Tag: Tour de France

What to look out for in the 2021 Tour de France

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After coming so close to being canceled in 2020, the difficulties the riders had preparing and achieving form during lockdowns, then the restrictions and compromises of last year’s Tour, the 2021 edition seems to be celebrating almost a pre-pandemic level of freedom and return to normality. What a relief!

Schedule of the 2021 Tour de France

• This edition of the Tour de France sets out from Brest, in Brittany, on Saturday, June 26th.
• The race includes 21 stages and 2 rest days, concluding in Paris on July 18th.

The 2021 Tour de France Route – an intriguing mix of stages

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This year’s Grand Depart was planned for Denmark, but had to be changed to accommodate the pandemic-adjusted Olympics and European Soccer Championships. The Tour will now start in the very scenic, and cycling-mad, Brittany region of France; Denmark will wait for the 2022 edition.

The first few days of racing will be a showcase for the sprinters and puncheurs. Expect the Yellow Jersey of race leader to change hands a few times through these stages. The route becomes more mountainous heading into the second week, in the center of the country, and this presents a chance for a strong rider with climbing ability to gain an advantage that can be defended through the later high mountains.

The race will follow the fairly usual format of more flat and rolling stages in the early part of the race, with higher mountain stages later on. This year however, the almost traditional sequence is mixed up a little, by reversing the Alpine and Pyrenean stages, and with fewer mountain top finishes than we are used to. The route heads into the Alps in week 2, with fewer days there but two ascents of the iconic Mont Ventoux. The strategically crucial stages of week 3 will be in the Pyrenees.

Overall, the 2021 Tour de France route puts less emphasis on climbing. There will be fewer opportunities to create big time differences with late attacks on key climbs, more chances to gain advantages early in stages, and more stages where crosswinds can turn the standings upside down. Look for more successful breakaways, led by puncheurs who may have a chance to hold on through the mountains for once.

There are 2 individual time trials this year, one early and one very late in the race. These can cause big swings in the fortunes of race leaders, so they will be worth watching closely.

All in all, the route sets the stage for a lot of potential drama all the way through the race, and gives us the usual feast of beautiful French landscapes.

Essential Stages to Watch

There are a lot of stages this year where the outcome could be unpredictable for a variety of reasons, which makes any of them potentially interesting. However, for guaranteed drama and knock-your-socks-off scenery, the high mountain stages are hard to beat. The early time trial will certainly mix things up, but the later one toward the end of the race may once again decide the winner with a reversal of hard won advantage. The time trial format can be less interesting to watch, but the suspense can be intense, so it’s still well worth paying attention to this stage.

Stage 1: June 26, Brest to Landerneau, 197.8km

There’s always a bit of pageantry to enjoy with the Grand Depart, but this opening stage should also be a day of real road racing, with a course made to highlight both the puncheurs and the sprinters as they battle for the first taste of glory.

Stage 8: July 3, Oyonnax to Le Grand Bornard, 151km

With the first day of real climbing, this stage will mark an opening for strategic moves, so it should be a good stage to focus on.

Stage 11: July 7, Sorgues to Malaucène, 199km

There will be some great climbing stages heading into the Alps, but the stage where riders will crest Mont Ventoux twice in one day will be one of the most dramatic and intense. That makes a definite must-watch for TDF fans.

Stage 18: July 15, Pau to Luz Ardiden, 127.7km

The main contenders for the podium should be clear by the time the race enters the Pyrenees. There are several stages with prodigious climbing against stunning Pyrenean backdrops, any of which will be great to watch and could be key stages strategically. If I had to pick one highlight stage I would choose this one, as the last chance for the climbers to turn the race to their advantage, featuring an iconic TDF venue, the Col du Tourmalet.

Stage 20: July 17, Libourne to Saint Emilion, 30.8km

Placing an individual time trial as the penultimate stage leaves the possibility that the race will be upended at the last moment. There’s so much pressure on the riders, and their efforts to overcome the physical and mental toll of three weeks of racing one last time, with everything at stake, makes for guaranteed drama.

The Riders to Watch in the 2021 Edition

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Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won the Tour de France last year with an astonishing performance in a late race time trial, a feat he was able to pull off partly because he was an underdog and could reserve his strength. He has no such luxury this year, but is in great form and has the natural advantage of the defending winner’s intimidation factor.

Fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), edged out by Pogačar last year, is also a main favorite in 2021. He was very impressive last year, and has been training very purposefully for this year’s Tour. It’s fascinating to see the emergence of Slovenia as a cycling power, perhaps led by perennial crowd-pleaser Peter Sagan?

Don’t rule the once-dominant Brits out completely. Four-time TDF winner Chris Froome is back in the race with a new team, Israel Start-Up Nation. He might not be a favorite this time around, but he certainly has the credentials. The fact that he is in shape to participate at all is remarkable, given the extent of the injuries he suffered in a devastating crash two years ago. His former team mate, Welshman Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) won the Tour more recently, and this year has shown the strength and form to repeat. Thomas’ team mates Australian Richie Porte and Ecuadoran Richard Carapaz, have also shown great form leading up to this year’s Tour, and they both have podium potential in their own right. The team’s depth could be a decisive factor, particularly through those arduous climbing days.

Other riders to watch include Colombian Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-Nippo), a repeat previous podium finisher who is in good form and well supported. With Thibault Pinot sidelined, French hopes are resting on Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), and David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), along with Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep). Alaphillipe wore the Yellow Jersey for much of the race in 2018, but hasn’t shown the same fire since. Gaudu may be the one to keep the closest eye on. Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange), has previous podium finishes and, with the right mix of luck and support, could also be capable of the G.C. win.

For the points race, the battle for the hotly contested Green Jersey, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) is a natural choice. He has won it seven times in his nine TDFs, but Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-QuickStep) stole that particular crown last year with amazing sprinting form, and was just cleared to compete in the Tour after earlier injury. It’s sure to be a great contest between these two, but keep an eye on Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), and Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), both of whom could dominate the sprints if things go their way.

Speaking of Brits (I am one, so please excuse my detour), it’s disappointing, and a little ironic, to see Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-QuickStep) miss the Tour due to his team mate, Sam Bennet’s return to health. Bennet is the rightful placement as defending Green Jersey holder, but after languishing for two years with a persistent virus, Cavendish has finally returned to the kind of sprinting form that gained him 30 career Tour de France stage wins. It would have been great to see if he could get closer to Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins, while he’s still young enough to be in reach.

Tour de France Bikes and Technology for 2021

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Teams are constantly looking for ways to gain an edge, and the equipment they use plays a significant part. Certainly no team takes any risks with unproven equipment, so it’s fun to keep an eye on which technologies are being used, both to make it easier for riders to go faster for longer, and to make maintenance and in-race fixes faster. The Tour is a showcase for the best of the best on the road, and gives us mere mortals something to aspire to in our own quests for speed.

The entire peloton has used carbon frames and wheels for some time now, and is evenly split between Shimano Dura Ace and Campagnolo Super Record groupsets, with just one team riding SRAM Red. Perhaps the most significant innovation is the wide use of disc brakes: only one team is still using rim brakes in 2021: Ineos Grenadiers. Keep an eye on mechanical incidents and bike swaps due to brake problems. Riders have said they are happy with disc braking performance wet and dry, but there may still be potential problems with reliability, especially on long mountain descents.

Best Ways to Watch the 2021 Tour de France

The official Tour de France site provides lots of great information on the course, stages, full details on race standings and classification competitions. The site also offers a live feed following each stage, with a nifty graphic presentation of the riders progressing over a profile of the terrain. You can see how the race develops, where the leaders and stragglers are relative to the peloton, and the fluctuations of deficits in real time. There’s a stream of helpful text commentary too. It’s not perfect, but it gets better every year and is a great way to follow along while you’re doing something else, like… working.

The Guardian also offers a live stream, with very well informed commentary that gives quite a bit more detail than the official site. I often switch back and forth between the two for a complete picture of the race.

There’s nothing like watching a live video feed for capturing the excitement of a critical stage, and in the internet age that’s easier than ever. In the US at least, the best option this year is through NBC’s Peacock Premium streaming service. That costs $4.99 a month ($9.99 without ads), and it appears will give you access to live video of the race, and on-demand replays.

More Tour de France:

Your guide to Tour de France Jersey colors

Lanterne Rouge – race to be last

Today the Tour de France winds up in Paris, after three weeks of intense struggle, and surprises all the way.

The parade into Paris is always the most widely watched stage of the Tour. It’s designed for TV, with a flat course highlighted by loops around the Champs d’Elysées, and tight sprints against the backdrop of Paris’s gleaming monuments.

Whatever happens in the sprint finish, as long as he doesn’t fall off his bike along the way, Egan Bernal will be the first Columbian rider to win the Yellow Jersey, as well as the youngest rider to win the race in over 70 years.

The 2019 Tour de France was fascinating from start to finish. With questions hanging over the only clear favorite, last year’s winner Welshman Geraint Thomas, riding for Ineos, and a wide field of possible contenders, expectations were wide open.

French rider Julian Alaphillipe, of Deceuninck-Quick Step, emerged as a serious GC contender. He scored a stage win early in the race to claim the Yellow Jersey, soon lost it, reclaimed it, and held onto it for most of the race, to the delight of the French fans.

Perhaps the least surprising result this year: Peter Sagan stepped into the Green Jersey very quickly, and there was little doubt he would keep it for the race. This is his seventh points category win, a new record.

Highlights of the Final Week of the 2019 Tour de France

A handful of possible favorites seemed out of the running after the first two weeks, with too much time to be made up. In the last week it became clear they were playing a waiting game, saving strength for the Pyrenean and Alpine stages.

Alaphillipe’s margin was not wide enough to be anything like certain, and with strategic efforts over a few days at least six riders vaulted into reach of the podium. Once again it seemed this could be anyone’s race.

Thibault Pinot had emerged in the second half of the race as a real force. Many French afficionados pinned their hopes on him, and there hardly seemed to be a kilometer on the entire course of the Tour without his name painted on the road as encouragement. After losing time in the early stages, Pinot made it all up with two stage wins in the Pyrenees. He fought his way up to 5th place, within seconds of the podium, and in reach of the win. His frustration was perfectly clear when he was forced to abandon early in stage 19, with a worsening muscle tear. With Pinot’s ambitions went the hopes of millions of French fans. At least they had the consolation of Alaphillipe still wearing yellow after so much of the race – the first time a French rider has worn yellow for so long in decades.

Alaphillipe gave his all in every stage, fueled by the honor of wearing the yellow jersey, and no doubt buoyed by the energy of the fans. He has been considered a puncheur, a rider who can both sprint and climb, but in this Tour he was tenacious in the high mountains as well, where the grimpeurs usually prevail and leave the others in their wake. He endured through the Pyrenean stages into the Alps, where the intensity of the climbs and the efforts of the climbers finally took their toll.

Quintana is in the top echelon of the grimpeurs, pure climbers who seem to hang on in flat and time trial stages so that they can soar on the highest peaks. In this Tour he seemed too far adrift to still have hopes in the second half of the race, but on Stage 18 he showed us what he is capable of. This was a classic mountain stage tactic, where a bold attack and superior climbing ability can suddenly reverse a 5 minute deficit. Quintana seized his opportunity mid-way through a stage with multiple climbs and simply rode away, out of the reach of chasers, chiseling a 9 minute deficit down to 4 minutes – strategically into the zone of threat to the leader. Pinot overcame other chasers to place second that day, and advanced significantly himself.

Stage 19, in the Alps, was a day when Alaphillipe’s daily efforts and limitations as a climber were having an impact. He was struggling to stay with the Peloton when Egan Bernal attacked approaching the first of two high summits in the stage. He opened a two minute gap on Alaphillipe in only one kilometer, to become the virtual leader of the race. He was showing every sign of prevailing for a stunning win on the second summit.

It turned out the stage was won by a landslide – literally. Inches of hail fell on the course and tons of debris blocked the road ahead, forcing the days’ race to be suspended with no winner declared, and times taken from the summit last passed.

Belgian rider Tim Wellens, of Lotto-Soudal, was a constant figure in breakaways and summit sprints through the Tour, holding on to the polka dot King of the Mountains jersey for most of the race, only to lose it in the last Alpine stages to French rider Romain Bardet.

The last day in the Alps, Stage 20, was drastically shortened because of the weather related road conditions. It was almost a drag race, a third of the stage’s planned length, with more than half of it being a constant slog up a steep Alpine climb. The pace was fast, a breakaway moved early and stayed away from the peloton effectively, with one rider, Vincenzo Nibali, a previous Tour winner, accelerating from the front and staying well away for an impressive stage win – his first in five years.

Alaphillipe lost contact with the peloton on the climb, while Bernal and Thomas rode together toward the front of the race to claim first and second places overall. Bernal is only 22, and seemed a little astonished to be wearing yellow, but his consistent presence in the race standings, and impressive performances in the toughest stages, mark him as a champion to watch for years to come.

The Tour de France Caravan – The Other Greatest Spectacle In Sport.

There’s a side of the Tour de France that people watching highlights on TV or streaming the race might never see: La Caravane Du Tour. Only the spectators who put up with all kinds of inconvenience to watch the race flash by in person get to fully appreciate this aspect of the Tour.

It’s the Tour de France advertising caravan – a pre-race party parade that follows the route soon to be ridden by the teams.

A convoy of around 200 gaudy, oversized floats makes its way through towns and fields, along lanes and highways, and over cobbles and mountain-top passes. Wherever the race goes and spectators gather to watch it, the caravan passes by to warm up the crowds and do a little brand-building. Floats feature every imaginable kind of product with giant characters and personalities in effigy. Foggers pass by spraying spectators with a cooling mist; along with visions of candy, cheese, biscuits and toothpaste, cartoon characters, celebrities and cultural icons.

It all started when the tire manufacturer, Wolber, handed out postcards along the route, back in 1924. Soon chocolate, alarm clocks and shoe polish were promoted along the way, and in 1930 the organizers recognized the opportunity as a way to pay the increased costs of staging the Tour with a new national team format that required them to equip and support the teams and riders.

It’s a golden opportunity for advertisers, with around 12 million people lining the Tour de France route, ready to be entertained.

In 1935, 25 brands participated. The numbers increased every year, reaching 219 in 2006. The Tour de France caravan is around 20 kilometers long, and takes around 45 minutes to pass by. In 2016, 14 million samples, coupons and gifts were handed out along the route.

The organizers started to limit the numbers for safety with around 180 participating now, and enforce strict safety specifications for the vehicles.

The Tour de France caravan may provide a different kind of spectacle than the struggles and competition of the world’s greatest stage race, but race fans love it almost as much. Some people follow the caravan from stage to stage for days at a time, and organizers found that almost half the spectators arrive early specifically to see the caravan pass by.

Tour Crazy – We take a look at the first week’s racing and what’s coming up next .

Highlights of the first week of the Tour de France 2019

One week down, two to go, and the race is taking its distinct shape.

So far the story is about Julian Alaphillipe emerging as a serious race leader, Peter Sagan once again owning the sprints, Tim Wellens shining in the KOM competition, and Giulio Ciccone earning the spotlight as best young rider, wearing the Yellow Jersey for a spell too.

The first week, as usual, included flat stages where the sprinters can perform, and they did not disappoint, with exciting sprints and narrow margins at the end of several stages.

Peter Sagan tried early for a stage win but was denied until Stage 5. Despite this he has stamped his authority on the competition for the Green Jersey once again. Being at the front end of the sprint finishes, and dominating the intermediate sprints, he is well clear of his rivals in the points race, and very likely on the way to a record seventh green jersey win.

The first week also included a few tough hill and mountain stages. These were too early in the race for the GC favorites to extend themselves. It would take too much energy to defend the Yellow Jersey for so much of the race, so the usual approach is to ride conservatively close to the front of the peloton, keeping a close eye on rivals, waiting until the later stages in the high mountains for opportunities to open bigger time gaps.

This creates an opportunity for new faces to gain a foothold while the big names play it safe.

Stage 6 included a notable climb, the Planche des Belles Filles, where Eddy Merckx won the first Tour de France stage victory of his career, 50 years ago – the first of a record 34 stage wins. Looks like Mark Cavendish, who is in second place with 30 stage wins, may not be able to catch up, after his team did not select him this year. With a record of both sprint and hilly stage wins, and the likelihood of competing in several more Tours de France, will Sagan be next in line to try for Merckx’s stage tally crown? He’s at 12 stage wins now, so he has a long way to go!

First serious mountain stage, Stage 6 played a big part in shaping the Tour de France 2019.

With a day of serious ascents and a punishing final climb, Stage 6 opened time gaps that may have put the podium out of reach for many who hoped to be there in Paris.

While riders like Geraint Thomas, Bernal Egan, and other GC rivals, were careful to stay in contention but waste as little energy as possible in these early climbing stages, two young French riders are leading the way and putting themselves in a strong position for the second half of the Tour.

Thibault Pinot has been consistently placed toward the front of climbing stages. Julian Alaphillipe, whose convincing win in the first hill stage put him in the Yellow Jersey, gave everything he had on Stage 6 but lost the lead to Giulio Ciccone. With a great ride on stage 8 he got it back, and to the delight of the French, wears the Yellow Jersey on Bastille Day. Along with Pinot, he added almost half a minute to his lead.

Now we will watch the younger riders in the leading positions to see if they can hang on to their advantage in the second week, or if the sharpening focus of pre-race favorites and their teams sweeps them out of the running.

Alaphillipe clearly gave it his all on Stage 6’s final climb, and was completely exhausted crossing the line. He was passed in the final meters by Thomas, who looked untroubled as he worked his way to a strategic 4th place in the stage and moved ahead of his main rivals. Is this a hint of what’s to come in the Pyrenees and beyond?

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The Terry Tour de France collection features our own take on the coveted Jerseys of the Tour. Shop some of the highlights here.

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Your mini-guide to the 2019 Tour de France

Highlights of the second week of the Tour de France 2019

The Terry Mini-Guide to the Tour De France 2019

Features of the 2019 Tour de France

This year’s Tour de France will be among the most interesting of recent years. Not just because the race features some celebrations of notable anniversaries, but because recent crashes have removed several pre-race favorites, leaving the race wide open.

It will be fascinating to see how teams try to take advantage of the opportunities, and which riders emerge to gain the upper hand with some big names sitting the race out.

Tour de France 2019 Stage 1 – starting with surprises

The first day’s racing gave a taste of the “anything can happen” nature of bike racing.

After the pageantry of Belgian royalty before the start – both King Philippe and King Eddy – Belgian riders made a point to cross the line first on the sprints and climbs of the day, so Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet is wearing the Polka Dot Jersey going into Stage 2. It was Dutch rider, Mike Teunissen, who took the stage win, edging out Peter Sagan by a rim.

Teunissen got his chance when a crash in the final Kilometer took out his team leader, Dylan Groenewegen, along with half the peloton. He was supposed to be part of Groenewegen’s lead out train (more on those in a moment), but rose to the occasion with a perfectly timed effort.

What are the dates for the 2019 Tour de France?

The 2019 Tour runs from Saturday, Jul 6, 2019 – Sunday, Jul 28, 2019

A special Grand Départ in Brussels on Saturday July 6, 2019

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx’s first Tour de France win. The race honors him by spending two days in his back yard in Brussels. Both the first day’s road stage and the second day’s team time trial pass through his childhood home, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

A milestone for the Maillot Jaune

This year’s Tour marks the 100th anniversary of the Yellow Jersey. Spectators and press had trouble identifying the leader of the race in the early days, and the Yellow Jersey was a creative solution – yellow because of the Tour sponsor’s Newspaper was printed on yellow paper. It became one of the greatest icons in sport.

To commemorate, each stage of this year’s Tour will feature a unique Jersey design, including motifs from the history of the race.

The Highest Tour de France ever

This year’s race includes more mountain-top stage finishes and at higher altitude than any previous edition. Climbing ability is always required for the winner, this year it will count more than ever. This will be fun to watch too, with the possibility of dramatic gains and losses on exhausting climbs and high speed descents.

Following a familiar format, the first week features mostly flat or hilly stages, entering the Pyrenees in the second week and the Alps in the third.

The Tour wraps up in Paris on Sunday July 28, 2019

Key Stages of the Tour de France 2019

This year’s Tour includes 7 flat, 5 hilly, and 7 mountain stages, with 1 individual and 1 team time trial, and 2 rest days.

As always in the tour, the flat stages provide the exciting spectacle of closely contested sprint finishes. Toward the end of each of these stages, teams organize into lead-out trains, where several riders use each other’s slipstream to lead their star sprinter into the closing kilometer. Each train maneuvers for position to give their man the best advantage at the front of the race. The rider at the front of each train gives all he can then peels off for the next rider to take over, until with a few hundred meters to go it’s all down to the final sprint. Always an amazing display of power and technique.

Stages 1 & 2 in Brussels

Stage 1 for the spectacle and first glimpse of potential for the rest of the race. Stage 2 is a team time trial, and apart from the interesting race format with high tech gear, high speed teamwork, and lots of suspense, the result can give an early strategic advantage.

Stage 3, Monday 8 July, Binche – Épernay

This looks like a mostly flat stage made for the sprinters, but the last section packs a punch – three short but significant climbs in quick succession will give the advantage to riders who can both climb and sprint. Team strategy will certainly come into play, and with fresh legs this will be a very competitive finish.

Stage 6, Thursday July 11, Mulhouse – La Planche des Belles Filles

The first mountain stage, with four serious climbs and some steep grades to overcome. This stage has the potential to create big enough time gaps to end some riders’ hopes of overall victory early, and decide who the group of final contenders will be.

Stage 8, Saturday 13 July, Mâcon – Saint Étienne

A hilly stage over roads and climbs that will make it hard for the teams to organize and control position. That means breakaway riders may be able to stay far enough ahead of the peloton for more strategic time gaps to be opened.

Stage 13, Friday 19 July, Pau – Pau individual time trial

Placed midway through the race, this time trial will not likely decide who wins overall, but may well eliminate contenders who are not exceptional against the clock.

Stage 14, Saturday 20 July, Tarbes – Col du Tourmalet

Into the Pyrenees, and the first of the mountain-top finishes with potential for a GC (General Classification) leader to make their big move, though still a little early in the race to be truly decisive. The finish is atop the Col du Tourmalet, and will be spectacular.

Stages 18, 19 & 20 – Into the Alps

Three days at the end of the Tour, where the length, steepness and succession of climbs will sort out the final winner and put victory out of reach for the rivals. The Alps stages are always full of dramatic racing, heroic efforts and tragic setbacks – enormous fun to watch.

Stage 21, Paris

The spectacle of the mostly ceremonial closing stage, against the backdrop of Paris looking its best. A last chance for the sprinters still in the race to put on a show.

Who’s in, who’s out, who’s on top?

One of the strongest contenders to win any Tour de France is a rider who has won before, especially the previous year. That gives them a psychological edge – everyone knows they are capable of the endurance and versatility needed to dominate the race, and their team has the depth to get the job done.

Who is favorite to win the 2019 Tour de France?

That would make last year’s winner, Geraint Thomas, the default favorite, but he hasn’t been in the limelight much this year. He placed well in the Tour de Romandie, but crashed out of the Tour de Suisse, which leaves question marks over his strength and readiness for the Tour de France.

Thomas’s team mate Chris Froome would have been another man to watch very closely. As the winner 4 times previously he is more than capable, and their team Ineos may have been able to allow one or the other rider to take the lead depending on their performances and the events of the race. It’s not on the cards for 2019. Froome crashed badly in June, breaking multiple bones, and is now facing a long recovery.

Froome’s absence means Vincenzo Nibali is the only other previous Tour de France winner in the Tour. He took the Yellow jersey back in 2014 – does he still have what it takes?

The Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin won both time-trial and mountain stages in previous Tours de France, proving himself to be a strong contender this year. Unfortunately he crashed out of the Giro D’Italia, and was unable to recover from his knee injury in time for this year’s Tour.

2019 Tour de France Riders to watch

Three riders have racked up impressive recent performances, indicating strong form going into the Tour: Jakob Fuglsang, Mikel Landa, and Egan Bernal. The last 2 guys played key roles supporting Chris Froome’s Tour de France victories. Now they are all showing the strength and experience to be GC contenders in their own right, and Bernal has been named co-leader of the Ineos Team with Thomas.

Roman Bardet, Thibault Pinot, and Adam Yates were all outstanding young riders, all finishing on the podium or close over the last few years with impressive stage wins. This year we may see if one of them can break through to the top spot, or if the earlier achievements were in fact their high marks.

Nairo Quintana has few rivals in the mountains but has been at a disadvantage to Froome especially in time trials. Richie Porte put in outstanding rides in support of Froome’s previous Tour de France victories and is clearly strong enough to win himself, but has had some very bad luck with crashes. If things go well for them, both could have a great race.

Ever popular because of his dynamic racing performances and charismatic personality, Peter Sagan is defending his Green Jersey from last year. If he wins again he will have won it more than any other rider, but he hasn’t had a great year so far.

The list of riders who could be poised to prevail is a long one, but I think one more rider is worth watching especially closely for Tour de France 2019: French rider Julian Alaphillipe is a Tour de France stage winner, was last year’s King of the Mountains winner and ranked well in sprint points (strong indicators of GC capabilities), he is maturing in a strong team, and has had a great year. Could this be his Tour?

What’s the best way to follow the Tour de France 2018?

Podcasts and live streams are a great way to miss not a moment – see a couple of favorite options here.

NBC has the broadcast rights in the US, and offers an app that does a great job of keeping you in the moment, with live coverage and lots of stats.

A new paid live streaming option is Fubo, with a free trial that will get you through a good part of the race.

If you’re looking for a good free option, the official Tour de France site is a great alternative, with a free mobile app so you can get the live feed on the go.

We’re mostly bike and/or race nuts here at Terry, so it’s hard not to be immersed in the Tour. The live feed coverage is a great way to keep a handle on the progress of the race and still get your work done – not as immersive as video but you can still experience the drama and strategy as the stages unfold.

Stay tuned – it’s going to be a great race!

Round up of key stages of the first week of the Tour de France 2019.

Highlights of key stages in the second week of the Tour de France 2019.