Rivals out to dethrone Chris Froome in the Tour de France as he looks to win his fifth title
Chris Froome and Team Sky will have their work cut out in his quest for a fifth title, as his rivals and their teams lineup for the overall prize, the Yellow Jersey. The 105th edition of the world largest sporting events starts July 7th
Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb)
The Dutchman has confirmed along with his team, that his objective is the general classification at the Tour de France, after placing second overall at last month’s Giro d’Italia.
He recently told the press that he has recovered well from his attempts to defend his title at the Giro d'Italia, "After the Giro d’Italia, I consciously took more rest than I would normally do,” Dumoulin said "For the first nine days, I hardly even touched the bike. I have never been so fresh two weeks after a Grand Tour.”
Early on in the season Dumoulin avoided any decision on Tour participation , focusing on his Giro d'Italia title defence, however his reconnaissance of the cobbled stage 9 of the Tour de France in April was a firm indication of his intent, “I had in mind since the winter that I really wanted to ride the double,” Dumoulin said. “But you never know what will happen in the Giro. For that reason, I always thought that I would really make the decision after that race.”
Dumoulin was already certain of his participation in the Tour, after he finished the Giro in second place behind Chris Froome. On the night the Giro concluded in Rome, he unoficially informed the Sunweb team of his intention to line out in France, “The Giro actually went very well from start to finish, and I did not see anything crazy in those weeks,” Dumoulin said. “The choice to ride the Tour was actually quite simple for me.”
At the Tour, Dumoulin will lead a strong Sunweb team including Michael Matthews, who won the green jersey at last year’s Tour. Wilco Kelderman, who placed fourth at last year’s Vuelta a España will be a key memeber of the domestique side of the team, protecting the leader. It will be Dumoulin’s first time to target the general classification in the race, and first appearance since he won two stages in 2016.
No Dutch rider has won the Tour since Joop Zoetemelk in 1980, and no Dutch rider has so much as worn the yellow jersey since Erik Breukink in 1989. 2018, meanwhile, marks the 50th anniversary of Jan Janssen becoming the first Dutch Tour champion, “If things go badly in the Tour, it’s nice that I know that I have shown myself well in the Giro. I am very happy and proud of my performance in that race,” Dumoulin said. “That feeling, nobody can take from me. Whatever happens in the Tour, I will stay happy with that.”
During a pre-Tour training camp in the high Alps, “I’ll be full-on for the overall at the Tour,” Dumoulin said. “I know it’s going to be a physical and mental fight. It will once again become a tough fight. I’m not going to be riding there [satisfied] with the idea that I have already done a good Tour. I am going to do everything to finish high up at the Tour too.”
Richie Porte (BMC Racing)
Porte arguably took the biggest win of his professional career at this year's Tour de Suisse, his final race before the Tour de France.
And he vowed to improve his form at July’s Grand Tour, “This was a big goal. Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s a very important race and I think it’s disrespectful to say it’s a ‘lead in’ race for the Tour de France as it means a lot to win it. It’s such a prestigious race,” Porte said to the press recently, “So, I think going forward into the Tour de France, it’s a good sign to win here. It would have been nice to have won a stage here and maybe if the breakaway hadn’t stayed away on Thursday’s stage, I would have won one but, at the end of the day, to win the general classification was the big goal and I’m still happy with the victory. I’m ready for the Tour de France. I did a good race here. I’m not at the top of my form just yet so I am excited for July.”
The Australian had an uninspiring early season, second at the Tour Down Under, where he showed his true climbing skills, third at the Tour de Romandie, until he found another gear at the Tour de Suisse, winning the event ahead of Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
At the Tour de Suisse, BMC Racing won the team time trial at the start of the race with Stefan Küng leading until Stage 5, when Porte moved into the yellow jersey. Quintana put Porte under pressure and won the mountain top finish at Arosa on Stage 7 before Porte extended his advantage during the final time trial.
The 33 year old heads into the Tour de France with high hops and BMC Racing will center their race ambitions around the Australian, who is bidding to end Chris Froome’s four year run of domination, “I was at home for the birth of my son, before a training camp and then hopefully I’ll be in the best form for the Tour de France.”
Porte spectacularly suffered a devastating crash on stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France which forced the Australian out of the race, fracturing his clavicle and pelvis on a high speed descent of the Mont du Chat.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
Movistar is looking very strong for this yearr's Tour de France with a team of domestiques to support three potential leaders; Nairo Quintana (2nd in 2013 and 2015), Alejandro Valverde (3rd in 2015) and Mikel Landa (4th last year).
Nairo Quintana is Movistar's greatest hope and are fielding one of the strongest teams for this year's Tour de France, if they are able to choose a leader with the first or second week of the Tour, Movistar pose a real threat to the dominance of other teams including Team Sky. The three leaders are all world class climber's who will feature in the many grueling mountain stages. Working together, they pose a real threat to the dominance of other Teams including Team Sky.
Nario said to the press recently "Our goal is winning the Tour. It's the Grand Tour I'm still missing in palmarès, one that I've always dreamt of. We've got a great team. Let's hope we can get safely through the first few days, working together as we've always done, and hopefully best our rivals for the victory."
Movistar have great options "It's important to have such a strong team. We've got riders who are able to excel in all terrains. It's probably the best squad I've had by my side for a Grand Tour. We've got to remain together, work hard - that's the way we can become the perfect team. Mikel, Alejandro and me - well, we've already shared leadership roles in this season and in the past, and it's gone well for us. We got on well with each other and we haven't gone through any real troubles. As the race develops, the scenario for us should get clearer. Let's see how our forces stand after the pavé stage - it would be phenomenal for us to have got through that stage with all three in a great position. We're three and we've got to take advantage of that strength in numbers to chase the victory."
Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
This year’s Tour de France will be the focus for Bahrain-Merida's captain and former tour winner Vincenzo Nibali. As for all events, but perhaps particularly for a three-week long grand tour, preparation is everything.
With the 2018 Tour de France route showing a few extra challenges, for example, the 15 cobblestone sections on stage 9 from Arras to Roubaix, there will also be a strong focus on the two time trials. Stage 3 will be a 35 km long team time trial followed by a 30 km long individual time trial near the end of the event at stage 20.
Nibali missed this year's Giro d'Italia to focus on the Tour saying "This year is perhaps my last chance to win a second Tour".
Nibali is known to be one of the best descenders in the world and pretty handy on the cobbles which will play to his strengths on stage 9.
Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale)
Uran finished in second place last year and is focused on winning, with an even stronger Pink Argyle squad.
Rigoberto Uran said “The importance of the Tour is easy to explain. Everything in July is top level – every rider, every stage, every second. It all matters. I need to focus for 21 days. It’s important to focus in the race, at the dinner table, for the sleep. From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep, it’s like the World Championships every single day for three weeks.”
Uran is backed up by a strong team of experienced riders that includes the USA's Lawson Craddock “Racing the Tour in 2016 was a huge learning experience for me. There’s a ton of things that I was able to take away from the race that I can bring to this year’s Tour. My role will be to help out Rigo to put him on the top step of the final podium in Paris. He’s a great leader that instills confidence in the people around him. Being a part of a team that has a legitimate chance to win the Tour de France is not an opportunity that comes around very often.”
The USA's affable Taylor Phinney will also be a big team player “I think my role is chief vibration officer. I have to keep the vibes up, make sure the frequencies are calibrated. Mostly I’m there as team player, looking after Rigo and the rest of the guys on the flat stages. If there’s some sort of a window where I can go for something myself, I’ll take that opportunity but that’s not what I’m going to the Tour to do – but you never know what can happen over three weeks.”
In the squad is Sep Vanmarcke whose classic's experience will come in very handy looking after Uran on the cobbles of the Roubaix stage 9.
Aussie Simon Clarke, Kiwi Tom Scully, Frenchman Pierre Rolland and Colombian Dani Martinez make up the rest of team who'll look after Uran, with Rolland a great workhorse in the mountains and Simon Clarke taking the leadership role out on the road.
Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale)
AG2R-La Mondiale have carefully selected their whole team in protecting Bardet's podium changes throughout the race.
Bardet has ridden the Tour de France five times, where he came 2nd in 2016 and 3rd in 2017, he's also won three stages from 2015 to 2017.
This year Bardet was 2nd at Strade Bianche, 3rd at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, won the Ardèche Classic and more importantly was 3rd at the Critérium du Dauphiné, the final measure of form ahead of the biggest cycle race in the world.
Backing up Bardet are Silvan Dillier, Axel Domont, Tony Galllopin, Alexandre Geniez, Pierre LaTour, Oliver Naeson and Alexis Vuillermoz.
Tony Gallopin has ridden seven Tours, won stages and worn the Yellow jersey. He brings a weath of experience who knows the Flandrian classics well and will be very useful on the cobbles. He is able to contend in the high mountains, and will be an essential member of the team for three weeks of racing. Silvan Dillier will also be of great help in the opening week and on the cobbles too.
Axel Domont and Alexandre Geniez will be able pull for the team in the high mountains and in the team time trial giving AG2R-La Mondiale the opportunity of putting time into their GC rivals at the team time trial.
Pierre LaTour, who finished 7th in the Critérium du Dauphiné and Alexis Vuillermoz will also shime in the mountains and look after Bardet when the attacks come thick and fast and deliver him to the front of the peloton.
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
Finishing second to Porte at the Tour de Suisse was Fuglsang, who looks like a very good outside bet for a Tour podium place this year.
Jakob Fuglsang hit the general classification podium at the Tour de Suisse after a stunning performance in the final individual time trial in Bellinzona. The leader of the Astana Pro Team finished 8th in the time trial, losing just 38 seconds to the stage 9 winner Stefan Küng and becoming the best rider among all GC contenders. This result was more than enough to move Fuglsang onto the final podium of the Tour de Suisse.
"This is a great result, which brings me a lot of confidence ahead of the Tour de France. I won the Critérium du Dauphiné last year and now I am second at the Tour de Suisse. This says me I am on a right way. In the next days I will do a recon of a few stages of the Tour and later will continue my preparation", - said Jakob Fuglsang
Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)
25 year old Adam Yates, will be make his third appearance at the race, who was the best young rider in 2016, finishing fourth.
Adam finished second overall to Thomas at the Dauphiné thanks to his win on the final stage, and had a great week all round, after recovering from a fractured his pelvis in March.
"I've got a great team focused around giving me the best opportunity in the overall general classification" said Yates.
Australian outfit Mitchelton-SCOTT has named an in-form, eight-rider team to line up at the Tour de France, poised to deliver results across the three-week race as it maintains its focus on the general classification. With a diverse team of specialists to guide the 25-year-old through a dangerous and unpredictable first nine days before the climbers come to the fore in the mountains.
The Route and Lady Luck!
The three-week Tour begins in Noirmoutier-en-l'lle. in the west of France, on 7 July.
The first week requires a lot of respect, it was be fast and furious, with winds rain and the potential of crashes hampering the GC contenders and their teams, as the world best Sprinters do battle.
Stage 9 on the Roubaix cobbles will be a difficult day for some GC contenders and lady luck could play it's part as the risk of crashes, mechanicals and time gaps increase.
The GC main contenders just "need to survive" the first week with good legs as they head into the Alps for the big mountains. Any team trying to defend themselves from a leading position will be harder, because they're all one man down from previous editions.
Nairo Quintana said of the route "I've been able to inspect almost all important stages - I've ridden all Alps and Pyrenees stages as well as the ITT on the penultimate day. It's a difficult Tour, a hard route, where the most important thing will be staying safe and lucky on the first half and strong on the second."
You can follow the race with daily stage reports, results and video highlights on Gran Fondo Guide.
2017 Tour de France Final Overall Classification
1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 83:55:16
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:54
3 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:20
4 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 0:02:21
5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:03:05
6 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:04:42
7 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:06:14
8 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates 0:08:20
9 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo 0:08:49
10 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb 0:09:25