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Tour of Britain 2014: Bradley Wiggins and four more cyclists to watch Tour of Britain 2014: Bradley Wiggins and four more cyclists to watch
(about 5 hours later)
Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky, Aged 34Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky, Aged 34
Last year’s winner is, since Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s disqualification for a biological passport violation, the only British victor on the record books since the race was reborn in 2004. As the favourite for the short last-day time trial in London, he is looking to defend his title and add some late lustre to a season which includes overall victory in the Tour of California and the national time trial title, before, he hopes, going on to the world championships. The opposition know that they will have to put a decent amount of time into him before London, and therein lies one of this year’s main plotlines. Last year’s winner is, since Jonathan Tiernan-Locke’s disqualification for a biological passport violation, the only British victor on the record books since the race was reborn in 2004. As the favourite for the short last-day time trial in London, he is looking to defend his title and add some late lustre to a season which includes overall victory in the Tour of California and the national time-trial title before, he hopes, going on to the world championships. The opposition know they will have to put a decent amount of time into him before London and therein lies one of this year’s main plotlines.
Leopold Konig, Team NetApp-Endura, Aged 26Leopold Konig, Team NetApp-Endura, Aged 26
Seventh finisher in his Tour de France debut this July, the 26-year-old Czech made a mark on British roads early in his career by winning the hilly stage to Caerphilly in 2012. If he is on form, Konig could be the strongest climber in the race, and will find the finish up the Tumble on day three to his liking because of the unremitting steepness of the first four kilometres. However, much will depend on his focus after his successful Tour. For many riders the season would end there – psychologically at least – but if Konig is still hungry he should be a contender. Seventh finisher in his Tour de France debut this July, the 26-year-old Czech made a mark on British roads early in his career by winning the hilly stage to Caerphilly in 2012. If he is on form, Konig could be the strongest climber in the race and will find the finish up the Tumble on day three to his liking because of the unremitting steepness of the first four kilometres. However, much will depend on his focus after his successful Tour. For many riders the season would end there – psychologically at least – but, if Konig is still hungry, he should be a contender.
Sylvain Chavanel, IAM Cycling, Aged 35Sylvain Chavanel, IAM Cycling, Aged 35
The near veteran Frenchman is in top form, winner in recent weeks of the GP Plouay one-day race and the Tour du Poitou Charentes. Now 35, Chavanel likes the hills – wins in two hilly stages gave him two spells in the Tour de France’s yellow jersey in 2010 – and has made a speciality of winning short stage races throughout his 14-year career. The middle four stages – Llandudno to Exeter – include the punchy climbs and heavy roads where he excels and as a six-times French time trial champion he should find the flat final contre la montre holds no fears. The near veteran Frenchman is in top form, winner in recent weeks of the GP Plouay one-day race and the Tour du Poitou Charentes. Now 35, Chavanel likes the hills – wins in two hilly stages gave him two spells in the Tour de France’s yellow jersey in 2010 – and has made a speciality of winning short stage races throughout his 14-year career. The middle four stages – Llandudno to Exeter – include the punchy climbs and heavy roads where he excels and as a six-times French time-trial champion he should find the flat final contre la montre holds no fears.
Mark Cavendish, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Aged 29Mark Cavendish, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Aged 29
The most-feared sprinter in the world until Marcel Kittel’s emergence in 2013, the Manxman is on the comeback trail after suffering a separated shoulder in his catastrophic crash in the opening stage of this year’s Tour de France. Cavendish recently won a couple of stages in the Tour du Poitou Charentes to show he was returning to fitness, but the British Tour will be another step up against a bevy of strong sprinters led by his German nemesis. He says he doesn’t believe he will be ready to take on Kittel but in form or not he will be in the mix. The most-feared sprinter in the world until Marcel Kittel’s emergence in 2013, the Manxman is on the comeback trail after suffering a separated shoulder in his catastrophic crash in the opening stage of this year’s Tour de France. Cavendish recently won a couple of stages in the Tour du Poitou Charentes to show he was returning to fitness but the British Tour will be another step up against a bevy of strong sprinters led by his German nemesis. He says he does not believe he will be ready to take on Kittel but, in form or not, he will be in the mix.
Marcel Kittel, Giant-Shimano, Aged 26Marcel Kittel, Giant-Shimano, Aged 26
Dominant on the flat at the Tour de France this year and last, the German’s star has waxed as Cavendish’s has waned, although this year at the Tour, Cavendish was denied the opportunity to go head to head with him when at his best form. With Cavendish on the comeback trail, Kittel is the strongest fastman in the race on paper, but he will find the sprints in the British Tour more anarchic than those of the Tour de France due to the hills, the complexity of some of the roads, and relatively small numbers in the teams – six as against nine at the Tour. Dominant on the flat at the Tour de France this year and last, the German’s star has waxed as Cavendish’s has waned, although this year at the Tour Cavendish was denied the opportunity to go head to head with him when at his best form. With Cavendish on the comeback trail, Kittel is the strongest fastman in the race on paper but he will find the sprints in the British Tour more anarchic than those of the Tour de France due to the hills, the complexity of some of the roads and relatively small numbers in the teams – six as against nine at the Tour.