Le Tour de Pharmaceutical 2017

I know its still three months off but its worth noting that there are 10 new sites & stage cities. Tour kicks off in Dusseldorf (of which i have fond memories of a pub crawl through the old town) & also passes through Belgium & Luxembourg.

Shitty route this year trying to aid shitty french tour contenders.

In terms of current racing, Durbridge seems to be going well on the cobbles.

Will have to wait for the Dauphiné in June to get any real form indications.

Froome and Sky are going to targeted by the French press.

Best chance for Froome to do the tour vuelta double. Quintana doing the Giro. Valverde likely to be biggest challenger.

Simon Yates has been added to the Orica squad for the TdF as a precaution for Chaves's knee injury. This means he will not contest the Giro.

Bump........two months to go

So it's a tour of eastern and southern France then?

taipan wrote:Froome and Sky are going to targeted by the French press.

And motorists.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-10/tour-de-france-champion-chris-froome-unhurt-in-training-accident/8512738

Bradman wrote:So it's a tour of eastern and southern France then?

Also Germany & Belgium this year.

Bumpety

Can't see anyone getting close to Froome.

JGK wrote:Can't see anyone getting close to Froome.

We'll have a better idea after the Dauphiné next week.

http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

Boring, boring route. So few opportunities that I can see Froome hammering lpdbf and controlling after that.

And 22km of TT. Still too many for Bardet

tricycle wrote:http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

Boring, boring route. So few opportunities that I can see Froome hammering lpdbf and controlling after that.

And 22km of TT. Still too many for Bardet

Like the Giro, a time trial at the end might still lead to an exciting finale.

Big Dog wrote:

tricycle wrote:http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

Boring, boring route. So few opportunities that I can see Froome hammering lpdbf and controlling after that.

And 22km of TT. Still too many for Bardet

Like the Giro, a time trial at the end might still lead to an exciting finale.

Like the Fignon/LeMond race. The closest of all time.

Stage 13, July 14 Saint Girons – Foix 100km Mountains

Only 100km in a day? Is it all uphill?

Stage 9 looks brutal:

The 100km stage is so disappointing. If that had been up and down continuously without a valley, it'd be likely to be the best stage of the race (like Alpe d'Huez in 2011 the day after Schleck's Galibier solo).

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:

tricycle wrote:http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

Boring, boring route. So few opportunities that I can see Froome hammering lpdbf and controlling after that.

And 22km of TT. Still too many for Bardet

Like the Giro, a time trial at the end might still lead to an exciting finale.

Like the Fignon/LeMond race. The closest of all time.

Apart from the last week of racing, this year's Giro was one of the worst GTs in recent years imo. Very insipid two weeks, with routes to match. Last week was good, and that was mainly because of the Dumoulin surprise factor. My issue here is that the favourite is the best climber and not far off the best time trialist either.

To be fair about 1989, it's like expecting a tied test. Two top riders in fine form, only separated by stupid tri bars.
As of now, I see only Porte likely to match Froome for some time before his usual fade/f*ck up. Unless Froome's not in form. Contador just doesn't seem to be at the required level these days. Can't see Quintana being in top form after the Giro.

For the first time in a number of years, Froome will not start as favorite. Doesnt mean he is out of it by any stretch of the imagination but there are at least half a dozen riders, on current form, who are better placed.

Orica-Scott have dropped Simon Gerrans for the Tour. It will be the first time since 2009 that he has'nt started.
Orica-Scott for the Tour de France
Michael Albasini (SUI), Esteban Chaves (COL), Luke Durbridge (AUS), Mat Hayman (AUS), Damien Howson (AUS), Daryl Impey (RSA), Roman Kreuziger (CZE), Jens Keukeleire (BEL), Simon Yates (GBR).

Big Dog wrote:For the first time in a number of years, Froome will not start as favorite. Doesnt mean he is out of it by any stretch of the imagination but there are at least half a dozen riders, on current form, who are better placed.

Who is favourite?

JGK wrote:

Big Dog wrote:For the first time in a number of years, Froome will not start as favorite. Doesnt mean he is out of it by any stretch of the imagination but there are at least half a dozen riders, on current form, who are better placed.

Who is favourite?

Can't find the link but Froome himself conceded that Porte will start favorite over him. Might be gamesmanship but Froome doesnt normally play those games plus his results this year have been well below par. The usual suspects in Quintana, Nibali & Contador will, no doubt, also have a say.

Sportsbet's market has -
Froome $2.50
Porte $2.80
Quintana $8.00
Contador $17.00
Aru $17.00
Fuglsang $21.00

Also looking forward to see if Sagan can take another green jersey. Kittel & Matthews have the ability to challenge. Its a shame Orica have withheld their new sprinting young gun, Caleb Ewan. It would have been good to see what he could do against the master.