And we're off!
Let me know if there's any mistakes.
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First, thanks for the monumental effort and GA's. Really appreciate your thread.
Second, as a cycling fan, I am indeed curious to see how this one goes. I don't think this year's event will reach Champs-Élysées, however, I really hope they do, because in its small, but justified way, it's a proof of resistance and organization against Covid19.
We will see! Thank you and stay safe!
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Glad you are enjoying it!
I really hope we'll get to Paris, guess we can't do anything but hope and see.
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If Roglic is healthy, he will win this year, he was in better form than Bernal. I'd say Bernal wasn't convincing during the Dauphiné. However if Roglic is really hurt... well, I hope Dumoulin's form has improved, and I prefer Sivakov from Ineos than Bernal. Carapaz is a mystery for me right now, he wasn't in the frontlight in the last weeks.
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My top 10 : 1-Roglič 2- Bernal 3- Pinot 4- Pogačar 5- Dumoulin 6- Quintana 7- Buchmann 8- Carapaz 9- G. Martin 10- Sivakov
Green jersey : Peter Sagan
KoM : Julian Alaphilippe
1st team ejected due to Covid-19 : Movistar
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Got here from the F1 post and this looks pretty cool. Definitely into racing, but had never watched cycling before. I'll definitely check it out as this put cycling on my radar. Also if you know any youtube or text explanation that would be great to look over that would be helpful.
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Pfffft, that's a good question. If you coming into this completely new then I wouldn't really know where to start but I bet there must be sites out there who have a sort of beginner's guide to cycling. Just watching the (highlights of) stages could work though, it's not too hard to get into.
This page: Breakaway specialist and the other types linked at the bottom of that page will explain the roles. The All-rounder one just links to the glossary which could be a handy cheat sheet. And feel free to ask anything here.
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Alright, when I get off work I'll definitely take a look. Are there any specific highlights that you think are a great watch? I'll probably look through those guides that you mentioned and then try to find a beginner video. If I find something good I'll try to let you know so you can maybe include it in the post for new people. Obviously I don't know anything about the sport so I might find a video you don't think is good for newbies. Definitely let me know if that's the case.
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I like to read stuff on The Inner Ring, scroll down towards the bottom for explanations about the rules, it starts when you see a picture of the different jerseys.
It took my gf a while to get her head around the whole day winner vs overall winner idea.
You can win the whole thing without winning a stage, "Why doesn't that guy get the yellow jersey? He won twice now!"
Yeah, but on the 3rd stage the guy lost 27 minutes...that is why they allowed him to get away.
Just like with every sport you'll enjoy it more when you have a team or a rider(s) to support (or dislike :P)
I'm a fan of Dumoulin and Roglic, and this year they are in the same team, I'm in heaven :)
I enjoy mountain stages most because they tend to have more excitement overal, sprints give me anxiety :/
(I wish the big boys would form a buss 3km before the finish line and just hang back instead of fighting for position out in front)
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Wow definitely a lot of information. I'll take a look at this after work. Kinda sad that this starts during an F1 Weekend because I feel like I could really get behind this. I took a look at the role explanations that Corran suggested and it was kind of surprising to see the number of roles and the different variations a role can encompass. For this weekend I'll probably catch some highlights, but since it goes on into weekdays I feel like this is something I could take a look at during the week.
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It's like an RPG game with all kinds of classes and sub-classes :P
Just start watching, it looks to be an action packed Tour...on paper anyway.
Something to look for:
Most teams have a leader that they support, be it for winning the whole thing, winning (sprint) stages, or winning a classification (green jersey), these leaders have a start number ending in 1.
Bernal = 1, Roglic = 11, Sagan = 21, etc.
Especially on climbs the numbers are useful to see which riders can't keep up with the pace.
Do you have anyone you want to support?
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m3rc has some excellent advice there and the site he links gives a really nice short summary of how it all works. And as he said; a three week grand tour is all about consistency when it comes to the classifications. Stage wins are important for certain riders (and the teams) but if you want to win a classification you need to never have a bad day way more than any win.
As to what to watch; I meant watching (highlights of) the upcoming stages. Don't worry too much on what has come before. I'm sure that any commentators worth their salt will fill you in on past performances by the riders who are competing this year. That said, if you search on YouTube for a sort of Tour de France and/or cycling explanation video, I'd guess you'd find some.
I don't know what country you are in and what your viewing options are. There's always http://www.steephill.tv/; that site usally has links to all internet coverage and also links to all major cycling sites.
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If you're into manga/anime, I've learnt a bit about the rules thanks to Yowamushi Pedal
..or just ignore this message ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Wow, thanks for all the hard work setting up all this!
I hope for an exiting race, and for time to watch much of it :)
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Man of the Tour...Wout van Aert, He'll win....5 stages.
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If he didn't have to work for Roglič and Dumoulin I could definitely see him winning three stages in a single grand tour but I think Jumbo-Visma are laser focused on winning the GC and won't let anyone go for stage victories if it diminishes those chances.
Imagine what Mathieu could do in a more normal Tour de France; I can see him winning three stages (and more) as well. I really wonder what team he'll eventually end up at.
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Yeah, he will be unleashed towards the end of the Tour :)
I had no idea so I just named him.
Maybe Guillaume Martin can surprise a few contenders and steal a few wins for Man of the Tour.
I can see van Aert going back to Cyclo Cross full time once the young Nys starts kicking ass there :)
van Aert, Nys, van der Poel.....
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Updated stuff a little; the Covid rules have changed.
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Another update: The French government has put their foot down and the original Covid rule is back in effect.
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I'll definitely post some predictions. I just hope for no traumatic events like in 2019 and 2020 Tour de Pologne.
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August 29
I waited with my daily summary and boy did a lot happen...
First off though; congrats to Alexander Kristoff, that was a real good win. For some reason I constantly underestimate him, thinking he can't compete with the other 'pure' sprinters, which is why he wasn't in my listing in the preview. But he's a man who won two Monuments, of course he can win a Tour stage (this was his fourth).
World Champion Mads Pedersen showed a lot of class; he has won very little so far (except of course that one really important jersey) but it can't be long before that changes. Cees Bol was impressive and for a second it looked like he was going to win. I wonder if Sam Bennett had some mechanical issue cause he lost all speed at the end. Sagan showed he's up for it with his 5th place.
Incredibly unlucky that the first rain in months had to fall today, making the parcour incredibly dangerous (this wouldn't have happened in July). So many fell (Miguel Ángel López' crash was the most tv worthy), three people are out and we'll have to wait and see how the injuries of all the others that fell will effect them. Tomorrow's stage isn't a nice flat one where they could take it easy for a day.
Both Ineos and Jumbo-Visma had at least two people crash; Pavel Sivakov, Andrey Amador, George Bennett, and Wout van Aert (who still got involved in the bunch sprint).
Edit: among the favorites Quintana and Alaphilippe hit the asphalt as well.
Lotto-Soudal lost both John Degenkolb and Philippe Gilbert (he broke the same kneecap as in the Tour of 2018); they really only have Caleb Ewan left now...
Bahrain-McLaren lost Rafael Valls; someone who would have been a lot of help in the mountains. Wout Poels fractured a rib and bruised a lung but will be starting tomorrow...
It was really good to see Tony Martin play the patron and tell the peleton to slow on the descents, we haven't seen anything like that since Fabian Cancellara did it in 2010. It is still ludicrous that the rule that was put in effect today, everyone gets the time classification 3 km from the finish, isn't universal for all stages, it would make everything soooo much safer. That there was a big crash right after the final 3 km today is just ironic, of course.
(This is way longer than normal but then a lot happened...)
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Kristoff is either super or invisible it seems.
He's had 2 stints of greatness so far, this could be his 3rd.
I had him on my initial team for yesterday but replaced him, I never learn :P
Poels, so unlucky, I was hoping he would be the substitute on Team Ineos, but he left, and now he's probably out tomorrow too.
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In all the carnage I missed that Gilbert broke again his kneecap, too bad!!!
I was surprised by Pedersen, didn't think he could compete in such a high level sprint, but after all he beat Trentin last year at the Worlds , so I should give him more credit as a sprinter :)
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August 30
Everyone expected it (though no one reacted when he sprang away) and he still did it; very impresssive, as was his release after he crossed the line.
If Hirschi had no left that small gap before the sprint he might well have won it.
Julian Alaphilippe in yellow once again, how long will he be able to keep it this time?
Fortunately no rain today, still a few crashes but hopefully nothing too bad.
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Chapeau Alaphilippe!, always gutsy and aggressive riding.
Very impressive Hirschi too ( I barely knew him before) and how Yates was able to close the gap to the front duo.
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August 31
Wow, Caleb Ewan had to come from really far to win. I'm amazed he managed to do it, a worthy winner!
Sam Bennett was really gracious in defeat on Twitter.
Poor Anthony Perez though; he gained the polka dot jersey, broke his bike on the ascent and then drove into the team car on the descent and broke his clavicle. He deserved much better.
(And some out of Tour news: Annemiek van Vleuten has signed with Movistar. Quite a surprise, I would have thought there were much more likely teams for her to go to.)
Tomorrow the first mountain finish!
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September 1
Man, it doesn't seem like Primož Roglič lost any of his strength after his crash in the Dauphine. There were so many doubts about his abilities but he sure showed everyone today.
I do wonder if maybe the team should not have expended all this energy on a climb where not too many seconds could be won on their opponents, there's some much bigger mountains to come.
Tiesj Benoot's crash looked nasty but fortunately he's fine.
Tomorrow another bunch sprint?
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Jumbo-Visma showed great strength in every chase so far - it's possible that they are very powerful this year :) Although we have seen Roglic losing a jersey he was expected to win - Giro, last year, his form was too early on top -, I start to think they have learned how to do it properly.
Alaphilippe is keeping the yellow right now, but he seemed to lose speed and strength at the sprint, and it was nopt the first time this year - in fact he only won 1 stage this year, his usual wins during the classics didn't happen and although he tried his usual trademark runs, every time he lost his strength before the end.
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Same here, I tought he was pretty banged up, instead what a show of force!
I wonder if van Aert can ever become a top level climber, the pace he kept was insane.
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September 2
Holy moly!! Lead out Wout strikes again! It's amazing what Van Aert is capable of. And I actually predicted it today.
Really sad for Cees Bol to get beat with that narrow a margin but I hope he'll get his chance yet this Tour.
Fortunately there were no real crashes, which I consider the biggest win today. Also quite interesting that the jury gave the combativity award to Wout Poels today.
Tomorrow another mountain finish. If there's no breakaway then I can very easily see a Roglič repeat.
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How strong is Van Aert??? Definitely a breakout year (well, month), winning classsics, setting brutal tempo uphill, winning bunch sprints, also a top tier TTer, he's stealing VDP's spotlight :))
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He sure is! I can't wait till VDP will focus solely on road racing (after he wins his gold medal in Tokyo :p).
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Breaking news!
Julian Alaphilippe got a 20 second time penalty for taking food where it's not allowed. Adam Yates has the yellow jersey now!
I'm impressed the French jury actually pulled the trigger on this.
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September 3
Well done, Alexey Lutsenko. I wasn't sure which of the riders in the breakaway was going to take it but he was clearly the strongest. Vino will be happy; this was the first Kazakh victory in the Tour since his last win in 2010.
No fireworks at all from the favorites, I expected someone to do something on the Col des Mourèzes cause that was a perfect place for an attack. Hopefully we're not in for a week of the GC contenders only watching each other without going for any attacks, we've had too many Tours like that in recent memory.
Will we get an actual breakaway tomorrow or will it be a repeat of yesterday?
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September 4
Holy moly, Wout van Aert makes it look soooo easy.
And what a stage; great tactic by Bora to engage the turbos from the start. The way they managed to get rid of most of the other sprinters was very impressive. Shame Peter didn't manage to win the intermediate sprint and at the final sprint his foot apparently slipped from the pedal. Edit: apparently his whole chain came off.
And then the GC; I did say the wind might catch out some favorites but this was prettty bad. Pogačar, Carapaz, Mollema, Porte and Landa all lost over a minute. If the battle for the podium wasn't between Bernal and Roglič & Dumoulin already, now it sure is. I'm quite bummed about Mollema losing time here cause he was very quietly doing real well this year.
Tomorrow three real mountains; the finish is downhill but will the guys who lost time today want to try and gain some back?
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maybe tomorrow Wout van Aert wins again, it's not a summit finish and he might attack at descend and wins another tage
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This was supposed to be a snorefest like the other day and instead.... more damage than yesterday's mountains!
No more words for van Aert, currently he is on another level.
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It seems all we need is a "little" wind to make a stage much more interesting :)
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September 5
Well done, Nans Peters. He wasn't the first person I'd have picked in this breakaway to win but he was clearly the strongest.
Finally some GC fireworks though in the end most managed to stay together; it's the first day Jumbo-Visma didn't look super strong. Not a good day for France with Thibaut Pinot losing so much time and Lilian Calmejane calling it quits. Edit: of course Nans Peters is French as well.
Thomas de Gendt day tomorrow?
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I actually did expect a breakaway but I had no idea who to pick, and surely when i saw the break composition I was going 100% with Zakarin but he went the worst of this descending 'skill set'...
Great showing by Pogacar, maybe I finally found a new personal favourite for the GC :)
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I think Jumbo just wanted a quite easy stage today. The most serious thing to react for them was Pogacar's attempt to come back from yesterday's time loss, but nothing else. Bernal simply wasn't convincing - again. I get it, he want to be in top form during the third week, but I think it will be too late for him - and I don't think he will be able to pull it off.
Pinot's bad luck is unreal. Today wasn't as heartbreaking as last year, but still... he deserves more.
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September 6
Tadej Pogačar turns out the have the best sprint on the flat but it sure was close. Hirschi definitely deserved the victory; it must feel so bad to get pipped at the post like that (again). Bernal showed he should not be counted out yet.
All the GC attacks I expected earlier finally came today. Buchmann is the biggest loser of the day, the others managed to keep their loss to less than a minute; it didn't look that way on the last col.
Tuesday's stage might change everything if people don't pay enough attention to the wind.
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Now it's Slovenia vs Colombia , pretty weird for cycling's tradition :D.
Hirschi is surely utterly disappointed right now, but his performance was so impressive, another name to add to the list of this new generation of talents.
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I start to think that Aru was sick today; I hope it's not the covid virus. Pinot's attack was fairly brave, however he couldn't keep up during the uphill part of the stage - he said yesterday that he won't give up, but I'm not so sure that he will be able to finish this Tour.
Pogacar will win at least one Grand Tour, but i think it will be more than that; I'm sure he will have more success that Bernal. Speaking of Bernal, he didn't convince me - again; however Landa seemed in a very good shape, I think he could grab the KoM title this year.
Movistar... seems very, very off. Soler can't keep up during the climbs and losing track early; Valverde is trying to be at the front, but he isn't at his best this year; Mas may be in the top 20, but he never started an attack this year yet.
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September 8
Sam Bennett finally gets the win he came for; impressive how he just went straight into the wind and managed to keep ahead of Caleb.
In the end there wasn't quite enough wind to make things really difficult for the GC; I'm sure many of the contenders will be extremely happy to have survived today. Still a few nasty crashes today, Tadej Pogačar and Guillaume Martin seem to have survived their contact with the road without any problems.
Tomorrow another chance for the bunch sprinters?
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September 9
Now that was a bunch sprint! Four guys all getting so close, Caleb Ewan didn't even knew he won. Would Wout van Aert have won if Sagan hadn't given him that header? How many places will Sagan be put back? We'll know soon, I'm sure.
Jon Izagirre has a real nasty crash, shame he's out. Bad luck for Gregor Mühlberger as well.
We haven't really seen much of Thomas de Gendt this Tour. Tomorrow has to be his day.
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Sometimes i wish see Ewan vs Cavendish or Kittel (in their best shapes, too bad the time pass). Is today sprinters worst them sprinters from 5 years ago? Or just my imagination? Or pure sprinters are change their training? Anyway a sprint worthy of adrenaline
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Sagan lost all of today's 43 points (not just the finish points), he has to pay 200 CHF fine, and he lost his 2nd position.
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I absolutely agree with Sagan's relegation. He had the best legs of his Tour so far, but there was no space to pass there, after Jakobsen's terrible crash in Poland we can no longer see this kind of actions. I've been a longtime Sagan fan, so no bias here, just hope we can sooner or later see again the spectacular rider he was until a couple of years ago.
Also, don't think it affected the fist place, Ewan in the last 100 meters is really a rocket!
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Tour de France 2020
Also running: Italian Grand Prix Part II
How it works
Predict who is going to win each stage of the Tour.
Stages
This table/chart is RaChart™ compatible and was created with Giveaways Table/Chart Creator
Preview
Postponed because of Covid-19; things are still iffy, obviously. Important new rules; any rider testing positively will be removed from the race immediately. If two of a team's personnel (riders or otherwise) test positive for the disease then the entire team is removed from the competition. This could obviously be huge; having the Yellow Jersey and then being sent home because a mechanic and a cook have Covid-19 will sting.
The teams are unhappy with this rule and have complained to the ASO. Edit: the UCI (and not the ASO) has changed the rule: now a team is only ejected if two riders test positive within 7 days of each other. Personnel testing positive is no longer relevant (though those people obviously still need to leave). Edit 2: The French government has put their foot down and the original rule is back in effect.
Today, the 27th of August, Covid cases are rising sharply in France, 21 departments are now at code red. The chances of the Tour being changed, shortened, or cancelled are unfortunately increasing. Journalists are even speculating that teams might want to fight harder the first week to gain the yellow jersey should the Tour be stopped before the three weeks are up.
Another tour designed for the climbers; 29 ascents of the top three categories in total (only five uphill finishes but more climbing kilometres than ever in recent history). There's not even a flat time trial this year, and no team time trial at all; we have to go way back in time for a Tour more suited to time trialists. All done for Romain Bardet again? Unfortunately for the French, he isn't going to win this year either.
This year the organisation has been looking for some new ascents so there will be some mountains included that the riders are less familiar with. One example is the Col de la Loze, the 'roof; of this year's Tour (2,304 metres); only last year was the trail there turned into a proper road, making it possible to go there. It also means we'll be spending more time in nice places like the Jura, Corrèze, and Vosges.
Back from 2018 is Plateau des Glières; part of the descent is a dirt road where Froome got a puncture last time.
Also see the PEZ Preview.
The Tour Touristique bits are mostly from the Tour site (recognizable by the appalling command of the English language) and Wikipedia.
Sites
Official Site (Also available in German now, I noticed. Their English is still as bad as ever.)
Wikipedia
A better list of riders than the official site, with thanks to bartwu
General Classification (abbreviated as GC)
This is the one it's all about, who will bring the maillot jaune (yellow jersey) to Paris?
Well, this Tour will be all about the Team Ineos vs Team Jumbo-Visma battle. I can't see the winner coming from any but one of these teams.
King of the Mountain (often abbreviated as KoM)
The maillot a pois (polka dot jersey) goes to the best climber; who will it be this year? Obviously the GC riders will all feature in this classification but there are some others...
Sprinters
It's definitely not a Tour for a lot of sprint victories and many teams have not even brought one. Not all flat stages will be contested by them but there's still a number of stage that should end in a bunch sprint.
Feel free to leave your predictions for jersey winners and other speculations in the comments below.
Man of the Tour
Normally I'd be saying Peter Sagan (as I do every year) but we have a really weird Tour this year. I'd love to hear your predictions for this category.
Tour Trivia
The longest stage this year, Chauvigny to Sarran (218 km), is the shortest ever longest stage in Tour history.
The North of France is ignored completely this year; see the map.
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