The short but nasty climb at the finish of Wednesday’s fifth stage has pedigree when it comes to deciding who will wear the yellow jersey in ParisIn the past, it used to be said that whoever led the Tour de France at L’Alpe d’Huez would win overall. In recent years, something similar could be stated of the Alsatian climb to La Planche des Belles Filles, nicknamed “Le Petit Alpe d’Huez” by cyclists who struggle up there each year in the Trois Ballons sportive, and climbed by the Tour at the finish of Wednesday’s fifth stage. Related: German Grand Départ may be an omen for tightest Tour de France in 28 years | William Fotheringham Related: Vincenzo Nibali regains yellow jersey...
Froome, Bardet, Quintana, Contador, Porte, Aru and Pinot could all make a decent case for winning the 104th Tour de France, which gets under way in Düsseldorf on SaturdayTen years ago, it would have been hard to envisage the Tour de France starting here, or anywhere else in Germany. The 2007 Tour is remembered by British fans for the hugely successful Grand Départ in London but for German cycling it was a different kind of landmark: when the country’s broadcasters turned their backs on the Tour after a year-long rash of doping scandals and confessions involving the country’s flagship team T-Mobile.The telecom company pulled out that November. It was followed by the backers of the country’s other two top-level professional...
The Giant of Provence may only glower in the distance this time but 50 years after Tom Simpson died close to the summit many will be thinking of himThe riders of the Tour de France will not be required to climb the Mont Ventoux this year but they will find themselves unable to escape its shadow. Some time in the afternoon of Friday 21 July, while pedalling through the vineyards and lavender fields of the Vaucluse, they will glance over to their right and see the Giant of Provence glowering in the distance. Related: In career best form: Richie Porte a genuine Tour de France contender | Kieran Pender Related: Tour de France 2017: stage-by-stage guide Continue reading...
An American in the yellow jersey would help erase painful memories of the Lance Armstrong scandal. But is the country turning away from road cycling?When the Tour de France starts on Saturday, cycling fans in the US will be without a serious home contender for the yellow jersey in the world’s best-known bicycle race. The omission of Tejay van Garderen from the BMC team’s lineup leaves the Cannondale-Drapac team fielding the three US riders in the race.While many will be glad to see Taylor Phinney belatedly debut in the Tour, where he and Nathan Brown will support the team’s co-leader Andrew Talansky, the best that can realistically be hoped for from this team is a frequent presence in breakaway groups...
A three-times winner who might not be quite what he was, a route that offers something for everyone and high-quality contenders may produce a spectacularWhen a three-times Tour de France winner is on the start line in anything resembling a decent state of fitness, forecasts boil down to a simple statement: one man versus the rest. Thus it was with Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong – now disgraced, once perennially dominant – and so it is with Chris Froome, who starts the Tour as the overwhelming favourite, even though he has not yet shown the incisive form of his better years.There is always speculation that the sheer weight of opposing numbers will one day overcome the...