Favorites ascending. Photo: Gruber Images.
As many of you know, I write a monthly column for Cyclist Magazine where I answer Dear Abby-esque questions, and the most recent query pertained to whether I consider the Tour the best race of the year, or whether it’s an over-publicized circus. The question made me realize something about myself: I have a weariness around the Tour de France not unlike a romantic whose heart has been broken one too many times.
The fact is, as much as I prefer a race like Paris-Roubaix or the Giro d’Italia to the mid-summer shit show that is the Tour de France, nothing gets my anticipation going quite the way the Tour does, which is undeniably the pinnacle of the season; all the classifications and stages are prestigious enough that racers of all sorts are all arriving at the start in peak form. There is a promise of hard racing from day one, but the first week consists mostly of me worrying about the big favorites crashing out. As soon as we get through that mess, my heart is usually broken on the first day in the mountains, when the favorite takes a decisive lead and the rest of the race is most about stages than the GC.
At least, these are the dreads of a man who lived through the Indurain and Armstrong eras of racing.
Nevertheless, the Tour always manages to seduce me, and this year is no different. Maybe this year, she won’t be such a cruel lover. And, maybe this year, I won’t make horrible picks in the VSP. Just maybe, just maybe. You know the drill; get your picks in by the time the clock goes to zero, and you get some swap options on the rest day. Good luck!
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@RobSandy
Good find. I thought it was a black rain jacket but not sure. Perhaps he forgot to get his white jersey in the laundry?
@Rick
Not convinced. It doesn't seem to have the new Sky Castelli horizontal line motif seen on the Aero Race jersey but does seem to have the relatively thick horizontal black pocket trim across the tops of the pockets of the Gabba 3.
I think being the club kit secretary has turned me into a bit of a spotter...
@chris
Nice find. That makes sense as I believe that riders who are not in approved kit are fined. Latitude is given for rain gear in bad weather.
Not that it matters but I saw a podium photo of Sky for the top team presentation. Eight were wearing white while the only non conformist was wearing yellow.
Sagan unclips and STILL wins. what an animal!
@Cary
Not the first time. Believe 2015 WC championships saw a similar Saganical (i coined that word back then but never made it to the Lexicon)
Sagan is a phenomenal rider but he looks like a fucking clown.
In the name of all that is holy... what was he wearing around his neck. Pink ski goggles? The cap looked stupid enough with his hair doing a comic turn, he really didn't need to accessorize it.
Sorry but I just can't feel the love, however many bike races he wins.
@ChrisO
The goggles that he wore on the podium were not worn during the stage. He was wearing traditional black framed shades when he crossed the finish line. He may well have been wearing pink ski goggles on the podium. I am 100% sure that this was sponsor mandated as they were plastered with the company logo. I would also be willing to bet that the podium hat was sponsor ordered as well.
It is hard to argue that he sometimes looks like a clown. Below is a photo of him at the UCI awards last year. I find him refreshing and entertaining and am willing to let Peter be Peter. I think he is the best ambassador for the sport in decades.
@RobSandy
The Dauphine TT was bone dry, having listened to some of the post stage punditry it's pretty clear that some riders had "better" conditions on Saturday than others (e.g. it was apparently pissing down when Tony Martin was on course compared to Thomas).
Porte was pretty open about the fact that, having watched Roche bin it from the front seat of the support car, he was much happier to get around in a relatively good time as long as it meant being in 1 piece. Certainly a better chance of winning from 30s back than a hospital bed. Anyone wanting a closer look at the implications of taking a few risks on Stage 1 should watch Orica Scott's BSP from stage 2 & Durbridge's comments about why they bothered pushing for a top 5 on the day when he's now no use to anyone...
@Rick
This is a great discussion.
I had thought Kwiatkowski, being a Classics rider and all that, was too much of a Hardman to need an extra layer just because of a bit of rain in Belgium in July.
Gone down in my estimations.
@RobSandy
Stage 1 was a huge disappointment. You know, I can look back to Lars Boom winning the cobbled stage 5 in nasty weather in '14 and Nibali gaining time and Froome crashing out and I can really respect that stage. Racing in rain and tough conditions ? That's cool.
But this stage 1 TT was just plain stupid stage in the rain. Watching the stage early I had to think WTF as Bohini hit the turns, seemed like all of them littered with road paint, at a crawl. This Orica cat here shoots for a top five and blammo… outa the race. Any guesses what Valverde may have been thinking when he hit it ? And now blammo… outa the race and likely the season. Porte wants to save his hide so in essence, he gives up 30 sec's to do so. It was just a crummy way to start this year's TdF.
I could imagine having wanted to simply jump on a road bike with big squishy 28's and cruising around the course.
This stage did add to my respect of Chris Froome. And Team Sky. Had to have been the jerseys right? Right…
Yesterday's final km was sure fun to watch btw.
Cheers all