One of the most interesting (but perhaps also most dispiriting) aspects of Strava is how it gives you a means of comparing your performance with those of the pros. If you’d like to get a Strava-eye view of the Tour de France, here are a few riders who upload their rides to the site as well as a handful of the key stretches of road from this year’s race.
Michal Kwiatkowski is one famous user, having previously uploaded the data from both his 2014 world road race championships win and his victory in Amstel Gold earlier this year. However, you might be more interested in the performances of French hope, Thibaut Pinot, who finished third overall last year. Pinot’s countryman, Romain Bardet, is another Strava user who will be looking to place well overall.
Andre Greipel is your man if you’re interested in the demands of a sprint stage, while there’s a fair chance that at some point Belgian rider Thomas De Gendt will give you some insight into what it takes to spend a day in the break.
Other than that, Lotto NL–Jumbo seemingly provide a large proportion of the riders who’ll form the second group on the road on mountain stages. Take your pick from Laurens Ten Dam, Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman and Steven Kruijswijk.
Chances are that more than a few KOMs will be claimed over the course of the next three weeks, but while many are already in the hands of members of the peloton, a handful of amateurs and mountain bikers will also be feeling threatened.
Ten Dam is the current King of the Mountain for the Col du Tourmalet which will feature on stage 11 and he can also lay claim to the Col du Glandon from stage 18. Strava’s Alpe d’Huez record, meanwhile, is currently held by Peter Pouly, a former French mountain biker. In terms of QOMs, it’s interesting to note that Emma Pooley holds all three of those.
But this year’s race isn’t all about climbs. There’s the pavé too. Stage four segments to watch out for include Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing, Quiévy à Saint-Python and Viesly à Quiévy.
Recent interviews with ex-riders like Janez Brajkovič (Cycling Tips) show examples of how eating behaviours can result in an eating disorder and...
I bought an Anker 15w solar panel set to try for touring in Australia. It wasn't a success for me. I tried draping it over the rear panniers while...
Delighted to confirm I am an eligible UK-based entrant
I'm running a mid 90s chainset (originally had a 6 speed freewheel) with a 10 speed chain and cassette and it all works very well. I might be wrong...
Re: Early morning raid on BV....
Agreed on that, he was definitely part of my first week plans! Not to mention my French riders team - that is in tatters without Le Coq!
I'm sure that the reason the Belgian team didn't take him is so that he doesn't take the crown from a Belgian.
You think your tyre is going down so rather than stop and check it, you put your arm in the air and wait for a car to pull up alongside.
Usually he's chipping in to say "Well, er, no... not really..." after Kirby's spent ten minutes spouting nonsense.
Donated. Let's at least get his last fundraising effort up in his honour. Rest in peace.