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Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2014 – five observations

The cruelty of sport, Northern Classics 1 - 0 Ardennes Week, and more


Sky fall

Britain’s Team Sky have enjoyed a mixed start to the season. Victory on stage five of the season-opening Tour Down Under for Richie Porte provided early hope that the man nominated for leadership at the Giro d’Italia had his eyes very much on the prize, but subsequent illness has set the Australian back, and he was a DNF on his return to action at Liege.

Chris Froome and Richie Porte will be reunited at the Tour de Romandie – not a moment too soon for the riders and for Team Sky. pic: ©Sirotti

Chris Froome won his first race of the season by successfully defending his Tour of Oman title, but was sidelined from Tirenno-Adriatico with a back injury and withdrew from Liege on the morning of the race with illness. The team underperformed again at the Classics, with victory at the Omloop for Ian Stannard its only reward. Nathan Earle was the team’s highest finisher in Liege in 70th place, crossing the line some 5.16 after Gerrans.

None of this will worry Sir Dave Brailsford unduly. Despite public statements ahead of other races, Team Sky exists to win the Tour de France, and its ability to do so not once, but twice in its first five years is a towering achievement. Pulling Froome from Liege to recover for the Tour de Romandie was a manifestly sensible move. And a turn of events that will see Porte miss the Giro is hardly bad news for Sky, or perhaps even for the Tasmanian, who is now likely to display his talents again on cycling’s biggest stage.

The time for illness, injury, and last minute changes to line-ups, however, is now up. The season, for Team Sky at least, begins in earnest tomorrow. They have won the last two editions of the Tour de Romandie, and the last three have produced winners of the Tour de France. Froome, Porte, and the men chosen to support them will need to be back to their best. In July, nothing less will be good enough. Alberto Contador is in imperious form.

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