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
@Buck Rogers
They used to call him Abdu-push-em-off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nt4x3nuzfQ
@Rick
Ha! Yup, he is the undisputed Argy-Bargy-Craziest sprinter in the history of cycling!
Guy was Fucking NUTS! No fear at all!
@Buck Rogers
Seeing that crash on the Champs still gives me chills.
@Rick
And the crazy thing about it. as you can see in the vid that you posted, was that he put himself into the barriers! No one was even within a fucking foot of him!
And as for recent crashes--did you see how Museeuw managed to stay upright even with being totally put into the barriers when Abdu closed the door on him? Cav could learn a bit from him.
Will Damare make it through today - 5 mins out the back and a long way to go......
@Teocalli
the answer may depend on how close his team car is.
@Rick
Ha! You beat me to it!!!
Demare(d) will need another fucking "Cipressa Ride"!
@Buck Rogers
Abdu was one nutcase among other more rational riders. Bouhanni was knocking people around yesterday at 2km to go while Kreuziger led the peloton at 70kph. we're a LONG way from Cippolini and Abdujaparov grabbing jerseys here.
@Buck Rogers
Abdu was one nutcase among other more rational riders. Bouhanni was knocking people around yesterday at 2km to go while Kreuziger led the peloton at 70kph. we're a LONG way from Cippolini and Abdujaparov grabbing jerseys here.
the second pic is Armentiere in '94. Abdu didn't cause that, the cop and Wilfried Nellisen did.
@Buck Rogers
Ha Ha!