smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
So, after 30 years of hurt, have the French finally got a few genuine contenders in their ranks? This has been on my mind most of this season with the great progress made by Thibaut Pinot - but there are a few other young (and young-ish) French riders who look like real prospects for becoming the next home-grown Tour winner. Here's my assessment...
Thibaut Pinot
Pros: Good enough at climbing to make it count in the big mountains, massively improved in time trials this year, looks like he has a decent team around him - and has the prospect of stability ahead, as he has reportedly just signed a new two year contract.
Cons: descending, consistency, temperament. Too damn French.
Romain Bardet
Pros: Explosive climber, fearless descender, seems tactically astute, knows when to attack and how to make it stick.
Cons: woeful contre la montre, weak team.
Julian Alaphilippe
Pros: excellent all-rounder, tactically astute, rides for a team with great strength in depth.
Cons: looks like he might develop into more of a Classics rider than a true GC contender, needs to lose weight if he wants to become a real climber.
Warren Barguil
Pros: great climber, great mental strength - seems unaffected by that horrible crash.
Cons: not so great time triallist, not the strongest team behind him.
Roger Latour
Pros: looks like a real climber in a similar mould to Bardet.
Cons: Very young and inexperienced, still a bit of an unknown quantity.
Alexis Vuillermoz
Pros: Strong all-rounder, punchy climber.
Cons: At 28, has probably already reached his peak.
Tony Gallopin
Pros: Good climber, good at most other things too - even time trials.
Cons: see Vuillermoz.
Pierre Rolland
Pros: finally with a halfway decent team who might give him the support he needs to be a GC contender.
Cons: has learnt too many bad habits from hanging round with Wee Tommy Voeckler, seems unlikely now that he'll ever to live up to his early potential.
Arthur Vichot
Pros: cheekbones.
Cons: rides like a moody teenager.
Any others I've missed?
Thibaut Pinot
Pros: Good enough at climbing to make it count in the big mountains, massively improved in time trials this year, looks like he has a decent team around him - and has the prospect of stability ahead, as he has reportedly just signed a new two year contract.
Cons: descending, consistency, temperament. Too damn French.
Romain Bardet
Pros: Explosive climber, fearless descender, seems tactically astute, knows when to attack and how to make it stick.
Cons: woeful contre la montre, weak team.
Julian Alaphilippe
Pros: excellent all-rounder, tactically astute, rides for a team with great strength in depth.
Cons: looks like he might develop into more of a Classics rider than a true GC contender, needs to lose weight if he wants to become a real climber.
Warren Barguil
Pros: great climber, great mental strength - seems unaffected by that horrible crash.
Cons: not so great time triallist, not the strongest team behind him.
Roger Latour
Pros: looks like a real climber in a similar mould to Bardet.
Cons: Very young and inexperienced, still a bit of an unknown quantity.
Alexis Vuillermoz
Pros: Strong all-rounder, punchy climber.
Cons: At 28, has probably already reached his peak.
Tony Gallopin
Pros: Good climber, good at most other things too - even time trials.
Cons: see Vuillermoz.
Pierre Rolland
Pros: finally with a halfway decent team who might give him the support he needs to be a GC contender.
Cons: has learnt too many bad habits from hanging round with Wee Tommy Voeckler, seems unlikely now that he'll ever to live up to his early potential.
Arthur Vichot
Pros: cheekbones.
Cons: rides like a moody teenager.
Any others I've missed?
