Nicolas Portal (Team Sky) praised ASO for the 2018 Tour de France route after it was unveiled in Paris on Tuesday but voiced his opinion that cycling’s decision to move from nine to eight riders in Grand Tours wouldn’t necessarily improve the racing as a spectacle.
All teams will comply with the new rules governing rider numbers in 2018, which have been brought in to appease concerns over safety. One line of thought is that the reduced numbers would make racing more open with fewer teammates able to potentially control a race when put under pressure.
“I started to think about this a bit during the Tour and the Vuelta but to be honest it’s going to be the same for everyone,” Portal told Cyclingnews.
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The Frenchman has been a mainstay at Team Sky since 2010. He spent that season as rider before retiring from the sport and becoming part of the management structure. He has been instrumental in the team’s success and this year has been forced to address questions in the media when other members of Team Sky’s entourage, such as Dave Brailsford, have been less willing to talk.
“In 2013 we finished the Tour de France with seven and a half riders because [Geraint] Thomas had a fractured pelvis. We only finished with a full team two years ago but with one guy less you know that the eight will have to ride more kilometres and work longer. But again that’s the same for everyone. They’ve tried to make the race more attractive but I don’t think that cutting one or two riders does that.”
For Portal, the racing improves when the route provides the terrain on which riders can express themselves. Next year’s route contains an action-packed first week but Portal pointed to the explosive 65km stage finishing atop the Col de Portet in the third week. According to the Frenchman, strength in numbers matter little over such a parcours.
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