Cycling: In addition to the fight for overall victory, Tour de France further rating jerseys awarded. The most valuable after the yellow is certainly that Green jersey. In the distant past, the points jersey usually went to the best sprinter. Due to some rule changes, however, the rating has changed in favor sagans the all-rounder developed. With a maximum of nine sprint finishes, pure sprinters could slip into the green jersey again in 2018. Or will it be a straight-forward again for Tourminator Peter Sagan?
| Categories | scoring | Stages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| mountain stages & individual time trial | 20 - 17 - 15 - 13 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20 |
|
| hill stages & moderate stages | 30 - 25 - 22 - 19 - 17 - 15 - 13 - 11 - 9 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 | 5, 6, 9, 14, 15, 17 |
|
| flat stages | 50 - 30 - 20 - 18 - 16 - 14 -12 - 10 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 | 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 18, 21 |
|
| intermediate sprints every stage | 20 - 17 - 15 - 13 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | all stages, except time trials |
Peter Sagan: He alone decides on the green jersey
Always when Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) finished the Tour de France, he was honored with the green jersey on the Champs-Élysées. Between 2012 and 2016 he won the points classification five times in a row. There was no doubt that he would also win in 2017. First the unjustified disqualification after the fourth stage paved the way for Michael Matthews (Sunweb). Everything should go according to plan again this season. Sagan is once again the clear favorite for the green jersey. No wonder, because he will consistently finish in the top 10 on the eight flat stages. There are also some stages that suit him significantly better than pure sprinter competition. Stage #9 to Roubaix should be mentioned in particular. As one of the best drivers on cobblestones, he will be racing for victory. It is also clear that stage #5 suits him. In addition, he will keep clean during the intermediate sprints and maybe even join an escape group on one or the other mountain stage. If Sagan is back to normal and enjoying full freedom, the green jersey should return to its rightful owner - and that's Peter Sagan.
Fernando Gaviria: Participating in the Tour de France for the first time
Rarely has the steep rise of a talented rider been so predictable as with Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors). The Colombian has been active in the Belgian team since the end of 2015. Interested viewers recognized early on that there was huge potential in him. That's one of the reasons why the team management let Marcel Kittel go with almost no resistance after last season. Kittel won five stages in the Tour de France and was not stopped. Precisely because you knew that Fernando Gaviria was a driver who could follow in these huge footsteps. After two years in the shadow of one of the best sprinters in the world, Gaviria can now captain the Tour de France himself. With seven stage victories this season - despite a complicated injury - he brings a lot of tailwind to France. We already have one in January Changing of the guard in the sprint prophesied. Due to Marcel Kittel's poor form, the only question now is whether Fernando Gaviria is actually the one dominating the mass sprints.
Dylan Groenewegen: blossomed into the absolute top sprinter
How to win on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées has Dylan Groenewegen already figured out. The one so traditional for sprinters final stage of the 2017 Tour de France went to the Dutchman. At that time he was already on the bill as a potential winner, but hardly anyone would have actually bet on him. Since that triumph, Dylan Groenewegen has come a long way. The beefy sprinter won nine races in 2018, including Kuurnee-Brussels-Kuurnee. He made his breakthrough into the world class long ago. It is quite possible that he can go one step further. However, it is more likely that Dylan Groenewegen will not focus on the green jersey. His team will have to manage their resources well anyway if they want to compete for the yellow jersey with Primoz Roglic. If Dylan Groenewegen wins two stages right at the start, he won't want to give up the green anymore.
Conclusion: Only a serial winner can annoy Sagan
The 2018 Tour de France could be the most exciting in many years. The reason for this is not only that numerous drivers can hope for the yellow jersey. Even in the fight for stage wins, the field of riders seems to be closer together than ever before. With so many top sprinters, it's hard to imagine that another professional will be able to win five stages. But this would probably be necessary in order to be able to attack Peter Sagan at all. As usual, the Slovak will be at the front on all flat stages. Even if he doesn't win, he gets a lot of points. Since the top sprinters will always take points away from each other, Sagan can then make the difference on those stages that suit him particularly well. Fernando Gaviria and Dylan Groenewegen are to be favored after the performances shown so far in the mass sprints. But also Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), Michael Matthews (Sunweb), Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), as well as Nacer Bouhanni and Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) are serious contenders to win. If nobody can claim four or more stage wins, Peter Sagan should do it again on the Champs-Élysées Green jersey obtained.