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I'll have a tilt at this. Sky went into the Tour with a plan and executed perfectly, even managing to finish with nine men for the first time. No sprinter and no puncheur looking for stage wins, no climbers getting into breaks trying to win the polka-dot, and one defined leader. On every stage each rider knew what he had to do and when. Numbers were looked at and riders given a day off if they were fatigued. It was a single-minded tactic that none of the other teams had considered. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
That said other teams will learn, as they have done in the past. Movistar, Katusha, BMC and a few others should get organised, look at what Sky did and how and look to replicate it.
That said I do think it was a little serendipitous, all the stars aligning for them perfectly, and Quintana having a really off Tour, his numbers below the levels he is capable of for whatever reason. I don't think they'll have it as easy again.
I wonder if OBE can put something together? In Chaves and the Yates brothers they have riders capable of challenging, and they nare building a strong GC team around them slowly. In twelve months who knows.
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Jimmy_Fingers
@Gustav
Any thoughts on who has a realistic chance of taking the top step of the podium (without relying on major mishaps on the part of Team Sky)? I thought Froome's winning margin could have been much greater if they'd ridden less defensively during the latter part of the race suggesting pointing to Sky's lead being greater than indicated.
Quintana could simply be having an off year as many riders do but don't see Movistar having the riders or the strategy to really take it to Sky.
We could similarly see a revitalised Aru next year but figure Astana will look to split their strengths between the Giro and Tour
Alberto Contador could be an interesting proposition particularly with the support of Pantano but see his strength on the wane.
Richie Porte is strong but can't see BMC putting all their eggs in one basket and getting behind him like Froome has (by that I am talking the whole season and not just TdF).
Bardet is a challenger but don't see him hitting the top step next year and the same could be said for Mollema and Yates
Also next year is the Giro 100th and I can see a lot of talent choosing to race in Italy rather than France.
Thoughts?