It's been striking me as somewhat odd just how many GC riders are seemingly out of form in this year's Tour. Porte, Quintana, Martin, Aru, Adam Yates, Bardet, Uran, Kelderman and Mas have all looked well short of their best. Thomas and Bernal both have known reasons, or at least public excuses, as to why they're a little off, and obviously they're still going pretty well, but Ineos as a whole seem to be missing the dominant level of previous years, even allowing for the absence of Froome. Nibali of course did the Giro and has allegedly been sick, but it's still been a little surprising just how invisible he's been, though I suspect he'll try something in the Alps.
Only Pinot, Kruijswijk and Buchmann seem to really be on top of their games. Alaphilippe is in a bit of a different category given that he's in unknown territory both for himself and for us as fans, plus he's the subject of his own active thread. Simon Yates looks great but he's free of the daily pressure of fighting for GC.
Are all these struggles simply down to the vagaries of form and health, or is something else going on? Are riders and teams wary of some particular new test or warning from the UCI, are we simply seeing the reality on the road of increasingly cleaner cycling (the Giro likewise looked relatively believable this year), or is there some other explanation? Is it notable and in some way instructive that a rider like Pinot, who's often been quite vocal in anti-doping matters and about whom there's been comparatively little suspicion over the years, is now looking so strong?
Only Pinot, Kruijswijk and Buchmann seem to really be on top of their games. Alaphilippe is in a bit of a different category given that he's in unknown territory both for himself and for us as fans, plus he's the subject of his own active thread. Simon Yates looks great but he's free of the daily pressure of fighting for GC.
Are all these struggles simply down to the vagaries of form and health, or is something else going on? Are riders and teams wary of some particular new test or warning from the UCI, are we simply seeing the reality on the road of increasingly cleaner cycling (the Giro likewise looked relatively believable this year), or is there some other explanation? Is it notable and in some way instructive that a rider like Pinot, who's often been quite vocal in anti-doping matters and about whom there's been comparatively little suspicion over the years, is now looking so strong?