Cycling: The 2021 Tour de France starts on Saturday. The squads of all teams have been announced. We look at all 23 teams, 184 drivers and their goals. In Part 1 we look at the teams with the top favourites.
UAE: All hands to defend title
He was THE surprise winner in recent years. Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France at just 21 years old. Now he should repeat this success. For this, the sporting management provides him with a strong team – with weaknesses in the high mountains. Because Marc Hirschi, Davide Formolo and Rui Costa are among the strongest in the field, as long as the uphill is not too long and too steep. Rafal Majka seems to have had his best time in the high mountains and Brandon McNulty is probably still ahead of him. The UAE Team Emirates must be described as good, but still vulnerable. Especially the strongest challengers, Jumbo - Visma and Ineos Genadiers could isolate Tadej Pogacar in the mountains.
- Tadej pogacar
- Mikkel Bjerg
- Rui Costa
- Davide formolo
- Marc Hirschi
- Rafal Mayka
- Brandon McNulty
- Vegard stake lengths
Jumbo – Visma: Dominance must also be successful
The cycling scene was thrilled: Last season, a team was finally able to stand up to Ineos Grenadiers and break the dominance of the British. But in the end Jumbo - Visma didn't go home with the yellow jersey at the Tour de France. In the decisive time trial, captain Primoz Roglic surprisingly lost the tour victory to his compatriot Tadej Pogacar. It is logical that the overall victory should work out this year. Primoz Roglic continues to be the strongest rider in the mountains. With Stefen Kruiijswijk, Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard he has three absolute noble helpers there. Also at his side: all-rounder Wout van Aert. The Belgian can not only be of help on any terrain, but is also a potential stage winner. Mike Teunissen and Tony Martin help mainly on the flat, while Rober Gesink can advise with all his experience. All in all, the Jumbo – Visma team is the only one that can stand up to Ineos Grenadiers again this year.
- Primois Roglic
- wout van aert
- Mike Teunissen
- Robert Geink
- jonas vingegaard
- Tony Martin
- Sepp kuss
- Steven Kruijswijk
Ineos Grenadiers: With 3 or 4 men against the Slovenes
Even without Egan Bernal, the Ineos Grenadiers team must be described as the strongest in the 2021 Tour de France. With Richard Carapaz and Geraint, the British team can at least build on a double leadership. Tao Geoghegan Hart - last year's Giro winner - could turn the two into a three. Richie Porte won the Critérium du Dauphiné, which is why he should also be among the podium candidates. So Ineos Grenadiers has four drivers in the line-up who should be at the forefront in the mountains and in the overall standings. In addition, there are four helpers, Michal Kwiatkowski, Jonathan Castroviejo, Luke Rowe and Dylan van Baarle, who can be strong locomotives both on the flat and in demanding terrain and, with all their experience, will hardly make any mistakes on a Grand Tour. So it doesn't matter who the team ultimately drives for: the captain or captains can rely on the best team in the Tour de France 2021.
- Richard Carapaz
- Jonathan Castroviejo
- Tao Geoghegan Hart
- Michal Kwiatkowski
- Richie porte
- Luke Rowe
- Geraint Thomas
- Dylan van baarle
Astana – Premier Tech: Fuglsang/Izagirre & Stage Hunters
Traditionally, the Astana – Premier Tech squad is also strong. With Jakob Fuglsang and Jon Izagirre, the Kazakh team relies on two experienced captains who should at least have their sights set on the top 5 of the Tour de France. At the same time, Astana – Premier Tech will also be looking at stage victories. As usual, you will be able to find the riders in breakaway groups a lot. Alex Aranburu in particular could cause a small surprise in this respect, because the Spaniard is good at sprinting and always manages to get over the mountains quite well. Like Alexey Lutsenko, Omar Fraile is one of the strongest escapees in the peloton anyway. So even if in the end the fight for the yellow jersey doesn't work out with the really big hit, we can expect an offensive, active and successful Tour de France from Astana - Premier Tech.
- Alex Aranburu
- Stefan DeBod
- Omar friar
- Jakob Fuglsang
- Dmitry Gruzdev
- Hugo Houle
- Jon Izagirre
- alexey lutsenko
Cofidis: Stage wins and the mountain jersey?
The Cofidis team is as much a part of cycling and the Tour de France as the yellow jersey. But it is precisely this that one should have less of an eye on this year. Guillaume Martin is a strong climber, but the top 5 might be too high for him. Therefore, there is the chance to interpret the goals a little differently this time and to go full on the mountain jersey and on stage wins. Along with Jesus Herrada and Anthony Perez, the Frenchman could be a real weapon in this rating. At the same time, the red and white team with sprinter Christophe Laporte competes for stage wins in mass sprints. The German Simon Geschke will be there to help his leaders on every terrain and will certainly be able to be part of a breakaway from time to time. However, without going on the offensive and taking risks, it will be difficult for the Cofidis team to put their stamp on the 2021 Tour de France.
- William Martin
- Christophe Laporte
- Jesus Herrada
- Anthony Perez
- Simon Geschke
- Reuben Fernandez
- Pierre Luc Perichon
- Jelle Wallays
Trek – Segafredo: What else can Nibali & Mollema do?
The Trek – Segafredo line-up is packed with riders who can win stages in a Grand Tour. The best known are certainly Vincenzo Nibali and Bauke Mollema. The Italian and Dutchman are also capable of finishing a Grand Tour on the podium at their best, but both appear to be past their prime. In the high mountains, they are among the top favorites for a day's win, especially in breakaway groups. Julien Bernard and Kenny Elissonde are also capable of doing the same. On flat stages you will rely on Mads Pedersen. The Dane has developed into a top sprinter and could secure a Sprint Royal win with the help of Jasper Stuyven and Edward Theuns. Experience has also shown that the team often swaps the roles of sprinter and starter.
- Julien bernard
- Kenny Elissonde
- Build Mollema
- Vincenzo Nibali
- Mads pedersen
- Tom's Skujins
- Jasper stuyven
- Edward Theuns
Qhubeka – NextHash: Walking in groups every day
Qhubeka – NextHash had great hopes in signing Fabio Aru. But the Italian has not managed to find his way back to his former form. The sporting management has decided against a tour nomination and is now at the start without a captain. So - also due to a missing top sprinter - only the escape to the front remains. Victor Campenaerts and Max Walscheid can excel in time trials, with the last-named being the most likely to ensure a good placement in mass sprints. Simon Clarke, Sean Bennett and Sergio Henao will try to break away to win the day in the high mountains. Nic Dlamini has his strengths more on the level. Michael Gogl and Carlos Barbero are strong when it gets slightly wavy. For Qhubeka - NextHash, it can only be enough for a stage win if everything comes together. Normally you are clearly inferior on every terrain.
- simon clarke
- Michael Gogl
- Victor Campenaerts
- Max Walscheid
- Sean Bennett
- Nick Dlamini
- Sergio Henao
- charles barber
BikeExchange: Many question marks in the Australian team
In Team BikeExchange everything stands or falls with Simon Yates. If the Brit bounces back to top form after the Giro d'Italia, he's a contender for the podium. If that doesn't work, he will go for a stage win. Then Lucas Hamilton could become the surprise of the Tour de France. Because the young Australian could aim for the top 10. There is also a big question mark behind Esteban Chaves – just like before every tour. The Colombian has a lot of potential, but can only rarely use it for a longer period of time. So it could be that the BikeExchange team can convince, especially on medium-difficulty stages. With Michael Matthews and Luka Mezgec, there are two drivers in the squad who are good at sprinting and are good at over hills. On these sections, however, this duo will have to compete with Peter Sagan and Mathieu van der Poel, among others.
- Luke Durbridge
- Christopher Juul Jensen
- Port of Mezgec
- Simon yates
- Stephen Chaves
- Michael Matthews
- Amund Grondahl Jansen
- Lucas Hamilton
