Cycling: This year's Tour de France is getting closer. The 102nd edition of the world's most famous racing cycle tour starts on Saturday. A total of 22 teams will start, each team will provide 9 riders, which means that 198 riders have made it onto the start list of the tour - an honor for each of these riders. Ten of them hold up the German flag. Here is a brief portrait of the German tour squad:
André Greipel – Lotto Soudal
Age: 32
Andre Greipel aka Der Gurilla is a powerhouse. He rode a solid Giro this year and even managed to secure a stage win. Even if he had to give up his German championship title, he is probably the hottest German contender for a stage win.
Marcel Sieberg - Lotto Soudal
Age: 33
André Greipel's most important helper and has always been at his side on the tour. Sieberg impresses with race overview and assertiveness. He is the one who gets Greipel in position for the sprint and also his motivator.
John Degenkolb – Giant Alpecin
Age: 26
It is Degenkolb's third tour and his first where he will act as sole captain of the Giant Alpecin team. His spring was crowned with victories in Roubaix and San Remo, now the first stage win in the Tour is coming. Not an impossibility, because he was able to win both the Giro and the Vuelta. The green jersey is also feasible for him.
Simon Geschke – Giant Alpecin
Age: 29
He was already close at the Giro and a stage win at the Tour is not impossible for Geschke. He finds his way well on classic terrain and medium-difficulty stages. First and foremost, however, he will keep Degenkolb free.
Tony Martin - Etixx Quick Step
Age: 30
Germany's flagship in the time trial – Tony Martin is one of the best riders in the fight against the clock and has a good chance of the yellow jersey right at the start of the tour. The course of the time trial seems tailored to him and if the coup succeeds, he could claim the maillot jaune for a few days. For the remainder of the Tour he will primarily be driving for Mark Cavendish.
Emanuel Buchmann – Bora Argon 18
Age: 22
The young Ravensburger coaxed the German title from André Greipel. In his first year as a professional, he is already allowed to start on the tour and with his good climbing abilities, he has a good chance of a top placement, especially on mountain climbs.
Dominik Mink – Bora Argon 18
Age: 25
Mink goes into the race as captain of the Bora Argon 18 team. He's already finished in the top 20 twice at the Vuelta but doesn't seem to be finding his rhythm this year. Should the knot burst during the tour, there is a good chance that he will be the best German driver in the classification.
Andreas Schillinger – Bora Argon 18
Age: 31
Schillinger is a founding member of Bora Argon and the epitome of a helper. He is not above any service and puts his own ambitions aside without a murmur. At the spring classic Paris-Roubaix he took 16th place at the beginning of the year.
Paul Voss - Bora Argon 18
Age: 29
Paul Voss is an all-rounder. He can climb, sprint and is a good candidate, especially on medium-difficulty stages. Just missed out on a stage win at the Giro and is currently in the form of his life.
Paul Martens – LottoNL Jumbo
Age: 31
Martens makes his long-awaited and overdue tour debut this year. The topography of the first week suits him. With his all-round ability he should definitely get some freedom from his team and is therefore good for an upset.