Cycling: Tomorrow is the day: The 109th Tour de France starts in Copenhagen with an individual time trial. The starters are set - and there are some German-speaking professionals with them. We look at your goals and opportunities.
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German drivers as helpers with freedoms
With three Germans in the squad, the Raublinger racing team Bora – hansgrohe has nominated the most drivers under the black, red and yellow flag, including the newly crowned German champions. Lennard Kamna will not only be able to prove his skills in time trials, but above all in the mountains. In the high mountains, the team management expects a performance similar to that of the Giro d'Italia. Lennard Kämna will certainly not only be used as a helper for captain Aleksandr Vlasov, but will also enjoy his freedom to be able to drive to a stage win or even the mountain jersey. road master Nils Politt has been taken along for support on the plain. But he will also go hunting for stages if the constellation is right. What Kämna is for the mountains and Politt for the flat, that is Maximilian schachmann for the hills. For him, too, there are a few stages in the 2022 Tour de France that he will tackle offensively. A stage win for one of these three pilots seems relatively likely.
Expect a tough three weeks as a helper Alexander Krieger (Alpecin – Deceuninck) and John Degenkolb (DSM). While one is making his tour debut, the other is looking forward to his eighth participation. However, the roles in their teams are similar. Both are scheduled for their sprinters - on the one hand Jasper Philipsen, on the other Alberto Dainese. Alexander Krieger should probably not get any hopes that he will be able to drive on his own account over the course of the three weeks. Things are different with John Degenkolb. The experienced German is particularly looking forward to the start of the Tour de France and the cobblestone stage. As an excellent classic car hunter, these sections suit him.
In Team Cofidis we find two German flags. Simon Geschke looking forward to his tenth Max Walscheid on his third Tour de France. Because the French team has always been active and offensive, we assume that the two Germans will not only hide in the main draw this year. Nevertheless, the main tasks are helper services. Simon Geschke is used as a strong climber for Guillaume Martin, while Max Walscheid is needed as a top time trialist and fast sprinter by Bryan Coquard.
Allowed for some liberties Jonas slip (EF Education – EasyPost) and George Zimmerman (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) hope. While their teams also have professionals who are above them in the pecking order, the teams have a less rigid tactical orientation, so opportunities are likely to arise over the course of the three weeks. However, we will probably rarely find the two together in a group. Jonasrutsch feels more at home on the flat, while Georg Zimmermann can be seen as a good climber.
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Loyal domestics from Austria
In Austria, too, you have to be prepared to see the local drivers as helpers. Felix Grossschartner and Patrick Conrad are used at Bora – hansgrohe to support Captain Aleksandr Vlasov in the mountains, while Mark Haller responsible for safety on the plane. All three will probably have to put aside their own ambitions for more than three weeks. The same applies to Gregor Muehlberger in the Spanish team Movistar. Although he – like Konrad and Großschartner – will certainly be allowed to join a group in the second and third weeks, the main focus is on helping captain Enric Mas.
On the other hand, we hope for a little more freedom Michael Gogl (Alpecin – Deceuninck) and Sebastian Schoenberger (B&B Hotels - KTM). The two Austrians drive for two teams that do not belong to the WorldTour. Accordingly, they will have to show themselves at every stage in order to achieve good results and apply for another invitation. If a mass sprint is impossible, the team management will definitely want to occupy the groups - and then Gogl and Schönberger offer themselves in both teams.
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Reliable like a Swiss watch
Right at the beginning of the Tour de France, the hopes of the Swiss fans are highest. With Stephen Bissegger (EF Education – EasyPost) and Stefan Kung (Groupama – FDJ) count two Swiss among the favorites to win the first stage and thus also the first yellow jersey. The time trial in Copenhagen could become a triumph for Bissegger and/or Küng. As the Tour de France 2022 progresses, they will – just like their fellow countryman Sylvan Dillier (Alpecin – Deceuninck) – hoping to be allowed in escape groups from time to time. The cobblestone stage would be ideal for this, as would any section with a risk of wind crags.
Due to Matteo Trentin's positive corona test, Emirates became part of the UAE team Marc Hirschi post-nominated. The Swiss is considered one of the strongest punchers in all of professional cycling. Whether he will also be able to show his skills at this Tour de France is not certain. Finally, the focus in Team UAE is clearly on Tadej Pogacar and the yellow jersey. So it is quite possible that Marc Hirschi will have to accept the clear helper role.
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2022/06/radsport-tour-de-france-2022-wertungstrikots/
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