not boring in the way ride, but boring in the sense that their riders aren't profiles at all. For example, I think of teams like Katusha and Trek as boring because most of their roster is just an indistinguishable mass of riders that almost never do anything of note for themselves, whereas Sky may ride boringly in GT's but I don't think of Froome, G, Kwiato, Moscon, Bernal, Poels etc. as boring riders and hence not of Sky as a boring team.

If that makes sense.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

... otherwise they are just a boring team.

"Boring teams" tend to do well at GT's

Okay, not boring in the way ride, but boring in the sense that their riders aren't profiles at all. For example, I think of teams like Katusha and Trek as boring because most of their roster is just an indistinguishable mass of riders that almost never do anything of note for themselves, whereas Sky may ride boringly in GT's but I don't think of Froome, G, Kwiato, Moscon, Bernal, Poels etc. as boring riders and hence not of Sky as a boring team.

If that makes sense.

Maybe invisible is a better word than boring?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Do you know why Buchmann is not selected for the Tour? Was it planned?

Yes, he wants to ride the Vuelta as the team leader and go for top 5 on the gc.

Glad to hear it.

I’m also glad to see Postlberger in the team. I was getting worried that he was having form problems or had fallen out with the team when he wasn’t in their main classics squad or at the Giro.

He did have form problems.
He was first sick and completely out of form for the classics, so the team and him decided him to fully skip the classics campaign to focus on his recovery for the Giro. But Pöstlberger, so eager to be ready for the Giro, was too optimistic and went back to racing too early, he had to abandon in Trentino. And it was clear he would never be able to compete in the Giro.
So, two huge disappointments for him. It is worth to notice that all these decisions have been taken in a common agreement between Pösti and the team. So, no worries, he had fallen out with the team: both were as sorry of the situation

Pösti went back to racing again at the Dauphiné. This time, his form was very satisfying (cf the last stage especially) and all the health issues seem now to have been left behind. Which made him a very, very serious candidate for a Tour-spot!

Eventually, his problems earlier in the year have led him to be part of this TDF. If he had raced the Giro, he wouldn't have in the Tour.
Sending to the biggest race of the calendar a guy that originally wasn't supposed to be part of the squad for the race is a pretty good indication of how valued Pöstlberger is considered in the team

(from a personal note, I expect all the Austrians to stay in the team in the future. I hope the selection of both Mühlberger and Pösti for the Tour is a sign in this way!)

Thanks for these details. I had been wondering what was up as it seemed very odd that he wasn’t in the Classics squad after being very good last year. He can do a good job for them at the Tour, both on the cobbles and helping to control the front for Sagan.

I agree, by the way, that their Austrian contingent are in the right place. Bora seems like a good place to develop, they seem to be careful about balancing giving opportunities to their younger guys with protecting them. Riding in Sagan’s shadow is also useful - there’s less pressure on others.

 

[Parker]

Re: Re:

Katusha's squad:

Zakarin, Kittel, Zabel, Martin, Politt, Boswell, Kiserlovski, Kochetkov.

Absolutely lame.

I see nothing much wrong with that team on paper. Haller's injury has hurt them but still no reason why they shouldn't get multiple stage wins and top 6 on GC

I have to wonder what they're hoping to achieve though. I rate Zakarin, but I'm not sure he's a real GC winning contender. Kittel should be their star man, but they're supporting him with an inexperienced lead out man (one previous Tour) when he needs two top guys in the last kilometre.

 

[Red Rick]

Looks like it’s Rowe not Bernal after all.

No Bernal in any training pictures.

Kwia, G, Poels, Rowe and Froome in Italy today. Moscon, Van Barrle and Castro at Nationals.

Van Baarle won Dutch TT today, the TTT could be a massacre plus with that lineup Sky could look to do some damage on the cobbles with 5 classics men dragging Froome.

Very strong all-around roster but actually not too many pure climbers. I wouldn't be shocked if they manage to isolate Froome quite early at one stage. And that's assuming he will be a contender, which is not sure after riding the Giro.

I don't understand how it's van Baarle vs Bernal for the spot. If anything, I'd consider bringing Bernal instead of Poels. They're the pure climbers on the squad.

 

[DNP-Old]

Looks like it’s Rowe not Bernal after all.

No Bernal in any training pictures.

Kwia, G, Poels, Rowe and Froome in Italy today. Moscon, Van Barrle and Castro at Nationals.

Van Baarle won Dutch TT today, the TTT could be a massacre plus with that lineup Sky could look to do some damage on the cobbles with 5 classics men dragging Froome.

Egan is in Andorra. Arrived from Colombia two or three days ago.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

Have the stage profiles been posted somewhere?

Yes, front page, click on the TDF link up top.... as well as on TDFs own HP

Ah, i was hoping for an overview with all profiles on one page, but this will have to do untill then. Thanks.

Something like this?

https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-de-france/2018/stages/all-stage-profiles

Yup! Thanks.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Looks like it’s Rowe not Bernal after all.

No Bernal in any training pictures.

Kwia, G, Poels, Rowe and Froome in Italy today. Moscon, Van Barrle and Castro at Nationals.

Van Baarle won Dutch TT today, the TTT could be a massacre plus with that lineup Sky could look to do some damage on the cobbles with 5 classics men dragging Froome.

Very strong all-around roster but actually not too many pure climbers. I wouldn't be shocked if they manage to isolate Froome quite early at one stage. And that's assuming he will be a contender, which is not sure after riding the Giro.

I don't understand how it's van Baarle vs Bernal for the spot. If anything, I'd consider bringing Bernal instead of Poels. They're the pure climbers on the squad.

It should just be Van Baarle instead of Rowe. No way they are suddenly picking Luke Rowe over Bernal after having Bernal skipping June-races and training specifically for the Tour instead - and the team will just overall be better since Moscon, Castro and Kwito very much can help with the rouleur duties. And even Thomas if they are in panic mode.

 

[Bolder]

Was looking at preview article on CN and thinking that it really could come down to the ITT at the end. I could see Froome and Dumoulin racing conservatively in the mountains, just trying to stay within 2 minutes of the other GCers, and hoping for a blowout time trial. I think I like those odds if I'm either one of them, knowing I've spent a lot of energy already in the Giro.

 

[dusty red roads]

My guess is they hope to kill it in the TTT and the cobbles and then just defend in the mtns, gain more in the ITT....
They talked about being in top form at the start. Meh, boring mountain train, so what's new... I hope the others will be aggressive enough to help break it apart this year.

 

[brownbobby]

Re:

Was looking at preview article on CN and thinking that it really could come down to the ITT at the end. I could see Froome and Dumoulin racing conservatively in the mountains, just trying to stay within 2 minutes of the other GCers, and hoping for a blowout time trial. I think I like those odds if I'm either one of them, knowing I've spent a lot of energy already in the Giro.

Maybe, or maybe it goes the other way....both Froome and Dumoulin are going to have 2 full GT's in the legs by the time the ITT comes around. Could be a bit of a risky strategy to rely on having enough left in the tank at that point to make up significant time.

Sky seem to have been paying more attention than ever to the TTT this year, so i'd bet on the opposite strategy, they try and give Froome as big a lead as possible from the early TTT, and then hope his form holds long enough to maintain any lead he's got...

 

[spalco]

It seems to me like teams are putting significant weight on the first week in their team selection. Generally I think when in doubt taking a rouleur instead of a climbing domestique is rarely a mistake anyway.

I would like to see Bernal in the Tour, but does it really matter when he has no freedom?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

Was looking at preview article on CN and thinking that it really could come down to the ITT at the end. I could see Froome and Dumoulin racing conservatively in the mountains, just trying to stay within 2 minutes of the other GCers, and hoping for a blowout time trial. I think I like those odds if I'm either one of them, knowing I've spent a lot of energy already in the Giro.

Maybe, or maybe it goes the other way....both Froome and Dumoulin are going to have 2 full GT's in the legs by the time the ITT comes around. Could be a bit of a risky strategy to rely on having enough left in the tank at that point to make up significant time.

Sky seem to have been paying more attention than ever to the TTT this year, so i'd bet on the opposite strategy, they try and give Froome as big a lead as possible from the early TTT, and then hope his form holds long enough to maintain any lead he's got...

I think the same.
I think that's also Sunweb's strategy actually. They count on the TTT and the 'classic' first 9 days for Dumoulin to build a buffer.

 

[RedheadDane]

Breschel wasn't (for good reason, I'd say) selected for the EF... team.
Wait for the Danish media to co nuclear in

3...

2...

1...

 

[tobydawq]

Okay, I would not have thought that Breschel's absence would be commented before Martínez' inclusion in here.

 

[RedheadDane]

Martinez is a pretty good rider, so I see nothing unusual about him being selected.
I also don't see anything unusual about Breschel not being selected, it was merely a comment on how Danish media reacted when Bak (somewhat surprisingly) and Mørkøv (not at all surprisingly) were also not selected.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Was looking at preview article on CN and thinking that it really could come down to the ITT at the end. I could see Froome and Dumoulin racing conservatively in the mountains, just trying to stay within 2 minutes of the other GCers, and hoping for a blowout time trial. I think I like those odds if I'm either one of them, knowing I've spent a lot of energy already in the Giro.

Maybe, or maybe it goes the other way....both Froome and Dumoulin are going to have 2 full GT's in the legs by the time the ITT comes around. Could be a bit of a risky strategy to rely on having enough left in the tank at that point to make up significant time.

Sky seem to have been paying more attention than ever to the TTT this year, so i'd bet on the opposite strategy, they try and give Froome as big a lead as possible from the early TTT, and then hope his form holds long enough to maintain any lead he's got...

I agree with this. Relying on the final TT might be too risky. He could be very tired by then.

 

[Tim Booth]

Valverde: 'My role is to work for Nairo and Mikel'
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biciciclismo.com%2Fes%2Falejandro-valverde-regresa-al-tour-de-francia-mi-papel-es-trabajar-para-nairo-y-mikel-28-06-2018&edit-text=

 

[DNP-Old]

https://www.efprocycling.com/ef-education-first-drapac-cannondale-for-2018-tour-de-france/

Jonathan Vaughters says: “Dani Martinez was just off the win in Tour of California last month. I would put him on par, people might argue with me, in terms of talent coming out of the young Colombian ranks with Egan Bernal (Team Sky).

I'll have whatever he's having.

 

[Koronin]

Valverde: 'My role is to work for Nairo and Mikel'
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biciciclismo.com%2Fes%2Falejandro-valverde-regresa-al-tour-de-francia-mi-papel-es-trabajar-para-nairo-y-mikel-28-06-2018&edit-text=

He again said there the Vuelta and Worlds are much bigger goals for him.

 

[Oliwright]

According to Orla Chennaoui on twitter, the Sky Team hadn't been finalized as of yesterday. Also, Cyclingnews said on their podcast its scheduled to be announced Friday or the start of the next week.

Rowe was photographed training with the rest of the squad. But it will come down to Rowe vs Van Barle vs Bernal.

Sky have strength in depth everywhere else, so it depends on the form of Rowe vs Van Barle vs Bernal. After Van Barle's national TT win it will be hard not to select him. It also depends on how well the rest are climbing atm.

So I guess it will come down to Rowe vs Bernal and who they think can make the biggest difference. Also, I imagine whoever missed out will be on reserve in case Froome's case wraps up badly for him in the next week.

I'd say Rowe's probably the favorite to go ahead of Bernal.

 

[dacooley]

Re:

It seems to me like teams are putting significant weight on the first week in their team selection. Generally I think when in doubt taking a rouleur instead of a climbing domestique is rarely a mistake anyway.

I would like to see Bernal in the Tour, but does it really matter when he has no freedom?

exactly, that's pretty much why Astana put Rast instead of Horner on board in the 2009 Tour. Having a rolleur with 0000 ambitions never hurts. Rowe will be guaranteed to do lots of dirty work early in the stages while how effective bernal will be is unknown.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re: Re:

It seems to me like teams are putting significant weight on the first week in their team selection. Generally I think when in doubt taking a rouleur instead of a climbing domestique is rarely a mistake anyway.

I would like to see Bernal in the Tour, but does it really matter when he has no freedom?

exactly, that's pretty much why Astana put Rast instead of Horner on board in the 2009 Tour. Having a rolleur with 0000 ambitions never hurts. Rowe will be guaranteed to do lots of dirty work early in the stages while how effective bernal will be is unknown.

Yeah...
Rowe can sit on the front and churn the pace for 100s of Kms with Dylan...
They need people for the flats too.

Still, such an amazing group of riders they have. Some exceptional riders will miss the bus.

 

[rick james]

Aye but sky will be lacking really top end climbers