With Gesink for the GC and Kittel for the sprints, our goal will be at least 1 sprint win, at least 1 other stage win and the win the GC.
Maillot jaune
Alberto Contador
After his Tour de France-win in 2011, Alberto Contador missed the 2012-edition due to the Clenbuterol-case. In 2013, he wasn't strong nough to win again and finished in 3rd. But this year, he seems to be stronger than ever, with winning 3 World Tour stage races this year. In Tirreno - Adriatico, Vuelta Pais Vasco and the Tour de Romandie he was the strongest and is now looking for another Tour-win.
Robert Gesink
Robert Gesink is looking to win the only GT he hasn't won before. The 2011-winner of the Giro and Vuelta finished 3rd in 2012 in the Tour, and his season is fully focussed at this Tour. With the 3rd place in the Tour de Suisse (and 2nd in the Tirreno), he showed alredy some good form.
Vincenzo Nibali
Winning the Giro and the Tour would be an achievement, that is very, very rare in modern cycling. But that is what Vincenzo Nibali is planning to do. He has finishes at the podium in the last 4 GT's he started, winning the Tour in 2012 and 3rd in 2013, the Vuelta win in 2013 and the Giro win 2 months ago. He'll probably start with a little disadvantage in fitness, so he'll have to minimize the loss in the first week. But for sure, his team is the strongest team possible, with De Gendt, Cunego, Fuglsang, Santambrogio, Froome and Roche as his domestiques.
With a climbers-Tour as this year, last years winner Andy Schleck would normally be the number 1 favourite to bring the yellow to Paris. But a bowel infection (together with a few team mates) made it very uncertain if he could even start in Roubaix. But the team doctors have given him the green light. Knowing that he'll loose time in the first week, expect some attacking and aggressive racing in especially the Alps by Andy.
Fränk Schleck
Andy's older brother Fränk took a 4th place last year, and now is looking to score that podium place in the Tour. He had a pretty quiet season so far, with a 4th place in the Dauphiné has the highlight. But when the road starts ascending, he'll be one of the first GC-contenders to attack.
Bradley Wiggins
If there was 1 guy who had cursed a few times when the route was announced, it would have been Bradley Wiggins. The lack of TT-kilometres is in his disadvantage, but he'll hang on in the mountains as long as he can, trying to improve his 6th place from 2 years ago.
Jurgen Van den Broeck raced the Giro this season. Bad luck and crashes in the first week made him hopeless for the podium. But because of good racing in the last week, he finished in 8th place. After a short break, he's eager to improve that in this Tour.
Ryder Hesjedal
Canadian Ryder Hesjedal has been a top 10-finisher in the previous editions of the Tour. 9t in 2011, 7th in 2012 and 9th in 2013. With so many good riders starting as a domestique, he sees opportunities to do better than that.
Roman Kreuziger
Potentially, Czech Roman Kreuziger can finish in the Top 5 in the GC. But, it all depends how much work he has to do for Alberto Contador, or if his team gives him a free role.
Probably, the polka dot-jersey will go to one of the GC-contenders. But when you forget the 9 cyclists mentioned, there are some great climbers present:
Igor Antón
Why isn't Igor Antón one of the GC-favourites? He won the Giro in 2012 and 2013.... Well, he still isn't fully recovered after his crash in the Giro, so he keeps pushing the role as a GC-favourite away. Okay, so he's the main candidate to win the KOTM-ranking.
Simon Spilak
Slovenian Simon Silak has got a free role in the Lampre-team. He can go for the GC, but also for the KOTM-jersey. His relatively weak recovery will make him choose the last option, probably.
Robert Kiserlovski
On paper, Robert Kiserlovski is the team leader of Astana. But the Croatian has to fight with Basso, Kiryienka and Velits in his team to secure that role. Hopefully, that doesn't tire him too much.
The French hope for the GC is Thibaut Pinot. But the 24-year-old lacks a good time trial, so the AG2R-rider will also focus at the KOTM-points.
Steven Kruijswijk
Another good climber out of the flat Netherlands: Steven Kruijswijk. Bad thing for him, is that he has no team mates that can assist him in the mountains.
Damiano Cunego
Being a member of this years super team is not an easy thing. So Damiano Cunego has to decide whether to ride for himself, or being a domestique for Nibali.
Another French hope, but this one has a better time trial. Romain Sicard will share the role of team leader with Igor Antón, but has the potential of getting a top 15 in the GC.
Pierre Rolland
And when Pinot and Sicard fail because of the immense national pressure, maybe Pierre Rolland can perform better. Who knows?
Juan José Cobo
The last rider to mention, is the one that can win a race, or finish dead last depending on his psychological status: Juan José Cobo.
The battle for th epoints jersey will be intense. Last year's winner Edvald Boasson Hagen is the only world class sprinter that isn't participating.
Mark Cavendish
Believe it or not, but the worlds fastest sprinter hasn't won a stage in the Tour in the last 3 years! Mark Cavendish only won 6 stages in the Vuelta and 1 times the world title. But this year he's better than ever, having won the most of all sprinters here, with 9 wins. Negative thing is that the team will mostly work for Andy Schleck, so the sprint train will be "only" Cancallara and Dehaes.
Tyler Farrar
Whereas Cavendish couldn't win a TdF-stage, Tyler Farrar managed to win 7 of them (and 6 in the Vuelta) in the last 3 years, as well as the green jersey in 2012. This year, he has won 5 times so far, including in the Giro. His Garmin-team will focus mainly on the mass sprints, what is a big plus.
Marcel Kittel
What goes for Cavendish, goes for Marcel Kittel: a team whit th emain goal of winning the Tour de France, not winning mass sprints. So the German has to do it with Terpstra and Vermeltfoort as a sprint train. But his abilities can bring him a win for sure.
After a disappointing season with Red Bull, André Greipel left the team and joined Qantas. He has a great lead out train with Geraint Thomas and Michael Matthews, so the Gorilla is one of the guys that can win a stage here.
Andrea Guardini
Italian sprinter Andrea Guardini will make his debut in the Tour. He has the speed, but needs to jump on an opponents train and has too much problems with speedbumps.
José Joaquín Rojas
Spanish José Joaquín Rojas has showed in the past with 2 stage wins in the sprint, that he can surprise the best sprinters every day. But without a train, he has to do it all by himself.
In his first Grand Tour, the 2014 Giro, John Degenkolb immediately won a stage. Especially when the terrain is a bit hilly, he can hang on and win the sprint.
Romain Feillu
French hope in the mass sprints Romain Feillu hasn't showed much this year. But when the Tour starts, his form is always good, with 3 wins in the last 3 years.
Matthew Goss
Not many riders can say that they have 2 former world champs as his lead out train (Hushovd and Gilbert). But Matthew Goss can. The Aussie is looking for his 1st Tour de France win.
I'm getting excited...
Love how much detail you put into all this
Gesink for the win.
By the way I'm happy to see 3 Germans under the maillot vert favourites
The first metres of this Tour de France are cobbled. The total amount of cobbled section in this ITT (with 12km it's too long for a prologue) is 2.2 kilometres.
The first rider to set a time that can be good enough for the win is Geraint Thomas from Qantas Airways. The Welsh rider needs 17'01 for the 12 kilometres.
Tyler Farrar is one of these sprinters that can ride a very good prologue and even a short TT. He sets the 2nd time so far, only '18 behind Thomas.
Dutch Sebastian Langeveld is taking full advantage of the cobbles. The cobbled-specialist sets the 2nd time so far, '11 behind his team mate.
Marcel Kittel rides a good ITT, showing he starts the Tour in a great shape. He's '31 slower than Thomas, 10th so far.
Being one of the Sky-riders that didn't get sick because of the bowel infection, Fabian Cancellara is in great shape. Spartacus is flying over the cobbles and continues the high speed in the Vélodrome. He crushes the best time so far by 44 seconds: 16'17!
Lars Boom looks very strong, but has the bad luck Cancellara has started. He sets the 2nd time so far, but is '25 slower than the Swiss.
Knowing he will loose time on the cobbles, Tony Martin gives it all in the 2nd part. He does well, but can't beat Cancellara today: 3rd time at '29.
Bradley Wiggins is the first of the GC-contenders to start, and he rides a very good TT, despite not being a hero on the cobbles. 4th time so far at '35.
The final 4 have started. Giro-winner Vincenzo Nibali is the first of them. He has started with a lower fitness, due to a break after the Giro. He'll finish in 43rd time today at 1'30.
Alberto Contador rides a better TT than expected, as he finishes in the 11th time, 1'04 behind Cancellara.
At his quest to win the Tour, Robert Gesink knows he'll loose time today to his opponents, being a cobbles-hater. The 36th time at 1'26 is what was expected.
Having not recovered from his bowel infection, Andy Schleck knows that this will be 12 extreme tough kilometres. Having to fight harder against vomiting then against the lactic acid in his legs, he sets the 128th time of the day at 2'04. Not bad.
Results
1
Fabian Cancellara
Sky ProCycling
16'17
2
Lars Boom
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 26
3
Tony Martin
Red Bull - Cervélo
+ 30
4
Bradley Wiggins
Dexia
+ 36
5
Geraint Thomas
Qantas Airways
+ 44
6
Sebastian Langeveld
Qantas Airways
+ 55
7
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1'02
8
Heinrich Haussler
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'03
9
Roman Kreuziger
Movistar Team
+ 1'04
10
Thomas De Gendt
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Alberto Contador
Movistar Team
s.t.
20
Ryder Hesjedal
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1'14
36
Robert Gesink
Petronas - Monster Energy
+ 1'26
43
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'30
53
Chris Froome
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'38
55
Juan José Cobo
Dexia
+ 1'39
68
Damiano Cunego
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'42
71
Jurgen Van den Broeck
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'43
76
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'46
77
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Alitalia
+ 1'47
81
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'48
85
Fränk Schleck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1'49
92
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1'51
100
Steven Kruijswijk
Qantas Airways
+ 1'55
126
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'03
128
Andy Schleck
Sky ProCycling
+ 2'04
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
Not the start of the Tour we hoped for, with Marcel Kittel as the best rider of the team in 22nd. And for sure, Spartacus was a league of his own....
It'll be a long day in the saddle today, 210 kilometres from Roubaix to the Southeast, to Reims. The stage looks flat, but is a little bit treacherous, with almost 1200 height metres and the last 1500 metres ascending with 3-4%.
208km to go
The peloton hasn't even left the streets of Roubaix, when Thor Hushovd attacks. The former World champion is eager to see what riders are willing to join him.
103km to go
Hushovd can be happy, as he doesn't have to cycle through the Champagne-region solo 11 riders join him: Marcus Burghardt & Paul Voss (Red Bull), JJ Haedo (Qantas), Mateo Tosatto (Lampre), Alessandro Petacchi (Acqua et Sapone), Greg Van Avermaet (Sony Ericsson), Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur), Grégory Rast & Mickaël Delage (Europcar), Steven Van Vooren (Omega Pharma) and Arnoud van Groen (Rabobank). The 12 create a maximum margin of 9'45, before the peloton (the Sky-team of GC-leader Cancellara) decides it's time to chase them.
1300m to go
Don't know if it is the uphill finish, or the nice weather (26 degrees and sunny), or just miscalculating by the sprinter teams, but there is no organized chase. Radio Shack does a bit, then quits. Then Garmin takes over, and quits. Sky is not interested anymore. So when we take over with only 10km to go, the gap is still over 1'30.
This means, the BOTD will battle for the win. There are only 10 left, as Haedo and Tosatto have been dropped already. Hushovd is starting the sprint with less than 1.5km to go, with Van Avermaet in the perfect position.
Finish
Greg Van Avermaet takes over with less than 1km to go, and easily sprints to the win in Reims. Just as in the Giro (Degenkolb), Sony Ericsson wins the first stage in line, and it's the first season win for Van Avermaet.
Steven Van Vooren makes it a 1-2 for Belgium, with Mickaël Delage finishing in 3rd place.
The peloton finishes at '35, and the sprint for the 11th place is won by.... Marcel Kittel. All GC-contenders finish inside the peloton.
Results
1
Greg Van Avermaet
Sony Ericsson
4h32'44
2
Steven Van Vooren
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
3
Mickaël Delage
Team Europcar
s.t.
4
Thor Hushovd
Dexia
s.t.
5
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
6
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
7
Alessandro Petacchi
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
8
Grégory Rast
Team Europcar
s.t.
9
Arnoud Van Groen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Marcus Burghardt
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
11
Marcel Kittel
Petronas - Monster Energy
+ 35
GC
1
Fabian Cancellara
Sky ProCycling
4h49'36
2
Lars Boom
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 26
3
Tony Martin
Red Bull - Cervélo
+ 30
4
Bradley Wiggins
Dexia
+ 36
5
Thor Hushovd
Dexia
+ 41
6
Geraint Thomas
Qantas Airways
+ 44
7
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
+ 45
8
Sebastian Langeveld
Qantas Airways
+ 55
9
Grégory Rast
Team Europcar
+ 59
10
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1'02
Points
1
Greg Van Avermaet
Sony Ericsson
55
2
Steven Van Vooren
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
44
3
Thor Hushovd
Dexia
41
4
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
37
5
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
37
U25
1
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
4h50'48
2
Jetse Bol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2
3
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
+ 4
4
John Degenkolb
Sony Ericsson
+ 14
5
Yoeri Havik
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 18
Teams
1
Red Bull - Cervélo
14h30'41
2
Dexia
+ 34
3
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1'04
4
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'07
5
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'11
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
We know that the other sprinters weren't sprinting for the full 100% for the 11th place, but still, this feels like a missed opportunity to win a stage...
Fabian Cancellara
Lars Boom
Tony Martin
Bradley Wiggins
Sebastian Langeveld
Tyler Farrar
Heinrich Haussler
Roman Kreuziger
Thomas De Gendt
Alberto Contador
Mickaël Delage
Thor Hushovd
Alessandro Petacchi
Jesús Herrada
