Pre Tour de France-thread

[Valv.Piti]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

Agree, this seems the most likely option, I think only Rowe instead of Van Baarle could be an option, but Van Baarle is the better rider.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

Agree, this seems the most likely option, I think only Rowe instead of Van Baarle could be an option, but Van Baarle is the better rider.

I think the cobbles speak against Bernal getting a shot this year.

He is a shoe in for the Vuelta though

 

[Laplaz]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

Agree, this seems the most likely option, I think only Rowe instead of Van Baarle could be an option, but Van Baarle is the better rider.

I think the cobbles speak against Bernal getting a shot this year.

He is a shoe in for the Vuelta though

Not only the cobbles, also the whole first week with TTT and nervous wind stages.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Im talking about selections, not necessarily doing well GC-wise

 

[rick james]

Sky and the Top Dawg would be daft to take Bernal

 

[Parker]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

If Bernal is going to be in the team, why is he not out riding in the Alps with Froome, Thomas, Poels and Kwiatkowski at the moment? The man's never ridden with Froome before, surely they'd get together.

 

[Brt147]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

If Bernal is going to be in the team, why is he not out riding in the Alps with Froome, Thomas, Poels and Kwiatkowski at the moment? The man's never ridden with Froome before, surely they'd get together.

This season I expected much more from Van Baarle but I believe Sky will choose him instead of Rowe, it is a difficult choice, and this year can be really important because of the cobbled stage.

I don't believe they bring both once they have Moscon that is an impressive rider that can do all types of works.

 

[RedheadDane]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

Unless he's not back at his best after his accident last year.

 

[Parker]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

Unless he's not back at his best after his accident last year.

Many would say he looked in better shape than van Baarle in the spring. Rowe has done the last three Tours for Sky and van Baarle has never ridden with Froome. With one fewer rider this year, they'll go with tried and trusted riders.

 

[MatParker117]

Flash floods in the pyrenees might lead to route changes.

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/roads-destroyed-flash-floods-pyrenees-just-weeks-ahead-tour-de-france-382960

 

[CTQ]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

Unless he's not back at his best after his accident last year.

Many would say he looked in better shape than van Baarle in the spring. Rowe has done the last three Tours for Sky and van Baarle has never ridden with Froome. With one fewer rider this year, they'll go with tried and trusted riders.

They were together in the Ruta del Sol race

 

[Parker]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

There's no chance Rowe doesn't make the team.

Unless he's not back at his best after his accident last year.

Many would say he looked in better shape than van Baarle in the spring. Rowe has done the last three Tours for Sky and van Baarle has never ridden with Froome. With one fewer rider this year, they'll go with tried and trusted riders.

They were together in the Ruta del Sol race

That's true. I still don't expect them to dispense with their road captain for no good reason though.

 

[Rollthedice]

Everything I've seen and heard would suggest Sky's team will be Froome, Thomas, Poels, Bernal, Castroviejo, Kwiato, Moscon and van Baarle. I'd be surprised if it's anything else. Goes without saying really, but it's scary strong, with all bases covered, especially if Kwiato and Moscon can get back into their 2017 TdF and Vuelta form, respectively, in the period between the Dauphine and the Tour.

The Tour is over.

 

[CTQ]

Re:

Flash floods in the pyrenees might lead to route changes.

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/roads-destroyed-flash-floods-pyrenees-just-weeks-ahead-tour-de-france-382960

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdHGNePXu0o the Gave de Pau, june 13

just to give you an idea, le Gave de Pau that runs through Pau, the end of stage 18 and Lourdes, the start of stage 19.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

i didn't realize stage 12 will have +5.000mts..
Today Kwia recon;
https://www.strava.com/activities/1636159046

 

[dacooley]

Re:

I would be really excited for Bernal in the Tour, except for the fact that he rides for Sky.

his prospects might not have looked so sweet and exciting had he ridden for a different team.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

i didn't realize stage 12 will have +5.000mts..
Today Kwia recon;
https://www.strava.com/activities/1636159046

I think Strava over exaggerates vertical gain, but yeah, its a monster stage.

 

[del1962]

Re: Re:

i didn't realize stage 12 will have +5.000mts..
Today Kwia recon;
https://www.strava.com/activities/1636159046

I think Strava over exaggerates vertical gain, but yeah, its a monster stage.

yeah i get different readings from different devices

 

[pastronef]

Re:

I would be really excited for Bernal in the Tour, except for the fact that he rides for Sky.

well, that´s why I am excited for him riding the Tour

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Bernal at Tdf, that's excellent! :razz:
On Sunday,15th of July we will first have 9th stage of Tour and after that a final of Football WC..

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Bernal at Tdf, that's excellent! :razz:
On Sunday,15th of July we will first have 9th stage of Tour and after that a final of Football WC..

Denmark winning both?

 

[Laplaz]

Re: Re:

Bernal at Tdf, that's excellent! :razz:
On Sunday,15th of July we will first have 9th stage of Tour and after that a final of Football WC..

Denmark winning both?

Moscon or Terpstra winning stage 9 and then at the WC in Russia... ...oopps

 

[Linkinitouille]

Aubisque descent heavily damaged following thunderstorms.

Stage 19 could be modified if the authorities think they won't be able to repair the road in time.

There has been several precedents these past few years:

- In 2017, there has been a similar event on the col d'Agnes (stage 13) with a damaged road. They managed to repair it in less than a month, allowing the race to take the usual route.
- In 2016, there were concerns regarding possible landslides on the col de la Ramaz (stage 20). For safety, col de la Ramaz has been removed from the Etape du Tour amateur event, but the route was unchanged for the Tour - however the Caravane had to avoid it.
- In 2015, a huge landslide above the Tunnel du Chambon (stage 20) damaged the structure of the tunnel and made it unsuitable for the race. After several inspections, it was too dangerous for the safety of the riders, and even later, they realized they had to dig an entire new tunnel to replace the old one, which would take 18 months - and had also to create an additional road on the other side of the lac du Chambon. As a result for theT Tour, the col du Galibier had to be replaced by the col de la Croix-de-Fer.
- In 2013, thunderstorms destroyed roads on the col du Tourmalet (not planned for this year) and in the Garonne valley between Saint-Béat and Bagnères-de-Luchon, threatening to remove the col de Menté from the route. But the damage was lower than expected, and after repairs and cleaning, the route was kept as is.
- In 2008, a huge risk of crumblings on the col de Larche forced ASO to take another route three months before the race: they had to move the start city from Digne-les-Bains to Embrun, and take the col Agnel for the first time in its history.

 

[Pantani_lives]

That looks serious. I hope they can repair it in time, because it's an important stage.

 

[Bot. Sky_Bot]

Re: Re:

Bernal at Tdf, that's excellent! :razz:
On Sunday,15th of July we will first have 9th stage of Tour and after that a final of Football WC..

Denmark winning both?

Ups, Denmark will be beaten by Argentina in 1/8...
9th stage - of course won by Rafał 'The Braveheart' Majka, WC Final with Lewandowski hat-trick