{"id":165928,"date":"2018-07-12T10:09:08","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T10:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=165928"},"modified":"2018-07-12T10:09:08","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T10:09:08","slug":"le-tour-2018-the-winners-and-losers-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2018\/07\/12\/le-tour-2018-the-winners-and-losers-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Tour 2018 \u2013 The Winners and Losers So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether by chance or by design, Le Tour organisers seem to have created a route of chaos where anything may be possible. Who are the winners and the losers in this game of chance?<\/strong>
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Fernando Gaviria Rendon \u2013 Winner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even if he does nothing else this tour, Gaviria is already a winner. Not many people get to wear the yellow or green jerseys at Le Tour de France, yet Fernando Gaviria Rendon staked his claim to both on his first stage in Le Tour. Given Gaviria\u2019s age and experience, Le Tour admins also have to award him the white jersey for the best young rider.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bk76H1PnIj3\/?hl=cs&taken-by=fernandogaviriarendon<\/p>\n

Even better was Gaviria\u2019s exhilarating win over Sagan in Sarzeau, and the battle for the green jersey is now set to become a highlight of this tour. Few riders make such an explosive debut – Gaviria is now a name that fans, the press, and the peloton will find impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n

Mark Cavendish \u2013 Loser<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Manx Missile\u2019s star may be fading, especially in comparison to Sagan, let alone Gaviria. Kittel is an existential threat on any sprint stage but frankly, it feels a little like the changing of the guard when it comes to sprints. Lotto-JumboNL\u2019s Groenewegen is a name to note, whereas Cavendish is a known value.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BlICeVolCOZ\/?hl=cs&taken-by=markcavendish<\/p>\n

Cavendish must be frustrated with an unfamiliar team surrounding him \u2013 arguably he\u2019s not had much practice time with this Dimension team. He must miss Bernie Eisel \u2013 Cavendish looks conspicuously alone, and his instinct for hijacking the best lead-out seems blunted.<\/p>\n

Geraint Thomas \u2013 Winner<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As the joint race leader for Team Sky, Geraint found himself over 50 seconds ahead of his teammate and yellow jersey favourite, Froome. Should all things go according to Sky\u2019s plan, both Froome and Thomas should start stage 17 together, in the same grouping of riders to support each other.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BlGYK3agf7i\/?hl=cs&taken-by=geraintthomas86<\/p>\n

This is assuming Froome makes up 60 seconds of time on his fellow Team Sky race leader. Team Sky may be using Thomas to check the front-runners. It may be a tactical genius \u2013 or Team Sky may well see that a bruised and psychologically weary Froome may find a 5th Tour de France win a step too far.<\/p>\n

Nairo Quintana \u2013 Loser<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Colombian is a popular figure within the peloton and beyond but even within his own team, he\u2019s increasingly a bit part player. Albeit an incredibly valuable bit player. An incredibly unlucky start to Le Tour has done more than scrape Quintana\u2019s ambitions. It\u2019s exposed the strong links and depth in the strength of Movistar\u2019s tour team.<\/p>\n

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Nairo Quintana on Chris Froome boos: Sometimes you reap what you sow<\/p>\n

Colombian confident Movistar can handle three leaders #TDF2018<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/9TG7SZCUgD<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ik42pMG4ha<\/a><\/p>\n

— Cyclingnews (@Cyclingnewsfeed) July 6, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n