5 dark horse candidates to upset at the 2018 Tour de France
By Elliot Howey
Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)
Could this be the year a Frenchman ends the 33 years of hurt and wins the Tour? A Frenchman last won the Tour de France in 1985 and Romain Bardet is probably their best chance of ending their unsuccessful run.
His team, AG2R La Mondiale, ia one of the most exciting teams to watch out for in this Tour. Its aggressive racing tactics have earned the team credit from fans and other teams. A six-man attack in the last week of the Tour in 2017 blew the peloton wide open, forming huge gaps.
The unexpected strategy by the French team left Froome stranded and a flat tire during the panic helped extend the gap between the Frenchman and the Brit.
If it wasn’t for the extraordinary effort by Froome and teammate Mikel Landa to bridge the gap, Bardet may have ended the day in the yellow jersey and even finished the race wearing it.
At 27 years old, Bardet still has his best racing days ahead of him. His ability as an all-round rider is unquestionable, but like Quintana his descending and form on the flat could be improved. His team are aggressive and smart, which should only improve Bardet’s chances of winning the Tour.
His teammates include Tony Gallopin and Jan Bakelants, who both have won stages at the Tour and have worn the yellow jersey during the race.
Bardet and his team will hopefully continue to improve. This year may come too soon for the Frenchman, with the strength Team Sky and Movistar bring to the race. But Bardet and AG2R La Mondiale have certainly got a chance.
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If they showed the same tactical nous as last year, then they will have the other GC contenders worried about Bardet for sure.