Welcome everyone, to the Preview of the Underdog Tour! This is our debut year, and we hope to make just as interesting viewing, as the guys who are already halfway round this years route.
First of all, I ought to introduce you all to the concept, because it's not like something we've seen before! Every year, 18 Cycling teams get massive funding, and compete on a televised stage throughout the year. There are over a hundred teams who compete on a smaller scale, but don't get the cover, meaning that it's much harder for these teams to grow.
Stage 2 gives us an instant climbing finish. We could see a new Maillot Jaune after today, and the categorised climbs will give us the first King of the Mountains!
Day 3 should be the sprinters first opportunity, the day is almost pancake flat, so those sprinters will be coming forward in a big fight on the line.
After 3 days in Belgium, Le Tour will cross the border into France for the first time. This day will be fought between the Punchers, though the climbs are not severe, and a tough sprinter may hang on to the line.
In many ways, Stage 5's finish will be similar to the previous days. A short and unsevere hill just before the finish, may play host to attacks, or a sprinter may hang on to take the victory...
The first week is much leaner for sprinters than usual, so their will be several teams happy to see a flat stage 6, and another opportunity for a sprinter to shine.
The final day of week 1, concludes in a similar fashion to the day before. Another chance for a sprinter to show themselves, before we move into a more challenging second week.
Week 2
The second week kicks off with a medium mountain stage finishing in the Vosges. 198km in length and finishing up the Planche Des Belle Filles climb (5.5km at 8.2%) Should give us a new leader in the rankings!
After a tough day in S8, The 9th stage looks built for the breakaway. 7 categorised climbs are spattered along the 150km route, so this day could be key to the KOM competition.
The first of the Routes decisive TT's. Today will give us another shake up in the rankings, and we'll start to see whose really capable of winning the underdog tour.
After the TT the day before, Stage 11 hails the first of the big alpine mountains. During the route we take in Col du Richemond and the Cote de Corlier. But without a doubt, the highlight of today will be the ascent of the Gran Colombier, (15.3km at 7.9%)
After a much needed rest, the riders are thrown straight back into the thick of things on stage 12. An absolute monster containing 2 HC climbs, a second Cat climb, and finishing atop the 1st category climb to Les Sybelles Ski station!
To some extent the climbs let up in stage 13. there are two steep first category climbs in the first quarter of the stage, but with over 150km from there to the line, expect a bunch sprint finish or a breakaway to take the days victory.
And the final day of week 2 in our Underdog Tour. 214km along flat roads will be something of a relief for the sprinters, who will look to collect the points as they fight for green.
Week 3
No let up after the transition from Week 2 to 3. A tough 190km stage with 2 1st Cat climbs on route, expect the Maillot Jaune to be very well defined by this point, down to just a few men capable of contesting it further.
The final day before rest number 2. More of a transition stage which is another for the sprinters. Shorter in length at just 158km, and with the rest tomorrow, we should see a fast pace!
The route is light in summit finishes, so the out and out climbers will be keen to make use of this one! 45 of the final 60km are uphill, which could create some immense gaps in the pack!
Thought the GC was tied up and finsihed? You thought wrong! a 52km TT will mean that the climbers high in the GC will be tapping there feet rather nervously before this, it's long enough to lose an awful lot of time!
Welcome to the First part of our Teams intorduction! We'd like to say that competition for places in the race was immense, and better luck next time to those who haven't quite made the final cut. We shall start by going through each team, and it's chosen squad for the coming 3 weeks, before giving you a run down of the favourites.
Okay, that concludes the first third of our Team introduction! In Part 2, we'll present the squads for the second half of the teams, before we go through the favourites for each Jersey in the Final Part 3.
Edited by baggieboys32 on 09-01-2013 22:02
So, the top3 guys vary massively in terms of style. Many people are suggesting the man to beat will be Joe Dombrowski, he's a great climber, and by the standards of the competition, a good TT'ist to boot, however his poor recovery may cost him, so expect to see him losing time in the final week.
Option number 2 is another solid option with the bookies, he's the best man in the race at getting up again the next day, combined with a solid ability to climb and TT, he's not superman though, and a weaker team could cost him dear in the back end of the race.
The final guy in the top 3 favourites should make for interesting watching. The colombian Grajales is an explosive climber and will be a big threat in the mountains. His team is reasonable, though an awful TT will cost him over the 100TT kilometres in the race.
The Challengers
Rider
Team
MO
TT
Rec
R.Vrecer
Vorarlberg
72
67
70
L.Craddock
Bontrager Livestrong
70
72
70
Robert Vrecer of Vorarlberg will be a big name from the outside threats box. He's a good climber and won't lose major time on the TT's, expect to see him fighting the top3, and if someone has a bad day, he could slip even higher.
Craddocks name, is an odd one to see here, he's Dombrowski's right hand man, and yet given the TT kilometres, he could be the more dangerous of the duo. If Joe does begin to fade we could see a swing in leaders at Bontrager, but will being forced to help out be too much of a drain on Craddocks fitness to take over mid-race?
The Outsiders
Rider
Team
MO
TT
Rec
L.Romero
Jamis-Sutter Homes
72
65
69
M.Goos
Rabobank Continental
70
65
65
L.Zanasca
Team WiT
72
62
69
The Cuban Romero looks like a formula we've seen before, an explosive climber, but not quite up to scratch in the TT's he'll be top 10 for sure, but can he aim higher? His team Jamis seem unsure, they've also got a top sprinter, so where they'll focus their efforts remains to be seen.
Edited by baggieboys32 on 10-01-2013 11:03
Frankly, of these three, all could win. Denis Flahaut is technically the best sprinter in the race, however he's not a brilliant hill climber, could that cost him? RLM don't think so, they've thrown all the eggs in one basket behind their fast man.
Andreas Stauff is about as close to matching Flahaut as they get, expect to see longer sprints from the EM-Indeland sprinter, who'll try and use his ability in that area to burn out the quicker Flahaut.
In many ways the best rounded of the three favourites, Weissinger is the best climber of the trio, so he may look to get in the break for points, and have his team make it hard for the opposition on hillier days.
The Possibles
Rider
Team
Sp
Acc
S.Gaywood
IG Sigma Sport
73
73
J.Ljungblad
JDifferdange-Magic Sportfood
73
71
These 2nd tier names lack the sheer power of the out and out favourites, however, with clever tactics and thanks to their strong teams, they could still get a great result. Walmsley will have to hope that he's not used as a domestique in the mountains however, as the team appear keen on trying for both major jerseys.
The Outsiders
Rider
Team
Sp
Acc
S.Schets
Jong Vlaandaren
70
76
C.Opie
UK Youth
72
71
R.Matheou
Verandas Rideau - Super U
71
72
You can't help but feel that the outside sprinters will be in a fight they can't win, however, good placing is all that's required, as Geoffrey Soupe showed us just a few days ago in the major version of our race. Whether or not they can realistically hope for the Green jersey, all three of them can hope to take at least the odd stage, and with some luck, perhaps more than that!
Edited by baggieboys32 on 14-01-2013 22:04
I've been thinking about doing a story of one race only myself, so I'll surely be following this! It'll be interesting to see what you'll make of it and how that corresponds with the ideas I'm having so far
D.Flahaut
A.Stauff
J.De Gans
M.Reynés
J.Benetseder
R.Schuler
R.Vrecer
M.Merlo
D.Tamayo
R.Karimov
J.Dombrowski
J.Atkins
J.De Buyst
D.Lapthorne
J.Ljungblad
V.Kaupas
C.Poos
M.Hester
J.Dabrowski
M.Averin
V.Borisov
B.Colex
M.Lukscevics
J.Antogna
S.Gaywood
D.Craven
