Tag: Marcel Kittel

Tour de France 2014 Post-race Impressions: Nibali Dominant, Others Ascendant

Now that the 2014 Tour de France is officially in the books, there’s time to draw a few conclusions about what we’ve seen. Three weeks of racing offer enough storylines and takeaways for weeks of analysis, but I’ve distilled my impressions down to a select few major observations.

A Worthy Winner

Vincenzo Nibali did not want this race to be remembered as the Tour de France without Chris Froome and Alberto Contador, and the results he delivered in pursuit of a truly dominant performance were quite impressive. With four stage wins and several other Top 5s, a strong challenge for the polka dot jersey, and a gap of nearly eight minutes to his closest challenger, Nibali was in another universe compared to the competition in the race. It would have been nice to have seen him battling Froome and Contador, and as things stand right now, Froome is still the oddsmakers’ favorite for the 2015 Tour, but Nibali did all the right things to ensure his place in the history books as a worthy maillot jaune.

We always knew that Nibali was a strong climber (one does not win the Vuelta and Giro without elite climbing ability) but he was up for it on every type of uphill challenge on the menu in this Tour, and avoided even one bad day. What’s more, he has developed into a top-notch time trialist, landing 4th in the Stage 20 chrono. And perhaps most importantly for this race, he displayed the sort of bike handling skills and racing savvy necessary to survive three weeks of riding on often rain-soaked and occasionally cobbled roads. There is a lot to be said for his ability to emerge unscathed from a Tour that dashed the hopes of so many other riders.

A Lengthy Injury Report

Speaking of those other riders: as much as Nibali did everything in his power to make this race his own, any rational analysis of this Tour has to include mention of the health issues that plagued so many riders and generated so many headlines. Alberto Contador was on fire this year and now he may not race again in 2014, and Chris Froome looked to be rounding back into shape before his multiple fractures took him out of the Tour. It would have undoubtedly been a very different Tour de France had they been in the mix in the mountains. They weren’t the only riders who suffered race-ending health problems. Mark Cavendish left the Tour on its very first day. Rui Costa was running well in the beginning of the race, but pneumonia hampered him as the Tour went on and ultimately he abandoned his campaign for a Top 10 overall. Andrew Talansky crashed and crashed again early on in the race and was just too banged up to continue riding at the level necessary to hang with the peloton. Andy Schleck suffered a serious knee injury which has put his next several months in doubt.

Others made it to the Champs-Élysées but were noticeably lessened by ailments along the way. Among the big names in this camp were John Degenkolb, whose first several days were hampered by injury, Arnaud Demare, who battled sickness, and Richie Porte, whose tumble out of the GC Top 10 may have been partially due to a chest infection. In short, a number of big names struggled with health issues in this Tour de France. Those riders who did survive and thrive in the race are worth noting, but it’s important to view all of their successes in perspective.

New Generation of Sprinters Here to Stay

With four victories, Marcel Kittel was clearly the best “pure sprinter” in the race. We’ll never know how Mark Cavendish might have fared against the younger Kittel through three weeks of racing, but Kittel continues to assert himself as a dominant force in the top tier of fast men. This is his second straight year of four wins, but remember, he’s only 26! Alexander Kristoff, with a pair of stage wins, is planting his flag as a sprinting force as well, especially in the bunch gallops that follow long and/or rainy days. Peter Sagan is known as the rider to beat on the hilly days that end in reduced sprints, but Kristoff has carved out a niche of his own: he’s not as strong a climber as Sagan, but even flatter stages, if lengthy enough (and especially when wet) can wear out the other fast men, and it is in those scenarios that Alexander Kristoff shines brightest. Andre Greipel and Marcel Kittel were both in the mix on Stage 15, but Kristoff won anyway, much as he won the sprint finale of this year’s Milano-Sanremo despite the presence of Mark Cavendish.

Peter Sagan may not have won a stage in this year’s Tour, but the nine Top 5 stage finishes that put him into the green jersey are undeniably impressive. It seems likely that with a stronger team, he’ll be able to focus more on winning and less on chasing down late moves; the question of “Where will Sagan land?” will be the biggest story of transfer season.

Several other young non-winners were, nonetheless, strong performers on a number of stages as well. 22-year-old Bryan Coquard was always in the mix in the sprints, and 22-year-old Arnaud Demare and 25-year-old John Degenkolb delivered some nice results despite nagging ailments.

A French Resurgence

The 2014 Tour de France was a wonderful return to prominence for French cycling. Jean-Christophe Peraud, who has landed several impressive results in stage races in his career, put in a next-level performance to reach 2nd overall in cycling’s biggest event. He got stronger as the Tour went on, and benefitted from a top-notch team that also included 6th place finisher Romain Bardet, just 23 years old. A climbing specialist with serious talent and a high ceiling, Bardet now has a Top 10 in the Tour and in Liege-Bastogne-Liege on his 2014 resume (to go with several other nice results), and he should continue to develop as an uphill force.

Thibaut Pinot finally took that step up that many expected after his 10th overall and stage victory in the 2012 Tour; a podium position in the Tour de France (ahead of Grand Tour winner Alejandro Valverde) will do wonders for his confidence. He seems to have gotten over his fear of descending, which was a major drawback to his game, but he developed into a much more well-rounded rider in other ways too, now seemingly capable of putting in a strong time trial and several straight good days in the mountains. He should only get stronger over the next few years.

The GC riders weren’t the whole story for the French revival either. Consummate breakaway specialist Blel Kadri took a very long stage win in Gerardmer, and versatile Tony Gallopin spent time in the yellow jersey and later escaped Peter Sagan and a chasing pack to win Stage 11. He took an impressive victory in San Sebastian last year and continues to prove his wide array of talents that include climbing, soloing, and sprinting.

Deserving Team Leaders

BMC’s Tejay van Garderen recovered from a prior injury to race in this Tour, and then recovered from an early crash and a single bad day in the Pyrenees to land 5th on GC when all was said and done. 2013 was a rough year for the young American, who, despite winning both the Tour of California and the USA Pro Challenge, looked to have taken a step back as a Grand Tour rider in that year’s edition of La Grand Boucle. With Cadel Evans showing signs of slowing down, however, BMC backed van Garderen completely in this year’s Tour, and by consistently hanging with with the GC Top 10 types and then delivering a very strong time trial performance in the penultimate stage, van Garderen proved that he is back on track as a GC contender. He’s still just 25.

Not far behind van Garderen on the GC leaderboard was Leopold Konig. Konig took a stage and 9th overall in the 2013 Vuelta, but 2014 hadn’t been going smoothly for the young Czech climber, who was slated for his first run at being a team leader in the Tour de France. A knee injury hampered his early season campaign and left him unable to prepare as well as he would have liked for this race. He overcame those obstacles and looked strong in the second and third week of the Tour, climbing to 9th on GC before the time trial on Stage 20. He proceeded to deliver the chrono of his life and jumped two more placings to finish 7th overall. It shouldn’t come as a complete surprise, as he has been delivering impressive time trial results somewhat under the radar over the last two years, but few expected him to land 5th in the ITT. If he can continue to show that sort of abiltiy against the clock, he will be a rider to watch in Grand Tours for years to come.

Looking Ahead

The last day of the Tour de France is not the last day of the cycling season! The Clasica de San Sebastian, a one-day race with a hilly profile designed to thrill, is less than a week away, with the Tour de Pologne and Eneco Tour soon after. Stay tuned for more previews, analysis, and rider interviews!

-Dane Cash

Photos by Adam Bowie, Sum_of_Marc, and Photigule.

July 28, 2014
Tour de France 2014: Stage 21 Preview

Stage 21: Évry › Paris – 137.5 km

With the time trial done and dusted (and won, unsurprisingly, by Tony Martin), only the Champs-Élysées finale remains in the 2014 Tour de France. Just 137.5 kilometers in length and quite flat, Stage 21 starts out in parade-like fashion, with champagne toasts and photo opportunities, and the pace remains pleasant until the peloton reaches Paris, when things start to speed up as the riders enter a 7 kilometer finishing circuit and begin an eight-lap journey to the end of the Tour de France. A few aggressive riders will attempt to break away from the pack on the circuit, but as the eighth lap and the final crossing of the line on the Champs-Élysées get closer and closer, the sprint teams will ramp up the pace, making it virtually impossible to stay away. Victory in the final stage of the Tour de France is one of the most prestigious prizes in the sport, and it’s rare that anything stands in the way of a sprinters’ battle royale on the Champs-Élysées.

Marcel Kittel of Giant-Shimano won the Champs-Élysées finale of last year’s race, and he is in the hunt for his fourth stage win at this year’s Tour de France. All three of his victories so far came very early in the race, as he did struggle a bit on some of the tougher stages after the first week, but Stage 21 doesn’t have the sort of profile that is likely to take much out of the massive German sprinter. Kittel has established himself as a dominant force in tests of pure speed, and he will be the rider to beat on the Champs-Élysées.

Lotto Belisol’s Andre Greipel does have a stage win under his belt in this year’s Tour, but he will be hungry for another here. In a drag race, few can match Marcel Kittel, but Greipel is probably the rider with the best chance of doing so. He has not done the best job of positioning himself in the many sprint stages of this race so far, but he has a strong support train and this is not a stage with too many obstacles for the powerhouse fast men to overcome on their way to the final few hundred meters. If he can nail the run-in, Greipel can challenge for victory on Stage 21.

Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff typically prefers fast finishes that follow hard days in the saddle, but he’s also got plenty of pure sprinting ability. He’s looked particularly strong in this race, benefitting from a team that is more focused on his success than they usually are. 6th on the final stage of the 2013 edition of the Tour, he could contend for the win on the Champs-Élysées this year.

Cannondale’s Peter Sagan will have one last chance at a stage victory in the 2014 Tour de France here in Paris. He doesn’t have the top speed of Marcel Kittel, but he was runner-up to Mark Cavendish in the final stage of the 2012 Tour, and given his talent and tendency to position himself well for the charge to the line, he can never be counted out.

OPQS’s Mark Renshaw knows how to deliver a result on the Champs-Élysées, even though in the past his biggest successes have been all about providing an excellent leadout to someone else. This year, he’ll have a rare chance to be the featured rider on the final stage of the Tour, and he’s shown impressive speed in this race so far. FDJ’s Arnaud Demare has struggled to make it to the finish with the lead group in many of the sprint days in this race, but the journey to the line is quite short on this stage. If he’s there in the final few hundred meters, he could be in the mix. Europcar’s Bryan Coquard has racked up quite a few Top 10s so far in the Tour, and as a star of the track, he’ll enjoy the chance for a drag race to the line.

Tinkoff-Saxo’s Daniele Bennati, Garmin-Sharp’s Ramunas Navardauskas, OGE’s Michael Albasini, and AG2R’s Samuel Dumoulin are outsiders who could land strong results on Stage 21, while Giant-Shimano’s John Degenkolb will be ready to step up for his team as a quality alternative should anything happen to Marcel Kittel.

VeloHuman Stage Favorites

1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Andre Greipel | 3. Alexander Kristoff

As Stage 21 is the final stage of the race, this is the last VeloHuman preview of the 2014 Tour de France. I’ve had a blast previewing every day of racing, and I have particularly enjoyed hearing from those of you who have reached out to talk racing, to ask for an opinion on your favorite long shot, or just to say hello! I hope you’ll continue to stay connected by following @VeloHuman on Twitter and by checking out the brand new VeloHuman Facebook page.

Lastly, an important note: while the Tour may be reaching its conclusion, VeloHuman is nowhere near done for the year! There are still rider interviews to come and plenty of favorites and outsiders to be named for races like the Vuelta a España, Il Lombardia, and the World Championship Road Race, so even after the last rider crosses the finish line on the Champs-Élysées, stay tuned for a whole lot more in 2014.

-Dane Cash

July 26, 2014
Tour de France 2014: Stage 19 Preview

Stage 19: Maubourguet Pays du Val d’Adour › Bergerac – 208.5 km

Vincenzo Nibali closed out the final high mountain stage of the Tour de France with his fourth stage win, and now the peloton heads to flatter roads. At first glance, Stage 19 looks certain to be one for the sprinting heavyweights, with a mostly flat profile from start to finish. However, there could be a few complicating factors. For one, 208.5 kilometers of racing is no walk in the park. A long day, especially after some very intense climbing, could lead to some pained legs. At the end of this lengthy journey, the peloton must get over a few uncategorized bumps and then a Category 4 climb that comes about 13 km from the finish. It’s short at only 1.3 kilometers, but steep, with an average gradient of 7.6%. And, while the last few kilometers are flat, there are some twists and turns approaching the finish line. On top of these challenges, there is a chance of rain in the forecast, which always adds an element of uncertainty to the equation.

On this profile, the sprinters’ teams should be able to control the race on Stage 19, and with a bunch gallop the likeliest outcome, Marcel Kittel, the fastest fast man in the Tour, has to be a top favorite. Giant-Shimano came here to win on the flats, and the entire team will be working to put Kittel in position to win a sprint finale. In a straight-up drag race, he’s pretty much unbeatable. As we saw on Stage 15, however, a combination of factors like distance and weather can take its toll on the heavy German. The Cat. 4 comes far enough from the finish that it shouldn’t cause too many problems for Kittel, but if the teams of the more versatile sprinters set a hard pace over the ascent and drive it all the way to the tricky final few kilometers, it’s possible that Kittel could have trouble getting into position for the charge to the line. GSH has a great backup plan in John Degenkolb, who has looked sharp in the past few sprint stages, and who is less likely to be troubled by the bumps in the road.

Lotto Belisol’s Andre Greipel is a bit more capable of coping with the harder days than Marcel Kittel, and at his best, he has a finishing kick few can match. Still, his endurance will be put to the test if teams like Cannondale and Katusha decide to go full gas as the day nears its conclusion. Greipel does have the support of a strong leadout, which will be crucial for the technical run-in to the line.

Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff took a strong second victory on Stage 15, which, though it was bit longer, shared similarities with this stage, a lengthy journey coming after some tough days in the mountains. Kristoff thrives in nasty weather, and his pair of wins in this Tour have put his impressive top speed on display. Stage 19 will be a good opportunity for him to pick up a third victory.

Cannondale’s Peter Sagan has come so close so many times in this Tour de France, but he has yet to pick up the win he’s been hunting. The likely sprint finale on the Champs-Élysées, which will come at the end of a much easier day in the saddle, will be less favorable to Sagan; this is the better opportunity to get that victory. Like Kristoff, he’ll hope for the hardest race possible. He is very adept at navigating challenging corners, and that gives him an edge in the final few kilometers of the race.

Europcar’s Bryan Coquard, AG2R’s Samuel Dumoulin, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Daniele Bennati, Orica-GreenEdge’s Michael Albasini, Garmin-Sharp’s Ramunas Navardauskas, and FDJ’s Arnaud Demare are other fast men with the potential to get involved. Mark Renshaw has placed well in the sprints so far, though OPQS could favor the chances of Matteo Trentin here; it’s also possible they’ll try to send Jan Bakelants, Michal Kwiatkowski, Niki Terpstra, or Tony Martin up the road and hope the tricky finale makes for a difficult chase. After so many tough mountains stages and with a crucial time trial on the menu for the GC men, it’s not completely out of the question that a well-planned move might be able to hold out here on Stage 19. Greg Van Avermaet, Tony Gallopin, Tommy Voeckler, Jens Keukeleire, and Sylvain Chavanel are other strong riders who might have this sort of tactic in mind.

VeloHuman Stage Favorites

1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Andre Greipel | 3. Alexander Kristoff

There are only a few stages left in the 2014 Tour de France, but be sure to follow @VeloHuman on Twitter for live analysis of every one of them. Also check out VeloHuman’s brand new Facebook page to stay up-to-date with every post. The next preview will be up following the conclusion of Stage 19.

Lastly, an important note: while the Tour may be nearing its conclusion, VeloHuman is nowhere near done for the year! There are still rider interviews to come and plenty of favorites and outsiders to be named for races like the Vuelta a España, Il Lombardia, and the World Championship Road Race, so even after the last rider crosses the finish line on the Champs-Élysées, stay tuned for a whole lot more in 2014.

-Dane Cash

July 24, 2014
Tour de France 2014: Stage 15 Preview

Stage 15: Tallard › Nîmes – 222 km

After a pair of tough days in the Alps (closed out by Rafal Majka’s stage victory in Risoul), the peloton will like the look of the Stage 15 profile: there isn’t a single categorized climb on the road from Tallard to Nîmes. With the Tour coming down out of the Alps and headed towards the Mediterranean coast, there are a few long downhill sections on the menu, and the final 65 kilometers are about as flat as a pancake. However, those hunting for success on Stage 15 can’t let the profile lull them into a false sense of security: the weather report is calling for rain, and crosswinds are always a possibility here. A number of roundabouts and a few turns near the finish could further complicate things. It’s also one of the longest stages in the Tour at 222 kilometers. A bunch sprint seems the most likely scenario, but it’s not a given that everyone will make it to the line, and even if all the familiar faces are there, those who are more capable of coping with tough conditions could be fresher for the finale.

Still, although there is a long and possibly wet day ahead, Marcel Kittel will be the top favorite for Stage 15. He’s the fastest sprinter in the race and he has the best leadout, to boot. With no hills to put him in difficulty, his rivals will have to hope that he tires during the long the trip to the line, or that the weather causes enough chaos to force splits in the pack. If Kittel is there in the finale, he’ll be hard to beat. If he isn’t there, teammate John Degenkolb is a strong alternative.

Lotto Belisol’s Andre Greipel had a slow start to this year’s Tour de France, but he quelled concerns of form with a convincing stage win in Reims. He will be extra hungry after a crash with Sylvain Chavanel put him out of contention for a sprint finish on Stage 11. He looks like the only rider who might challenge Kittel in a drag race.

After his brilliant stage victory in Oyonnax, Katusha’s Alexander Kristoff might be third favorite anyway, but a nasty weather report will be especially to his liking, as will the length of the journey to the line. He is a proven performer in bad conditions and he is less prone to fatigue than his rivals. He will have another nice opportunity on Stage 15. Peter Sagan will also be pleased with the weather report. In a drag race, his chances are slim against Kittel and Greipel, but his elite bike handling skills and impressive endurance should help him position himself to take the best possible shot at victory here on Stage 15. He’s running out of opportunities to take a win in this Tour de France. FDJ’s Arnaud Demare appears to going strong again after a rough first week. He’s another tough rider who shouldn’t mind a classics-esque day.

OPQS’s Mark Renshaw has picked up some nice results filling in for Mark Cavendish, and his team is particularly good at taking advantage of poor conditions. An attempt to force a split before the finish (or a sneaky attack from Tony Martin) wouldn’t be all that surprising. Europcar’s Bryan Coquard has not placed higher than 4th on a sprint stage in this race, but he has always been in the mix. With the constant possibility of crashes on rain-soaked roads, being in the right place at the right time might be all it takes to make the leap from 4th to 1st. Garmin-Sharp’s Ramunas Navardauskas, AG2R’s Samuel Dumoulin, IAM Cycling’s Heinrich Haussler, BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Daniele Bennati, Movistar’s JJ Rojas, and OGE’s Simon Gerrans and Michael Albasini will be outside contenders for the likely sprint finish.

VeloHuman Stage Favorites

1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Andre Greipel | 3. Alexander Kristoff

Be sure follow @VeloHuman on Twitter for live commentary on this and every stage of the 2014 Tour de France! With a rest day on tap after Stage 15, the next preview will be up on Monday, so stay tuned. In case you missed it, the overall Tour de France preview can be found here.

-Dane Cash

July 19, 2014
Tour de France 2014: Stage 6 Preview

Stage 6: Arras › Reims – 194 km

Following a brutal, rain-soaked fifth stage that saw defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome abandon the race and former cyclocross World Champion Lars Boom take a win, the peloton will breathe a collective sigh of relief for Stage 6. It’s another mostly flat day. There are only two categorized climbs on the menu, both of them Category 4s and far enough from the finish line that they’re unlikely to put anyone into too much trouble. The parcours should bring on another sprint finale. An excess of roundabouts and then a few turns as the stage nears the Reims finish line will make for a bit of a hectic run-in, but the stage closes out with a long straightaway that will likely lead to a very high-speed finale.

Naturally, Marcel Kittel will be the day’s big favorite. On the Tour’s fourth stage, things were much closer in the sprint finish than they had been in earlier stages, but Kittel still emerged as the victor. He is likely to pick up another win here. He has the strong team to guide him to the straightaway, where his opponents will have difficulty matching his unrivalled top speed in what projects to be a very fast finish. It would be a surprise if anyone outguns Kittel for Stage 6 in Reims. John Degenkolb will play his usual role as Giant-Shimano’s strong second option if anything happens to Kittel.

Andre Greipel, at his best, has a top speed that at least comes close to that of his countryman Kittel, but he has struggled to get in position for the bunch gallops so far in the Tour de France and has yet to really contest a stage. Leadout man Greg Henderson has abandoned the race, which will make things even tougher for Greipel, and the possibility of rain could lead to continued difficulty in getting into a comfortable position for the finale. It’s very hard to project Greipel’s performance right now; just a few weeks ago he was looking great across a number of races, but he seems to be missing something in this Tour de France.

Peter Sagan may have only landed 4th on Stage 4’s sprint finish after a pair of 2nd place results in the previous bunch sprints, but that 4th place came after crashing in the last half hour of racing. He still looks like a strong contender behind Kittel, assuming he isn’t too exhausted after a long day in the lead group on the cobbles. Alexander Kristoff finally made it to the finish without any serious misfortune along the way on the Tour’s fourth stage and he very nearly won the day, getting just pipped at the line. Of course, misfortune aplenty struck on the fifth stage of the race, as crashes put him out of contention early, but Stage 6 will be a fresh opportunity. Given the potential for more rain (he tends to cope with bad weather very well), Kristoff should be in the mix.

FDJ’s Arnaud Demare looks to be coming around for the sprints after struggling with wrist pain early on. He should contend on Stage 6, as should Europcar’s Bryan Coquard, who has been in the Top 5 of every bunch sprint so far. He may not have much team support to guide him to the finish, but if he can make it to the last kilometer at the head of affairs he will be very dangerous.

Mark Renshaw of OPQS showed off his excellent overall form on the cobbled fifth stage, and he has filled in admirably as Cav’s replacement in the sprints. Another strong result could be in the cards for him on Stage 6. Trek’s Danny van Poppel, Movistar’s JJ Rojas, Lampre-Meridas’s Davide Cimolai, IAM Cycling’s Heinrich Haussler, and Garmin-Sharp’s Ramunas Navardauskas will be other fringe contenders.

VeloHuman Stage Favorites

1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Peter Sagan | 3. Andre Greipel

Be sure follow @VeloHuman on Twitter for live commentary on this and every stage of the 2014 Tour de France! The next preview will be up after the conclusion of Stage 6, so stay tuned. In case you missed it, the overall Tour de France preview can be found here.

-Dane Cash

July 9, 2014
Tour de France 2014: Stage 4 Preview

Stage 4: Le Touquet-Paris-Plage › Lille – 163.5 km

The Tour de France closed out its visit to England in style, with a sprint finale on The Mall won, somewhat predictably, by Marcel Kittel. Now, the Tour heads home to France. While the locale maybe changing, the profile is staying mostly the same for Stage 4; another flat stage is on tap. Two Cat. 4 climbs, one early in the day and one coming with more than 40 km remaining, are the only categorized uphill challenges on the menu. It is more than likely that the 163.5 km Stage 4 will be another for the sprinters.

Marcel Kittel remains the class of the sprinting bunch. It’s hard for anyone to come close to the young German star, given his deadly combination of being the fastest rider here and having the best leadout train in the race. He won the Tour’s third stage easily and he will be the favorite again for what looks to be an uncomplicated Stage 4.

Lotto Belisol’s Andre Greipel was out of position in the Stage 3 finale and, therefore, we still haven’t really had an opportunity to see him matched up against compatriot Kittel at the finish line. Lotto does have a very good leadout but they have not been in the best position when it’s really mattered in the two sprint stages the Tour has offered so far. I still see Greipel as Kittel’s main challenger, though, and if he and his team can get it right for Stage 4, Kittel may actually have some competition on his hands.

Peter Sagan remains my third favorite for the sprints. For whatever reason, a number of observers feel the need to point out on every flat stage that pure sprints aren’t really his thing, which is far from the truth. He may not have the top speed of Kittel or Greipel, but behind those two riders, he is probably the best sprinter here, with plenty of victories on pan flat stages in his career. His versatility seems to make people forget that he is, in fact, elite in the bunch sprints, extremely fast and also adept at positioning himself. Those abilities have allowed him to come in 2nd to Kittel on two of the three stages in this race so far; he was right behind Kittel but well ahead of everyone else in London. Should his German rivals hit misfortune or find themselves out of position, Sagan will have a great opportunity to take a win on Stage 4.

Europcar’s Bryan Coquard now has a pair of 4th places to his name in this Tour de France. He still needs to improve his positioning and he does not have a lot of leadout support, but he is finally starting to deliver on the promise he has been showing at the lower levels.

FDJ’s Arnaud Demare is a very talented sprinter but he is apparently suffering from wrist pain. If he can get back to 100%, he’ll be a top contender again. For all his success this year, Alexander Kristoff has hit misfortune surprisingly often. He was slowed by the crash on Stage 1 and had to expend energy in the third stage to overcome a late mechanical. He has the speed to be considered a strong challenger in the sprints when things go right for him. Mark Renshaw was a very impressive 3rd on The Mall, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to sprint for himself. He benefits from the strong OPQS leadout and should continue to put up nice results on the flat days. Trek’s Danny van Poppel, IAM Cycling’s Heinrich Haussler, and Movistar’s JJ Rojas will again hope to play spoiler to the bigger favorites, and Giant-Shimano’s John Degenkolb remains an excellent alternative for his team in the event that Kittel hits trouble along the way to the finish.

VeloHuman Stage Favorites

1. Marcel Kittel | 2. Andre Greipel | 3. Peter Sagan

Be sure follow @VeloHuman on Twitter for live commentary on this and every stage of the 2014 Tour de France! The next preview will be up soon after the conclusion of Stage 4, so stay tuned. In case you missed it, the overall Tour de France preview can be found here.

-Dane Cash

July 7, 2014