The team message is "stages and podium" but the team is built to get Thibaut and David safely to the Granon stage. That's when the Tour will really start.
No Reichenbach, no Molard: a typical FDJ GC squad would have included at least one of them, as well as another strongman for the first week. Here, we have pairs of riders: Two leaders and two locomotives, Le Gac and King Kung (who can also win an ITT.) Then two versatile helpers, Duchesne and Geniets. Finally, Storer and Madouas can either help or go for stages.
If the elements are not a factor during stages 2, 3, and/or 4, if the cobbled stage doesn't deliver, time gaps will be too small for Thibaut to be allowed in a break on stage 7. That's his best chance of winning his home stage. And we may find ourselves on rest day with Gaudu and PInot seconds apart. No clear GC guy, no clear stage hunter.
The other scenario, with a route that reminds me of '14, is a combination of nordic winds messing with RedheadDane's hair
, cobbles doing their job, and favorites who DNF or lose a lot of time week 1. Then, there may be a path for a GC run. If that is the case and Thibaut is in the GC picture, he will do what the team wants him to do. Even if this is not what he wants.
Unless '22 is the new '19 and TP stands for Turbo Pinot, I don't like the GC thing: a 5th place in Paris would add very little to Thibaut's legacy. On the other hand, early time losses would open the door for a KOM quest and breakaway opportunities. Odds to win stages would be better than mixing it up with the Slovenians in the final 2K of a mountain stage. And even if the break doesn't make it, there may be KOM points to get along the way, and sooner or later one break will stick.
Between LSPDBF, Granon, AdH on Bastille Day, Peyragudes, Hautacam, or even Mende, chances are that we will see fist pumping and goat memes.
www.velonews.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram