“In both Tours that I’ve been able to win he was runner-up”.
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Britain’s Chris Froome, second left, rides with his teammates during a training two days before the start of the Tour de France cycling race, near Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, France, Thursday, June 30, 2016.
The tour is rich in history, sporting rivalries, triumphs and failures. The two-time champion, and last year’s victor, has looked very strong this year and won the Critérium du Dauphiné last month to stamp his authority on a field that included many of his potential rivals. And there are points up for grabs for any rider who earns a day in the King of the Mountains jersey, with two category four ascents early in stage one.
“It was one of those things”, he said of Switzerland.
Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme agreed and announced earlier this week that a series of special measures were being put in place in an attempt to beat anyone contemplating motorized cheating.
Thibaut Pinot could be that man, the 26-year-old has had enough experience in breakaways and assaults on stage wins to know the drill by now, while compatriot Romain Bardet will be ready to step in a take up the home hopes should Pinot suffer even an inch in the opening week. The Colombian is now one year older and is still maturing by the day.
There are two time trials totaling 54 kilometers, but there is no team time trial at all.
Fabio Aru isn’t now in the best condition but he’ll still have three weeks until the business end of the tour where he’ll need to shine.
A climbing specialist, Aru won the Spanish Vuelta a year ago and has also achieved two podium results at the Giro in his short but successful career.
If that’s true, then he has to be seriously feared on the tour. Challenging him for the top spot will be recent Giro d’Italia victor from Astana Pro Team, Vincenzo Nibali. “We have different options to go for a win compared to the previous years but it’s going to be hard”.
Froome predicts that the Tour’s very mountainous third week will be the point where his rivals will be most active, and that “People will be looking at it, seeing that it’s so loaded and for anyone trying to make up lost time, that will be a great opportunity for them”.
A first taste of mountains will be on Stage 5, in the Massif Central. He is the undoubted favourite to take the jersey again in 2016.
“I hope that I don’t have any issue or complication in the first stages of the Tour”.
Froome was the stage victor when the Tour last scaled its barren, 1,909-meter (6,263-foot) peak in 2013 and is eyeing that stage again for another victory next year. “We have to be at the front of the peloton with the whole team close to me to avoid any trouble”.
The overwhelming favorite after his victories in 2013 and 2015, Chris Froome is aiming to join an elite club of just seven riders who have won cycling’s biggest event at least three times. Pierre Rolland is an experienced stage victor, and has a string of top 10 finishes to his name, and is definitely another one to consider should the big guns hit any difficulties.
“There are a number of riders in other teams capable of putting in a challenge for overall victory”, said Dave Brailsford, team principal of Froome’s Team Sky.
Quintana skipped the Criterium du Dauphine and Tour de Suisse to focus on altitude training back in Colombia as he bids to win his maiden Tour crown. I doubt this price will stay there long.
Quintana will possibly win the polka dot jersey with his awesome class when the road goes skyward.
However, the Guardian suggests his Tinkoff team may have half an eye on winning the green jersey with Peter Sagan. I can’t see anyone else being on contention.
In the dead flat stages, he’s the fastest guy at the moment but it all depends on how he survives in the mountains.
“I think it fits really well that he has a co-leader”.
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