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
Love Martin's pluck. He can hardly stand up straight and is taking it to the best riders on the planet.
However, I can't figure out why no one is talking about Uran.
Movistar is not having a good Tour. Valverde out early, and for all practical purposes, Quintana out now, too.
@Teocalli
Yeah, to me "wheel problem" and puncture are two different things!
BTW, did Bauke not look completely awesome today? I like the clean look of the Trek kit and the red shoes were a fantastic choice. 100% rooting for Dan Martin, but style-wise, it's just not there, is it?
Even though red is not my color, Bauke looked awesome yesterday! What a win!!
@Cary
@stooge
Cool or a tool.. Just kidding of course..
@wiscot
Broken spoke
@sthilzy
How much more crappier my picks can get?! http://www.velonews.com/2017/07/tour-de-france/quintana-on-dismal-tour-this-is-a-big-blow-for-everyone_443899
Rest day swaps?
Eddy Merckx
Bernard Hinault
Miguel Indurain
Philippe Thys
Greg LeMond
@sthilzy
No swaps!
I'm quite happy for the standings to say exactly as they are, maybe with Bardet moving up to 2nd. Wouldn't mind Contador sneaking into the top 5 either...
@sthilzy
I think even substituting those names, you'd still score more points than me!
The green jersey competition is great - looks like it could be decided in Paris. But I fear it may bode ill for Dan Martin's podium chances. The team can't work for Kittel and him.