Tour de France 2016: What Can We Expect?

Here we are again. It’s July and the sun comes out, along with the men in Lycra. It’s time for three weeks of the Tour de France.

As with any year’s Tour, there’s not much we can predict. One bad corner and a nasty crash can change the entire game for the big names – it already has. But from what we’ve seen from the first stages, what can we predict for the next few weeks?

The Fastest Man On Two Wheels
For anyone who thought Mark Cavendish’s days were long gone, think again. The Tour’s opening stage saw the previous World Champion take the win and subsequently don the yellow jersey for the first time in his career. Granted, he gave it up to fellow sprinter Sagan the next day, but it’ll be a moment for the memoir. Well, for his next memoir.

 

Spectators causing havoc
Last year the big problem was TV motorbikes getting in the way – now it’s the people. Get behind the barriers!

 

Nasty crashes
Two in two days for Contador. It’s never good to see a contender taken out of the running, but this is especially rough. Day 1 saw him receiving medical attention on the bike, and though the seconds he’s lost will mean nothing over the space of three weeks, he’s confessed the Tour has got off on the wrong foot. It’s going to be a rough one.

 

Sticky bottles
And everyone complaining about them. Just your typical Tour de France.

 

Team Dimension Data
Previously known as MTN-Qubeka, this is the South African team lead by Mark Cavendish. The team also boasts Australia’s Mark Renshaw – who coupled with Cav make a fierce pair – Britain’s Steve Cummings and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen. They’re gonna be an exciting bunch to watch.

 

Peter Sagan doing things
Sagan is somewhat renowned for his victory finishes – his Hulk impression is my favourite. So it came as some surprise to not see any bizarre celebration from him with his Stage 2 win, despite him only getting the win by a lunge. Post-race, it turned out he thought he’d come third, and was a bit reluctant to put on the yellow jersey if it meant taking off his World Champion’s rainbow colours. Rest assured he’ll be back with more wins and in turn, more finish line poses. Would it be the Tour de France without them?

Actual good racing
That’s not to say the racing isn’t usually good, but a break as strong as the four man group that got away on Stage 2 is rare. It’s also indicative that we’re in for a good few weeks. With Stuyven leading until the last few kilometres, didn’t some part of you want him to win regardless?

 

Geraint Thomas
Well, he’s a bit of a fighter isn’t he? It’s one thing to ride strong in the peloton all day, it’s quite another to get into a crash of Day 1, and yo-yo between the team car and the peloton thanks to mechanicals on Day 2. No wonder he’s Froome’s chief domestique.

 

Julian Alaphilippe
One to watch. It’s no wonder he had a “small disappointment” in coming second to Sagan on Stage 2, but there’s been a lot of buzz around his potential so far, and that can only be expected to grow.

 

Chris Froome looking at stems
There’s a whole blog dedicated to this. He might be keeping his head down for a bit, but give it a few stages and we’ll see if Froome’s as strong this year as he was last.

We might only be a few days in, but this year’s Tour de France looks set to be a rough one.