Why I wouldnt take Brad to the Tour.
A phrase that is likely to raise a few eyebrows, but is it such a crazy idea?
Brad is obviously going to be riding the Tour. Hes Sky's leading British rider, hes finished 4th in the past, and its his big aim for the season. But how well can he do this year?
Six big mountain stages, including 4 summit finishes count against him. Only 41km of individual time trialling, one of the lowest in years, along with a short team time trial. Unlike last year, many of the big contenders are going to be skipping the Giro, so Schleck, Basso and Evans will be going in fresh. A top ten will be a tough ask. And is there a danger again that Sky will be putting all their eggs in the GC Basket and coming out with nothing?
My tour team? Arvesen, Barry, Boasson Hagen, Flecha, Thomas, Stannard, Uran, Zandio, Froome.
A pretty strong team, and one with two things in mind. Stage wins for Boasson Hagen and possibly Flecha, remember Sky picked up no stage wins last year. And then target the mountains classification with Uran, and possibly put him in young riders contention. For me, the KoM jersey could be a genuine target. Traditionally it is won by a rider outside of the GC challengers, a rider who has maybe lost a bit of time over the opening stages and is allowed to get in a break. A stage win or two and the KoM jersey would be no mean reward for the Tour de France for Sky. For Uran there would also be the option of the White Jersey for best young rider. For years dominated by Andy Schleck this year will see a new winner with Schleck being 26 for the start of the tour. The contest for best young rider will be wide open this year. Gesink will be the favourite, Krueziger less so as he is apparently targetting the giro, but outside of those two who else.
Last years result:
Uran on form could have a real shot at white. Forget the GC, have your own private race against Gesink. Follow his moves, if Schleck etc go off up the hill, ignore them, focus on Gesink.
So what about Wiggins? Id aim his form to peak for June, just in time for the Tour of Switzerland. Nine days of racing, two time trial stages, one serious mountain stage, and seven stages that could be described as lumpy.Previously won by the likes of Frank Schleck (2010), Ullrich, Vinokourov, Cancellara, it is, depending on this years parcours a race that a fully on form Brad could seriously challenge in and add his name to a pretty illustrious list. Then, send him to Austria in early July. Another 8 stage race, with two summit finishes and a time trial. Again, with the competition now quite hitting top form, a peaking Brad could stand a real chance of a high GC position.
Then a couple of rest weeks, maybe a run out at the Brixia Tour, and hes in perfect position to then go to the Classica San Sebastian.
Of course, its never going to happen. Brad will ride the Tour just as the sun comes up each day. But maybe there are alternatives, it doesnt have to be all about those three weeks in July.