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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@dyalander
it is, and i agree. as a fan, though, i'd rather have a Cavendish or Sagan, in one piece, contesting for the duration of the race, than to lose both in one throw. i'd hate to see the Tour turn into a meat grinder that cannot differentiate between prime beef and horsemeat.
@Randy C
So what are you saying? There shouldn't be TT's in case Froome wins? Or they shouldn't race in the rain?
Or they shouldn't have corners in case people fall off?
Shame there was no VSP for the Giro Rosa!
the best thing that could happen from yesterday's stupidity would be if Sagan were to take this as an opprortunity to reinvent himself, as Jalabert did after Armentieres in 1994.
clearly, he's going to struggle to win BIG races, just like Lemond did. everyone in the peloton will knife each other in the liver to get his wheel in a classic. he animated almost the entire spring season, and has nothing to show for it. he's the most talented all around rider of his generation. what could he do if he weighed less, for example? the sport is really his oyster.
@Duntov
Easy there fella. No-one is suggesting that Tour sprinting is/should be a "knitting circle." What might be expected is behavior that does not put a fellow professional's (and I emphasize the word professional) livelihood/career on the line. IMHO Sagan did that to Cavendish yesterday. The latter's Tour is over, his team suffers (both teams suffer in fact, through the loss of PR driven by their two star riders) and it could have ended Cavendish's career. Not to mention the two riders who were also brought down at high speed.
These riders personify Rule 5. Cavendish has 30 Tour stage wins. Does it take balls and moxie and taking chances to do that? Yes. But a thorough review of Cavendish's entire career will show you that when he realizes it's a lost cause, he opts out. I believe that yesterday he was following Demare's wheel when the Frenchman veered to the right hand side of the road. Cavendish followed him and when Demare moved to the left, Cavendish saw an opening along the barrier. The issue was Sagan was still going to to the right and slammed into Cavendish who had no room to manouevre. I believe the technical term is Sagan "shut the door." Was it dangerous? Yes. Is Sagan the best bike handler in the peloton? Yes. Could the crash have been avoided/averted? IMHO yes.
One more thing. I do like Sagan. He's a star in every sense. I believe he's a good ambassador for the sport. (Ok, I know I've called him "Pinchy" in the past) but I think he's matured - as has Cavendish. Hopefully, this will encourage the sprinters to be a bit more careful in holding their lines. Yes, I know that this is the Tour and a stage win is highly covered for every reason imaginable, but there has to be rules and rules enforced. Do some homework on the Kelly/Vanderaerden tussles of the 1980s.
That's my more than two cents this morning.
@RobSandy
Oooh . . . you do like to stir things, don't you? (You know what here!)
@wiscot
WHAT?
@RobSandy
wot ;)
Damn, Aru did the business and looked the business today. That Italian champ's jersey looked very sweet with minimal graphics. Kinda old school and the bike and helmet were nicely done.
Dan Martin looked good too. I think this will be a great Tour if riders like Aru and Martin adopt an aggressive approach to things. Noting ventured, nothing gained guys . . . and the Green Jersey competition might actually be exciting . . .
@wiscot
Fucking love Dan Martin. Old school rider. Not very polished but I would rather drink with him than almost anyone in the pro peloton. Really hope he manages to get a stage win or two.
And yes, great stage today. Aru did look really great.
@chris
I think @RobSandy was just demonstrating the proper implementation of Rule 43 there.