Tour de France 2014 Start List

[ciranda]

Sky will go 100 percent like their habit. There will be no room for attacks on the final mountain, just riders losing contact. Maybe Nibali and Fuglsang could be somewhat like Contador and Kreuziger was last year and defend secondary placings when Froome rides away. I don't see how anyone could hope to be close to Froome (and Porte probably) on MTF's except maybe Contador.

 

[karlboss]

Sky will go 100 percent like their habit. There will be no room for attacks on the final mountain, just riders losing contact. Maybe Nibali and Fuglsang could be somewhat like Contador and Kreuziger was last year and defend secondary placings when Froome rides away. I don't see how anyone could hope to be close to Froome (and Porte probably) on MTF's except maybe Contador.

Why on earth would you wait for the final mountain to attack Froome and Contador?

 

[ciranda]

But Sky's team is so strong and they will go super hard on the second last mountain also. Someone who wants to take time will have to attack very hard but still Sky can and will grind down any possible advantage before the last mountain. That's the way they have controlled the race last two years.

I mean, I agree with all you said. Except the part that Tinkoff will take control, that would be stupid of them. It's fine in theory for Contador or Nibali or whoever to try and wear down Sky's strength but they still have to deal with Froome's supersonic power. My point is that it's not easy at all to do worthwhile attacks from far away.

 

[karlboss]

But Sky's team is so strong and they will go super hard on the second last mountain also. Someone who wants to take time will have to attack very hard but still Sky can and will grind down any possible advantage before the last mountain. That's the way they have controlled the race last two years.

I mean, I agree with all you said. Except the part that Tinkoff will take control, that would be stupid of them. It's fine in theory for Contador or Nibali or whoever to try and wear down Sky's strength but they still have to deal with Froome's supersonic power. My point is that it's not easy at all to do worthwhile attacks from far away.

Your point is everyone is playing for 2nd place already. You've just said there's no room for attacks on the final mountain, and long range isn't worthwhile, so everyone should hang on and hope to finish as high up on GC as possible.
To tell the truth this isn't far off how races have been in the past few years. However Sky last year and at the Dauphine have shown to be vulnerable to tough, complicated, all day racing. This is how you target them. Noone even tried in 2012, last year Garmin set it up Saxo and Movistar played a little while and then Movistar decided to race for second.
Put Fuglsang in a break in a multi mountain day and watch the panic in the Sky team car, Froome will be riding one handed with his chin on his shoulder the whole day. You either work to catch him and open yourself to attacks when you do, or you let him get away and hope you can get back anytime he gains later. I say Fuglsang as I'd wager of all the lieutenants I think he's in the best form, he's played dutiful domestique all season and has been building good form.

On saxo taking control on a MTF it's not likely especially not early, but if Contador senses he's in better shape than Froome it will happen. My point was really those two teams are the only ones with any motivation to step up, and for anyone else it's suicidal.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Anyone but Froome at this tour...what a mundane period the Tour can be for cycling fans when Sky will simply ride like US Postal up and down mountain stages with little prospects of any sort of attack.

The first week will probably be the only week that any of us have hope an exciting outcome for the race.

*cynical rant ends*

 

[42x16ss]

Anyone but Froome at this tour...what a mundane period the Tour can be for cycling fans when Sky will simply ride like US Postal up and down mountain stages with little prospects of any sort of attack.

The first week will probably be the only week that any of us have hope an exciting outcome for the race.

*cynical rant ends*

I dunno, I expect that the first week will have plenty of fireworks, the second will be a procession with someone riding away with the win and the third will have the rest of the contenders riding like mad - realising that there are actually 21 stages in a GT, not 14 - trying to make up lost time.

So basically take the 1st week of 2010/11 and the last two weeks of 2013. Will be an ok race but expecting GC to be roughly sorted by about stage 14-15.

 

[greenedge]

The good thing about Froome and the Sky train though is that he attacks after they peel off, which is better than Wiggins needing teammates to escort him most of the way (exception ToC this year).

 

[Pricey_sky]

Why on earth would you wait for the final mountain to attack Froome and Contador?

Well if you attack on the penultimate climb and sky still have riders to chase then it really isn't very clever. Unless it's some sort of incredible ride then Sky will catch on the final climb and Froome/Contador will easily gap you when they make their move, especially if Porte is in similar form to last year where he could drop 98% of the peleton on his own. It's maybe worth a risk if your on the fringes of the top 10 but not for someone who is chasing a podium.

 

[inthepink]

 
I can’t believe some of the comments on here…How long have people being following cycling??? Has Zubeldia ever done well ? – He is only the rightful winner of 2 if not 3 Tour de France IMO…Has Roche been in the last 20 on mountin finishes ??? Did anyone watch the Vuelta last year/Tour in 2012

It is not just the riders you have it is what you do with them that is just as important
Sky are masters of the mountain train and are drilled to perfection …No other team can match them nor should they try IMO…No mountain train is going to drop Froome or Contador , simples… Sometimes it is best to let Sky ride tempo as they wear themselves out as seen in many races this year
Sure Rodgers, Majka & Roche can ride tempo everyday ..but why. You can’t beat Sky with SKY tactics …
Neither Astana nor Movistar will ride tempo unless they have the yellow jersey

I would try if I was Bjarne Riis to get one climber in a break for each mountain top finish….and hopefully have one high on GC to attack on last climb…I would put Foome under pressure on the pave and on the rouler stages …There are many way to skin a cat …..I can’t see much between Contador & Froome in the mountains no matter how many super domestiques they have …And Froome is better in TT…so there is only one other option….Also SKY are fine as long as everything is going their way and to their plan…therefore Tinkoff Saxo and the others will need to mess up their plan…not take it over and do it the same way…Garmin know this and hopefully Movistar & Asatana will also take this on board but I think Valaverde will be too cautious as per last year …Nibali is an attacker but his team for me do not exactly go all guns blazing

I believe it will only take one day with a superbly timed attack to beat SKY if they can be caught on the back foot …they will not be beaten by a mountain train

 

[anameli]

big show is about to begin like it

 

[vedrafjord]

Has Roche ever placed in the first twenty in a TDF mountain stage?

In defence of Nico's honour:

TdF mountain stage top 20s:

2009 10th stage 9: Saint-Gaudens - Tarbes
2009 3rd stage 16: Martigny - Bourg-Saint-Maurice
2010 17th stage 14: Revel - Ax-3 Domaines
2010 13th stage 16: Bagnères-de-Luchon - Pau
2010 11th stage 17: Pau - Col du Tourmalet
2011 16th stage 12: Cugnaux - Luz-Ardiden
2011 14th stage 17: Gap - Pinerolo (Ita)
2011 18th stage 18: Pinerolo (Ita) - Col du Galibier
2012 14th stage 10: Mâcon - Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
2012 19th stage 11: Albertville - La Toussuire-Les Sybelles
2012 14th stage 16: Pau - Bagnères-de-Luchon
2012 12th stage 17: Bagnères-de-Luchon - Peyragudes
2013 16th stage 16: Vaison-la-Romaine - Gap

 

[jens_attacks]

 
I can’t believe some of the comments on here…How long have people being following cycling??? Has Zubeldia ever done well ? – He is only the rightful winner of 2 if not 3 Tour de France IMO…

thanks for the good laugh. made my day

 

[inthepink]

thanks for the good laugh. made my day

You'd really want to watch that sarcasm....its the lowest form of wit btw

 

[Arnout]

Darwin Atapuma won't start due to visa problems... It's once again Great Britain that's causing the problems.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Darwin Atapuma won't start due to visa problems... It's once again Great Britain that's causing the problems.

Hermans, Bookwalter or Kohler likely to take his spot imo.

 

[Liquigas]

Darwin Atapuma won't start due to visa problems... It's once again Great Britain that's causing the problems.

What a ****ing joke.

 

[vladimir]

Hermans, Bookwalter or Kohler likely to take his spot imo.

I would think Nerz if he isn't injured. Still a disgrace that red tape again is forcing riders out of a grand Tour in the UK

 

[Ferminal]

thanks for the good laugh. made my day

Good to know there are fellow Haimar fans out there.

 

[Boardslide]

I would think Nerz if he isn't injured. Still a disgrace that red tape again is forcing riders out of a grand Tour in the UK

It's the riders & teams own fault, at the beginning of the year they state wether or not they want to ride either the Giro or Tour so should have started visa applications then just in case and especially after what happened at the Giro in May

 

[Warhawk]

Darwin Atapuma won't start due to visa problems... It's once again Great Britain that's causing the problems.

Why don't they just use the in-game editor to add a nationality... oh wait this isn't Football Manager.

 

[Arnout]

It's the riders & teams own fault, at the beginning of the year they state wether or not they want to ride either the Giro or Tour so should have started visa applications then just in case and especially after what happened at the Giro in May

It happens with so many different teams and riders, all with one nation, that I call bull**** on that.

 

[Boardslide]

It happens with so many different teams and riders, all with one nation, that I call bull**** on that.

Teams are so used to travelling within Europe that they forget how difficult it is to get visa's for other countries. It's just the same for places like Australia, China & Japan but because Britain is in Europe they think they can just waltz across borders. Yes European riders don't have problems but teams with non European riders should be more organised and prepared.

 

[Netserk]

Kangert, Scarponi, Birdsong > Rogers, Roche, and a tired Majka 8 out of 10 times.

For team GC yes, as doms no.

 

[Arredondo]

Darwin Atapuma won't start due to visa problems... It's once again Great Britain that's causing the problems.

It's still not certain though, they're trying everything to still fix it.

 

[Warhawk]

It's still not certain though, they're trying everything to still fix it.

Since he's supposed to be working for Tejay, maybe the American government could strategically bomb Yorkshire. Y'know, to protect our international interests.