Schlagwort-Archive: 108. Tour de France

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

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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

Team selection for 2021 Tour de France

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The organisers of the Tour de France have chosen the teams that will take part in the 108th edition (June 26- July 18).

In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules, the following nineteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

AG2R Citroën Team (Fra)
Astana – Premier Tech (Kaz)
Bahrain Victorious (Brn)
Bora – Hansgrohe (Ger)
Cofidis (Fra)
Deceuninck – Quick-Step (Bel)
EF Education – NIPPO (Usa)
Groupama – FDJ (Fra)
Ineos Grenadiers (Gbr)
Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux (Bel)
Israel Start-Up Nation (Isr)
Jumbo – Visma (Ned)
Lotto Soudal (Bel)
Movistar Team (Esp)
Team BikeExchange (Aus)
Team DSM (Ger)
Team Qhubeka Assos (Rsa)
Trek – Segafredo (Usa)
UAE Team Emirates (Uae)

Furthermore, the Alpecin – Fenix, the leader in the 2020 classification of UCI ProTeams will take part by right in Tour de France 2021.

Following the decision of the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) directors’ committee to increase the maximum number of riders allowed at the start of Grand Tours from 176 to 184, the organisers of the Tour de France extend invitations to the following three teams:

B&B Hotels P/B KTM (Fra)
Team Arkéa – Samsic (Fra)
Total Direct Energie (Fra)

2021 TOUR DE FRANCE: LOOPING THE LOOP

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Key points:
 The route of the 2021 Tour de France, which is due to run from 26 June to 18 July, was presented on the set of France Télévisions‘ Stade 2 weekly programme today. After the Grand Départ in Copenhagen and Denmark had to be postponed to the following edition, this time the show will get on the road in Brittany with four stages tailored to punchers and sprinters.
 The 2021 route has been fine-tuned to keep the suspense going until the end. Climbers will get three opportunities to gain time on summit finishes (Tignes, Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet and Luz Ardiden), but riders will also have to make use of their descending skills to win in Le Grand Bornand, at the foot of a „revamped“ Ventoux and in Andorra. The addition of two individual time trials with a combined length of 58 kilometres will also be a decisive factor in the strategies of the riders.

The 108th Tour de France will feature a ground-breaking route with a double serving of climbing. Contenders for the overall victory will have to be on high alert from the get-go, lest they crack on the two climbs up the Mûr-de-Bretagne, which will be tackled from a different side in the stage 2 finale. Ten days later, they will have to put on another show of strength on the slopes of the Mont Ventoux. The Giant of Provence, which is making its first double appearance in a stage, will be tackled from two different sides before plunging down to Malaucène. In between these two key dates, the riders will have already faced new challenges, including four stages in the four departments that make up Brittany —from Brest to Fougères— riddled with hazards such as coastal winds and the hills of the Armorican Massif. The Signal d’Uchon, a recently discovered climb in the Morvan, will decide the stage to Le Creusot in its first appearance in the race.

The return of the first-week individual time trial will provide an early indication of the pecking order, which the climbers will do their best to shake up in the two gruelling Alpine stages finishing in Le Grand Bornand and in Tignes, just before the first rest day.
After that, the Pyrenees will dispel any remaining doubts in five action-packed duels in the high mountains, combining the brand-new, spectacular Col de Saint-Louis on the road to Quillan with absolute classics like the Peyresourde – Val Louron-Azet – Col du Portet and Tourmalet – Luz Ardiden sequences. It will be do or die for the kings of the mountains, who will have to grab every second they can if they are to fend off the toughest power riders in the 31 km run through the vineyards of Saint-Émilion on the eve of the finish on the Champs-Élysées.
While the destiny of the Yellow Jersey will probably be decided in south-western France, the fight for the green jersey will take place all over the country, with no fewer than seven stages likely to fall to the sprinters as long as their teammates can keep any breakaways on a tight leash. Stage hunters will also get numerous opportunities to thwart the peloton.

LA COURSE BY LE TOUR DE FRANCE WITH FDJ TO TACKLE THE MÛR-DE-BRETAGNE
Since 2014, the women’s peloton has raced on the Champs-Élysées, tamed the Col d’Izoard and gone head to head in a circuit race at the foot of the Pyrenees. The eighth edition of the race will take the riders to Mûr-de-Bretagne, a hallowed site of cycling that has come to be known as „the Breton Alpe d’Huez“. While the men will face a double serving of the climb in the finale of stage 2, the ladies will tackle it no fewer than six times on 27 June 2021. The course is about 130 km long and consists of five laps of a circuit to be completed before the finish. Every lap will be tougher than the last!

ÉTAPE DU TOUR DE FRANCE: SEE YOU IN NICE ON 4th JULY
Time to follow Alaphilippe’s wheel! Following the cancellation of the 2020 edition, the cyclosportive riders of the Étape du Tour de France will get back to business on the course of stage 2 of the last Tour de France, an 186 km trek featuring the Col de la Colmiane, Col de Turini and Col d’Èze as its highlights. The decision to keep the original course of the 30th edition stems from a common aspiration with the city of Nice to support the villages in the Vésubie Valley, which were devastated and left with damaged roads by Storm Alex a few weeks ago. Note that riders who signed up for the 2020 edition will have priority for 2021, but they may ask for a refund if they no longer wish to take part in the event. The official registration window will open at the beginning of the year.
@ASO

Tour de France Mannschaft von BORA – hansgrohe bleibt unverändert

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Trotz der erlittenen Sturzverletzungen in Frankreich bzw. Italien, werden Buchmann, Schachmann und Mühlberger die Tour de France in Angriff nehmen. Allerdings unter anderen Voraussetzungen als ursprünglich geplant.

„Die Prellungen und Blutergüsse bei Emanuel haben sich als sehr hartnäckig erwiesen. Er hat einige Tage komplett pausieren müssen, und so wichtige Trainingstage verloren. Medizinisch handelt es sich um einen ganz normalen zeitlichen Verlauf, sodass wir, wenn sich die Tendenz fortsetzt in Richtung Tour auf einem guten Weg sind. Körperlich wird er zu diesem Zeitpunkt aber sicher nicht in der optimalen Form sein.
Der Bruch des Schlüsselbeins bei Max hat sich in den letzten Tagen sehr gut entwickelt. Wir haben die nötige Stabilität, um es zumindest zu versuchen. Er trainiert seit ein paar Tagen wieder auf der Straße, und das läuft unseren Erwartungen entsprechend. Aber natürlich wurde auch Max massiv in seiner Vorbereitung beeinflusst. Zum Radfahren gehören eben nicht nur die Beine, sondern auch der Rest des Körpers muss in guter Verfassung sein.
Gregor ist wohl noch am besten davongekommen. Eine schwere Verletzung des Handgelenks, die eine längere Ruhigstellung oder Operation nach sich gezogen hätte konnte ausgeschlossen werden. Er hat zwar auch noch Schmerzen, kann mit einer Spezialschiene aber wieder trainieren. Alle drei haben in den letzten Tagen eine exzellente Mitarbeit bei den intensiven Rehabilitationsmaßnahmen geleistet – auch das macht Weltklassesportler aus.“ – Jan-Niklas Droste, Medical Team

„Das war schon ein herber Rückschlag. Eigentlich dachte ich, die Tour ist gelaufen, als ich nach dem Sturz nicht mehr selbständig aufstehen konnte. Aber zum Glück war doch nichts gebrochen. Ich habe mich letzte Woche voll auf die Therapie konzentriert, und konnte erst Ende der Woche wieder aufs Rad steigen. Am Wochenende im Training lief es nicht nach Wunsch. Das Ganze hat mich ziemlich zurückgeworfen. Der Sturz ist bitter, weil ich richtig gut in Form war. Bei der Dauphiné war ich hinter Roglic der Stärkste am Berg, mit Pinot zusammen. Es gibt nun ein paar Fragezeichen, zumal es ja gleich richtig los geht. Es gibt keine Zeit zum Einrollen. Schon auf der zweiten Etappe geht es in die Berge. In wie weit ich da mithalten kann, wird man sehen. Ich kann die Tour jetzt nur von Tag zu Tagen in Angriff nehmen.“ – Emanuel Buchmann

„Natürlich hätte ich mir andere Voraussetzungen gewünscht. Ich freue mich aber dennoch, dass mir das Team trotz der Verletzung das Vertrauen schenkt und mir die Chance gibt, bei der Tour am Start zu stehen. Ich habe in den vergangenen Tagen so gut wie möglich trainiert und hoffe, dass es auch im Rennen machbar ist und ich mit den Schmerzen umgehen kann.“ – Maximilian Schachmann

GRAND DÉPART 2021 IN BRITTANY: BREST SETS SAILS

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Passing of the peloton during stage six of the 2018 Tour de France between Brest and Mûr-de-Bretagne

Key points:
 The organisers of the Tour de France announced at a press conference at the Regional Council of Brittany in Rennes that the Grand Départ of the 2021 Tour de France will take place in Brest. Finistère’s point will host the start of the race for the 4th time in history, following 1952, 1974 and 2008.
 Four all-Brittany stages will be on the programme of the Tour beginning on 26 June, with stages that will likely be influential for the Yellow Jersey contenders.
 The Grand Départ initially planned in Copenhagen has been postponed until 2022.

It is said that when the wind blows, no one navigates turbulence better than Bretons. In the past few weeks, they have shown themselves to be up to the challenge and opportunity. They have also demonstrated their loyalty to the Tour de France when the skies darkened over Copenhagen. The congested 2021 summer sporting calendar has forced the Tour’s first visit to Denmark to be postponed until 2022. Instead of heading north, the 108th edition will travel west and its first stage will be held in Brest, which is only second to Paris in terms of hosting the Grand Départ. In previous Tour starts from the tip of Brittany, the way was paved for Fausto Coppi’s success in 1952, Eddy Merckx’s last victory in 1974, and then Carlos Sastre’s in 2008.

After the 32nd visit of the Grande Boucle in Brest, which first appeared on the race programme in 1906, the route will be laid out with the intention of exploring Brittany’s Armor coastal region and its inland Argoat territories. The diversity of the landscapes makes it possible to create selective stages and will thus put the onus on the favourites to live up to their responsibilities straight away. Details will be announced for these four all- Brittany stages during the presentation of the Tour on 29 October at the Palais des Congrès in Paris.

The Tour de France in Brittany: key numbers
– 170 stages held with the start or arrival in the region since 1906
– 33 different cities in Brittany have hosted a stage
– 6 Grands Départs have taken place in Brittany: in Brest (1952-74-2008) and in Rennes (1964), Plumelec (1985) et Saint-Brieuc (1995).
– 153 Breton riders have raced in the Tour between 1905 and 2019 (record participation in 1958: 14)
– 4 Bretons have won the Tour de France: Lucien Petit-Breton (1907-08), Jean Robic (1947), Louison Bobet (1953-54-55) and Bernard Hinault (1978-79-81-82-85)

The Brittany and the Tour de France
© A.S.O.
More information about the Tour de France on www.letour.fr/en/

TOUR DE FRANCE 2021 : THREE STAGES TO FIND TRUE NORTH

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Key points:
 On 3 July 2021, the Tour de France will venture farther north than ever before when it reaches the 70-kilometre mark in the second Danish stage, from Roskilde to Nyborg.
 The profiles of the first three stages were unveiled this morning in Vejle, another town that will host the 108th edition of the race. The show will get on the road in the capital of the country, Copenhagen, which is known as the most cycling-friendly city on Earth.

The Tour de France has explored all sorts of coasts, from beaches, harbours and cliffs to rocky inlets, dykes and bays. In 2021, the peloton of the Grande Boucle will discover a Nordic variant, the fjords, when it rolls out of Vejle for stage 3, held in the southern part of the Jutland peninsula. The hometown of 1977 Ballon d’Or winner Allan Simonsen also hosted the unveiling of the profiles of the Danish stages of the 108th edition. The opening act of the Grande Boucle, a 13 km romp through the streets of Copenhagen, is tailored to the most explosive riders in the field. Although the pancake-flat course opens the door to record-high average speeds, one of the few times that the riders will have to hit the brakes will come 4 km before the line, where the Little Mermaid will watch them negotiate a tight corner. The next day, the stage starting in Roskilde, the old capital of the country, promises a fierce battle among the classics specialists, who will face a windswept 18 km section of bridges while crossing the Great Belt in the run-in to Nyborg. Finally, the 182 kilometre stage to Sønderborg that will wrap up the Danish adventure will be a fjordfest along the coast, with the sprinters itching to pounce on what will likely be the first bunch sprint of the race.

The Danish stages of the 2021 Tour de France:
Stage 1: Copenhagen (individual time trial), 13 km
Stage 2: Roskilde > Nyborg, 199 km
Stage 3: Vejle > Sønderborg, 182 km

Christian Prudhomme, director of Tour de France: „The first few days of the Tour de France often set the tone and atmosphere of a race that develops into whatever the riders want to make of it over the following three weeks. It is an exciting prospect to think that in July 2021 we will be applying the final touches to the start in the heart of a city that breathes and lives cycling. The first three stages will showcase the landscapes of Denmark and give rise to a wide range of scenarios in which power riders, echelon experts and sprinters will all get a chance to shine — a compendium of bicycle racing on flat terrain.“
Dansk Metal, new local partner
The Danish trade union Dansk Metal, for those who work in industries of engineering, mechanics and IT, becomes the 2021 Grand Départ’s first Danish partner as an Official Fan. “We are very pleased that we have entered into this sponsorship. There is no doubt that the beginning of the Grand Boucle in Denmark will be a huge experience for a lot of Danes and we want at Dansk Metal to contribute to that,” says Danish Metal Vice President René Nielsen.
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Tour de France 2021 – Grand Depart Copenhagen

Etappenrennen, Tour de France, Vorschau, ,

Key points:
 Denmark will become the tenth country to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2021. The first three stages of the 108th edition of the race will take place in Copenhagen and the southern part of the country.
 A hundred years after the inaugural edition of the (amateur) World Cycling Championships and a decade after hosting the Worlds for the sixth time, the Danish capital and most bicycle-friendly city in the world will set the scene for the most famous cycling race on Earth.

Copenhagen is home to more bicycles than people. The city that has integrated cycling into its daily life better than any other place in the world is a natural fit for the biggest cycling race on Earth. The Tour de France will head to Denmark in 2021 for the northernmost Grand Départ yet. A time trial through the heart of the Danish capital will kick off the race’s Nordic adventure. The next stage will give riders and viewers alike the opportunity to discover the island of Zealand and take the 18 km Great Belt Bridge that will take them to Nyborg on the island of Funen. The visit to Denmark will come to an end on the Jutland peninsula on the mainland with a sprinter-friendly romp between Vejle and Sønderborg. A generation of riders such as Michael Valgren, Søren Kragh Andersen, Mads Pedersen and Magnus Cort Nielsen will fight for their chance on home turf.

Danish stages of the 2021 Tour de France:
Stage 1: Copenhagen (ITT), 13 km
Stage 2: Roskilde > Nyborg, 190 km
Stage 3: Vejle > Sønderborg, 170 km

Lars Løkke Rasmussen: „I am both very happy and very proud that the Tour de France is coming to Denmark. Denmark is one of the greatest cycling nations in the world, so to be able to welcome the best bike riders in the world and host the world’s most iconic cycling race is an honour and a privilege. The Danes are more than ready to host one of the greatest sporting events in the world. I really look forward to the summer of 2021″.
Franck Jensen: “It is a tremendous honour for Copenhagen to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2021: the best cycling city in the world welcomes the greatest cycling race in the world. The Grand Départ in 2021 will be the biggest sport event in Denmark ever. We will use this unique opportunity to celebrate the Tour de France and our unique bicycle culture with the rest of the world.“
Rasmus Jarlov: „I am very excited about getting the Tour de France to Denmark. This will be a huge celebration for all of Denmark and for cycling fans all over the world. And it will be a great opportunity for us to show to the world what Denmark has to offer in terms of beautiful scenery, historic sights, our unique cycling culture, our life style, smart city solutions and so much more. It is an amazing branding opportunity for Denmark and I very much look forward to July 2021.“
Christian Prudhomme: „The Tour de France is the biggest cycling race on Earth, but we still have much to learn! The Danes set an outstanding example by making bicycles their leading means of transport in urban areas. In Copenhagen, we will meet fans who acclaim the champions of world cycling. The energy that supporters and curious locals will channel to riders, followers and viewers of the Tour will most assuredly be a great source of inspiration to succeed in our greatest challenge: seeing the future on a bike.“
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