Thread by @faustocoppi60

The biggest cycling race on Earth starts this Saturday and there are so many stories to be written. Pog vs Rog, The Empire, Alaphilippe making France dream again, the return of the Cav, MVDP, Bahrain 🔥... I'm pretty hyped. But first of all, let's meet the teams. Allez! #TDF2021

Arkea-Samsic. Bretagne! They're bringing a (miniature) Trident with Bouhanni, Quintana (the only Colombian so it likely means no GC hopes) and Barguil. Nacer for the sprints, Nairo and Wawa for a mountain stage win. I hope they're going for the KOM jersey too. #TDF2021

B&B Hotels p/b KTM. Bretagne! The only fully French team at this TDF have Bryan Coquard for the bunch sprints and not much else. 😬 The maximum they can do is a stage top 3 for Le Coq and to wear maillot a pois early in the race. Allez les 3 Cyrils! #TDF2021

Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. On paper, it's one of the weakest teams but let's not forget about what happened in the Giro. Danny van Poppel did some good sprints this season, he was close. And remember, Louis Meintjes has attacked in the Dauphine! 🤯 I am still shook. #TDF2021

Team TotalEnergies. Eddie Bos for Yellow and Green, of course. 💔 Now seriously, this is quite a solid stage hunting team. Latour, EBH & Turgis (a bit less) have what it takes to win. Rodriguez and Cabot were flying lately also, watch out. 👀

Via @ProCyclingStats

#TDF2021

I have a good feeling about TotalEnergies in this Tour, they must give something back to their big sponsor. I'm gonna call it: Jeremy Cabot will win stage 7 from the breakaway. #TDF2021

Lotto-Soudal. The team of the world's fastest sprinter, fully commited to him. Caleb Ewan has enough opportunities to win at least 3 stages here. I say he takes 2. He even has a shot at the Green Jersey but that would be too much, can't see it.

Via @ProCyclingStats
#TDF2021

De Gendt, Gilbert and Van Moer are good candidates for a breakaway victory but I think that's possible only if Caleb Ewan leaves the Tour early. Otherwise they will be busy and tired. If he's healthy, Caleb should race until stage 13, my guess. #TDF2021

Cofidis. 12 years without a TDF stage victory. Can they make it now? 🤔Guillaume Martin is not focusing on GC so yes, they can! They have Jesus Herrada & Geschke too, looking good for mountain breakaways. Laporte will be on his own in the sprints.

Via @ProCyclingStats
#TDF2021

If G. Martin has last year's legs, he will win a stage for sure, imo. In the Vuelta he was almost every other day in the breakaway and won the KOM so he's a solid pick for the mailot a pois here. Problem is that in the last races, he didn't have the 2020 legs... #TDF2021

Qhubeka Assos. Crazy enough, they won 3 (!!!) stages in the Giro but in France, the level will be much higher. They have Walscheid for the sprints (and ITT's too?🤔) and Campenaerts, a new breakaway specialist. Can't see them winning, to be honest.

Via @ProCyclingStats
#TDF2021

Team DSM. Bardet is not here so they don't have any GC goals, another team which will hunt stages. Less opportunities for the breakaway this year but SK Andersen and Benoot are some very big-hitters. And maybe Cees Bol will do his mandatory, yearly world-class sprint... #TDF2021

Ag2r-Citroen. On paper, the team is looking great. Cosnefroy & GVA is a strong duo on the punchy finishes while O'Connor, Paret-Peintre & Peters have a chance at victory in the mountain breakaways. Ben is on fire this year, he will finish top 10 GC, imo. #TDF2021

Trek-Segafredo. At his best, Mads Pedersen can beat anyone in the bunch sprint. He has Stuyven & Theuns at his side but is Mads in top shape? 🤔 I think Mollema will target a stage victory, not the GC. Same for Nibali, he wants to earn that plane ticket to Tokyo.

#TDF2021