Archiv der Kategorie: Tour de France

Tour de France 2021: info with one day to go

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Key points:

Ø Brittany is all set for the Grand Départ of the 108th Tour de France with stage 1 to take the 184 participants from Brest to Landerneau. Seven Breton riders line up in a land of a rich cycling history, including David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas, the locals for stage 1.

Ø Peter Sagan starts his tenth Tour de France with the aim of winning his eighth green jersey.

Ø The start list includes four Tour de France winners: Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), Vincenzo Nibali (2014) and Tadej Pogacar (2020). 41 participants have already won at least one stage, including veteran Alejandro Valverde who claimed stage from Brest to Plumelec in 2008.

Seven Breton riders on the path of Jean Malléjac
Among the 33 French starters of the 108th Tour de France, seven hail from Brittany where the first four stages will be held: Warren Barguil and Elie Gesbert (Arkea-Samsic), Cyril Gautier and Franck Bonnamour (B&B-Hotels p/b KTM), Julien Simon (Total Energies), David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ). Gaudu and Madouas are precisely the enfants du pays of stage 1. Madouas was born in Brest and received an emotional welcome on stage at the teams presentation on Thursday evening. Gaudu was born in Landivisiau near Landerneau, where the first yellow jersey will be awarded on Saturday. Both were passionate spectators, aged 12, the last time the Tour de France started from Brest in 2008. They aren’t the first locals to enjoy the Grand Départ on home soil. Before Jean-Pierre Genêt, a native from Brest who was a team-mate of Raymond Poulidor with Gan-Mercier in 1974 after he wore the Maillot Jaune for one day in 1968, Jean Malléjac had the privilege to start the 1952 Tour de France in Brest. He couldn’t break away on stage 1 to Rennes but was awarded the combativity prime the day after in Le Mans. He was more successful the following year as he won stage 5, had the Maillot Jaune for five days and finished second overall. Malléjac is indeed one of the five Breton riders to have made the final podium of the Tour de France, along with the four winners Lucien Petit-Breton, Jean Robic, Louison Bobet and Bernard Hinault. Stage 1 of the 2021 Tour de France will pass 5km away from Dirinon, where Malléjac was born, and finish in Landerneau, where he died in 2000 at the age of 71.

Van der Poel: “Stage 1 is comparable to a big classic”
Even though he’s yet to make his Tour de France debut, Mathieu van der Poel is one of the super stars on the start line of the 108th Tour de France in Brest. He made a huge impact by showing up at the teams presentation with his whole Alpecin-Fenix dressed in a replica of the jersey worn by his grand-father Raymond Poulidor in his glorious days. “It was a very nice way to pay tribute to him and it was successful”, MVDP said in a pre-race press conference. “I enjoyed doing the photos and videos. Now I’m gonna do everything I can to win a stage. Stage 1 and stage 2 would be great but this is my first Tour and I’m here to discover the Grand Tours. It’s not gonna be easy. I’ve recognised the last 30km of stage 1. It’s comparable with a big classic like the Tour of Flanders but the GC guys will also want to compete at the front and not lose any time. It’s gonna be an interesting race to watch.” Alpecin-Fenix will be an interesting team to follow indeed as they have several cards to play in fast finishes with Jasper Philipsen and Tim Merlier who are already stage winners of La Vuelta and the Giro d’Italia. “I have my own ambition here, I also want to win a stage”, said Philipsen, 23, who already took part in the Tour de France as the youngest rider in 2019 [with three top 10 before his withdrawal]. The Belgian sprinter was battling with a knee injury recently but was adamant that he’s 100% fine now.

Alejandro Valverde the oldest, Fred Wright the youngest
The peloton of the 108th Tour de France is formed of 184 riders (8 more than last year) representing 27 countries. 33 riders are French (vs 39 last year), 22 from Belgium, 17 from Spain, 14 from The Netherlands, 12 from Germany , 11 from Denmark, 10 from Australia (vs 2 last year) and Great-Britain, 9 from Italy (vs 16 last year). The youngest rider is Britain’s Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious), 22 and the oldest is Spain’s Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), 41, who has already started the Tour de France 13 times (the record holder is Sylvain Chavanel with 18) while Mark Cavendish and Tony Martin have 12, Pierre Rolland and Imanol Erviti 11. 45 riders are doing the Tour for the first time, the oldest of them being Victor De La Parte (TotalEnergies), aged 35. Nine of them have never taken part in a Grand Tour before and that includes stage 1 hot favourite Mathieu van der Poel.

David Gaudu described stage 1 finale
David Gaudu, Valentin Madouas and Arnaud Démare expressed the numerous ambitions of Groupama-FDJ with the input of the locals. “The run in to La Fosse aux Loups is complicated and technical”, Gaudu explained. “The will be tension, crashes and splits in the peloton. We’ll have to remain focused and cautious. After the last curve, it’s a narrow street and the first uphill stretch is steep. It’s a never ending uphill. Once we see the finish line, there are 300 to 400 metres remaining and it looks very long. It was touching to see my name everywhere on the road when we recognized stage 1. It was nice to see people at the teams presentation after it was behind closed doors in Nice last year. I had family members in the crowd. It was even more emotional for Valentin [Madouas].” The latter confirmed: “I’ll remember it all of my life. I expect even more people on the road sides. It feels strange to be racing on roads that I know at perfection where I didn’t expect the Tour de France to come. I’m part of the plan for hunting for stage wins and I’ll have a support role for David and Arnaud. We’ll form only one team.” Démare added: “I’m super happy to come back to the Tour de France. I do it with the confidence I gained in winning four stages and the cyclamen jersey at the Giro d’Italia. A successful Tour de France would start with a win.”

Cosnefroy to team up with Van Avermaet
Benoît Cosnefroy is another popular French rider returning after he wore the polka dot jersey for fifteen days last year. He’s no longer associated with Romain Bardet at AG2R-Citroën. Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Australia’s Ben O’Connor are their climbers now. Cosnefroy also shares the leadership with former yellow jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet for some specific stages. “We are yet to decide which one of us will be favoured”, the Frenchman emphasized. “However, I’ll take the first two stages like one-day races. I like it that way, without calculating. I’m far from being the only candidate for the stage finish in Landerneau. It’ll be necessary to invent something.”

Peter Sagan embarks on his tenth Tour de France
Peter Sagan already holds the record of points classification victories in the Tour de France but his desire to add one more to his seven titles is intact, especially after he surrendered to Sam Bennett last year. “This is my tenth Tour de France”, the newly crowned Slovakian champion declared. “I’ll first think of winning some stages and then take the green jersey if possible but everyone realized last year that it’s not that obvious that I’m necessarily the winner. There are a lot of favourites for stage 1. It’s not just about me. A lot of guys are interested, not only the pure sprinters but also Julian Alaphilippe, Sonny Colbrelli… even me, but it depends how the race goes. Being successful at the Tour de France is not all about the shape, it’s about luck as well.” Sagan’s team Bora-Hansgrohe comes to the Tour with GC ambitions for Wilco Kelderman and a very enthusiastic neophyte called Ide Schelling.

Guillaume Martin distances himself from the overall classification
One pre-Tour de France regular topic is which Frenchman will finish first overall. It was Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) last year but the climber from Normandy expressed different ambitions this time. “The Tour de France is something you never fully master”, the cyclist and philosopher explained. “This is my sixth Tour de France, I had a good performance there [12th and 11th in the past two editions], but I never had the bang I’m going for this time. For the first time, I’m going to distance myself from the general classification and take more risks to aim for a stage victory. It feels strange because the essence and the nobility of cycling is the GC but on paper, the course suits me less this year and I need to stay kind of fresh with the prospective of the Olympics. You must also know how to renew yourself so as not to fall into a form of weariness.”
@ASO

Tour de France 2021: Info with two days to go

Etappenrennen, Tour de France, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

Ø Before the presentation of the 184 riders of the 108th Tour de France to the enthusiastic Breton crowd near the harbour in Brest, some star riders took part in several press conferences.

Ø Super teams Jumbo-Visma and Ineos Grenadiers expressed their ambitions to take the yellow jersey sooner or later.

Ø Overall winner in 2014, Vincenzo Nibali is also back to Brest where he made his Tour de France debut in 2008.

Team presentation broadcast live
The riders who have reached the location of the Grand Départ have mostly been on their bike to recognize the courses of the first two stages so far. The teams presentation is scheduled today at 6.30pm at “Parc à Chaînes” in the harbour district of Brest. It’s the first broadcasted event of the 108th Tour de France and an opportunity to discover the new jerseys made on purpose for this race. 22 broadcasters from 170 countries will show it. It includes four local TV stations: Tébéo, Tébésud, TVR, Brezhowed (a web TV in Breton language). The images of the teams presentation will also be accessible on the official digital platforms including www.letour.fr.

Jumbo-Visma: Wout van Aert dreams of the yellow jersey… Primoz Roglic too
Primoz Roglic is back to the Tour de France after he missed out on the overall victory on the penultimate day last year. “We took a different approach this time”, the Slovenian explained during a press conference in Brest. “I haven’t raced for two months. But I’ve already had breaks before and I’m usually ready when I come from altitude training camp. I’ve checked both time trial courses. We know from last year how crucial they can be. I’ve put more work than last year into my time trialling.” Newly crowned Belgian champion Wout van Aert is equally focused on the first time trial as stage 5 could lead him to wearing the yellow jersey in Laval… if not before. “It’s clear for everyone that I can go for a stage win in the first week and we’ll also target the best possible GC with Primoz. The yellow jersey is of course in my mind. [Stage 1 winner in 2019] Mike Teunissen explained to me a little bit how it feels.” However, sports director Grisha Niermann warned that Jumbo-Visma won’t handle all the responsibilities in pacing the peloton like last year. “We’re aware that UAE Team Emirates and Ineos Grenadiers are a lot stronger than last year”, he said. “At a certain point, we’ll play a different tactics.

Brest, city of Grand Départ novelties since 1952
It’s the fourth Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Brest. On the occasion of the first one, the daily combativity prize was created in 1952. This year, the general public has its say as it represents one vote in the jury throughout the official social networks of the event. The touristic guide of the Tour de France was also introduced in 1952. It was then called « le petit Wermel » since it was made by event director Elie Wermelinger (until 1993). Heritage and anecdotes about sport and history can be found on www.letour.fr with the description of each stage. The first daily video highlights were made in 1952 as well with the input of cameram Henri Persin. They were broadcast the day after in the midday news on French TV. The first live broadcast is dated from 8 July 1958 in the Aubisque climb. Nowadays the Tour de France can be seen in 190 countries on 100 channels including 60 live.

Ineos Grenadiers has four cards to play with Thomas, Carapaz, Porte and Geoghegan Hart
All four riders taken successively to the press conference of Ineos Grenadiers have been asked the same question: is the order in which you come symbolic? Only Geraint Thomas replied “yes” and he was first to show up indeed. Leadership inside the British team being the main topic, the Welshman outlined: “The communication between us has been good all year. It’s the main thing. We can use this as an advantage.” Second on line, Richard Carapaz said: “I’m better prepared than ever. Compared to last year that had been a strange year, we’ve trained and planned for the Tour all year this time. We come with a strong and powerful team and the race situation will decide which one of us the team will ride for.” Third overall last year, Richie Porte downplayed his own aim at leading the team. “I haven’t won a Grand Tour [at the difference of Thomas, Carapaz and Tao Geoghegan Hart]. I had my dream result last year. I just enjoy being back with this team at the moment. Pogacar is the benchmark. He and Roglic have that kick to open a gap and take bonus seconds as well, so to use the strength of our team is the only way to isolate them.” Geoghegan Hart, the winner of the 2020 Giro d’Italia, concluded: “The Tour de France is the race in which most riders can trace the origins of their love for cycling. I’m starting my first one with the most experienced group you can find in cycling, also in delivering the yellow jersey to Paris. The start in Brittany, which is a beautiful area, reminds me of the south of the UK with the Gaelic culture and the landscape. It’s massive for me to be here at the pinnacle of pro cycling.”

Simon Yates to take over from Michael Matthews in stage hunting
Going into its 10th straight Tour de France, Australia’s Team BikeExchange has named Lucas Hamilton as their GC contender and Michael Mathews, Simon Yates and Esteban Chaves for hunting for stage wins. Matthews is the first expected to enter in action. “The first two stages look quite interesting”, said the green jersey winner of the 2017 Tour de France. “They are much harder than everyone realizes. They award 50 points each for the green jersey, which can make a big gap to the pure sprinters. Stage 1 is not gonna be a straightforward bunch sprint. It’s very selective. There will be more riders involved than usual because the GC guys don’t want to lose any time. I’ve been working to be good at these sort of stages, not those that are too flat for me.” Simon Yates made a very direct answer. “I have no ambition for GC and I’ll be targeting stages from stage 8 onwards”, the Englishman declared. “I could have done well in the first two but we have better riders in the team. Mentally, it would have been too difficult for me to do Giro and Tour for GC. I also wouldn’t have come out of the Tour de France physically well for the Tokyo Olympics, which is a big goal for me, if I was racing for GC. It’s just better to go all in for a stage, take a few days off and then go for another one.”

Nibali and Mollema in the waiting room
Vincenzo Nibali has made his way back to Brest where he discovered the atmosphere of the Tour de France in 2008. “I remember it very well and it remains a wonderful memory”, said the winner of the 2014 Tour de France. “I wore the white jersey for a few days. This year, I’m not targeting GC. In my mind, Tadej Pogacar is the favourite. Depending on how my legs go, I might try something in the first few stages already. I’m here to break away and there’s a possibility that I’d quit the race before the end to focus on the Olympic road race. It was not easy to recover from the Giro but last week I’ve trained well for the national championship and the Tour de France.” Bauke Mollema, the other veteran from Trek-Segafredo, is back after crashing out last year on stage 13. “It was a complicated wrist injury”, the Dutchman recalled. “We’re here with a strong team, backing Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven for the sprints but it’s a more stressful than any other race. More fans make more noise. It’s no different this year. The start in Brittany has lots of ups and downs. Vincenzo and I will go for it in the mountains.”
@ASO

Tour de France: Alle Etappen der „Großen Schleife“ live bei Eurosport im Free-TV und bei Global Cycling Network

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24. Juni 2021 – Sie hätte eigentlich in Kopenhagen beginnen sollen, doch nach der Verlegung der Olympischen Spiele und der Fußball-Europameisterschaft zog sich Dänemarks Hauptstadt als Startort der 108. Tour de France zurück. Nun schickt die “Grande Boucle” das Peloton in Brest auf die Strecke. Doch ganz egal wo – Eurosport begleitet die Tour de France vom 26. Juni bis 18. Juli 2021 auf allen Plattformen und überträgt die 21 Etappen bei Eurosport 1 live im Free-TV. Zudem ist jede Sekunde der Jagd auf das prestigeträchtige Gelbe Trikot werbefrei bei Eurosport mit Joyn PLUS+ sowie über das Global Cycling Network (GCN) via GCN+ und die GCN-App zu sehen.

Kommentator Karsten Migels wird am Mikrofon unterstützt durch die Experten Jens Voigt und Robert Bengsch. Birgit Hasselbusch ergänzt das Trio wie schon beim Giro d’Italia mit zusätzlichen Informationen rund um Land und Rennen. Als internationaler Experte zurück auf Tuchfühlung mit den Stars ist Eurosport-Experte Sir Bradley Wiggins. Er wird in der Rubrik „Brad on a Bike“ zusammen mit Experten-Kollege Bernie Eisel den Zuschauern einmalige Einblicke in das Renngeschehen bieten und live aus dem Herzen des Pelotons berichten.
Vom Start in der Bretagne führt der Kurs die Fahrer in 21 Etappen über 3383 Kilometer zum traditionellen Ziel auf den Pariser Champs-Élysées. Gleich zwei Einzelzeitfahren stehen auf dem Programm der Tour de France 2021 – das zweite und vermutlich Tour-entscheidende auf der vorletzten Etappe in den Weinbergen zwischen Libourne und Saint-Emilion. Zudem warten drei Bergankünfte (Tignes, Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet und Luz Ardiden) sowie eine spektakuläre doppelte Fahrt über den Mont Ventoux auf der 11. Etappe auf die Fahrer.

Eurosport-Experte Jens Voigt sieht im Kampf um das Gelbe Trikot einen klaren Dominator: „In meinen Augen ist Primoz Roglic der klare Favorit. Mehr noch: Er wird die Konkurrenz auf eine dominante Art und Weise in die Schranken weisen. Na klar wird der größte Duellant Landsmann Tadej Pogacar sein. Alle anderen fahren um den dritten Platz.“

Experte Voigt über Buchmann: „Emu kann spektakuläre Bergetappen gewinnen“
Die Chancen von Emanuel Buchmann, der sich im Team Bora-hansgrohe hinter dem niederländischen Kapitän Wilco Kelderman einreihen muss, bewertet Voigt wie folgt: „Beim Giro war er einer der wenigen, der im Gebirge mit Egan Bernal mithalten konnte. Er hat dort eine sehr gute Form gezeigt. Dann kam der Sturz. Deswegen denke ich: Wir sollten Emu einfach in Ruhe lassen und nicht diesen sinnlosen Podiumsdruck aufbauen. Er kann ruhig in den ersten Tagen Zeit verlieren und dann in den Bergen aus einer Spitzengruppe attackieren. Dann kann er sicher eine oder zwei spektakuläre Bergetappen gewinnen. Das macht ihn glücklicher als jeden Tag um das Gesamtklassement mitkämpfen zu müssen.“

Zusätzlich zu den Rennübertragungen bieten Eurosport und GCN als “Home of Cycling” den Fans digitale Highlights zu den Etappen an. Auf eurosport.de können sich die Radsport-Fans umfassend über die Tour informieren. Streckenpläne und -profile, Renn- und Hintergrundberichte sowie die Höhepunkte aller Etappen im Video ergänzen die TV-Berichterstattung.

Noch mehr begeisternde Inhalte für die Radsport-Community bietet GCN+ seinen Abonnenten: Passend zur Tour de France sind neue Inhalte und Orginal-Dokumentationen verfügbar, darunter zwei neue Episoden der Legends-Reihe über Andy Schleck und Fabian Cancellara, die historischen Dokumentation 1903, Colnago und The Jersey sowie drei brandneue Dokumentarfilme: The Tom Simpson Story, The Greatest Grand Tour Climbs und Ventoux.

TOUR DE FRANCE: INFO WITH THREE DAYS TO GO

Etappenrennen, Tour de France, Vorschau, ,

Key points:

Ø The headquarters of the 108th Tour de France is launched at Brest-Penfeld. The first four stages in Brittany revive the passion in the hotbed of French cycling despite a strict protocol that remains in place to fight Covid-19.

Ø Chris Froome spoke about his come-back to Brest thirteen years after his Tour de France debut. Valverde, Cavendish, Nibali and Gilbert are the other veterans from Brest 2008.

Ø Julian Alaphilippe and Mark Cavendish also have big memories in Brittany and expressed high ambitions for the first week.

CHILDREN SPOKE TO BARGUIL, MADOUAS, BONNAMOUR AND BIANNIC
The headquarters of the 108th Tour de France are up and running at the Parc Expo Penfeld in Brest, nearing the boulevard where Eddy Merckx won the prologue of his fifth winning Tour de France back in 1974. It’s been inaugurated by event director Christian Prudhomme along with politicians from Brest and Brittany, the hosting region of the Grand Départ. Starting the pre-race interviews, children from open centres project and young reporters of Radio Ponta were able to question Breton riders in a video-conference due to Covid-19 restrictions. Warren Barguil explained that he regularly rides his bike with female cyclists like Typhaine Laurance while Franck Bonnamour revealed that he only took up cycling at the age of 15. Valentin Madouas described how he combined studying engineering and cycling at the same time but former French champion Aude Biannic, a native from Landerneau where La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ will finish on Saturday, remained tight-lipped when asked how many wins she had in total. More press conferences will take place on Thursday and Friday before stage 1 from Brest to Landerneau on Saturday.

BACK TO THE ROOTS
Brest, the westernmost city in continental France, where the 108th Tour de France will kick off on Saturday, has already hosted the race on thirty occasions. Every Tour de France from 1906 to 1931 stopped in Brest, often coming from Cherbourg (405km) before heading to La Rochelle (470km). Brian Robinson, now 90, took the first ever stage win by a British rider in Brest, on 2 July 1958, after Italy’s Arrigo Padovan was relegated for tugging Robinson’s shirt.

JULIAN ALAPHILIPPE: “MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE IS SPECIAL TO ME” Being a French world champion at the start of the Tour de France, Julian Alaphilippe is under the spotlights. A few days after he became a dad for the first time, he took a low profile on the occasion of a pre-race press conference. “I’m not sure if this Tour suits me perfectly”, said the Deceuninck-Quick Step rider. “But the course makes it an open race. I’ll set my ambitions after the first week. The first two stages suit me. I can also do well in the first time trial on stage 5, based on my performances in the two time trials of the Tour de Suisse.” Although he’s one of the favourites for stage 1, the Frenchman knows the finale of stage 2 even better since he finished fifth of stage 4 in the 2012 Tour de Bretagne at Mûr-de-Bretagne. “I remember it very well”, Alaphilippe said. “It was one of my first category 2 races and that’s where my skills as a punchy rider were revealed.” In 2013, Alaphilippe won stage 4 of the Tour de Bretagne to Fougères but it’ll be a different finale there for stage 4 of this year’s Tour de France. It’ll suit the pure sprinters. The last Tour de France finish in Fougères was won by Mark Cavendish who took over from Alaphilippe to talk about the first week of racing. “It’s a dream to be here”, the Briton said. “I was prepared for anything and I happen to have already won in Fougères and Châteauroux in the past.” Team manager Patrick Lefévère had the last word to comment on Cavendish’s last minute inclusion into the team: “We called him in emergency but he’s like a substitute who enters the pitch at the 89th minute and scores the winning goal.”

VALVERDE, GILBERT, CAVENDISH, NIBALI AND FROOME ALREADY STARTED FROM BREST IN 2008
The Tour de France kicks off from Brest for the fourth time after 1952, 1974 and 2008. Every time, the defending champion was absent, successively Hugo Koblet, Luis Ocaña and Alberto Contador. Between 1974 and 2008, the Tour never visited Brest. Stage 6 to Mûr-de-Bretagne won by Dan Martin started from Brest in 2018. Thirteen years after the last Grand Départ, five riders of 2008 are still in contention and they’re probably the five biggest names among currently active cyclists: Alejandro Valverde and Philippe Gilbert who had come first and second in stage 1 to Plumelec, Mark Cavendish who was just five days away from the first of his thirty stage victories, the first one having taken place in Châteauroux where the Tour also returns this year, Vincenzo Nibali who was going to wear the white jersey from stage 12 to stage 15 and another neophyte named Chris Froome.

CHRIS FROOME: “BACK TO BREST MEANS I COME FULL CIRCLE” Chris Froome took part in his first Tour de France in 2008 as a neo pro with Barloworld but he was no stranger to Brittany as he already won the Mi-Août bretonne overall the year before as a member of the UCI World Cycling Centre. “I’m very excited ahead of the upcoming start in Brest where I discovered the Tour de France”, the four-time winner said in a pre-race press conference. “I come full circle now. Actually I come back to Brest again with a very similar mind-set as back in 2008, getting through the Tour de France to get back to my form of racing. My recovery process is behind me now. I’ve certainly been missing the Tour de France for two years. The first year, I watched it from a wheel chair. Knowing the characters and the politics in the race, I enjoyed being a fan again. I didn’t necessarily doubt I’d come back. From the moment the doctors said I’d fully recovered, there was nothing to stop me from coming back and I did everything that was on my power to be here again. I wouldn’t use relief as the right word, it’s a stepping stone. I’m here for lifting my level up. I’m excited. We’ve got a fantastic group of guys, a team with different ambitions, not just one goal. I can use my experience to help Michael Woods placing high on GC and target stage wins. I’ll personally try to do the best job possible to support the guys after I spent the last decade with a team doing that for me. I’m obviously in a very different situation. I haven’t got back to my previous level yet but I’m confident I will.”
@ASO

Das BORA – hansgrohe Tour de France Kit feiert mit dem X BO den „next big step“ von BORA und 120 Jahre Hansgrohe

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Während BORA rechtzeitig zum Tour-Start mit dem X BO ein neues Produkt vorstellt, feiert Hansgrohe das 120-jährige Firmenjubiläum. Der Gründer – Hans Grohe – war stets mit einem kecken Schnauzer zu sehen, eine Inspiration für das gesamte Team bei der Tour de France.


© BORA – hansgrohe / Sportful / Chiara Redaschi

„Wir freuen uns, dass unser Team uns unterstützt und unseren revolutionär neuen FlexBackofen BORA X BO auf dem Trikot durch Frankreich und bis nach Paris trägt. Wir sind sehr stolz auf den X BO, mit dem eine neue Leichtigkeit des Kochens in die Küche einzieht. Dem Team rund um die Kapitäne Peter Sagan und Wilco Kelderman wünschen wir alles Gute und hoffen, dass auch sportliche Erfolge mit dem X BO eingefahren werden können. Unsere Daumen sind gedrückt.“ – Willi Bruckbauer, CEO BORA

„Wir sind stolz auf die langjährige Geschichte unserer Unternehmensgruppe. Als Marke hansgrohe freuen wir uns, dass wir mit dem 120 Jahre Trikot und unseren Sponsoring Aktivitäten eine ganz neue Bühne für dieses besondere Jubiläum schaffen. Wir werden bei der Tour mitfiebern und wünschen den Profis viel Erfolg.“ – Marc André Palm, Head of Global Brand Marketing bei hansgrohe

„Wir freuen uns immer, wenn wir für spezielle Anlässe etwas Cooles designen, und dabei Spaß haben können. Es geht dabei nicht immer nur um das Trikot, wir sehen solche Projekte viel mehr als Kommunikationsprojekt. Dieses Mal war das Briefing sehr eindeutig und die kreativen Möglichkeiten enorm. Am Kit zu arbeiten und die Geschichte zu entwickeln war großartig. Wir sind stolz, dass wir unsere beiden Partner bei ihren Feiern unterstützen konnten.“ – Alessio Cremonese, CEO Manifattura Valcismon

„Es freut mich sehr, dass in diesem Jahr unser Tour de France Jersey nicht nur ein neues Design hat, es steckt auch eine Geschichte dahinter. Wir feiern mit Hansgrohe das 120 -jährige Firmenjubiläum und BORA stellt zum Tour-Start ein neues Produkt vor. Dem fiebern wir fast genauso entgegen wie der ersten Etappe.“ – Ralph Denk, Team Manager

BORA X BO – Die neue Leichtigkeit des Kochens
Nur noch wenige Tage bis BORA das Geheimnis rund um den BORA X BO lüftet. Am 25. Juni 2021 um 20:00 Uhr (MEZ) wird die neue Leichtigkeit des Kochens präsentiert und ein weiterer Meilenstein bei BORA erreicht. Die Produktpremiere kann man einfach via Youtube mitverfolgen. Abrufbar am 25.6. um 20 h hier:
https://youtu.be/S7daMAXK3ic oder hier bora.com/de/de/bora-x-bo/

Taktgeber des Wassers. Seit 1901
Unter dem Claim „Taktgeber des Wassers. Seit 1901.“ hebt hansgrohe, die Premiummarke der Hansgrohe Gruppe, in der Jubiläumskampagne the #hansfactor seine tragende Rolle in den Bereichen Innovation, Design und Qualität in der Bad- und Küchenbranche hervor. Das innovationsgetriebene Arbeiten sowie die Liebe zum Tüfteln und Entdecken sind seit über 120 Jahren tief verwurzelt in der Unternehmens – und Produkt-DNA. Nie die Neugierde verlieren und den Status Quo immer wieder in Frage stellen, dabei aber verantwortlich handeln und den Mensch in den Mittelpunkt rücken – dafür steht der #hansfactor.

Das Sportful BORA – hansgrohe Tour de France Kit: Mehr als ein Spiel
Das Briefing war eindeutig: Feiern wir den 120. Geburtstag unserer Freunde von Hansgrohe. Also begannen wir darüber nachzudenken.
Das Ergebnis? Ein Design im Retro Look in unseren Lieblingsfarben bei Sportful und inspiriert von Schach.
Denn die Tour de France – wie Schach – ist viel mehr als nur ein Spiel.

La course by Tour de France avec FDJ

Eintagsrennen, Frauenradsport, Tour de France, Vorschau, , ,

Key points:

● For the eighth edition of La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ, on Saturday 26 June between Brest and Landerneau as the curtain-raiser for stage one of the Tour de France, Dutch riders Marianne Vos and Anna van der Breggen come in as the ladies to beat.

● However, the race promises to be a wide-open affair over the 107 kilometres of action that will end with a finish at the top of the côte de la Fosse aux Loups. This final climb, which should see the punchers attack, could be won by the defending race winner, Great Britain’s Elizabeth Deignan, or Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma.

The Dutch will again be among the principal contenders for victory in the 8th edition of La Course by Tour de France avec FDJ, which will offer an undulating 107-kilometre course between Brest and Landerneau on 26 June, as a curtain-raiser to the first stage of the Tour de France. Two of women’s cycling’s best stand out on the entry list. Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma Women Team) is the most successful rider in the history of the sport. She won the race in 2014 and 2019, and world champion Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx) would like nothing more than to win the race a second time, six years after her triumph on the Champs-Elysées, before retiring at the end of the season. While Vos appears a bit isolated in her squad, Van der Breggen will be able to count on a formidable team with the presence of 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Demi Vollering, and 2017 world champion Chantal van den Broek-Blaak.

The stiffest competition to counter the Dutch armada will be the Trek-Segafredo team. Elizabeth Deignan is none other than the defending champion who won last year in Nice on the Promenade des Anglais. The British rider is in top form after her recent victory in the Tour de Suisse. Her teammate Audrey Cordon-Ragot will be eager to ride a strong race on home turf in Brittany. Other French challengers include Juliette Labous (Team DSM), who finished sixth in the Flèche Wallonne and recently crowned national champion Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope). Muzic’s teammate and seventh-ranked rider in the world, The Netherlands‘ Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig could create a surprise.

American sprinter Coryn Rivera (Team DSM) could also compete for victory if she can stay close on the first steep slopes of the côte de la Fosse aux Loups (3km at 5,7%), which the rider will climb four times and at the top of which the race will be decided. Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) finished fourth last year and could do the same if not better. On the Flèche Wallonne in April, she did the best job of resisting the seven-time winner of the Mur de Huy, Anna van der Breggen.

22 teams, the leading riders

Australia
Team BikeExchange: Spratt (Aus), Brown (Aus)

France
Arkéa Pro Cycling Team: Kerbaol (Fra)
FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope : Ludwig (Den), Cavalli (Ita), Muzic (Fra)
Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime Women Cycling: Rüegg (Swi)

Germany
Canyon//Sram Racing: Niewiadoma (Pol), Chabbey (Sui), Barnes (Gbr)
Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team: Confalonieri (Ita)
Team DSM: Labous (Fra), Rivera (Usa)

Great Britain
Drops-Le Col supported by TEMPUR: Lowden (Usa)

Italy
Ale’ BTC Ljubljana: Bastianelli (Ita), Bujak (Slo)
A.R. Monex Women’s Pro Cycling Team: Ragusa (Ita)
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo: Bariani (Ita)
Valcar – Travel & Service : Sanguineti (Ita)

Spain
Bizkaia – Durango: Alonso (Spa)
Massi – Tactic Women Team: Kern (Slo)
Movistar Team Women: Biannic (Fra)

The Netherlands
Jumbo-Visma Women Team: Vos (Ned)
Liv Racing: Bertizzolo (Ita), Paladin (Ita)
Parkhotel Valkenburg: Van Bokhoven (Ned)
Team SD Worx: Van der Breggen (Ned), Van den Broeck-Blaak (Ned), Majerus (Lux), Vollering (Ned)

United States
Rally Cycling: Doebel-Hickok (Usa), Koppenburg (Ger)
Trek-Segafredo: Deignan (Gbr), Cordon Ragot (Fra)
Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank: Stephens (Usa)

@ASO

108. TdF 2021 – Team Israel Start Up Nation mit Greipel und Zabel

Teamnews, Tour de France, Vorschau, , , , , ,

Photo by HERBERT MOOS
Photo by HERBERT MOOS

Für den Giro d’Italia war Rick Zabel ebenso wie André Greipel von der Teamleitung der Israel Start-Up Nation nicht berücksichtigt worden. Dafür werden die beiden Deutschen am 26. Juni in Brest am Start der 108. Tour de France stehen.

Nachdem der israelische Rennstall bereits am Vormittag die Nominierung des 38-jährigen Greipel bekanntgegeben hatte, folgte am Nachmittag die Bestätigung, dass mit dem elf Jahre jüngeren Zabel auch der etatmäßige Anfahrer des Hürthers bei der Frankreich-Rundfahrt dabei sein wird. Während Greipel seine elfte Tour bestreiten wird, nimmt Zabel seine vierte “Große Schleife“ in Angriff.
Zum achtköpfigen Aufgebot gehören neben dem deutschen Duo die Kanadier Michael Woods und Guillaume Boivin, der Ire Daniel Martin, der Brite Chris Froome, der Schweizer Reto Hollenstein sowie der Israeli Omer Goldstein. Angeführt wird Israel Start-Up Nation wie erwartet nicht vom viermaligen Tour-Sieger Froome, der nach wie vor ein deutliches Stück von seiner Top-Form entfernt ist, sondern Neuzugang Woods, der das Gesamtklassement und Etappensiege ins Visier nehmen soll.

Dem 36-jährigen Froome bleibt bei seiner neunten Tour-Teilnahme dagegen nur die Rolle des Helfers bleiben. Neben Woods wird auch Martin, der zuletzt den Giro d’Italia auf Rang zehn beendete und einen Etappensieg feierte, eine geschützte Rolle einnehmen, wie Sportdirektor Rik Verbrugghe ankündigte.
In den Sprints setzt das Team auf den zuletzt überzeugenden Greipel, der auf bisher elf Tour-Etappensiege kommt und von einem Triumph auf den Champs-Élysées träumt, wo er bereits 2015 und 2016 die jeweilige Schlussetappe der Frankreich-Rundfahrt für sich entscheiden konnte.

@www.Radsport-News.com

Israel Start-Up Nation is ready to take on the team’s second Tour de France with eight strong riders focusing on both the general classification as well as stage wins throughout the race.
After a tough selection process, the team is proud to announce the following lineup for the Tour:

• Michael Woods
• Dan Martin
• Chris Froome
• Omer Goldstein
• André Greipel
• Reto Hollenstein
• Guillaume Boivin
• Rick Zabel

Sports manager, Rik Verbrugghe: “It’s never easy to make the final selection for the Tour de France. Every rider has his own skill set to offer and we need to bring them all together, working as a team. This is not just about selecting one rider. We have to select a whole group that works well together towards a common goal throughout the three weeks.”

“To start out, Mike will be our main rider for the GC as Dan already did the Giro. But of course, if Dan can add to that tally in the Tour, it will be perfect for us. In fact, we will take on the Tour similar to how we did the Giro, only that we now have two riders to protect. Looking at the team we are bringing, I fully believe we will put our mark on the race.”

Michael Woods: “I am really excited to represent Israel Start-Up Nation in the Tour de France, especially in a team leader role. I have had an opportunity to lead a team in a Grand Tour before, but never at the Tour de France. I am honored to be given this position, especially considering the quality of the team we have.”
“I love racing GC. It’s really challenging and doing it in the Tour is even more challenging, more intense, and much more stressful. But the way I am riding these days, I am up to the challenge. And with the team that we have, we will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Omer Goldstein: “I love to be part of the game. Of course, the Tour de France is the biggest race of them all and the stress in the peloton will be different. However, I am confident that I am ready to help the team and to have an impact on our quest to support Mike and get a stage win.”

Dlamini makes history as Team Qhubeka ASSOS name Tour de France line-up

Teamnews, Tour de France, Vorschau, , , ,


@Qhubeka

Dlamini becomes first black South African to compete at Tour de France
Dlamini, Bennett and Campenaerts all make first Tour de France starts
Aru, Henao, Clarke and Gogl add significant experience
Walscheid looks to flat stages and time trials
The spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are – on show to the world

Johannesburg, 18 June 2021 – Team Qhubeka ASSOS continues to make history as we are thrilled to announce our eight-rider roster for the 2021 Tour de France which includes a debut for Nicholas Dlamini, who becomes the first black South African ever to compete at the showpiece event.
Team Qhubeka ASSOS, Africa’s UCI WorldTour team, will make its seventh appearance at the Tour de France having first competed in 2015 (MTN-Qhubeka). Over that period the team has won seven stages; and worn the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys respectively.

Dlamini’s selection is a landmark moment for the South African-registered team as he becomes the latest rider to progress from our development team and onto the UCI WorldTour, and subsequently earn his selection to compete at the world’s biggest cycling race.
The 25-year-old, who grew up in an informal settlement in Cape Town, first caught the eye as a runner before moving into cycling where his talents saw him move to the UCI’s World Cycling Centre Africa in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is from here that he first earned a spot in our UCI Continental outfit – Team Qhubeka – based in Lucca, Italy.
In his second season with the continental team, Dlamini rode as a stagiaire on our WorldTour team and then turned professional in 2018. Since then he raced across the world, including twice competing at the Vuelta a Espana (2019 and 2020) and has worn the king of the mountains jersey at both the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Britain.
2020 saw his season heavily affected by an arm injury, as well as the broader impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the cycling calendar, but 2021 has seen Dlamini selected to represent Team South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and now being called up to our Tour de France squad.
Dlamini’s style of racing will likely see his talents deployed in the offensive strategy the team will look to pursue during the race, while also playing a key supporting role in the flatter stages.

Bennett (25) makes his Tour debut following on two previous Grand Tour starts at the Giro d’Italia, and having made his first start for our team at Etoile de Besseges in February. The Californian comes into the race having impressed with his aggressive racing and versatility in serving the team’s ambitions during the course of the race; and offers a perfect foil for the team’s strategic objectives.

Giro d’Italia stage-winner Victor Campenaerts also makes his Tour de France debut in 2021 and comes into the event in confident mood. The Belgian world hour record holder, who made a name for himself as a time triallist, has changed his approach in 2021 and scored a momentous victory in Gorizia a month ago.

Italian Grand Tour-winner Fabio Aru has steadily seen his form build during the course of 2021 and will bring an incredible amount of experience to our roster. After starting the year racing cyclo-cross, the Sardinian has racked up 33 races days, most recently completing the Criterium du Dauphine.
In 2017 he finished 5th overall as he won stage five and also wore the maillot jaune for a period. 2021 will mark his fourth start at the event.

Michael Gogl was the team’s standout rider at the 2020 Tour de France and his performances during the course of this year, punctuated by his sixth-place finish at Strade Bianche, sees him perform an integral role in our team. His position as a road captain, alongside Simon Clarke, is invaluable. This will be the 27-year-old’s fourth participation at the Tour de France, having first ridden in 2017.

Fellow road captain Simon Clarke starts the Tour de France for a sixth time, with three previous top-10 stage finishes. The 34-year-old rides his first Tour for Team Qhubeka ASSOS and starts his 15th Grand Tour in total. Clarke, whose father hails from Cape Town, will celebrate his birthday on the final stage in Paris, on Mandela Day.

Max Walscheid will ride his second Grand Tour of the year after an excellent performance at the Giro d’Italia. Two top-10 finishes in the two individual time trials in Italy saw the 1.99m German thrilled with the improvements he’s made in this discipline and with a number of opportunities on offer in the flatter stages he will be hopeful of causing an upset.
Our eight-rider line-up is completed with the inclusion of Colombia’s Sergio Henao. The hugely experienced 33-year-old makes his fourth appearance at the Tour with a best performance of 12th overall in 2016, and his ability to play both a supporting role as well as take on the race for himself provides the team with some exciting options.
Throughout 2021 Team Qhubeka ASSOS has sought to do things in differently by asking our fans to announce our line-ups for the races. The response to this initiative has been incredible, and seen our supporters engage with the team in a completely unique way that’s further enriched their relationship with the team.

Our 2021 Tour de France team announcement is a special tribute to all of our fans and partners who together with us celebrate the true spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are.

2021 Tour de France line-up [squad numbers]:

Simon Clarke – Australia [09]
Michael Gogl – Austria [07]
Victor Campenaerts – Belgium [55]
Max Walscheid – Germany [13]
Sean Bennett – USA [31]
Nic Dlamini – South Africa [17]
Sergio Henao – Colombia [10]
Fabio Aru – Italy [21]

Douglas Ryder – Team Principal

This year is an incredibly special one for us – for so many reasons – and now at the Tour de France we again will have the opportunity to showcase our unique purpose-driven team to the world.
Selection for a Tour de France team is always very difficult, and what we’ve seen again this year is riders across our squad put their hand up for selection. Our final roster is one that I know will do our team, partners and supporters proud in the true spirit of Ubuntu.
Riding your first ever Tour is such a special moment and I couldn’t be more delighted for Nic, Sean and Victor. We have huge amounts of experience in Fabio, Michael, Simon and Sergio while Max – together with Victor – shone at the Giro and will be looking to carry that confidence into this race.
For Nic, what a moment though; his story is simply an incredible one and for him to have earned this opportunity shows that dreams really do come true, and for the team to have provided that opportunity makes me incredibly proud.
He’s always been an individual that has stepped up and taken the opportunities that he’s fought for; and he does so again as he lines up at the start line in Brest on the sport’s biggest stage in front of the world. This will culminate in an incredible moment for him, South Africa and especially for our team.
His selection speaks to everything about what we’ve created and built with this team through providing hope, an opportunity and then ultimately the platform to be on the biggest stage of all, the Tour de France.
I know that the spirit coursing through the squad in the way we’ve performed this year will again be on show for the world to see, and I can’t wait for racing to get underway.

Bicycles Change Lives

Nicholas Dlamini
Being selected to ride in my first Tour de France is an absolute dream come true for me. It’s always been an absolute childhood dream for me and now that I’m about to live it makes it feel surreal.
I think it speaks to what the team is about, the Ubuntu spirit, and how we change people’s lives because it is honestly a very special moment: to come from a small township and then to go to the Tour de France.
Considering where I come from it would simply have been impossible for me to have the opportunity to ride at the Tour de France if it wasn’t for Team Qhubeka ASSOS. The platform that they’ve provided me, and other riders from Africa, to compete at the highest level in cycling has been critical.
I really hope that this will serve as a reference of hope and inspiration to many young South Africans, and people around the world, who have been working really hard to reach their dreams, my hope is that they take from this that anything is possible.
I want to race the tour to inspire more kids on Qhubeka bikes to follow in my footsteps and to experience the world like I have, for more kids in communities to put their hands up for bikes to work hard like I did, to dream big. I am living my dream.

Fabio Aru

I am incredibly excited to get my Tour de France campaign underway with Team Qhubeka ASSOS. Throughout the season, I’ve been working towards the race with my focus on being in the best possible condition for the start.
It’s a race that I love, and in 2021 will be one that I will approach with my teammates in the true spirit of Ubuntu. We’ve seen the way that the team has raced this year, and particularly at the Giro d’Italia, and we look forward to continuing in the same way.
We’ll look to race aggressively throughout and target stage victories, which I look forward to playing my part in by racing in a way that continues to shine a spotlight on our purpose as we changes lives with bicycles and the Qhubeka Charity.

Simon Clarke

It’s a great honour to be selected once again for the event which is the pinnacle of our sport, this time with a new team with amazing drive and pride.
The team raced with a special dynamic at the Giro which really made everyone sit up and take notice, and we intend to continue this at the Tour de France. Can’t wait to get cracking.

Michael Gogl

Of course I am extremely happy and motivated to go to the Tour de France. It will be my fourth Tour and with a strong motivated squad, with riders for every terrain, we will continue what worked out really well in the last period; that is to race aggressively and try to hunt stages as one team.
On top of that, riding for Team Qhubeka ASSOS in the biggest yearly sporting event fills me with pride and will most certainly push me even more to put the Qhubeka Charity firmly into the spotlight.

Max Walscheid

I am so incredibly proud to line up again for my second Tour de France with Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
I think I’ve had a great year so far but chances to go for myself were rare but still I’m happy have attained some good results but more so to have been part of great team results and achievements.
Now I am extremely thrilled to represent our team in the sprints and go for results on the biggest stage possible. We have a very versatile team and I’d like to be a key part in achieving results in the flat stages.

Victor Campenaerts

This year’s Tour de France will be my first and after the Giro I’m really eager to do my second Grand Tour of the year as we had a blast.
We achieved some big successes but also just had a really good time because we really are one team and we race in the spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are. This makes it really nice to race, and especially to race a Grand Tour with this family.

Sean Bennett

This is an absolute dream come true and I can’t wait to get the race started. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the way that the team has raced in 2021 as it suits my approach on the bike perfectly. I think that together with the spirit in the group, and racing in that way, that we can continue to be successful.

Sergio Henao

It’s always exciting to be selected for the Tour de France, the most important race in the world. This is very special for me as a return to the Tour in new colours, new jersey and with a new team. We go into the race with high expectations after the good experiences the team has had during the course of the season – and most recently the Giro.
We have to fight for stages and of course maintain a good image of the team. Personally I’ve done some excellent, very hard, preparation at high altitude but have lacked a bit of racing rhythm situation but with confidence I’m sure that we’ll do everything for the team. I’m really looking forward to this month of summer coming up and I’m going to enjoy it a lot, working always as a collective, as a team.

Lars Michaelsen – Head Sports Director

With this team we go into the Tour de France without a specified GC contender and without any top-top-top sprinter but importantly with a group of riders who have a clear goal to take opportunities and play their part in the race.
How will that exactly unfold? Well it’s hard to tell, but if we divide the stages we have six sprint stages, 5-10 possibilities of breakaways, two individual time trials and four hilltop finishes where we’ll probably see the big GC riders going for it.
You can divide it in many ways but I choose to be optimistic in that we have these of somewhere between 5-10 stages where we will try to be represented in breakaways. In the sprints we will support Max Walscheid as well as we can, and look to take any and all opportunities on offer.

Our Ubuntu spririt – I am because we are – will be what carries us into this race and we can’t wait to get going.

BORA – hansgrohe geht mit Kelderman und Sagan als Kapitäne in die Tour de France 2021

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Photo by Plomi

Mit Buchmann und Konrad will der Raublinger Rennstall in den Bergen angreifen. Daniel Oss wird wie gewohnt der letzte Anfahrer für Peter Sagan sein. Politt, Pöstlberger und der Tour-Debütant Schelling fungieren als Allrounder.

„Es war in diesem Jahr definitiv keine einfache Entscheidung und ein langes Hin und Her. Emu war erst seit letzter Woche eine echte Option und wir haben auch lange überlegt, mit zwei Sprintern, also Peter und Pascal anzutreten. Am Ende haben wir uns gegen Pascal entschieden, denn wir denken, dass er im Moment einfach nicht in der Form ist, eine erfolgreiche Tour-Premiere zu geben. Unsere Ziele sind ein Etappensieg und ein Top-Fünf Ergebnis in der Gesamtwertung. Natürlich haben wir auch ein Auge auf Grün geworfen, aber die Konkurrenz ist hart. Damit sind auch die Kapitänsrollen klar vergeben. Auf der einen Seite wird Wilco unser Leader für das Gesamtklassement sein, Peter wird das Team auf den Flachetappen und auf welligem Terrain anführen. Ihm zur Seite steht wie gewohnt Daniel Oss. Zur Rolle von Emu habe ich mich schon hinlänglich geäußert, er wird alle Freiheiten haben. Ähnliches gilt für Patrick Konrad. Natürlich soll Patrick Wilco in den Bergen unterstützen, aber auch er wird Freiheiten bekommen. Generell haben wir uns vorgenommen, ein aktives und attraktives Rennen zu fahren, und mit Nils, Lukas und Ide haben wir drei Fahrer, die in nahezu jedem Gelände wichtige Helfer sein können, die auf der anderen Seite aber auch die Klasse und den Riecher haben, mal eine Etappe aus einer Gruppe zu gewinnen. Es freut mich ehrlich, dass auch einer unserer Jüngsten, der erst im letzten Jahr bei uns Profi geworden ist, jetzt schon bei der Tour dabei sein wird. Ide hat sich toll bei uns entwickelt und er hat sich diesen Platz mit seinen Ergebnissen hart erkämpft.“ – Ralph Denk, Team Manager

BORA – hansgrohe bei der Tour de France 2021:
Emanuel Buchmann (Ger), Wilco Kelderman (Ned), Patrick Konrad (Aut), Daniel Oss (Ita), Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut), Nils Politt (Ger), Peter Sagan (Svk), Ide Schelling (Ned).

Emu Buchmann gibt Comeback bei der 108. TdF

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Photo by Plomi

Während eines Trainingscamps in Livigno fiel die Entscheidung, die Tour in Angriff zu nehmen. Buchmann wird dort aber nicht als Kapitän ins Rennen gehen.

„Der Sturz beim Giro war sehr bitter. Ich war wirklich in guter Form und bin überzeugt, dass ich dort hätte ganz vorne mitfahren können. Diesen Rückschlag musste ich erst einmal verarbeiten und auch die Sturzverletzungen auskurieren. Die Motivation war schnell wieder da und darum bin ich letzte Woche ins Trainingslager, um zu sehen, wo ich stehe. Das Knie hat noch etwas länger gezwickt, aber jetzt ist alles ok. Ich fühle mich so weit fit, aber ob ich bei der Tour in Topform sein kann, wird man erst sehen. Ich konnte mich nicht viele Monate gezielt vorbereiten, wie auf den Giro, der mein Höhepunkt gewesen wäre. Darum habe ich auch nicht die Gesamtwertung im Visier. Ich möchte die Tour ohne Druck von Tag zu Tag nehmen, meine Chancen nutzen und offensiv fahren, wenn es möglich ist. Das heißt nicht, dass ich die Gesamtwertung von vornherein abschreibe, aber wir haben mit Wilco einen Leader, der sich optimal vorbereiten konnte. Er ist da klar die Nummer eins und ich werde ihn gegebenenfalls auch voll unterstützen.“ – Emanuel Buchmann

„Zuerst einmal freut es mich sehr, dass wir Emu bei der Tour sehen. Lieber wäre mir gewesen, ihn in Mailand auf dem Podium zu sehen, aber es ist leider anders gekommen. Emu hat zum zweiten Mal in Folge einen Höhepunkt, auf den er monatelang hingearbeitet hat, in den Wind schreiben müssen. Das ist extrem hart und ich habe wirklich Respekt davor, wie Emu mit der Situation umgegangen ist und dass er nun versucht, bei der Tour wieder anzugreifen. Klar ist aber auch, unser Leader ist Wilco. Seine Vorbereitung ist nach ein paar Rückschlägen im Frühjahr in den letzten Wochen sehr gut gelaufen und bei der Dauphiné konnte man sehen, dass er ganz vorne mitmischen kann. Da wird er vom Team die 100%ige Unterstützung haben. Emu wird seine Freiheiten bekommen, aber man muss auch realistisch sein: die Strecke der Tour ist nicht ideal für ihn, und er ist aus dem Giro verletzt ausgeschieden. Die Gesamtwertung spielt daher aus meiner Sicht eine untergeordnete Rolle, aber natürlich wird er sich auch nicht absichtlich abhängen lassen. Wir schauen einfach mal, wie es läuft, und im Idealfall kann er in den Bergen seine Stärke zeigen. Wenn die Form stimmt, wünsche ich mir einen Emu, der angreift und Risiko nimmt. Wir wollen den Fans in Deutschland eine offensive und attraktive Fahrweise zeigen.“ – Ralph Denk, Team Manager