agonist/antigonist

Only rainbows after rain?...we'll see about that. Profile from procyclingstats.com Long...I would expect the winner's finishing time to be north of six hours. With over 4000m of climbing, the race will be hugely selective as well, but there are several nations capable of bossing the race. No rain in the forecast, but it will still be cold. Only one of the best Ardennes classics riders or the fittest GC climbers have a shot. While none of the climbs are long or particularly punchy, there are so many they will gradually strain the peloton until ~15 riders are left in the front group going into the final circuit of town. Contenders TADEJ POGACAR -- Looking to become the third man to pull rainbows over yellow over pink, and he has the form to do it following a masterclass in Montreal, which came after mucking up the finale in Quebec. He's a class apart right now, especially on these parcours, and he can go it alone without needing help from someone like van der Poel to get and

 The big dance...this year it's a waltz on the Zürichsee. Profile from procyclingstats.com Long-ish, but not the marathon grind (270+ km) that is the men's race. However, the length with the circuit climb will make it selective -- only one of top five riders in the peloton will win on the day. The startlist is absolute quality, there's at least ten riders with a legitimate shot at winning...it should be a smashing race. Finishing circuit Circuit climb It looks like the finishing circuit plus the embedded climb is tackled four times on the day...there's also a 0.7 km longer kicker at 8.4% on each lap. To be honest, the winning move could be launched there with a follow-up on the ultimate climb. The climb is short and shallow enough that a classics rider could very well take the win, but, with the amount of total vertical, all the sprinters should have folded by the final ascent of the circuit climb. IBut, with ~20 km of downhill/flat after the final climb, the winner wil

 Worlds is nigh. Profile from procyclingstats.com Fairly long with some lumps, bumps, and cobbles in the middle. I see two scenarios playing out, either 1) a strong break of ~10 riders gets away somewhere with 80 to 60 km to go and stays away or 2) a team with depth and strength (I'm looking at Italy and the Netherlands, especially) bosses things most of the way to set up the finale for their sprinter. Contenders LORENA WIEBES -- No wins in the Tour, comes here looking to change that ahead of Worlds. Has a great team for a bunch sprint finish but can also win from the break, although she won't get any help there. ELISA BALSAMO -- Also a big favorite,  since she can also win from the break or a sprint, but does the Italian team have to many cards to play with Consonni and Guazzini especially in the fold? LIANE LIPPERT -- The finale is likely too flat to compete with the pure sprinters, but her form is great recently, and she can win from a break. DARIA PIKULIK -- Poland brings a