2014 Tour de France Preview

Switching gears to cycling, it's almost time for the 2014 Tour de France to commence for the 3 week journey around England and France to finish in Paris come July 27th.  Here's my race preview and who to look out for in this year's tour.

RACE ROUTE
As always, the route is different and this year is no exemption.  The first 3 stages of the tour will take place in England, starting off in Yorkshire on Saturday, the riders will ride around northern England for Stages 1 and 2.  Stage 3 will run from Cambridge to downtown London.  Stage 4 will be on French soil for the first time this year, riding from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage to Lille.  Stage 5 will start in Belgium, finishing in Arenberg Porte du Hainant, along the Paris-Robieux route.  This stage will be run on approx 15km of cobblestones in 9 sections, all in the last 50 km which will be tough ride for the cyclists.  The next 2 stages will be run on roads paying tribute to World War I battles with stops in Reims and Nancy. 

The 2nd weekend of the tour (July 12-13) will pay visit to the first mountain region in this year's tour: the Vosges.  Stage 8 features the first summit finish on the Cat 3 Gerardmer La Mauseliame.  Stage 10 will be crucial because it will show who will be the real contenders on this years tour with 7 climbs including the final on on La Planche des Belles Filles. 

After the first rest day in Bescanon, the race runs through the Lyon region for 2 days and then Stage 13 which begins with a 2-day stay in the Alps with another summit finish on the HC category of Chamrousse.  Stage 14 begins in Grenoble and features 2 big climbs: Col du Lauterat and the Col d'Izoard.  The finish of the stage is in Risoul, which was featured in last month's Criterium du Dapuhine. A long Stage 15 in the Nimes region (southern France) will end the tour's 2nd week. 

The third week will not be easy as the Pyrennes will be the focus on this year's tour.  Stage 16 will be a long ride for the riders, but the last hour will be tough on the HC climb of Port de Bales with a finish in Bagneres-du-Luchon, a site where Andy Schleck lost the lead 4 years ago.  Stage 17 will be crucial with a brief trip into Spain with a climb on Col du Portillon early on.  After that climb, the riders take on Col de Peyresourde  and an eventual finish on the HC Pla d'Adet.  Stage 18 is familiar with most, starting in Pau, with a famous climb of the Col du Tourmalet, finishing on another summit finish on Hautacam.  Stage 19 leaves the Pyrnesses, heads north with a quiet stage, then Stage 20 is a time trial which will determine the winner of the the Maillot Joune (if the mountains didn't do so already) and lastly the finish in Paris. 

Like I said, it will be a fun tour, about 5-6 sprint finishing stages and 5 summit finishes.  Always a exciting time for cycling. 

CYCLISTS
Now, who to watch out for.  Team Sky had an issue going into the tour, whether or not to have 2012 tour winner Bradley Wiggins ride.  Wiggins won the Tour of California, but Team Sky elected not to have him compete in the TDF, instead focusing on last year's winner Chris Froome.  Froome, the favorite will definitely have competition.  With Nairo Quintana and Cadel Evans both competing in May's Giro d'Italia, both riders will not be in this year's tour.  Alberto Contador, who was stripped of his two tour titles, will have another shot at redemption, riding with Tinkoff-Saxo.  Alejandro Valverde, who also had doping issues in the past, won a stage 2 years ago and is also a favorite to win, needs the help of the Movistar team to get him up in position.  Joaquim Rodriguez & Vincenzo Nabali are also contenders.  Riders with a chance and are underdogs include Andy Schleck (struggling) and Frank Schleck (banned for 1 year due to doping, missed 2013 tour), both with Trek Factory Racing.  Also don't be surprised with the Americans.  BMC Racing rider Tejay Van Garderen (who impressed on Alpe d'Huez last year) and Andrew Talansky (top-10 last year) could really draw attention if they succeed on the mountain stages.  Even the Green Jersey Points class will impress.  Marcel Kittel won 4 stages last year and hopes to spoil Mark Cavendish's party early on in England by winning.  Also throw Andre Greipel & Peter Sagan in the mix, it will be interesting to win Stage wins. 

Regardless, it will be an exciting tour.  Can't wait to start.