Tour de France 2018 – Extra Tough?

How often do Coppi/Aquentil

How often do Coppi/Aquentil/Van Looy/Merckx/Hinault/any legendary sprinter or one day racer and their respective teams get a kicking from the modern cycling fan?

People are either unaware or have forgotten that all the major names in cycling history from at least Coppi onwards had amazing teammates around them paid to sacrifice themselves for the star…and that very much includes god himself (obviously he still would have won a lot…but not as much).

Team Sky just did what other historically good teams did and used their money/power to hoover up the talent for their big names. It’s a tried and tested method and when Sky fold another team will fill the void (as already mentioned BMC and Movistar already have the budget but don’t seem as well run).

Obviously it’s nice when other teams try and break the stranglehold…it’s also quite nice watching a British rider potentially join the very biggest names in cycling – when froome retires it may be another 50 years before we get another British rider or team who does something similar…enjoy it while it lasts!!

Maybe Ian, but surely it’s

Maybe Ian, but surely it’s for others to then come up with the tactic, any tactic to stop them.

Sky didn’t control this year’s Giro, quite the opposite. They had to be overly defensive as Froome wasn’t yet ‘fit’ and saved masses of energy. What they did on that single day, from top to bottom, was phenomenal.

Movistar and BMC, despite big budgets, don’t seem to have as structured or detailed a plan. The 3 leaders for this year’s TDF is mad and BMC have irons in too many fires (though Porte’s crash didn’t help).

Some people suggest Bardet attacks, I don’t think there’s enough planning in what he does though appreciate his team’s support isn’t great. Alos, he knows his weakness and does little about it!

If Sky keep winning, others need to shake it up!

Pitbull Steelers wrote:

CXR94Di2 wrote:

Sky have turned grand tours on their head.  A constant high pace to dissuade GC riders from making a break.  If they try a break away, the power of a determined high paced team inevitably pulls them back.

 

No other team has the depth of quality that Team Sky has, this is exposed every grand tour.

Sky are one of the richest teams in pro cycling with probably only Movistar and BMC comparable in budgets hence their ability to get very good riders to join them.

Riders who would probably be team leaders in other teams are happy to perform minor roles in Sky probably down to financial gains hence the teams ability in GT races to put together amazing teams.  

Persoanlly i love it but i’d also love to see them win more classic races even if it meant the expense of a GT title. Put in a good team and go stage hunting instead.

 

I think you’re right, Landa looks the shadow of his former self since he left Team SKY, obvioulsy the lack of budget has affected his motivation.

I feel more let down when

I feel more let down when some of big names fail to perform as expected. Sky gonna Sky but nobody seems to have an answer to their tactics.

If look over the past few Sky years of the TDF then whatever the course layout, be it more hills, less hills, longer stages, shorter stages, Sky has it covered. I don’t think ASO can come up with a course that wouldn’t be winable for them.

Innerlube wrote:

..

Can I chuck in a question about the well worn tactic of sending a rider up the road to supposedley help a GC contender later in the race. The TV pundits always applaud this, but I can’t remember it ever actually working in 30 years of Tour watching. Am i missing something?? e.g..what use was Valverde to Qintana and Lande when they caught up with him yesterday, etc??

i think the theory goes that other gc contenders might/will chase your teammate, so you can sit in their wheel, and not chase down the breakaway, as well as the theory that they can suddenly spring into action and take their leader onto glory. but you are right its not often that a rider gone up the road can help much when their leader catches them.

but you gotta laugh at the tv commentators, flat stage the other day, i wasnt really watching, and had it in the background, heard the commentators getting real excited, thought it was near the end of the stage, but still 40k out, so not really sure how why they were so worked up

Sky have turned grand tours

Sky have turned grand tours on their head.  A constant high pace to dissuade GC riders from making a break.  If they try a break away, the power of a determined high paced team inevitably pulls them back.

No other team has the depth of quality that Team Sky has, this is exposed every grand tour.