This enormous reputation makes Tinkoff’s terminator one to watch in terms of the points classification, and perhaps in terms of stage wins, with stage two featuring a kick that will suit puncheurs such as Sagan, giving him the flawless opportunity to end his drought. I have had a good period of training at the high-altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada and racing at the Tour de Suisse to get me into a better shape.
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The 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling competition started on Saturday at Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most popular tourist hotspots in the country. He is improving year by year and has shown consistency in the build up, as he did last year.
“All of the teams will try to take the advantage of Sky, but that’s going to happen in any race when you are the favourite”, 2011 victor and BMC global ambassador, Cadel Evans said. “I know I have a great physical condition”.
“I couldn’t follow him [last year] and I hope this year I will be able to be with him all the time.”
In what could be one of the more intriguing sub-plots of the race, Aru will be supported by the only man other than Froome or Contador to have pulled on the yellow jersey in Paris – Vincenzo Nibali, who won May’s Giro d’Italia with a stunning comeback in the final days.
It’s likely to be a nervous opening weekend in Normandy, with the prospect of echelons tomorrow on tomorrow’s Stage 1 from Mont St-Michel to Omaha Beach. We could be in for a very nervous start.
Porte’s place in the top-five contenders is borne out of the fact he has played such a pivotal role in each of Froome’s successes.
Standing alongside Froome as favorites this year are Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador, Fabio Aru and Thibaut Pinot.
For the Spaniard, who won the Tour in 2007 and 2009, there will also be the small matter of beating Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar), the best pure climber in the world.
That saw him fall behind Romain Bardet and Dan Martin to finish fourth, his old friend and now adversary Froome taking the win.
“The multiple grand tour victor arrives at this year’s race much fresher than 12 months ago having skipped the Giro d’Italia”, says the Telegraph. I have gained a lot of maturity and tranquility and I got a solid team. I think when you’ve been pro, I’m in my seventh season now, you just learn the little things. “It’s a bike race”.
Sky have been the benchmark for professional cycling and Thomas believes the team boast their strongest ever line-up, “the strongest climbing wise certainly” on a route that will be dominated by the sharp ascents from the Col du Tourmalet to Mont Ventoux.
The recent terrorist attacks in the French capital have prompted a massive security operation for both football’s Euro 2016 and the Tour.
First, though, Porte may have to battle Van Garderen for leadership within BMC.
Having two leaders can often backfire on teams as it leads to internal divisions over tactics, but Porte – excited as he is to be free of domestique duties – insists he is relaxed about it.
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Although there are two individual time-trials totalling 54km, it is the mountainous terrain that appears most foreboding along the 3,500km route starting in Normandy and finishing in Paris, having crossed a number of peaks in the Pyrenees and Alps. “We have different options to go for a win compared to the previous years but it’s going to be hard”.
