Guess who hasn't even had a stage bet yet in this Tour. I'm just making do feeding off the novelty told you so scraps for now
I'm struggling getting into this year's Tour route to be honest. I didn't even bother entering a fantasy team either. If I did have a team then Aru would have been my first name on the team sheet here. I'm still amazed I got 22/1 for him post Dauphine for a podium spot ( not that I'm counting chickens as today's stage and Bardet's descending on Mont Chat might be my only highlights yet)
Ritchie's parked in his space.
I'm not saying Aru will have the legs for 3 weeks of racing, but I'm curious as to why you'd be amazed if he does.
Granted, there's the lack of race miles because of his unfortunate season beginning, but the flip side of that coin is that he's the freshest here, and quite clearly flying at the mo. He even pulled out of Route De Sud and went for altitude training instead because he was further ahead of schedule than they thought he'd be for this.
Fuglsang will have a big role to play here for Aru. New baby at home and chuffed to bits with a Dauphine win on his palmares, he'll happily sacrifice his own GC to shake things up for Aru.
Having said all that, today tells us nothing much really or else we'd all be tipping Dan Martin for a podium spot
You've been spending too much time in the sun in Southern France again haven't you Pogue.
My gut feeling is that he's always flattered to deceive, happily beating up the second stringers but found wanting when faced with the very best.I'm not saying Aru will have the legs for 3 weeks of racing, but I'm curious as to why you'd be amazed if he does.
Granted, there's the lack of race miles because of his unfortunate season beginning, but the flip side of that coin is that he's the freshest here, and quite clearly flying at the mo. He even pulled out of Route De Sud and went for altitude training instead because he was further ahead of schedule than they thought he'd be for this.
Fuglsang will have a big role to play here for Aru. New baby at home and chuffed to bits with a Dauphine win on his palmares, he'll happily sacrifice his own GC to shake things up for Aru.
Having said all that, today tells us nothing much really or else we'd all be tipping Dan Martin for a podium spot
My gut feeling is that he's always flattered to deceive, happily beating up the second stringers but found wanting when faced with the very best.
He was all fur coat and no knickers in the Dauphine, which as you say may just be because he's lightly raced.
But to me it's just more of the same, him being unable to ride a winning race when he can't dominate the field.
Then there's Astana, a team more than capable of scoring an own goal.
Aru needs to distance himself from Fuglsang asap, because there's no way they can manage 2 riders in contention.
Anyway I know what you're doing.
You're guaranteeing your pre race bet on Aru...
...I'm more than happy to oblige.
Astana - proven winners of 3 week stage races.
Aru - proven winner of a 3 week stage race.
Fuglsang - never was going to be leader over Aru once Aru was fit enough to ride, despite the joint leadership talk. Whose got the 1 at the end of his race number here? It isn't birdsong that's for sure
Anyway, enough already. You've lured me in and now I'm beginning to feel a bit grubby.
He is in stellar form, and I'd be as chuffed as the next Brummie if that ended up being the case, but I really would be amazed if that were to happen.
