2020 Tour de France

[J Wakefield]

Think the race will be a very slow burner.  No one has raced, no one knows their fitness or that of the others, so first week or so the GC contenders will be like shadow boxing with everyone watching each other and all playing whatever cards they have close to their chest.

 

This should make it more fun for the breakaway specialists and stage hunters.  Could be a very upside down leaderboard in the first week.

 

It will be the complete opposite as with all racing starting 28 July. 

 

Guys haven't raced, contracts up for review, teams folding etc. There is immense pressure on teams to come out flying and deliver results. I think racing will be as fast or faster than we have seen pre Covid.

[shaper]

It will be the complete opposite as with all racing starting 28 July. 

 

Guys haven't raced, contracts up for review, teams folding etc. There is immense pressure on teams to come out flying and deliver results. I think racing will be as fast or faster than we have seen pre Covid.

Bring on race day and lets see !!

[JA-Q001]

It will be the complete opposite as with all racing starting 28 July. 

 

Guys haven't raced, contracts up for review, teams folding etc. There is immense pressure on teams to come out flying and deliver results. I think racing will be as fast or faster than we have seen pre Covid.

 

With that, the guys outside of Euro I think will have it worse. Its ok to do a lot of High altitude long rides, but I think the guys stationed in EU already have racing in their mindsets. Their training will be a lot more intense and shortened.

 

I do Think that the young guns will try stamp authority early on. Taking Ineos as an example. Bernal will want to secure leadership early, so will throw everything at week one. This could backfire with the lack of racing in their legs. Someone like Froome, that has "less to loose" might struggle at first, but will surely come out stronger to the end of the tour. 

 

This will be where experience counts.

Edited July 7, 2020 by JA-Q001

[DieselnDust]

Still only Giro as far as talk goes and with 13 days between Tour end and Giro I cant see him doing both if his goal is to win, Especially the Giro post Tour. 

 

Cool thanks for that insight. Yeha I'd forgotten there's only a 2 week gap between the 2 events this year DOH!

[Wayne pudding Mol]

It will be the complete opposite as with all racing starting 28 July. 

 

Guys haven't raced, contracts up for review, teams folding etc. There is immense pressure on teams to come out flying and deliver results. I think racing will be as fast or faster than we have seen pre Covid.

race of attrition, explosions, inter team politics, brutal weather and some loose cannons looking for new contracts

 

no slow burn, just fireworks

['Dale]

Like one helluva performance appraisal or 3 week job interview that will hopefully secure another contract in a very exclusive pool of WorldTour racers set to continue in 2021 and beyond.

 

Eish.

[Shebeen]

race of attrition, explosions, inter team politics, brutal weather and some loose cannons looking for new contracts

 

no slow burn, just fireworks

https://www.cyclingstage.com/tour-de-france-2020-route/

 

so first 9 days

3 flat

2 hilly

4 mountains

 

there's scope for fireworks upfront

[J Wakefield]

Like one helluva performance appraisal or 3 week job interview that will hopefully secure another contract in a very exclusive pool of WorldTour racers set to continue in 2021 and beyond.

 

Eish.

 

riders and staff combined. Its a rough 3 weeks for all. 

[J Wakefield]

https://www.cyclingstage.com/tour-de-france-2020-route/

 

so first 9 days

3 flat

2 hilly

4 mountains

 

there's scope for fireworks upfront

 

Its great I like this format. As always but especially this year the TT at the end is going to be really important for anyone with a GC aspiration. Its not the standard TT and very hard especially at the end.

 

We go out next week to recon it before the camp and have my gecko sucker shoes so I can walk some of it.

[DieselnDust]

I think everyone is underestimating Julien...

the first week is made for him

[Gen]

I think everyone is underestimating Julien...

the first week is made for him

No-one will underestimate him after his escapades last year.

[kosmonooit]

Unlikely he will go the GC distance though....

[Gen]

Unlikely he will go the GC distance though....

Nope but he will ne closely watched..being able to wear the yellow jersey comes with a lot of prestige even just for a few days..or even just a day...teams will be fighting hard for it in the opening week.

[DieselnDust]

Unlikely he will go the GC distance though....

 

 

lets see what kind of team they pick for Le tour

[Gen]

lets see what kind of team they pick for Le tour

They usually approach the TDF for stage wins..Remember though its a hectic racing calendar with the classics always big on their priorities and the classics come thick and fast soon after the TDF.

[Vetplant]

I would have liked to have this lightie rip up the roads in France this year, but the Giro was his plan from the start and I wouldn't bet against him dominating it with the current racing calendar.