Arkéa-samsic
Looking for: Stages and overall with Quintana and Barguil
Arkéa-samsic could be the dark horse of this year’s Tour. An unremarkable wildcard before now, gaining their place at the Tour thanks to being French and having Warren Barguil on the books. Even Barguil, a double stage winner from 2017 and French road champion last year, only registered a minor blip with 10th overall at last year’s race.
But when Colombian superstar climber Nairo Quintana announced that he was leaving his long-time berth Movistar for Arkéa, the Breton outfit acquired overnight kudos.
With Barguil still at the top of his powers, and further new signings like climber Winner Anacona and Diego Rosa, suddenly this looks like a climbing team to take the fight to the best of them. Even a GC run is a possibility from former podium finisher Quintana, who has already shown promise this post-pandemic season, with third overall at Tour de l’ain.
STAR: Warren Barguil (Fra)
This will be Breton-born Barguil’s 10th Grand Tour and his sixth Tour de France. He had a solid if unspectacular Tour last year, finishing 10th overall, with a best placing of ninth on stage 14 to the top of the Tourmalet. In 2017 he won two mountain stages. Barguil has the talent to win big stages and finish higher on GC. If the pressure of being a Tour favourite got to him before, shared leadership with Quintana could suit him well.
HITTER: Connor Swift (GBR)
Only two years ago Connor Swift was racing the Tour Series in Stevenage, now he’s lining up for the Tour de France in Nice. The Yorkshireman is good in the wind and looked after Quintana in northern France during Paris-nice. He’ll be doing the same here.