Cycling: Who are the 2019 Tour de France favourites? Defending champion Geraint Thomas (Ineos) wants to defend his yellow jersey. With the second and third from last year missing, a repeat triumph seems realistic. But we found at least five challengers who could make life difficult for the Welshman.
Geraint Thomas: Is the mold construction successful?
As the defending champion, Geraint Thomas is the favorite in the 2019 Tour de France. Last year, he proved to be the strongest rider in the time trial behind the missing Tom Dumoulin. Even in the mountains he showed no weaknesses. In the form of the previous season, the yellow jersey will again go to the man from Wales this year. But exactly in terms of shape, the experts are unsure. Geraint Thomas has shown little in recent months. Actually, he should have worked on his form at the Tour de Suisse, but a crash early in the race prevented a real test of form. Although his injuries are not serious, it remains doubtful whether Geraint Thomas will be able to get in top form on time for the start. If so, he's undoubtedly one of the 2019 Tour de France favourites.
Strengths & Weaknesses by Geraint Thomas
Team: Ineos → Geraint Thomas has the strongest team in the peloton.
Experience: A lot → As the reigning Tour winner, at 33 years old, he certainly doesn't lack experience.
Form/Fitness: Doubtful → he showed little in 2019. The dress rehearsal at the Tour de Suisse did not take place.
Consisty: Yes → Thomas has had a few really bad days in his career so far.
Mountain: Strong → In form it will be difficult to seriously distance Thomas in the mountains.
time trial: World class → Normally he gets a lead over all opponents in time trials.
Total: #1 → All in all, Thomas is the 2019 Tour de France favorite.
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Egan Bernal: Is he ready for the title yet?
Without a doubt, Egan Bernal is already one of the strongest climbers in the peloton. At just 22 years old, the Colombian won the Tour de Suisse and Paris – Nice. The lightweight hasn't revealed any weaknesses to us in the high mountains. His only problem is his teammate Geraint Thomas. The Welshman is considered a clear captain. The main sponsor Ineos would also prefer to market a victory by Geraint Thomas. However, all this only counts if Thomas is in top form in time. If this is not the case, Egan Bernal moves up immediately. He can be trusted to lose hardly any time to the remaining competitors in the time trial and to make the difference in the mountains.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Egan Bernal
Team: Ineos → Top team, but with the problem that he has Thomas in front of him as captain.
Experience: Low → Bernal does not seem to be impressed by the lack of experience.
Form/Fitness: Top → He won the Tour de Suisse with ease.
Consisty: Yes → Even over three weeks last year it was surprisingly constant.
Mountain: Top → Bernal is probably the strongest climber of all Tour de France 2019 favorites.
time trial: Average → In the time trial he will lose to Thomas. But he is better than expected.
Total: #2 → Bernal features second out of all Tour de France 2019 favourites.
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Jakob Fuglsang: Does it crown his excellent year?
In recent years, no one would have thought that Jakob Fuglsang would one day be considered a favorite to win the Tour de France. Some experts used to expect the Dane to win a Grand Tour at some point, but then things quieted down around him. But 2019 is his year. The now 34-year-old won Liège – Bastogne – Liège and the Critérium du Dauphiné. He has a strong team at his side and, above all, a good deal of self-confidence. We have definitely never experienced such a strong Fuglsang. But can he have such a strong July after such a strong spring? If he can show his best form in the crucial stages then he is a serious opponent indeed. Also because he can keep up in the time trial.
Strengths & Weaknesses by Jakob Fuglsang
Team: Astana → One of the strongest teams in the world, always present and active.
Experience: A lot → Fuglsang has seen everything but never won a Grand Tour.
Form/Fitness: Top → He's actually been in top form since the beginning of the year. That could be a problem.
Consisty: Doubtful → Fuglsang should have aimed for the podium many times, but never managed to do so.
Mountain: Good → He's not as light on his feet and explosive as a Bernal, but can kick high wattage.
time trial: Good → Definitely one of the stronger time trialists but will lose to Thomas in top form.
Total: #3 → If Fuglsang can reach his top form, he is a candidate for the title.
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Richie Porte: If not now, then when?
Perhaps Richie Porte is the most tragic figure in modern cycling. The Australian has been one of the strongest class riders for many years, but he has never won a Grand Tour in his career. The now 34-year-old actually has everything – except luck. In recent years he has been eliminated several times after falls. It seems the cycling god doesn't mean well with him. If he wants to win the Tour de France once in his life, it has to be this year. Without Chris Froome and Tom Dumoulin, and with Geraint Thomas perhaps not at his best, there's no one left to match Richie Porte in the time trial. He has to deliver now. But maybe that pressure has always been his biggest problem.
Richie Porte's Strengths & Weaknesses
Team: Trek – Segafredo → Noble helper Bauke Mollema will be at his side faithfully.
Experience: A lot → Porte knows what to expect.
Form/Fitness: Very questionable → So far in 2019 he has been weaker than ever, just one stage win.
Consisty: Very questionable → Porte is very strong over a week, unfortunately never been good over three.
Mountain: Good → He's shown many times that he's hard to stop and that his attacks are spot on.
time trial: Very good → The time trial is one of his strengths. Here he can make the difference.
Total: #4 → Despite his inconsistency and questionable form, he has what it takes to make it big.
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Adam Yates: Is he stronger than his brother in 2019?
Many experts suspected years ago that Adam was the better Yates. After brother Simon's great performances at the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana last year, however, questions arose. In 2019, however, Adam seems to have picked up a shovel again. Three years ago he finished the Tour de France in fourth place overall. Something similar can definitely be expected of him this year. He is rightly one of the biggest Tour de France 2019 favorites.
Strengths & Weaknesses by Adam Yates
Team: Mitchelton – Scott → The team is characterized by close cohesion.
Experience: A lot → Despite his young age, Adam Yates is already a seasoned professional.
Form/Fitness: Doubtful → At the Dauphiné he held back nobly. Is it all just for show?
Consisty: Given → Adam Yates rarely has breakouts up or down.
Mountain: Very good → With his explosive acceleration on steep climbs, he quickly tears gaps.
time trial: OK → Yates is a decent time trialist but will lose time against some opponents.
Total: #5 → Adam Yates can only win the Tour de France with poisonous attacks at the right time.
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Nairo Quintana: Will he be back?
Actually, it's unbelievable that Nairo Quintana never won the Tour de France. The Colombian has been one of the favorites every year for many years. However, it never worked. Instead of getting better and better, the now 29-year-old seems to be declining year after year. When the top favorites are mentioned, in 2019 they are often forgotten. Now – without Chris Froome and Tom Dumoulin – everything is actually tailored to him. There are only a few time trial kilometers and the mountain stages in weeks two and three offer ample opportunities to attack the competition.
Strengths & Weaknesses of Nairo Quintana
Team: Movistar → With Mikel Landa and Alejandro Valverde he has two top 10 candidates as assistants.
Experience: A lot → Quintana is at home on the big national tours.
Form/Fitness: Doubtful → Actually, he has been chasing his top form for over two years.
Consisty: Given → Quintana is hard to blame for a bad day.
Mountain: Very good → In the high mountains he has been one of the strongest drivers for many years.
time trial: Weak → He will lose a lot of time. Fortunately, there is only one medium-length time trial.
Total: #6 → Quintana had what it takes to be a Tour winner, but somehow he lost it.
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