Tour de France 2014 Start List

[coimbrawu]

I know Goss hasn't delivered anything lately, but he seemed to be getting some shape lately with California and Suisse, where he showed that he can put himself on the mix in some sprints and is a more close substitute to Matthews than Meier. Is there something with him or are Orica and Goss just parting ways?

Christian Meier stands by, no Goss

 

[ILovecycling]

I'd rate Thomas above Lopez as he's been doing monster turns for captains on mountains in stage races.

Shouldn't Intxuasti be ahead of Izaguirre in the climbing department? Also, Gadret and Visconti should be superior climbers than Plaza, possibly even Herrada.

Roche is also superior to Rogers and possibly Majka if he's tired from the Giro. Loss of Kreuziger was huge as he basically towed Contador up multiple mountain stages last year.

Froome and Nibali have equal teams in mountains if Fuglsang is in shape and Scarponi recovered. Will be interesting to see how Valverde uses his deep team that doesn't have a super domestique like the others.

Good post
1st(bolded) - I thought about it,yes.I would say it is pretty even,as Thomas will pull more on flat stages and will be probably more tired heading to the mountains
2 - I dont think so,Ion is in a great form,and iirc Intxausti never proved great domestic ability in the mountains
3- With this Im sure that they shouldt.Visconti is more puncheur and Gadret is just Team Gadret
4 - hard to say,depends on form,Im judging from previous domestic performances

In general I would say that the key is form of Nibali first three men,and then how Valverde will use his team like u said.But Im almost sure that it will be just for get rid of his opponets for podium (Nibali/Contador/Froome depends on form,but mainly Talansky,Vdb2,TJVG,Mollema,Costa)

 

[Liquigas]

Stitches in the hand doesn't go well with bunch related sprints.

That's what happens when you ride your bike without gloves on.

 

[vladimir]

Any confirmations regarding Atapuma?
No mention on it on BMC's Twitter, and I cannot find anywhere that it is more than a possibility that he won't start...

 

[Eclipse]

Any confirmations regarding Atapuma?
No mention on it on BMC's Twitter, and I cannot find anywhere that it is more than a possibility that he won't start...

He's all set

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/atapuma_ready_for_the_tour/

 

[dirkprovin]

I know Goss hasn't delivered anything lately, but he seemed to be getting some shape lately with California and Suisse, where he showed that he can put himself on the mix in some sprints and is a more close substitute to Matthews than Meier. Is there something with him or are Orica and Goss just parting ways?

Barring some sort of miracle; M.Harley Goss looks to be headed straight out the exit door at season end. Not only that of OGE, but also WT level racing and his 2013-4 seasons would hardly commend him to most Pro Conti squads.

OGE did a fair clean-out at the end of 2013 and on performances whilst at OGE; the utterly insipid Leigh Howard and Sam Bewley (who to be fair has had some injuries) would look good odds to be joining M.Harley out the door.

As for OGE, if Matthews is ruled out then strategy would look to be Gerrans for a couple of selective finishes and otherwise straight out "stage hunting". They may target specific days for the likes of Albasini and/or Clarke but otherwise they'll try and throw someone into each day's breakaway.

 

[Jspear]

That's what happens when you ride your bike without gloves on.

I really don't understand the riders who don't were gloves (I believe Horner doesn't). Its such a simple precaution that can help save your hands. Hopefully he learns from this. Onto the Vuelta now....there's bound to be some stages there that suit his characteristics.

 

[Netserk]

Best cobble man is Geraint 'Crash' Thomas??? Perhaps if it was about the stage win, but as for dom he is hardly great as positioning is job number uno for doms on that stage.

 

[Steady]

The sprinters for each team

Could anyone help me edit/fill in all the sprinters for each team? Or to say, who might be the participants in the sprints for each team..and feel free to add more in the teams

Ag2r-La Mondiale: Dumoulin
BMC Racing Team: Van Avermaet?
Cofidis: Petit, Simon
Giant-Shimano: Kittel, Degenkolb
Lotto-Belisol: Greipel, Gallopin
Orica-GreenEDGE: Matthews, Gerrans, Albasini
Team NetApp-Endura: Dempster?
Trek Factory Racing: D. Van Poppel
Astana: ?
Bretagne-Séché Environnement: R.Feillu, A.Fonseca
FDJ.fr: Demare
IAM Cycling: Haussler
Movistar Team: Rojas
Team Europcar: Coquard, Gene
Team Sky: Thomas,
Belkin Pro Cycling: Leezer
Cannondale: Sagan, Viviani
Garmin-Sharp: Navardauskas
Lampre-Merida: Modolo, Cimolai
Omega Pharma-Quick Step: Cav, Kwiatkowski
Team Katusha: Kristoff
Team Tinkoff-Saxo: Morkov

Thanks in advance!

 

[inthepink]

IMO opinion Tinkoff Saxo have best doms (of GC favourites) for flats stages & cobbles
Bennatti, Tossato & Morkrov are very strong and well able to stay upright, set a good pace, be near the front ,etc ...Roche is also strong if needed here in case any thing happens to one of these 3

The problem with the cobble stage and the first flat stages is there will undoubtedly be crashes (there always is) and the Tour will lose GC riders esp on the cobbles....Its a mater of making sure you are well protected

 

[Afrank]

Best cobble man is Geraint 'Crash' Thomas??? Perhaps if it was about the stage win, but as for dom he is hardly great as positioning is job number uno for doms on that stage.

Or course he is the best domestique for the cobbles. It's all a matter of finding which one of Froomes challengers to crash in front of.

 

[Escarabajo]

http://www.revistamundociclistico.c...finicion-este-jueves-en-la-tarde-europea.html

Everything should be OK for Atapuma to start on Saturday. Somebody flew from Colombia to take his visa to him in Milan.

 

[One Man Grupetto]

And the prize for the duffest TdF preview goes to...Robert Millar who manages to single out four riders who aren't even taking part. (Guardini, Ferrari, Camano and Boy Van Poppel). Posted this afternoon so no excuses, really.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/03/tour-de-france-team-by-team-guide#

 

[orangerider]

I know Goss hasn't delivered anything lately, but he seemed to be getting some shape lately with California and Suisse, where he showed that he can put himself on the mix in some sprints and is a more close substitute to Matthews than Meier. Is there something with him or are Orica and Goss just parting ways?

He's useless. If it wasn't for that MSR victory he would've been shown the door a long time ago.

 

[dirkprovin]

He's useless. If it wasn't for that MSR victory he would've been shown the door a long time ago.

Wouldn't go so far as that. He's always had ability but attitude and physical fitness have always been issues. In his CSC days, he showed "signs" but gained a reputations for being lazy. He started getting his act together at HTC-Columbia/Highroad and his results improved highlighted by MSR .... but he was at best no3 in pecking order behind Cav & Griepel.

Probably some of that hard work still carried over for most of his first season at OGE. Whether he was one (of what were thankfully a minority) who thought I'm now at an Aussie team - I'm now job secure and have favoured treatment we cannot know for certain but certainly he's looked ordinary.

Also have to question his mental toughness. Whilst other riders will pick themselves up and fight on if they've hit the ground or commisaire's calls don't go their way; Goss' reaction has been to mope and completely "drop his bundle" for several days to follow.

 

[ILovecycling]

Best cobble man is Geraint 'Crash' Thomas??? Perhaps if it was about the stage win, but as for dom he is hardly great as positioning is job number uno for doms on that stage.

Yeah,I meant best cobble rider,not best cobble domestique He might be a bit dangerous

btw what do you do in portugal?

 

[BeagRigh]

Not strictly related to the start list but continuing the Millar discussion from earlier in the thread he is now working for ITV.

Fast work signing him up! Though I suspect they might have been working on something for next year anyway.

 

[ILovecycling]

Could anyone help me edit/fill in all the sprinters for each team? Or to say, who might be the participants in the sprints for each team..and feel free to add more in the teams

Ag2r-La Mondiale: Dumoulin
BMC Racing Team: Van Avermaet,Oss (both hilly)
Cofidis: Petit, Simon
Giant-Shimano: Kittel, Degenkolb (Veelers if others r injured)
Lotto-Belisol: Greipel, Gallopin, Henderson
Orica-GreenEDGE: Matthews, Gerrans, Albasini
Team NetApp-Endura: Dempster
Trek Factory Racing: D. Van Poppel
Astana: /
Bretagne-Séché Environnement: R.Feillu, A.Fonseca
FDJ.fr: Demare, Vichot
IAM Cycling: Haussler
Movistar Team: /
Team Europcar: Coquard
Team Sky: /
Belkin Pro Cycling: Leezer, Boom (st 5)
Cannondale: Sagan, Viviani , Sabatini
Garmin-Sharp: Navardauskas
Lampre-Merida: Modolo, Cimolai, Richeze
Omega Pharma-Quick Step: Cav, Petacchi (if Cav out)
Team Katusha: Kristoff , Porsev
Team Tinkoff-Saxo: /

Thanks in advance!

edited...

 

[manafana]

Frank Schlekc could do something but also if Rui Costa is been talked about then surely Mathias Frank deserves a mention he finally gets a Grand Tour in form and leading a team here.

 

[Liquigas]

Who is Tom Scully??? LOOOL
http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/riders/team-sky/scully-tom.html

Poor Zandio.

 

[del1962]

Who is Tom Scully??? LOOOL
http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/riders/team-sky/scully-tom.html

Poor Zandio.

New Zealand rider who is with Madison Genesis

How did that happen

 

[mortand]

Hey, there are more surprises. Reto Hollenstein, for instance, is slightly smaller than I thought. And a bit overweight, I may add.
http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/riders/iam-cycling/hollenstein-reto.html

 

[rhubroma]

I don't say for the third grandest sporting event on the planet, beyond the World Cup and the Olympics, that each kilometer should be remunerated proportionally, but just look at the mountain top placings (compared to what footballers get).

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/04-07-2014/premi-tour-ricchi-poveri-guadagni-801131959684.shtml