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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View Comments
@RobSandy
Sky are winning because they used very cheaty skinsuits on Stage 1. Or so some FDJ aligned French boffin has alleged.
@chris
@Rick
The facts have never got in the way of a Frenchman stood at the side of the road with a cup of piss.
@chris
Touche.
Changing the subject, anyone know why Kwiatkowski was wearing black while the rest of Sky are wearing white? Is that some sort of cheat too?
@RobSandy
If you are referring to stage 2, I thought he was wearing a black rain jacket. I don't recall whether he was wearing black during the ITT.
@Rick
I'd also assumed it was a Gabba type rain jacket.
@chris
I believe that Phil mentioned that he was wearing a black rain jacket.
@Rick
I am convinced that he was wearing what looked exactly like a black version of the jersey that the other riders were wearing. I noticed a different Sky rider wearing a black gillet with the white sleeves of the jersey sticking out, but I'm sure Kwiatkowski was all in black.
Now, of course, I can't find any photos to back up my claim.
@Rick
This is the best I can do - that's Kwiat just ahead of Froome. Looks to me like a normal jersey but in black. Also noticed he was wearing a different helmet.