Cycling: For many spectators it is the most beautiful jersey in cycling: the mountain jersey. Also in 2020 numerous climbers will fight for the dots. We take a look at the five most likely carriers.
Julian Alaphilippe: Too weak for the yellow jersey?
After a long time, the French fans could finally dream of a local tour winner again last year - thanks Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick Step). The French wore it Yellow jersey 14 days long. It was only after the 19th stage that it shifted from his shoulders to those of eventual overall winner Egan Bernal. Even if the Frenchman even fell off the podium, everyone agreed: Julian Alaphilippe can eventually win the Tour de France. But will it happen this year? Probably not. Even sports director Tom Steels does not expect such a masterly performance from his protégé again: "It will be very difficult for Julian to repeat last year's successes. But he doesn't have to. Together we will take it day by day and see what happens.” So it is quite possible that Julian Alaphilippe is not looking at the yellow jersey at the Tour de France 2020, but at stage wins and the mountain jersey. If he wants the dotted one, then he will probably win it too.
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Romain Bardet: The dots as a consolation prize?
Similar to Julian Alaphilippe, it could also be his compatriot Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale). After his second and third places in 2016 and 2017, he is chasing his best form. As a result, he had to adjust his goals last year after disappointing performances. Instead of racing for the yellow jersey, he climbed into the mountain jersey and wore it to Paris. Even if the dotted jersey is the most beautiful jersey in cycling for many fans and riders, it is ultimately only a consolation prize for ranking riders. With all the competition and Romain Bardet's recent poor performance, it can be assumed that the podium in Paris is a long way off. So he could - almost together with Julian Alaphilippe - make the mountain stages of the last week of the tour unsafe as a breakaway.
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Thomas De Gendt: Does the breakaway king want more?
As one of the few active drivers thomas degendt (Lotto – Soudal) has already won stages in all three major national tours. The Belgian was always a breakaway. Countless times he was caught again and his efforts were in vain. But the now 33-year-old tries again and again. And for that he is loved by the fans. Because Thomas De Gendt makes the races exciting and complex with his attacks. He often convinces with almost inhuman performance. While his companions are gradually being picked up by the peloton, he fights his way to the finish line. These skills could also one day earn him the mountain jersey in the Tour de France. At Paris – Nice he has already won it three times. In order to get the points at the Grand Boucle, however, he has to concentrate on that. He will not be able to hold his own against the interested competition just by driving past.
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Adam Yates: Does he really only go for stage wins?
The team Mitchelton - Scott sends to Tour de France 2020 three strong classification drivers. In addition to Mikel Nieve and Esteban Chaves we also get Adam Yates to see. The Australian finished fourth in the 2016 as the best young driver Tour of France. Overall, however, he lags behind his twin brother Simon. That should change now. Last year, Simon Yates apparently easily won two mountain stages. Adam Yates should now do the same. While the sports management emphasized that the Tour de France In 2020 we are only looking at stage wins, we wonder if this is also in the interest of the riders. Or is it all just a bluff? One thing is clear: Should Adam Yates actually catch a big deficit early on and go for the mountain jersey, he has a very good chance of getting it. The Briton has the necessary explosiveness uphill to be able to take on a Julian Alaphilippe.
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Warren Barguil: Can he get back to his old form?
2017 was the year of Warren Barguil. At that time, the Frenchman won two stages, the red shirt number and the mountain jersey of the Tour de France. After that he switched from Sunweb to Arkéa – Samsic and in terms of performance things went downhill rapidly. However, the French wildcard team now seems to have been jolted after Nairo Quintana were signed. While the Colombian looks to fight for the yellow card, Warren Barguil is said to be supporting him. But the Frenchman will not have to act completely selflessly. If he is given his freedom, he can still shoot down the toughest mountain stages in top form - and get the mountain jersey. The team management knows that and will therefore not take him on a short leash. The only question is: Can Warren Barguil find his way back to his old level of performance?
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