Two of cycling's most experienced team managers, Australian Matt White (Orica-Scott) and BMC Racing's Jim Ochowicz, recognise that in all their long years as either directors or riders, this year's Tour de France has been highly unusual, with four riders - Chris Froome, Fabio Aru, Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran separated by less than half a minute at the top of the standings at the start of the final week of racing.
"We are heading into unknown territory because it's a different race in some respects, some of the favourites aren't here even now," BMC Racing Manager Ochowicz told Cyclingnews at the start of stage 14. "And those that are here are packed quite tight on the time standard. But there's still a long way to go and there's a time trial in Marseille on the second last day, and you can count on that, if the GC is like it is today (Saturday), to dictate the winner."
This is the main reason why the race is so wide open, Ochowicz said.
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"I think a lot of people don't want to go into that time trial in that situation," he said. "So that will put some people on the offensive, given [Chris] Froome (Team Sky) will be the favourite for the time trial."
Orica-Scott director White said this year's Tour is playing out a lot like the Giro d'Italia in May.
"It's like the Giro, with four boys going for the win on the last stage," he said. "I think the Giro's been just as tight, but at the Tour, I definitely don't remember it being this tight."
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