Cycling: The Tour de France is an event where heroes are born. Many successful careers have started here. Also this season we were allowed to make one or the other discovery. Above all, we noticed three drivers who probably only a few knew twelve months ago - and one is already 30 years old.
Egan Bernal: The future star of the mountains
The experts in cycling already knew that Egan Bernal (Sky) is an amazing talent Tour de France 2018 knew. But the fact that the only 21-year-old Colombian so easily put away the stress of his first Tour of France is quite remarkable. This is how Egan Bernal has blossomed into an absolute noble helper in the mountains. In the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees he was the last helper who did the work for Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas. Even Wout Poels couldn't keep up. Since Chris Froome will already be 34 years old at the upcoming Tour de France, it is quite possible that the new Sky dual leadership will be called Thomas/Bernal. Either way, Egan Bernal is on course to eventually win a Grand Tour – and he could become the first Colombian at the Tour de France.
Massive thank you to @eganbernal today, he's got an amazing future ahead of him 🇨🇴🙌🇨🇴 #TDF2018
???? @therussellellis pic.twitter.com/XQvzSRcBMQ- Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 27, 2018
Soren Kragh Andersen: Suddenly noble helpers
At 23, Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) is one of the youngest riders in the peloton. Nevertheless, he was given an extremely important task. After Wilco Kelderman's cancellation due to injury, Tom Dumoulin suddenly found himself without strong helpers in the mountains. The experienced Laurens Ten Dam could not close this gap. Before the start of the Tour de France, the German team Sunweb had to assume that there would be little help for Dumoulin in the mountains. But then came Søren Kragh Andersen. Early in the race, the Dane conquered the white jersey of the best junior pro and thus piloted his captain through the difficult first few days. In the later course of the race he was again and again to be seen at Dumoulin's side. Even if Søren Kragh Andersen - apart from his first-class time trial - was not able to achieve a top result himself, he has increased his market value at this Tour de France considerably.
#TDF2018 Doing the White Jersey proud – @kraghsoren played a key role in today's epic @LeTour stage! #KeepChallenging pic.twitter.com/CpjqWLqC8N
— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) July 15, 2018
Andrea Pasqualon: matured into a top sprinter at the age of 30
Anyone who is counted among the discoveries of a Tour de France at the age of 30 certainly deserves a very special praise. This is the case for Andrea Pasqualon (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) in 2018. Before the Tour de France, the Italian was hardly known to a spectator. Even now, many will still not know him. After all, the sprinter does not have a top ranking. Nonetheless, his achievements are remarkable. Last year he competed in his first Tour de France, but failed to finish in the top 10 once. This should change in 2018. His name appears in the top ten of a stage seven times. This makes Andrea Pasqualon one of the unsung heroes of the Tour de France, which is seldom sung about. Considering his age and the results so far, he is definitely a discovery for us.
9️⃣th for 🇮🇹 @AndreaPasqualon in Quimper today!#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/SCUBK2qRJH
— Wanty Groupe Gobert (@TeamWantyGobert) July 11, 2018