Tour de France 2016 **SPOILERS**

[rich p]

I warned about spoilers in the title, so it's okay for me to reveal that this year's tour was won by Quintana.
Of the GC contenders I suspect that he's the strongest this year.
Froome - could be close
Contador - ditto, but I think he'll be found out in the mountains
Nibali and Porte - best of the rest? Close but no purito.
Aru - flaky
Pinot, Barguil, Bardet, Alaphillipe - not yet, if ever
Teejay - nah
J Rod - too old

Sprint stages could be tight
Kittel, Cav, Greipel, Kristoff, Sagan, Bouhanni, Matthews et al

 

[brommers]

Cycling Weekly has all the stages on one scroll-down page showing the profile and a brief description
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

 

[Hont]

Nibali and Porte - best of the rest?

A Nibali win would be very bad for cycling methinks. A podium would be bad enough; not even Contador managed that after a Giro win.

 

[cisamcgu]

Cycling Weekly has all the stages on one scroll-down page showing the profile and a brief description
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-route-192041

Flip it looks hilly !!

 

[rich p]

A Nibali win would be very bad for cycling methinks. A podium would be bad enough; not even Contador managed that after a Giro win.

Agreed. I don't think it's likely but the witchfinder's nose would be twitching.

 

[Crackle]

Froome or Quintana: I don't think Quintana has got the pure burst of speed but he does seem to get better as the race goes by, so it's a question of whether Froome can manage the time gap his undoubted first attack will bring. And in that rivalry there's room for others to pull some surprises. As usual I have no idea of how this one is going to unfold, which is why i love watching it.

 

[Hill Wimp]

I warned about spoilers in the title, so it's okay for me to reveal that this year's tour was won by Quintana.
Of the GC contenders I suspect that he's the strongest this year.
Froome - could be close
Contador - ditto, but I think he'll be found out in the mountains
Nibali and Porte - best of the rest? Close but no purito.
Aru - flaky
Pinot, Barguil, Bardet, Alaphillipe - not yet, if ever
Teejay - nah
J Rod - too old

Sprint stages could be tight
Kittel, Cav, Greipel, Kristoff, Sagan, Bouhanni, Matthews et al

Keep it real Rich, i get all my technical knowledge reading this thread each year

 

[Dayvo]

Keep it real Rich, i get all my technical knowledge reading this thread each year

His knowledge comes from one of these:

 

[Hill Wimp]

His knowledge comes from one of these:

View attachment 132621

and the problem there is ?

 

[roadrash]

I have to agree with @rich p , i think quintana will do it this year,in fact i think a few sheckles and groats may change hands at the bookies

 

[Bollo]

During the Dauphine coverage Gary Imlach described Sky as a 'military industrial complex', although they seem to have evolved their tactics beyond goose-stepping at the front of the peloton. Unless Froome gets ill, crashes or drowns in Gallic urine I think Sky's team strength will see him in yellow.

 

[400bhp]

During the Dauphine coverage Gary Imlach described Sky as a 'military industrial complex', although they seem to have evolved their tactics beyond goose-stepping at the front of the peloton. Unless Froome gets ill, crashes or drowns in Gallic urine I think Sky's team strength will see him in yellow.

Movistar now have, IMO, a stronger team than Sky.

 

[brommers]

IMO

Sorry, but I'm naïve and green with the terms, but what does IMO stand for?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Sorry, but I'm naïve and green with the terms, but what does IMO stand for?

In My Opinion

Sometime IMHO (humble opinion)

 

[rich p]

In My Opinion

Sometime IMHO (humble opinion)

For the few humble amongst us