Cycling: The 109th edition of the Tour de France starts in Denmark on Friday. In our third and last part of the team presentation, we look at the teams that have nominated neither a top sprinter nor a top classification driver. What are their goals? We make a forecast.
 |
 |
Bahrain–Victorious
With Damian Caruso from Italy and Jack Haig from Australia Bahrain - Victorious sends a double lead to the Tour de France 2022. Together they aim to reach the top 10 in the overall ranking - and with a little luck even more. While Caruso finished second at the Giro d'Italia last year, Haig finished third at the Vuelta a Espana. Now both are focusing on the Tour de France, but so far they can't look back on a very good season. So the team will not only rely on these two, but will spread the load over several shoulders. With Matej Mohoric from Slovenia and Dylan teuns from Belgium, there are two pros in the team who have proven time and time again that they can also win very tough races. These top four Poles are more likely to be used as helpers Kamil Gradek, the experienced Spaniard Luis Leone Sanchez, the Slovene Jan Tratnik and the Brit Fred Wright.
Prognosis: There is no doubt that Damiano Caruso and Jack Haig have proven in recent years that they are among the top climbers. However, the Tour de France has a better field than a Giro or a Vuelta. In addition, both have their weaknesses in time trials and valuable seconds or even minutes can be lost there in 2022. The top 10 are definitely in there, but probably not much more. Therefore, Bahrain – Victorious should try to hunt the stages in parallel.
 |
 |
Astana
Without a proper captain for the general classification, Team Astana will start the 2022 Tour de France. alexey lutsenko surprisingly finished seventh last year, but has only been chasing his good form this season since his opening win. The Kazakh is supported in the mountains by the American Joe Dombrowski. But he is also having a bad year, in 2022 he was not yet in the top 10. The third well-known professional is in the squad Gianni Moscon. The Italian's best finish this season? Rank 20. So the Astana team will have no choice but to hunt for stages completely wild. The Italians Samuele Battistella, Fabio Felline and Simone Velasco So far, however, they have not been able to achieve a day's success on a Grand Tour, like the Kazakhs Andrey Zeits and Dmitry Gruzdev. So the serious question arises as to what the team management hopes for from this squad.
Prognosis: It is very surprising that a team as large as Astana is sending such an unsuccessful group to the Tour de France in 2022. If Alexey Lutsenko and Gianni Moscon don't surpass themselves, this tour of France could become an absolute fiasco for Astana. In order to prevent that, they actually have to go into the group at every stage and hope that somehow they can make it through.
 |
 |
Arkea-Samsic
In the Arkea – Samsic team, the question also arises in the Tour de France 2022: mountain classification or overall classification? With the Colombian Nairo Quintana and the French Warren Barguil you have two very strong climbers who, in their past, have also been able to compete for top positions in major national tours. Since their best times are over, however, the stage hunt with a mountain jersey is perhaps more appropriate. While these two and the Frenchman Maxim Bouet could dare a long flight in the high mountains, the French have Matis Louvel, the pole Lukasz Owsian and the Brit Connor Swift their strengths actually more in one-day races. The latter in particular should look forward to the tough windy stages and the cobblestones. After all, at Tro-Bro Léon he has already proven several times that he can really stand unpleasant roads and weather conditions. The squad is completed by the French Hugo Hofstetter and the Belgian Amaury Capiot. Both see themselves more as sprinters, which makes the 8-man Arkea – Samsic team look very flexible.
Prognosis: For a team that is not part of the WorldTour, Arkea - Samsic is really strong. In the mountains you can compete for stage wins as well as on hilly terrain, on the flat and on the classic stages. However, a long flight must always be planned for this. Because if you wait until the finale, the competition is better. So we will see a very active and offensive Arkea - Samsic.
 |
 |
Israel - Premier Tech
Jakob Fuglsang from Denmark and Michael Woods from Canada lead the oldest team in the 2022 Tour de France: Israel – Premier Tech. The 37-year-old and the 35-year-old can look back on a very successful career. The zenith, however, has long been passed. The same applies to – hard to believe – precious helpers Chris Froome The 37-year-old Brit is officially only being taken along as a helper because it has finally been recognized that he will no longer be able to ensure success himself. The Australian too simon clarke – 35 years old by the way – has his strengths in the mountains, but hasn't had any reason to celebrate for a long time. The 31-year-old Canadian Hugo Houle has never been a winner, but is already riding his seventh Grand Tour and knows exactly what he's doing. As a loyal helper, he will certainly be able to support his colleagues without ensuring results himself. Anyway Daryl Impey – the 37-year-old South African – still knows how to win. A few weeks ago he won a section of the Tour de Suisse, which he would certainly be capable of doing again in the Tour de France. The Latvian team can be significantly rejuvenated Krists Neilands and the Israeli Omer Goldstein, but without really raising the quality of the team.
Prognosis: Admittedly, the names in the Israel – Premier Tech team read well. In order for these to ensure success at a Tour de France, you would have to go back ten years. This season, too, one wonders what the team management actually hoped for from this squad composition. But maybe the old hands will teach us better in the next three weeks.
 |
 |
Trek-Segafredo
With eight men, Trek – Segafredo will also go hunting for stages at the Tour de France 2022. We don't know if Julius Ciccone Hopes for the general classification, but the Italian already has the Giro d'Italia in his legs. He also has his strengths as a stage hunter in the mountains, like the Dutchman Build Mollema. If it's hilly, but we're not quite in the high mountains yet, the hour has come for Americans Quinn Simmons and the Latvian Tom's Skujins. Also the Dane Mads pedersen and the Belgian Jasper stuyven like it a bit harder and not quite as flat, but they will probably try to get their successes in the sprints. The squad is completed by the French Tony gallopin and the Luxembourger alex kirsch, who will probably mainly work for their colleagues.
Prognosis: Trek – Segafredo sends a very strong force to France and Denmark. Actually, we can't rule out a stage win for this team on any day - except maybe at the time trials. They have someone with them for every terrain. So we can expect a very active and aggressive driving style – and at least one successful escape.
 |
 |
B&B Hotels – KTM
As in previous years, the B&B Hotels – KTM team received a wildcard for the 2022 Tour de France. So far it has not worked out with a stage win. Pierre Roland however, it was close two years ago. The 35-year-old Frenchman will try again this time and maybe even squint at the mountain jersey at the same time. But the star of the team has long been someone else. The 27 year old Frank Bonnamour While still awaiting his first professional win, he was in excellent shape at last year's Tour de France. He was in breakaway groups several times and ended up 22nd overall. Also the Austrian Sebastian Schoenberger could expect a long flight. Most recently, he showed his qualities at the Critérium du Dauphiné. The Frenchman is one of those people who always likes to try to flee to the front Alexis Gougeard. The 29-year-old already has a number of victories to his credit, including a part of the Vuelta a Espana. The French like it rather flat Cyril Barthe, Jeremy Lecroq, and Cyril Lemoine and the Italian Luca Mozzato. Since they would still have no chance against this top competition in a Sprint Royale, they will also seek their salvation on the offensive. So from day one we will find the green shirts in the escape groups.
Prognosis: It will be difficult for the B&B Hotels – KTM team to finally win the stage they hoped for in the Tour de France. But the men in green will try every day. And for that reason alone, the wildcard award to this team is worthwhile. We are excited about the Austrian Sebastian Schönberger, who with a bit of luck and the right group composition could ensure a great success.
 |
 |
EF Education—EasyPost
A real eye-catcher - and this is not just related to the jersey design - will again be the EF Education - EasyPost team at the Tour de France 2022. With Rigoberto Urán you could go for a good result in the general classification. Neilson Powless and Ruben guerreiro are also first class climbers. But they would probably be more interested in stage wins and the mountain jersey. Stephen Bissegger would be up front in the time trials. Alberto Bettiol and Magnus Court would be like Jonas slip and Owain Doull for the classic stages candidates.
Prognosis: EF Education – EasyPost will be on the offensive and will often be found in escape groups. Ruben Guerreiro will probably aim for the mountain jersey and Rigoberto Uran will go for the general classification. Otherwise, the focus is on having fun and being successful with an escape. We are particularly excited about Jonasrutsch's second Tour de France. It's only a matter of time before the German will achieve great success with his driving style.