Cycling: In addition to the twelve German riders, we can observe many other German-speaking professional cyclists at the Tour de France. A total of nine Swiss and four Austrians are at the start. However, they don't have much of a chance of winning.
Important and strong helpers from Austria and Switzerland
Although the Alps in Germany, Austria and Switzerland actually offer the best training conditions for future climbers, the three nations have been waiting for a top tour rider for years. Only Switzerland has a top 10 candidate at the start. Mathias Frank finished eighth overall at the last Tour de France and would like to repeat this result. In the Swiss team IAM, he is supported by his compatriots Martin Elmiger and Reto Hollenstein, among others. However, the experienced Martin Elmiger is also a candidate for a breakaway group on a flat stage or slightly undulating terrain. The Swiss Steve Morabito and Sébastien Reichenbach are a kind of precious helpers for Thibaut Pinot from Team FDJ. The two good climbers can also hope to be able to tackle one or the other stage on their own. Michael Albasini from Team Orica-GreenEDGE and Fabian Cancellara from Team Trek-Segafredo will definitely get their freedom. Albasini is known and notorious as a breakaway colleague with strong sprints and Cancellara is one of the favorites for the day's win in the time trial behind German Tony Martin. Grégory Rast as Cancellara's teammate and Michael Schär from Team BMC will probably only have the role of helper. The four Austrians all drive in different teams and also all in teams in which no Swiss drive. Patrick Konrad has three German colleagues at his side in the Bora-Argon 18 team. Like Georg Preidler from the Giant-Alpecin team, he is regarded as a good climber. Both will certainly get their freedom, so that a stage win in the mountains is definitely within the realm of possibility for the Austrians. Marco Haller from Team Katusha will do the sprints for Alexander Kristoff and Bernhard Eisel has been doing the same for Mark Cavendish for years. Driving on your own is very unrealistic here.
The Swiss at the 2016 Tour de France
Michael Schar (BMC)
Steve Morabito (FDJ)
Sebastien Reichenbach (FDJ)
Martin Elmiger (IAM)
Mathias Frank (IAM)
Reto Hollenstein (IAM)
Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEDGE)
Fabian Cancellara (Trek Segafredo)
Grégory Rast (Trek Segafredo)
The Austrians at the Tour de France 2016
Patrick Konrad (Bora-Argon 18)
Bernhard Eisel (Dimension Data)
Georg Preidler (Giant Alpecin)
Marco Haller (Katusha)
Tour de France Teams – The big preview of Velomotion
Tour de France teams #1: The stage chasers
Tour de France Teams #2: The sprinter teams
Tour de France teams #3: Focus on the general classification