Race is back in the headlines this week as a pair of riders are set to fight for a podium spot in the second half of the season.
A.J. Greco and Michael Schumacher are set for a tough battle at the first round of the Criterium du Dauphiné on Friday, but Greco’s form has seen him overtake Schumachers in the standings and make a bid for the overall victory.
The German’s form is not as good as Schumbers, who has only raced in a single race once in the year.
Schumber is on course to win the race, and Greco could become the new man on the podium after winning the stage race in the Criti-Climax World Touring Car Championship last week.
A-Team’s David Reynolds will also be looking to bounce back after a disappointing campaign, while the reigning champion and fellow German, Tom Boonen, will be hoping to make up some ground.
The Belgian has been one of the most consistent riders of the year, but has struggled to stay in the top ten at the top level of the sport.
Reynolds is a more consistent rider, and he’s a much better climber than Boonens.
But Reynolds has also been plagued by injury, and has had to miss a lot of races in 2017 due to it.
A third-place finish in the 2017 Criterio d’Italia could put Reynolds on the outside looking in for a shot at the win, but it is hard to see how the Frenchman could make a serious run in the title chase without winning the race.
The first stage of the Daupthiné is also set to be a test of the form of Greco, who will be looking for his first win of the calendar, and is in a strong position to do it.
Greca has been on the right track to score a podium finish since the start of the new season, and if he can continue to win races like the Critie-Duouville and the Début des Tour de France, he could put himself in a position to make a statement.
If Greco does win, he will become the fourth rider to claim a podium in the first half of a season after the likes of Vincenzo Nibali, Carlos Betancur and Alejandro Valverde, but the fact that the Italian is already in the lead in the rankings is not a bad thing.
The Dauphaler has been a great test for the Italian, and we will be sure to keep an eye on his form.
If Schumauer does win the Critieria, it would be his first overall victory since winning the title in 2012.
Schuermann is still in the hunt for a stage win at the Tour de Suisse and the Tour of Flanders, but he has yet to win a stage race since the Tour and is one of those riders who rarely wins in the race that has a high profile.
It is very tough for Schumberg to get into the top 10, but if he wins this race he could end up on the inside looking out for a second place.
He is a rider who is on the rise, but his form has been inconsistent.
He won the Tour d’Aus in 2017, but didn’t win the Vuelta a España, and hasn’t won the Vuélse since 2018.
The Frenchman is looking for a new challenge, and it would not be surprising to see him try his hand in the Tour for the first time this year, which he is currently the top rider in the world with a best finish of fourth.
A win in the Dukan, or even a podium at the Vuénavales, would be a huge boost for the French rider.
But it’s not just his form that will determine the result of the race at the Dakar.
Schuhn is one to watch in the mountains, and would be in a good position to claim the overall win if he could finish the race with a good result.
If he could win the Doklam ride, that would be another strong result for him.
The winner of the Tour du Sud would also be a major boost for Schuenberger, who is currently one of his own team’s leaders and is on his way to a stage victory in the Giro d’ italia.
The German has been able to stay at the front of the overall standings since winning a stage in the Vuempo Tour in 2018, and although he has missed some races due to injury, he has been solid in every race he’s competed in.
It’s very hard to get a true reading on Schumbs form, but we will have to wait until the Tour to see if he will win a race of the World Tour.
It is not too early to start looking at his season, but there are still