PUNDIT PREDICTIONS
PREDICTIONS, IN A THREE WEEK RACE WHERE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, IS A FOOL'S ERRAND BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP US ASKING OUR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS GUIDE FOR THEIR TIPS AHEAD OF THE 108TH GRAND BOUCLE
PAUL ROBSON FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND FORMER CYCLINGPLUS EDITOR
“I can't really look beyond Tadej Pogacar to win this year's race – and his second yellow jersey. At 22, he's shown he can be stronger at the end of a three-week race than at the start. Keep an eye on Warren Barguil – the Breton, who had such an incredible 2017 race, who will go big for yellow on home turf in the first week. My big hope for the race is to witness another summer of Julian Alaphilippe magic, the sort he produced in 2019. What do I most look forward to with the Tour? More than ever, spending three weeks in France (in my head).”
AMY JONES FREELANCE JOURNALIST
“If Primož Roglic brings the same form as last year then he’s in with a better chance given the two time trials look like they might suit him. He should have some added fire in the belly after last year’s near-miss, too! Surprise rider? Lennard Kämna. After winning stage 17 of last year’s Tour he’s proven he can perform deep into a Grand Tour and will probably be given free reign to ride his own race in a sprint-focused Bora-Hansgrohe team.”
JOHN WHITNEY DEPUTY EDITOR, CYCLING PLUS
“It’ll be hard to separate Pogacar and Roglic again. Whatever shortcomings Roglic has individually, he'll partially make up for with a stronger team behind him. That said, while it's always hard to defend a first Tour win, it's hard to look beyond Pogacar, who'll have another year's maturity in him. Aside from that battle, I'm most looking forward to seeing Mathieu van der Poel finally ride the Tour de France. It's hard to see him emerging on the other side without at least one stage win.”
MARK BAILEY FREELANCE JOURNALIST
"I'll even up the Roglic/Pogacar balance here and go for Roglic to win, having written about his mental fortitude in the main magazine this issue. He's not a team leader but I'm excited to see how Tao Geoghegan Hart goes after his Giro d'Italia win last year. Geraint Thomas winning again would be the best storyline, just ahead of Mark Cavendish proving his doubters wrong with another victory.”