C21's ™️ Tour De France Preview ©️ is in:

Stage One

The race begins in spectacular fashion with a Team Time Trial through the streets of Barcelona. In a fascinating tactical twist, General Classification times will be taken individually as each rider crosses the finish line, adding an entirely new dimension to the opening stage. It’s a fitting start in the splendour of the City of Counts, though Real Madrid fans would probably insist that's a typo.

For the opening 15km, Barcelona’s iconic grid layout defines the course: long, flat boulevards broken up by a succession of sharp right-angle turns. Expect the familiar rhythm of perfectly drilled through-and-off formations as the teams power past Port Olímpic and the Sagrada Família. Precision cornering and the ability to carry speed through the turns will be crucial, particularly where the barriers leave little room for error.

The decisive tactical questions arrive in the final 5km with two climbs. The first ascent of Montjuïc comes from its gentler side at just over 5%, posing an intriguing dilemma: do teams keep their leaders sheltered for as long as possible, or light the fuse and unleash their GC contenders early? The final ramp to the Stade Olympique averages around 7% and should shatter any remaining cohesion, turning the finish into an every-rider-for-himself battle for the line.

Remco has been producing some eye-catching power numbers, but the Red Bull Bora squad around him appears a little short of pure time trial horsepower, although Florian Lipowitz is more than capable against the clock. Netcompany Ineos, meanwhile, boast a formidable engine room. Filippo Ganna's immense power is complemented by two elite specialists in Josh Tarling and Tobias Foss. If they can inflict enough damage across the flat opening kilometres, they could put either Egan Bernal or Thymen Arensman into the first yellow jersey.

Of the other favourites, Visma arrive with an impressively balanced line-up featuring Edoardo Affini, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail and Matteo Jorgenson, although the absence of Wout van Aert is significant. UAE also possess exceptional time trial depth, even if they would have been stronger with João Almeida in the squad. Should they choose to empty Isaac Del Toro in a full-gas lead-out for Tadej Pogačar on the final climb, it could prove worth a handful of precious seconds.

EF Education–EasyPost, Lidl–Trek and Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale are the dark horses capable of springing a surprise and will all fancy their chances of challenging the established favourites.

My pick is Netcompany Ineos. I expect them to dismantle the field across the flat opening section before Bernal proves the quickest of their GC leaders on the final climb, holding off the late charge from the overall favourites to claim both the stage victory and the first yellow jersey.

Posted By: Charles21, Jul 4, 13:48:07