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Tour’22 Preview: It’s July, in order that solely means one factor… The Tour de France! The most important bike race on the globe begins in Copenhagen this yr earlier than it visits the cobbles, the Alps and the Pyrenees earlier than the Champs-Élysées finish-line. Ed Hood provides us his preview of the French behemoth – His Tour historical past, course and riders.
I assume it will need to have been 1969; I wandered into our lounge in Cross Road, Kirkcaldy – a mining city in central Scotland, the tiny black and white TV was on within the nook and in correct BBC English an announcer was saying; ‘Eddy Merckx as we speak grew to become the primary Belgian bike owner in 30 years to win the Tour de France.’
Merckx in 1969
The picture was off this dude powering his bike round a observe with the massive crowd going loopy, chanting his identify, throwing hats and programmes within the air. Proper there after which I knew there was just one sport for me. And now 46 years have handed since a Belgian received the Tour, with little likelihood of it taking place any time quickly – however then I by no means imagined I’d witness a British rider win le Tour.
Britain’s first Tour win – Wiggins
Enter Bradley Wiggins. . . Typically the Tour may be predictable, see many of the Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong dozen wins. However then there are the memorable ‘particular editions’ – Lemond in ’89 and Pogačar simply two years in the past.
Lemond in ’89 – A particular version
What is going to we now have in 2022, the anticipated ‘Pog and Rog Present’ on this 109th Tour de France, or will we be handled to a very good rider turning into a fantastic one on the most important biking stage on the planet? Probably the previous – however we are able to hope. . .
2022 – The Pog and Rog present?
PARCOURS:
Welcome to Copenhagen
Stage One:
Barring a ‘mechanical’ it’s exhausting to see anybody however INEOS ‘Chronoman’ Pippo Ganna pulling on the maillot jaune on the finish of 13.2 kilometres round stunning Copenhagen, the venue for the Tour’s most northerly ever depart.
One for Ganna?
Stage Two:
Will finish in a mass dash however there’s potential for cross wind pushed splits – like they are saying; ‘daily is a GC day’ and, ‘The Bigs’ groups can be twitchy on the beginning line of this one.
Dash end for stage 2 and three
Stage Three:
Delivers extra of the identical as Stage Two earlier than the circus leaves city.
Tour’22 – Danish days
Relaxation Day No.1 Switch
Uncover the complete route !
Stage 4:
The Tour correct begins as we speak with a loop round Northern France and Dunkirk 4 Day territory, cross winds and nasty little ‘monts’ are the order of the day.
Tour’22 on French soil
Stage 5:
Pan flat BUT with 11 secteurs of pave we’re certain to lose not less than one GC contender as we speak, I hate to sound ‘weight-ist’ however in the event you’re a tiny climber this simply is just not your day.
These cobbles
Stage Six:
If yesterday was ‘Paris-Roubaix-esque’ then as we speak is ‘Liège-Bastogne-Liège-esque’ an extended day within the saddle at 220K and ultimate for the ‘Baroudeur’ and ‘Classicer.’
Liège fashion stage 6
Stage Seven:
While, ‘daily is a GC day’ this one is the place the primary clues about who’s, ‘on it’ and who isn’t will emerge with this primary summit end on the punishing and technical ‘La Tremendous’ Planche des Belles Filles – gradients of as much as 24% and filth highway awaits.
La planche des belles filles
Stage Eight:
Is for the ‘Baroudeur’ however that robust end may see it coming again collectively as a number of of the GC guys flex their muscle groups in anticipation of the Alps.
Into Switzerland
Stage 9:
One other for the breakaway on these good, clean Suisse roads however with some exhausting ascents within the combine.
Stage 9 – A day for a break?
Relaxation Day No.2 Morzine Les Portes du Soleil
Morzine for the second relaxation day
Stage 10:
In the event you missed the break on stage 9, then as we speak could possibly be your day however you greatest be a powerful climber to deal with the closing, romantically titled Montee de l’altiport de Megeve.
A tricky day – Stage 10
Stage 11:
There’s no hiding place as we speak, The Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier and shutting Col du Granon see to that. A day the place, the cliché, ‘you’ll be able to’t win the Tour as we speak however you certain as hell can lose it,’ actually does apply.
Snow on the Galibier?
Stage 12:
One other monstrous day, the Galibier and Croix Fer are simply the appetisers for the finale on one of many Tour’s legendary climbs – l’Alpe d’Huez. There can be breakaways however there’ll be a serious GC shoot out on these hairpins – simply everybody will wish to win this one.
Alpe d’Huez
Stage 13:
The break will go BUT the dash groups will drag it again collectively because the GC riders conceal within the pack after two large days.
Stage 13: Break or dash?
Stage 14:
A particular breakaway, ‘Ardennes’ day with that nasty ultimate ascent to the airstrip at Mende by means of Montee Laurent Jalabert the place Steve Cummings pulled off that marvellous stage win in 2015.
A win from the break like Steve Cummings in 2015?
Stage 15:
The breakaway will attempt to go all the best way, the dash groups will attempt to ensure they don’t. It’ll be a scorching day and perhaps a windy one, the GC domestiques can be stored busy as we speak.
Any likelihood of a dash?
Relaxation Day No.3 Carcassonne
The third relaxation day in Carcassonne
Stage 16:
The Pyrenees, gnarly roads, warmth and difficult climbs – the break ought to succeed as we speak.
Day without work stage 16
Stage 17:
Brief at simply 130K with the primary half on forgiving roads earlier than a savage second half, it needs to be one other profitable day for the renegades.
Stage 17: One other likelihood for the break with a GC battle behind?
Stage 18:
A 3rd exhausting day within the Pyrenees with a brutal end on Hautacam, not the day for a, ‘jour sans.’ We’ll in all probability know who’s going to win this Tour by now however the organisers can be hoping that we don’t.
Hautacam was good for Nibali in 2014
Stage 19:
The groups who haven’t received something will battle tooth and nail to make the break but when the dash groups nonetheless have males standing they’ll be simply as determined to convey it collectively. No GC fireworks with a time take a look at tomorrow however not a straightforward day.
Stage 20 – An extended TT
Stage 20:
In no way pan flat and with an extended drag to the road the specialists must work exhausting to beat the GC riders to win this 40.7K time take a look at. The organisers can be hoping that all of it comes all the way down to as we speak however these days within the mighty Pyrenees could effectively imply we all know who the winner can be.
All of the enjoyable of the Paris finalé
Stage 21:
‘The Sprinters’ World Championship,’ on the Elysian Fields the place the Good and the Nice take their ultimate relaxation. However not earlier than these stunning, loopy quick circuits on the cobbles.
Tour de France 2022
COUREURS:
Tadej Pogačar [UAE Team Emirates & Slovenia]: simply 23 years-old however the Tour winner for the final two years; he can climb, time trial, greater than deal with filth roads and cobbles – while showing to have the time of his life. It’s exhausting to see previous him; the ‘naysayers’ would have it that his group isn’t the strongest – nevertheless, his proper hand man, Rafał Majka appeared removed from weak in Slovenia the place Pog handled us to an indication of his pre-Tour kind. Then there’s the likes of George Bennet and Brandon McNulty – as I mentioned, it’s exhausting to see previous The Pog.
Rafał and Tadej have been dominant in Slovenia
Primoz Roglič [Jumbo-Visma & Slovenia]: The 32 years-old appeared to have the race received two years in the past after which got here THAT time trial and the beginning of the ‘Pog Period.’ He’s one other full rider, very robust in a time trial, a wonderful climber and a person who can win a Traditional in addition to a stage race. His pre-Tour demo was The Dauphiné the place he left us in little question about his kind. And there aren’t any caveats relating to his group – Van Aert, Benoot and the very robust Vingegaard ought to Rog stumble. If it wasn’t for Pog he’d be the selection of most to win the race.
Roglič was good within the Dauphiné, however so was Vingegaard
These two are the new favourites and it’s exhausting to see them not each being on the ultimate podium; Vingegaard could possibly be there too however who else is there?
Vlasov appeared good in Suisse, till…
Alex Vlasov [BORA-hansgrohe & Russia]: The 26 years-old has had a wonderful 2022 season, profitable Valenciana and Romandie – and on the right track to win in Suisse till a Covid (+) despatched him residence. Has he recovered? The opening time trial in Copenhagen will give us the primary clues.
Thomas – Remaining winner in Suisse, however…
Geraint Thomas [INEOS Grenadiers & Wales]: The genial 36 years-old is aware of what it takes to win the race and is backed by a really robust and battle confirmed group. His current win within the Tour of Switzerland is maybe much less vital than it appears on condition that the peloton in that race was ravaged by Covid. It’s exhausting to see him on the rostrum however he’ll be within the combine.
Outdoors Tour guess – Ben O’Connor
Ben O’Connor [AG2R Citroen & Australia]: The 26 years-old Aussie received a stage and was fourth final yr, his kind is nice with a current third place within the Dauphiné confirming that. His group is powerful and a few see him because the antidote to Slovenian domination – however I’d remind them that there’s Vingegaard to consider too. However little question he’ll be hoping to, ‘do a Jai Hindley within the Giro.’
Jack Haig – Podium?
Jack Haig [Bahrain Victorious & Australia]: Let’s shut with one other Aussie, the 28 years-old emerged as a critical GC man within the Vuelta final yr the place he completed third. He was fifth within the current Dauphiné and has been constant all yr, a podium? Maybe.
Roman Bardet and Enric Mas? Possibly not
I may have included Enric Mas [Movistar & Spain] – Roman Bardet [Team DSM & France] however. . .
Exhausting to see previous Workforce Slovenia. . .
To make use of one other cliché, ‘The highway will determine,’ nevertheless it’s very exhausting to see previous Workforce Slovenia. . .
# Hold it PEZ for the ‘Every day Stage Race Stories’, ‘Relaxation Day Rants’ from Ed Hood, ‘Race BREAKDOWNS’ from Spencer Martin and ‘EUROTRASH’ on Mondays and Thursdays. #
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