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
@John Irvine
Dan may have doomed his own podium chances today by being caught out.
@Rick
True, but I think he may see himself in a position to do something over the next few days. From what I've read, 6th or 7th mean as much to Dan as 60th or 70th. I think he wants on that podium.
@wiscot
I hope you are right, I am really rooting for him. I thought that I read that he felt ill on the rest day. Something seems to be going through the Quickstep team. I don't think Kittel was feeling well today either.
@Rick
Agreed. Today should have been a good day for EQS, but something wasn't right. Hopefully they got their "bad" day out of the way . . .
@RobSandy
Hmm...I love it when a plan comes together!
@wiscot
Danny Boy is in great form but he is tactically challenged.
Oooh. How hungry is Duran Duran? As hungry as a wolf? Go for it wee man! Bardet too.
Bummed for Kittel. I'm sure Matthews wanted green, but not this way - it was shaping up nicely for a showdown in Paris.
If only the Lotto Jumbo kit was as cool as the Bianchi bikes they ride . . . awful looking kit.
Damn, wouldn't it be fine to see Uran and Drapac-Cannondale win?
@wiscot
I like these better than the yellow kits of years past. The only reason is the black jerseys make it easy to pick out the GC leader's yellow jersey again.
I think it would be great to see Uran and C-D win. For what it is worth, they have my favorite kit in the peloton.
@Rick
I don't think Uran has done enough to deservingly win. Bardet accused him of sitting in the wheels yesterday, and I think he had a point. Uran certainly didn't deny it.
I'd personally be very pleased to see Bardet win. I think him and Dan Martin have been the most aggressive riders so far.
I almost felt sorry for Aru yesterday, each time he bridged back up to the lead group Bardet or Martin had another pop off the front and dropped him again.