Cycling: 176 riders in 22 teams take part in the 2020 Tour de France. We look at each participant and speculate about the goals of the teams. In the first of two parts, we focus on all those teams that should focus on stage wins.
Deceuninck - Quick-Step: Bennett & Alaphilippe guarantee success
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step wolf pack has been considered the strongest team in the world for several years. Successful on almost any terrain, you want them too Tour de France Decisively shaping 2020. Two professionals are primarily responsible for this. newcomer Sam Bennett should win in the sprint. local hero Julian Alaphilippe could pursue several goals at the same time. He is capable of a good position in the final billing as well as winning the mountain jersey or one or the other stage win. The rest of the team sounds like the crème de la crème of the classic hunters. Tim Declercq, Dries Devenyns, Rémi Cavagna and Kasper Asgreen will be chasing the breakaways on all flat stages, with the last-named in particular being capable of a solo ride at some point during the three weeks. Michael Morkov is considered the best starter in the world and is mainly responsible for Sam Bennett's success. And Bob jungels will try his luck in flight on hilly terrain if a bunch sprint is out of the question.
Lotto – Soudal: Ewan for the sprints, the rest in the groups
At Lotto - Soudal almost all drivers can look forward to freedom - just not on flat stages. Then all will be for Caleb ewan drive. The little Australian won three stages last year and thus the most of all sprinters. That's how it should be with her Tour de France 2020 run. In the preparation for the sprint, he is mainly supported by starters Jasper De Buyst and the two Germans Roger Kluge and John Degenkolb. If it gets hilly or mountainous, may Philippe Gilbert and Thomas De Gendt chasing after a stage win with all their experience. Steff Cras and Frederik Frison complete the team, but are only used as helpers under normal circumstances.
Cofidis: Viviani as figurehead, Martin as hope
Sponsor Cofidis has been active in cycling for many years. The French team experienced many ups and downs. After a few weaker years, things could pick up again in 2020. Sprinter is mainly responsible for this Elijah Viviani. The Italian won his first stage of the tour last year and, despite changing teams, can count on a strong train this time. Christophe Laporte and Simone Consonni would be able to achieve top results themselves, but will have to bow to the stable orders. The rest of the squad will occasionally chase the breakaways on flat stages. You only have to pursue your own ambitions when the terrain becomes a bit more demanding. With William Martin Cofidis has a potential top 10 candidate in its own ranks. He is supported by a very strong group of climbers, who can certainly pursue their own ambitions in the high mountains. Particularly Nicolas Edet and Jesus Herrada we should have on account for that. Anthony Perez and Pierre-Luc Perichon but will also act offensively.
NTT: With Nizzolo, NTT wants to annoy the top sprinters
Before the start of the season, Team NTT was probably the weakest on paper. However, this changed rapidly after Bjarne Riis was hired as the sporting mastermind. Above all James Nizzolo seems to benefit from it. The Italian won a stage at the Tour Down Under and at Paris Nice. He was also crowned Italian Champion and European Champion. Now he wants to annoy the big names at the Tour de France. You ask him for that Ryan Gibbons, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Max Walscheid three other fast-moving men to the side. However, we should not regard Boasson Hagen only as a helper. The Norwegian is still capable of winning challenging stages - if necessary from a small group. Austria Michael Gogl will be used primarily for chasing breakaways. If the stage profile is a bit more demanding, you can Michael Valgren and Roman Kreuziger try their luck. Dominic Pozzo alive is the man for the high mountains and possibly even for the overall ranking. With his 37 years, however, we can no longer expect too much.
B&B Hotels – Vital Concept: Coquard can finally shine on the tour
From 2014 to 2016 has Bryan coquard As a huge talent, he took part in the Tour de France three times. After that, he - or his team - was no longer invited. Now the Frenchman gets another chance. He has a troop at his side, which can help him to a large extent. Jens Debusschere for example is an experienced starter who definitely knows how to drive a sprinter well into position. Also Kevin Reza and Cyril Barthe have fast legs. If it doesn't work out with a good result in the first mass sprints, they can certainly go into a breakaway group from time to time. We'll probably find it there Maxime Chevalier, Cyril Gautier and Quentin Pacher rather, if the profile is a bit more demanding. In the mountains then the hour strikes Pierre Rolland. The now 33-year-old has already won two mountain stages in the Tour de France in his career, but has been chasing his best form for some time.
Israel Start-Up Nation: Only groups give hope for success
A fresh wind is blowing in the Israel Start-Up Nation in the coming season. With Chris Froome, the entire direction of the team will change. However, the obligation will not affect the Tour de France 2020. While the four-time tour winner is sitting at home, 8 pros from the Israel Start-Up Nation will somehow try to get good results. And it won't be easy. Because we look in vain for real winners. André Greipel won 11 Tour stages in his career. However, he celebrated his last victory 19 months ago. It seems unrealistic that he will be able to seriously intervene in the fight for a stage win again. The same probably applies to Daniel Martin. The Irishman has finished in the top 10 three times in the Tour de France. But we haven't seen anything of his liveliness lately. So both probably only the challenge escape group remains. That's where it feels too Nils Politt probably. If he catches the right post, he can be successful as a soloist on flat and slightly undulating terrain. Hugo Hofstetter and Tom van Asbroeck could support André Greipel in the mass sprints or even step into the breach for him. Ben Hermans and Krists Neilands like it wavy. Level Guy will be the first Israeli to contest the Tour de France and will definitely be in one or the other escape group.
Sunweb: Attack is the motto
The German team Sunweb is in a similar situation to the Israel Start-Up Nation. Despite strong drivers in the squad, they are not among the favorites on any terrain. So it has to be experimented with. In flat stages, the team management hopes for the next jump of Cees Bol. The 25-year-old Dutchman could surprise in a bunch sprint. Supporting him is above all Nickias Arndt, experience has shown that it can also be good for a breakaway group. Joris Nieuwenhuis and Casper Pedersen will assist their two sprinters or be part of a breakaway. The other half of the team consists of professionals, who could convert their skills into successes in wavy or even mountainous terrain. Soren Kragh Andersen has already proven on the tour that he can climb. From Nicholas Roche we have known this for many years, even though its best times are over. Still at the beginning of their best times Marc Hirschi and Tiesj Benoot. If it gets wavy but not too mountainous, we can definitely count on the Swiss and the Belgian in a breakaway group.
CCC: Good everywhere, world class nowhere
After this season, the sponsor CCC will say goodbye to professional cycling. But the last Tour de France should still be a complete success. The question is how? Because in Team CCC we discover some big names, but recently they couldn't really convince anymore. There would be for example greg van avermaet to call. The Belgian is still one of the strongest classic car hunters. But against drivers like Peter Sagan it will be really difficult on certain sections. There are no typical classic stages. In pure mass sprints, CCC has to open Matteo Trentin set. But the fast Italian has been waiting for a win for almost a year. Perhaps the team management will therefore surprise us at one point or another with the Germans Jonah Koch set. He is always fast, but against this strong competition? Success is therefore more likely through a long escape. With Alessandro De Marchi you have exactly the right professional in your team. The Italian is known for his aggressive driving style in the high mountains. The same applies Jan Hirt to. Also Ilnur Zakarin could sneak into breakaway groups if – as is unfortunately almost to be expected – he cannot keep up with the top people in the overall ranking. The squad is completed by the Swiss Michael Schar, who can press on the level like no other and through the German Simon Geschke, who may even be having the best year of his career. Can he top it off with another stage win at the Tour de France?
Mitchelton - Scott: In the mountains they want to be strong
The Mitchelton-Scott team is very difficult to assess this season. Formerly known as stage chasers, they have developed into a strong team for the general classifications. According to the team management, the Tour de France 2020 should now be about stage wins again. Hard to believe, because with Adam Yates, Mikel Nieve and Esteban Chaves there are three strong climbers and classification riders in the team. If they don't actually wear the yellow jersey, all three are serious contenders in the fight for stage wins and possibly even the mountain jersey. Daryl Impey, Christopher Juul Jensen and Jack Bauer we will see them in escape groups when we are still a little away from the high mountains. If it stays completely flat, Mitchelton - Scott builds up in the bunch sprints Luka Mezgec. The eight is completed by Sam Bewley. The New Zealander drove his first Tour de France at the age of 33.
Total Direct Energy: Every day in the escape group
Total Direct Energie starts the Tour de France 2020 with seven French and one Italian. And it may well be that the Italian is the hottest iron in the fire. Niccolo Bonifazio is considered a dangerous sprinter - and they will start the mass sprints for him. is particularly important for him geoffrey soupe, who is known as a strong starter and can also step in himself if necessary. Otherwise, Total Direct Energie will have to seek salvation by fleeing. With Lilian Calmejane you are well prepared for this. We will not only see the Frenchman in a breakaway group on a wavy section. Also known for their offensive driving style Romain Sicard, Fabien Grellier, Anthony Turgis and Jerome Cousin. Since they all prefer similar terrain - not too flat and not too mountainous - we'll probably see at least one of them attacking on almost all of these stages. Mathieu Burgaudeau however, will probably hide. The only 21-year-old is riding his first Grand Tour and is mainly here to learn.
