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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@wiscot
I've heard that the skinsuits (not just shorts) can last up to 3 rides. But then if like Martin you don't have to pay for them you can take these steps.
@Phillip Mercer
I don't know why everything went all caps and bold then...
@Phillip Mercer
Whoa! I thought you were getting all mad and shouty there! Surely to Merckx there a sticky, grippy tape that does the job just as well as the rough sandpaper Tony M seems to like that doesn't trash your shorts - even after three rides.
@wiscot
He did have grippy sticky tape on his saddle for the TT. It wasn't sandpaper. The saddle was shown on the telecast. And the grippy sticky tape color apparently rubbed off on to his skin suit behind as opposed to ripping thru it like sandpaper. So, if he wants to wear white skin suit bottoms he best have white grippy sticky tape as opposed to yellow or whatev the tape was and which in this situation was visually unappealing on high def telecast half way thru the TT.
Wow! Dan Martin rode half the Tour with two fractured vertebrae. As he clearly had the legs, we can only imagine how different his Tour might have been had it not been for the crash. Hardman indeed!
@wiscot
i just this minute read of this. balls
Although it's great to see Thomas in yellow, I fear the VSP may be a DNF this year. Is there hope for a late season resurgence?
@John Irvine
Some Vuelta VSP maybe?
@KogaLover
On the plus side, if it stops now I win.
Yay me.
@RobSandy
You get a Pint of Brains on yourself.