Ten months on from their infamous 2020 Critérium du Dauphiné capitulation, Ineos Grenadiers proved over eight days of racing in the French Alps that they will once again be the team to beat at the Tour de France.
While Tadej Pogačar (UAE) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) may start as the favourites for the yellow jersey, Ineos are set to line up in Brittany on 26 June with the strongest team, with 2018 winner Geraint Thomas as their sole leader.
The Welshman backed up last month’s overall win in Romandie with third place in the Dauphiné, won by his team-mate – and soon-to-be Tour super domestique – Richie Porte. Thomas snatched a stage victory along the way with a cheeky and cleverly created last-kilometre move.
The 35-year-old looked almost as serene as he did in winning the 2018 Dauphiné title, which was his final stepping stone to Tour success a month later.
“We’re very happy with Geraint’s performance this week,” Ineos directeur sportif Gabriel Rasch told Cycling Weekly after the Dauphiné’s final stage. “I think he’s exactly where he needs to be. He showed real class working for Richie this week, he showed what he’s made of.”
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 10, 2021 من CYCLING WEEKLY.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 10, 2021 من CYCLING WEEKLY.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
"We tore around the Sydney suburbs at 60kph in a terrifying, feral pack"
Fast, furious and furry tales from Australia
RIDDEN AND REVIEWED BROMPTON G LINE £2,499
A Brompton for running riot in both town and country
How do different gravel conditions impact your tyre choice?
There are a myriad of tyres on the market but selecting the right one is easier than you think
FEAST OF SWEDEN
Soon after landing in Gothenburg, I began to realise how little I knew about Sweden.
THE WORLD'S GREATEST GRAVEL EVENTS
Globe-trotting gravel racer Joe Laverick chooses his eight favourite events, from coastal Wales to the wilds of Kenya
THE CALL OF THE WILD
Tempted to embark on a long-distance bike adventure? Let former round-the-world record holder and author Julian Sayarer inspire you to strike out and hit the road
Saint Piran accused of using non-UCI legal bikes
Cornish team also alleged to owe former staff tens of thousands of pounds
JOE LAVERICK GETTING INTO THE FEED ZONE
I've ridden through hundreds of feed zones in my time racing a bike.
Lowden not ready to stop after retirement
Former Hour record holder eyes UK time trial scene
Pogačar makes history (again) at Lombardia
Slovenian makes it four in a row at the late-season Italian Monument