Thanks a lot everyone. Feels great to see so many nice comments.
New signing
After some very good results in the U23 class, we've decided to give young Dane Martin Therkildsen a chance to ride with the big boys for the next season. He's been one of the strongest U23 riders during the season, picking up no less than five victories, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs and the general classification in Giro delle Regioni.
He's no doubt a very promising classics rider, and maybe also one for a good result in a week-long tour like Paris-Nice or Tirreno. His hill stat looks very good, as well as the stamina and resistance, so he should be able to develop into someone decent if his potential is okay. His other stats are pretty weak though, so it's of course not certaing that he'll be any good at all.
He's certainly a big talent. But sutty, I doubt he'll become a climber seeing his mountain stat.
French championships - Boulogne-sur-Mer
A perfectly timed attack with three laps to go saw Sprick blowing past the early breakaway and riding home solo to the home title and the French national champ jersey, and also completing the French Skil double.
The favourite group almost caught Sprick in the end, with Romain Feillu even creating a gap between himself and the others in the uphill sprint. Geniez marked all attacks for Sprick and finished with lots of power left in 6th place.
Just as expected, the race ended up with a battle between Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert, with the latter proving to be the strongest again, repeating his real life victory. To our surprise it also became a very good race for us, as De Backer sprinted to 4th place behind the two dominants and Greg Van Avermaet. Great result considering we had no expectations on him because of bad form.
1
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
6h23'30
2
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Bert De Backer
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
5
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Nederlands Kampioenschap - Ootmarsum
An attack from Curvers up the penultimate climb took everyone by surprise, allowing him to create a gap. A late surge from an incredibly strong Langeveld almost caught him in the end, but RC managed to just hold him off to celebrate a second road title for his team. Langeveld followed right behind him, while De Kort made the race even better by winning the sprint for third place out of a smaller group a minute behind.
1
Roy Curvers
Skil - Shimano
7h08'04
2
Sebastian Langeveld
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 15
3
Koen De Kort
Skil - Shimano
+ 53
4
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Deutsche Meisterschaft - Klingenthal
Geschke was both the smartest and the strongest in one of the hardest races I've ever seen. Leopard completely destroyed the peloton very early, and three riders proved to be by far the strongest. Klöden and Gerdemann were strong, but they had nothing to respond with when Geschke made his jump for the line in the uphill sprint, and we could celebrate a third national title. Fröhlinger also did pretty well, eventually finishing 5th after working for Geschke.
Thanks everyone. Lots of success for us in the nats.
The Tour de France is the biggest, most famous and most prestigious race in the world of cycling. It's been occupying three July weeks every year since the start back in 1903. It's status and popularity has grown all the time since then and it's now the third biggest sports event in the world, behind the football world cup and the olympic games.
The expected battle between recent Giro winner Alberto Contador and rival Andy Schleck never happened, as Contador never really got into contention, tired after the hard Giro. Cadel Evans profited from that and could step up on the top step of the final podium after overtaking Andy Schleck in the final time trial. Therefore a third second place for Schleck jr, who at least finally got to stand on the podium together with his brother. French hero Thomas Voeckler got the yellow jersey from a breakaway early in the race and then defended it in a way looking like he could actually win the race. He eventually cracked though, and just missed the podium.
We've got big hopes on Kittel here in his Grand Tour debut, as we think he's fast enough to challenge the absolute best in the mass sprints. A stage win would be nice, but a couple of podiums and Top 5's and we're satisfied.
Van Hummel himself is a very good sprinter, but with Kittel in the team, he'll have to be leadout man. We might give him one or two opportunities to sprint himself, but mostly leadout work for him.
Recently crowned Dutch champion Curvers will be extremely important if our sprint train is gonna have a chance to challenge the other teams. Locomotive at the front of the train and also going for stage wins through breakaways.
After the brilliant riding that gave him second place overall in Route du Sud while helping Geniez proved that Bonnin has developed into a decent climber. A podium or a Top 5 on a stage maybe?
Just like Bonnin, Damuseau showed what a great climber he is in Route du Sud, where he ended up in fifth place overall as a helper. Will do pretty much the same as Bonnin, attack.
The first of the two not really fit guys. Huguet has a little bit to absolute top form, but should reach that as the race runs. Will collect bottles and protect his team mates. Domestique #1.
Part two of the not totally fit guys. However, Hupond did, just like Huguet, look better than in a long time in the French championships, so his form is definitely on way up. Domestique #2.
Last man in the squad, and also the weakest one. Timmer will still be of very high value to us though, as he'll be a very important helper on the flat terrain. Also, just like everyone else in the team, bar the sprinters, he'll be in breakaways.
Coming up: Preview of the favourites and the startlist.
Andy Schleck will be Contador's big rival, just like in the recent years. He's pretty much the only one who's even close to Contador's level in the mountains, and with a route including few time trial kilometres he'll be very dangerous. Looked very strong in Suisse, where he eventually finished third. I have a feeling it might be his year finally.
Real life winner Cadel Evans shouldn't be underestimated either, even though he's one level under Contador and Schleck on the climbs. If he stays with the favourites during the mountains he'll overtake them in the time trial. I'm flagging for him too.
Wiggins is the same type of rider as Evans, a true allrounder. Lacks a bit of climbing, but is one of the absolute best in the time trials. Finished second in Suisse, overtaking Andy Schleck in the time trial, which says enough about his form. I can't see him winning, but definitely a podium contender.
Frank Schleck has had a very good season so far, with a strong Ardennes week and overall victory in Tour de Romandie. Was probably the strongest of all in Tour de Suisse, but his weak timetrialling forced him to give away his yellow jersey and drop down to fifth overall. Few time trial kilometres in this Tour favours him.
With contemplated Radioshack leader Leipheimer out by injury, the door is wide open for Klöden. He might have passed his peak level, but he's still one of the very best Grand Tour riders in the world. Overall victory in Suisse tells us a bit about both his shape and his climbing skills.
Jurgen Van den Broeck got his breakthrough in last year's Tour, where he finished fifth, and is now back for more. He's aiming at the podium, a thing that shouldn't be impossible for him. Hasn't raced at all for a while, so I'm very unsure about his form. I won't count him out of the podium discussion.
Gesink hasn't had one of his better seasons so far, but showed that his form is rising with an 11th place in Switzerland. It's his last chance to win the white jersey, a thing I'm quite sure he'll do. Top 5 also achievable for him I think.
Basso is trying to do what he failed with last year, finish on the podium in both the Giro and the Tour. Fellow Italians Cunego and Nibali proved to be too strong for him in the Giro, and I doubt he has recovered from his super hard home tour. Maybe, maybe a Top 5 if he's really strong, but Top 10 more likely.
Scarponi said before the season that he'd once again focus on his home tour, the Giro, but a total bust there made him change the plan slightly and go for a good result here in the Tour instead. Still unclear what went wrong during the Giro, and I can't see him doing better than a Top 10 here.
Anton is one of the absolutely best climbers in the world, and showed it in last year's Vuelta, where he crashed out wearing the red jersey. He was of course gutted after the crash, and has now decided to go to the Tour rather than focusing on the Vuelta again. Might have to help Sánchez though.
Just like Scarponi, Velits went to the Giro with big ambitions. It ended up with a big flop and a 21th place in the GC. Following the same path as Scarponi, he hopes that the Tour will go better. I doubt it.
Kessiakoff has developed a lot during the season, and is now a top level climber. He was in the battle for the Giro podium during the first two weeks, but eventually fell back to 12th. Maybe a Top 10 here, but more likely the KoM jersey or a stage win I'd say.
