At any race, having two sprinters is a problem, because the other riders aren't sure who to ride for. At the Tour, where there is far less margin for error, because everyone has brought their A team, it would be insanity.
It's true that you can't have two riders both on Morkov's wheel through the last km.
In theory, they could choose which one to ride for each day, like DSM were trying to do at the Giro. Be easier if they weren't suited to the same finishes.
That was what I was thinking, look at the stages, see which ones might suit each riders specific talents, they then target those and are fully supported by the team, and on other days, they can spin home in the grupetto for example, and save their legs for their next targeted stage.
That would also give them the opportunity potentially to even try and get one of them in a breakaway if there was a period with a lack of out and out sprint stages.
Stages 2-6 seem to be the out and out sprint stages, one of the riders could have targeted 2, 4, 6, the other 3 & 5.
Then if they can last through the mountains, then 13, 14 & 15 have potential, as well as 19 and of course 21.
I don't see one rider managing all 10 of those victories, or even 8, but between the two of them you could see 6-8 as a viable tally.
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That's not the biggest surprise, but looks like a kick in the teeth for him. I'm sure he's off to Alpecin-Deceuninck (as they will be known from 1st July)
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Given that Jakobsen is yet to experience the crazy level of risk taking that goes on during the first week Tour sprints and given what happened to him in Poland, I would say that Leferve has put all his eggs into one potentially flimsy basket, when he had two available. When Alaphilippe failed to recover, to me, replacing him with Bagoli makes little sense for a team all about winning stages. He has done virtually nothing, this season. The idea that Cav couldn't perform a team roll in the sprints, given he is the most experienced and successful Tour sprinter ever, seems ludicrous. To me, Cav or Bagioli is a no brainer.
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I agree with QS not picking Cavendish. Jakobsen has 9 wins this season - he's their top sprinter. There's only five or six sprints, which doesn't merit two sprinters. If you want publicity then taking a punt on Alaphilippe or Evenepoel would do the job.
This plus if Cav really wanted to go to the Tour he could have looked to move to a team where he would be first choice sprinter. Ultimately he wouldn't have got last year's chances if it weren't for QS as teams didn't seem to be queuing up to sign him back then (and I say this as someone who would love to see him get the record).
This plus if Cav really wanted to go to the Tour he could have looked to move to a team where he would be first choice sprinter. Ultimately he wouldn't have got last year's chances if it weren't for QS as teams didn't seem to be queuing up to sign him back then (and I say this as someone who would love to see him get the record).
they didn't seem to be queuing up this year either
Tim Declerq is out of QuickStep's Tour team, due to a positive test for Covid.
Cav was named as first reserve......
Cavendish and Senechal were named as the reserves. What would the point be of taking two sprinters if you don't have a rider to control the breakaways and keep them close enough so you can set up a sprint?
My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
Tim Declerq is out of QuickStep's Tour team, due to a positive test for Covid.
Cav was named as first reserve......
Cavendish and Senechal were named as the reserves. What would the point be of taking two sprinters if you don't have a rider to control the breakaways and keep them close enough so you can set up a sprint?
My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
Tim Declerq is out of QuickStep's Tour team, due to a positive test for Covid.
Cav was named as first reserve......
Cavendish and Senechal were named as the reserves. What would the point be of taking two sprinters if you don't have a rider to control the breakaways and keep them close enough so you can set up a sprint?
My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
You'd be correct. Confirmed on QS's twitter feed
Early days, still only Tuesday! We can but hope
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Tim Declerq is out of QuickStep's Tour team, due to a positive test for Covid.
Cav was named as first reserve......
Cavendish and Senechal were named as the reserves. What would the point be of taking two sprinters if you don't have a rider to control the breakaways and keep them close enough so you can set up a sprint?
My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
You'd be correct. Confirmed on QS's twitter feed
Early days, still only Tuesday! We can but hope
I'd be over the moon if Cav went, but unless Jakobsen is pulled out I can't see it happening. If Jakobsen does test positive for COVID can you imagine the conspiracy theories that will be abound afterwards!
I have had my eyes opened. Europe is awash with Covid once again. The Tractor is just the first to breakdown. Going to be a case of last man standing with the highest placed Lantern Rouge for many, many years.
Another reason to take a back up stage winner like Cav.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
Tim Declerq is out of QuickStep's Tour team, due to a positive test for Covid.
Cav was named as first reserve......
Cavendish and Senechal were named as the reserves. What would the point be of taking two sprinters if you don't have a rider to control the breakaways and keep them close enough so you can set up a sprint?
My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
That Ineos team has 0 stage wins and 18th place written all over it. What caused their fall from grace? Does the new owner not care so much about the Tour? Very much a mid tier stage race team now.
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That would also give them the opportunity potentially to even try and get one of them in a breakaway if there was a period with a lack of out and out sprint stages.
Stages 2-6 seem to be the out and out sprint stages, one of the riders could have targeted 2, 4, 6, the other 3 & 5.
Then if they can last through the mountains, then 13, 14 & 15 have potential, as well as 19 and of course 21.
I don't see one rider managing all 10 of those victories, or even 8, but between the two of them you could see 6-8 as a viable tally.
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When Alaphilippe failed to recover, to me, replacing him with Bagoli makes little sense for a team all about winning stages. He has done virtually nothing, this season.
The idea that Cav couldn't perform a team roll in the sprints, given he is the most experienced and successful Tour sprinter ever, seems ludicrous.
To me, Cav or Bagioli is a no brainer.
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My guess is that they'll take Senechal, and use Honore or Lampert in the Declerq role.
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Europe is awash with Covid once again.
The Tractor is just the first to breakdown.
Going to be a case of last man standing with the highest placed Lantern Rouge for many, many years.
Another reason to take a back up stage winner like Cav.