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Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) (Image credit: Getty Images Sport).
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Rigoberto Uran (EF Pro Cycling) (Image credit: Getty Images).
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I still think hes at two stars due to the fact that nothing has really changed my viewpoint on Urán. He can be excellent, he can be bad, and weve seen him up there. I believe hes going to complete in the top 10 however I cant see him making the podium at this point.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ — Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma).
Previous ranking: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆.
When he compromised his chances for his leader and the pursuit of the yellow jersey, hes there for Roglič and his ambitions for GC ended on phase 8. He has a big amount of talent however the objective at Jumbo is now absolutely clear with Roglič the undeniable and sole leader.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ — Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Previous score: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆.
Previous rating: N/A.
Hes not been at the level that I got out of him and that crash in the Critérium du Dauphiné has actually plainly taken it out of him. 10 days ago questioned what the team strategy was since its tough to target breaks, the green jersey and then install a GC battle but Buchmanns lost excessive time to be considered a competitor now. Then I can see him maybe attempting to win a stage in the final week, if he can come around. To do that, however, hell need to really lose a lot more time.
★ ★ 1/2 ☆ ☆ – Romain Bardet (AGR La Mondiale).
Previous ranking: N/A.
Hes good but hes great in the majority of years. I always feel as though theres something missing from his arsenal, however, and that hes not a total rider when it concerns three-week racing..
I think that the level this year is too great for him to reach the podium in Paris but he is worthy of credit for the way hes approached this years race. Originally he was down to race the Giro but hes found his focus and hes doing much better than many individuals anticipated, myself consisted of.
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His form coming into the race was excellent but like every year there always seems to be a problem. After this race, I believe he requires to alter his viewpoint back to the Giro and try and win that due to the fact that hes still a good rider.
When youre riding to win the Tour and youre on your finest type, you do not provide up any ground, not even a single metre, and you do not state after the stage that you were simply riding at your own tempo. He can be good, he can be bad, and weve seen him up there. If he can come around then I can see him maybe trying to win a stage in the last week.
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Egan Bernal in the white jersey (Image credit: Getty Images Sport).
I still have Roglič as my favourite for the race. I believe that Tadej Pogačar will now be his closest rival but Roglič still gets 5 star, and I think that will be exceptionally hard to beat him..
Roglič simply looks confident, and I understand weve had some climbing in the Tour already however theres only been one HC climb, which wasnt a summit finish. I wont state that Roglič is unsurpassable however hes ridden a tactically outstanding race so far with no errors. What Ive been impressed with at Jumbo-Visma is how theyve turned riders around Roglič, too. When it comes to conserving energy and its a little various from what Sky or Ineos used to do in the past, thats really important over 3 weeks.
At the very same time, theyre like Sky in those early years, when they would take the lead and control the entire peloton. That tactic has actually needed to alter somewhat because there are just 8 riders in teams but when you have a rider like Wout Van Aert in your team, who can pull over the huge mountains, that spreads the effort out for the rest of your climbers.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆– Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ).
Previous ranking: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆.
Well, the GC is over for Pinot now the pressure is completely off and he can ride his own race and not stress over time or the yellow jersey. Naturally, a lot depends on his back injury and if he can solve that issue throughout the rest day and then over the 2 flatter stages that come throughout the next couple of days however hes a great prospect for a phase win in my viewpoint..
His kind entering the race was excellent but like every year there always appears to be a problem. Last year it was his thigh, this year its his back after his crash however on the crosswinds day he was there and at the front and Im unsure what this implies. After this race, I think he requires to change his viewpoint back to the Giro and attempt and win that since hes still a good rider.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆– Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers).
Previous ranking: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆.
He looks more than all right but he was certainly on the limitation on Peyresourde due to the fact that he was dropped at one point and, although he only lost a few metres, that was a crucial sign that to me recommended that his form still isnt as great as some of his competitors..
When youre riding to win the Tour and youre on your best type, you do not quit any ground, not even a single metre, and you do not state after the stage that you were just riding at your own pace. You just stay in the wheel and you do not let yourself get dropped if youre good enough. That showed an element of weak point however on phase 9 he stayed with the best on a climb that was high and really fit him, and at the finish, he existed defending the bonus seconds so you absolutely cant rule him out, even if hes not Rogličs most significant hazard when it concerns form instead of the actual time spaces at this point..
I believe Bernal will get better in the Alps but I think that theres likewise more to come from Roglič, too.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆– Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep).
Previous score: ★ ★ ★ 1/2 ☆.
Its everything about phases now for the Frenchman due to the fact that hes lost a lot time but the issue for him is that once he gets into the break I question many riders will provide him a turn because hes so unsafe in the finals..
Hes still excellent enough to climb up with the finest 20 men if hes focused, so the kind is there, and if he gets to the finish in a little group not lots of people would bet against him in the sprint. That suggests his best chance might come on phases that complete with a climb but the break has been captured.
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2– Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
Previous score: ★ ★ ★ 1/2 ☆.
Hes clearly in shape – that showed on phase 9 when he went with the leaders, and he likewise made an attack with Richie Porte the day before – but I feel that hes still missing out on a couple of percent when he goes up versus the best riders. I think that hes great enough to follow and I can see him squeezing onto the podium in Paris however I cant see him making the difference..
For me, hes a bit drowsy at times, however, and you often see him riding in locations where he shouldnt be if youre a GC man. Hes too relaxed at times and I simply stress about his concentration at times.
★ ★ ★ 1/2 ☆ – Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic).
Previous score: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆.
Hes been remarkably great. Hes constantly in an excellent position and hes revealed that he can climb up with the best, although there was a little bit of weakness on stage 9 when he couldnt opt for the group of Roglič and Pogačar for the 2nd day running..
His issue, however, might be his group. They really secured him truly well on the flats however in the mountains, Quintana looks a bit isolated. Theyve lost Diego Rosa to a crash, and Warren Barguil isnt on the very same level as his leader, so it indicates that Quintana has to be truly mindful when it concerns making the ideal relocations. If he goes prematurely and is captured then he might be in serious difficulty.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ — Rigoberto Urán (EF Pro Cycling).
Previous score: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆.
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Emanuel Muchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) (Image credit: Getty Images).
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Tadej Pogacar wins stage 9 at the Tour de France (Image credit: Bettini Photo).
As things stand, I believe Pogačar is the only person who can drop Roglič in the Alps. He pulled out a big amount of time on the Peyresourde and its not like his competitors had stopped for a piss – they were going complete gas, too..
Due to the fact that the mountains were coming up, he lost over a minute in the crosswinds but he immediately told LEquipe that he wasnt stressed about the space. That, to me, showed that although hes still very young hes an exceptionally confident rider. He clearly believes in himself and hes backed that up with two crucial performances in the mountains..
I understand that hes young and he does not have the experience of a few of his rivals but Bernal won when he was young, too, so its hard to see Pogačar falling apart in the 3rd week.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆– Mikel Landa (Bahrain McLaren).
Previous score: ★ ★ ★ 1/2 ☆.
Hes the surprise of the Tour and one rider that was neglected at the start of the race because Ive not seen him race that much but he looks class on the bike and Ive been really impressed with how he has ridden for GC. Hes Cofidis huge hope and Im really curious to see how he will enter the Alps which hard final week..
Hes revealed natural progression from his results last year and he knows which moves need to be followed. I have a concern mark over him because he could have a bad day in the final week as he presses himself however up until now hes been exceptional and fully is worthy of to be where he is on GC.
A week into the Tour de France and 2010 winner Andy Schleck returns to provide his analysis and viewpoints on the top-10 contenders..
The previous Saxo Bank climber offered Cyclingnews his specialist views on the eve of the race and, 9 stages into the Tour, he has been pretty accurate with predicting who would be near the top of the GC.
On the first day of rest of the race, we examined in with Schleck to see how his forecasts were faring and whether he has actually been shocked by any of the total contenders for the yellow jersey.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★– Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma).
Previous rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★.
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Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) (Image credit: Bettini Photo).
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