Cycling: With Bora – hansgrohe we are facing the most successful Tour of France in team history. In the Bigben Tour de France 2020 game we are in the last and all-important week.
Tour de France 2020: putting everything on one card
There are only 6 more stages ahead of us. Then we will be in Paris and the Tour de France 2020 project will be over. After 15 stages so far, we can be quite satisfied with the performance of our Bora – hansgrohe team. Patrick Konrad and Peter Sagan are the leaders in the mountain and sprint rankings and shouldn't let their shirts be ripped off. This allows the entire team to fully concentrate on the Top 10 mission. Maximilian Schachmann is currently within striking distance, but Emanuel Buchmann in 17th is already a long way behind. Only with clever tactics can we still make it into the top ten...
Stage 16: La Tour-du-Pin - Villard-de-Lans
As after the first rest day, the second day is relatively leisurely. The peloton lets the breakaways go on this bumpy stage. This is how Alejandro Valverde can assert himself from a 24-man lead group and still celebrate a conciliatory end to the Tour de France 2020. The Spaniard is already far behind in the overall standings. Unfortunately, with Felix Großschartner, who we positioned in the group today, we can't do anything against the old hand in the decisive sprint.
17th stage: Grenoble – Méribel
Today we visit the Col de la Madeleine. There are a few points to collect for the mountain classification up to the Méribel ski area. It's only logical that we join the group with Patrick Konrad. Also there is Wilco Kelderman, who today manages to be the first to climb some mountain passes and thus become Patrick Konrad's new biggest competitor. But our Austrian won't let his mountain jersey get ripped off. And for Kelderman it's not enough for the stage win either. Compatriot Bauke Mollema proved to be the strongest on the final climb and jubilantly crossed the finish line. In terms of overall standings, Emanuel Buchmann is having a good day in the field for the first time. But the gap is still large.
18th stage: Méribel - La Roche-sur-Foron
It's hard to believe, but today is the last chance to really make up ground in the overall standings. The 18th stage leads the riders through several hard climbs to the finish line in La Roche-sur-Foron. 31 riders teamed up to get there ahead of the peloton. And since we have to put everything on one card anyway, we sent Emanuel Buchmann along with us. Together with his companions, the German has a lead of more than 5 minutes. The group breaks up at the Montée du Plateau des Glières. The motto is clear: Buchmann works for the overall ranking and not for the day's victory. But nevertheless – or precisely because of this – valuable alliances are forming in the ever smaller leading group. In this way, they manage not to lose the lead and decide to win the stage among themselves anyway. While Pierre Latour is cheering, Emanuel Buchmann, completely exhausted, crosses the finish line shortly afterwards. He did it: After today's stage, Emu is 10th in the overall ranking! In addition, the mountain jersey sits securely on Patrick Konrad's shoulders after today's section!
19th stage: Bourg-en-Bresse - Champagnole
After Emanuel Buchmann's hussar ride the day before, the entire team can rest today. After all, the decisive time trial is on the program tomorrow. However, when a strong wind picked up in the last quarter of the stage and the already wavy profile was made for Peter Sagan, Bora - hansgrohe then got involved in the speed work. The German racing team succeeds in tearing up the field on the edge of the wind and reducing it to 54 men. Although all the strong classification drivers are in the front part, the pure sprinters were not able to keep up on the bumpy course. This is how Peter Sagan sprints confidently to his next stage win - and now no one can take the green jersey from him.
20th stage: Lure - Planche des Belles Filles
The plank of the beautiful girls will bring the decision in the Tour de France 2020. While Egan Bernal will no longer be able to take the overall victory, numerous professionals are fighting behind them for the coveted places in the top 10. Emanuel Buchmann also has to prove himself again today - and it succeeds. The German finishes strong 20th and improves by two places in the overall standings to rank 8. The stage win goes to Tom Dumoulin ahead of his teammate Primoz Roglic.
Stage 21: Mantes-la-Jolie - Paris
Lap of honor on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées! The 2020 Tour de France is over. On the short last leg to Paris, the pros enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and the enthusiastic cheers of the numerous spectators. When a race is held after all, the breakaways don't stand a chance, as expected. Unfortunately, Peter Sagan misses his long-awaited victory in Paris. Behind Caleb Ewan, the man in green sprints to second place. Team Bora – hansgrohe will still celebrate together tonight. The successful Tour de France 2 ends with winning the mountain jersey, winning the green jersey and finishing 2020th and 8th overall. The yellow jersey goes to Egan Bernal again.
