Cycling: Tomorrow the 105th edition of the Tour of France begins. We're going after you Part 1 and after Part 2 in this article the seven missing Tour de France teams. The team Astana, which is so successful, and the German team Sunweb will also be there.
Astana: As always active on every terrain
With 21 wins and 63 podium finishes, the Kazakh team Astana is one of the most successful teams of the 2018 season. The team, which was hit hard by the death of Michele Scarponi, was able to cope well with the departures of Vincenzo Nibali and Fabio Aru. Four Danes, who are also in the squad for the Tour de France, are particularly responsible for the good balance sheet. Magnus Cort Nielsen should cause a sensation in the mass sprints. Jakob Fuglsang is the man for the general classification. Michael Valgren is considered a typical stage hunter, while Jesper Hansen is on board as a solid helper. The Basque Omar Fraile is known as an excellent rock climber. He will probably allow himself a minute or two before being successfully let go in an escape group. He may even be looking at the mountain jersey. Luis Leon Sanchez has also been a bench uphill for years. If he is not quite as classy as he was in the past he is still a force to be reckoned with in a strong group. However, Tanel Kangert has been chasing his form for quite some time. The Estonian is therefore more likely to act as a helper or breakaway, which should also apply to the Kazakh Dmitriy Gruzdev.
Sunweb: The burden of the good last year on our shoulders
Last year, Team Sunweb could call itself the happiest of all Tour de France teams. The German team won the green jersey Michael Matthews and the mountain jersey with Warren Barguil. While the latter joined Fortuneo-Samsic, Michael Matthews will remain in the Sunweb squad for 2018. However, the Australian has already revealed that he only counts on stage wins and for Tom Dumoulin will drive. The green jersey should not be a goal. Whether the work for Tom Dumoulin will be worthwhile can be seen as highly questionable. After all, the Dutchman already has the Giro d'Italia in his legs. Laurens Ten Dam will be the main support for Dumoulin in the mountains because Wilco Kelderman is unfortunately injured. So perhaps it will all come down to attacks to successfully bring a breakaway to the finish line. Because during Nickias Arndt can also win a mass sprint, Simon Geschke, Chad Haga, Sören Kragh Andersen and Edward Theuns will have to come up with a special strategy.
Trek-Segafredo: The Longing of Degenkolb and Mollema
Has stood since 2013 John Degenkolb at the start of every Tour de France. In five editions, however, the now 29-year-old has never managed to win a stage. After six second places and one third place, John Degenkolb is longing for a win at the Grand Boucle like no other. His teammate will probably be just as wistful about his missed opportunities Build Mollema look. Although the Dutchman won a section last year, he missed out on the podium in the overall standings several times. It was particularly bitter in 2016, when he was in second place until just before the end and then fell back to eleventh place due to a fall. After three top 10 places, Bauke Mollema finally wants to make it onto the podium. According to the wishes of these two stars, the team is completed with reliable helpers. However, Julien Bernard, Koen De Kort, Michael Gogl, Tsgabu Grmay, Toms Skujins and Jasper Stuyven will also be able to pursue their own ambitions on one or the other stage and be seen in escape groups.
UAE Team Emirates: Get at least one stage with Martin and Kristoff
Despite their qualities remained alexander kristoff and Daniel Martin owed a lot over the past few months. While the Norwegian is only allowed to celebrate in Frankfurt or at less crowded races, Daniel Martin is slowly getting used to podium places, but less to victories. At the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Irishman once again showed his unbelievable punch. Only a few can then follow him. If he unpacks his top form on the way to Mende or at the Muur-de-Bretagne, he should undoubtedly be one of the candidates for victory. Alexander Kristoff will probably struggle to celebrate in the pure bunch sprints, despite having a strong starter added in Roberto Ferrari. Surely we'll catch Darwin Atapuma more than once in a breakaway. The slim Colombian loves the steep mountains. Kristijan Durasek, Marco Marcato, Rory Sutherland and Oliviero Troia will act as helpers and go on the offensive on flat and slightly hilly sections.
Direct energy: 19 x stage hunt
The Direct Energie team will tackle the 2018 Tour de France without a class rider and without a real top sprinter. Thomas Boudat can certainly win a mass sprint, but with this strong competition, this would be a small sensation. Therefore, Equipe Direct builds energy on breakaway groups. With Lilian Calmejane already achieved a stage win last year. The experienced Sylvain Chavanel and Jerome Cousin can also score on moderately difficult stages. When it comes to the mountains, Damien Gaudin, Romain Sicard and Rein Taaramae take the lead. Fabien Grellier is only 24 years young and will mainly learn and act as a helper. With the exception of the two time trials, we will probably see Direct Energie's jerseys in the attack every day. The team was finally given a wildcard for this.
Fortuneo-Samsic: Does Barguil now dare to do the overall ranking?
Similar to Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Samsic will probably behave in the 2018 Tour of France. As one of the Tour de France teams with a wildcard, an offensive driving style is required anyway. The eight French are not to be counted among the best on any terrain, which is why only the escape to the front can be promising. This is certainly the most likely to be trusted Warren Barguil. Last year he not only won the mountain classification, but also two stages. Maxime Bouet also feels at home in the mountains. Florian Vachon, on the other hand, is considered a strong puncher who could cheer from a breakaway even on hilly terrain. Laurent Pichon, Amael Moinard, Kevin Ledanois, Romain Hardy and Elie Gesbert will notably support Warren Barguil in his goals. The motto is nevertheless: full attack! The team management will therefore certainly be dissatisfied if there is no Fortuneo-Samsic jersey in the front for just one day.
Wanty-Groupe Gobert: The wild card is paid back every day
It is anything but a matter of course that the Belgian team Wanty-Groupe Gobert is also part of the Tour de France teams in 2018. Because when the wildcards were awarded, Wanty-Groupe Gobert was given preference over several French teams. Rightly so, because in the past the drivers managed to present themselves actively at almost every race and thus make the events more interesting. Also this year they will not spare themselves, even if they are with William Martin have a candidate for the top 10 in their own ranks. He is mainly supported in his project by Marco Minnaard and Thomas Degand, even if both of them can no longer follow him in the high mountains. While the all-rounders Dion Smith, Andrea Pasqualon and Timothy Dupont could be successful in a breakaway sprint, the tough Yoann Offredo and Guillaume van Keirsbulck are particularly looking forward to the pavé sections of stage XNUMX.