monty1104
Premium Platinum
Tour De France 2014 Stage 1: Leeds - Harrogate
Yep, the Tour de France is kicking off in Leeds. In Fact, the first three days will be held in the UK.
More or less a flat stage to kick things off. There are a couple of little climbs, but really just enough to sort out a polka dot jersey wearer. This stage will end up in a bunch sprint, with the three mega sprint teams (Omega Pharma Quickstep, Lotto Belisol and Giant Shimano) controlling the bunch. Giant Shimano is such a strong sprint team this year that they essentially could run two 4-man sprint trains that could end up with Kittel and Degenkolb finishing 1-2. It won't happen, but it'd be great to see
For me, I can't see Cavendish losing this. He has come out publicly and stated that his goal is to wear the yellow jersey while the tour travels through the UK. If he sets his mind to something, he can get it done. With team mates like Renshaw, Martin, Petacchi and Terpstra, this team will likely hit the front around the 3km to go banner and just control the race. Kittel and Greipel are the lead sprinters of the other two powerhouse teams (Giant Shimano and Lotto Belisol respectively), and are both probably quicker than Cavendish these days, but I just think Cavendish has more riding on this than the others. With the finish being ever so slightly up hill, it brings Sagan and Kristoff into the frame, but the hill shouldn't be enough to really hurt the pure sprinters.
Things to look out for: Listen out for Phil and Paul having fun with the name of the second climb; Cote de Buttertubs.
Conversation regarding past cases of PED use or innuendo surrounding current riders will not be tolerated. This thread is specifically about Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France, so let's keep it that way.
Yep, the Tour de France is kicking off in Leeds. In Fact, the first three days will be held in the UK.
More or less a flat stage to kick things off. There are a couple of little climbs, but really just enough to sort out a polka dot jersey wearer. This stage will end up in a bunch sprint, with the three mega sprint teams (Omega Pharma Quickstep, Lotto Belisol and Giant Shimano) controlling the bunch. Giant Shimano is such a strong sprint team this year that they essentially could run two 4-man sprint trains that could end up with Kittel and Degenkolb finishing 1-2. It won't happen, but it'd be great to see
For me, I can't see Cavendish losing this. He has come out publicly and stated that his goal is to wear the yellow jersey while the tour travels through the UK. If he sets his mind to something, he can get it done. With team mates like Renshaw, Martin, Petacchi and Terpstra, this team will likely hit the front around the 3km to go banner and just control the race. Kittel and Greipel are the lead sprinters of the other two powerhouse teams (Giant Shimano and Lotto Belisol respectively), and are both probably quicker than Cavendish these days, but I just think Cavendish has more riding on this than the others. With the finish being ever so slightly up hill, it brings Sagan and Kristoff into the frame, but the hill shouldn't be enough to really hurt the pure sprinters.
Things to look out for: Listen out for Phil and Paul having fun with the name of the second climb; Cote de Buttertubs.
Conversation regarding past cases of PED use or innuendo surrounding current riders will not be tolerated. This thread is specifically about Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France, so let's keep it that way.
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