Cycling: rest day at the Tour de France 2020! Without the corona pandemic, the professionals would have completed nine stages of the Tour of France. But as we know, the tour doesn't start until August. On the Playstation 4 but we are already in the middle. And with Bora - hansgrohe, we already had some successes after the first few days...
Tour de France 2020: highs & lows after 9 stages
Four flat stages, three mountain stages and two hilly sections are already behind us. With Bora - hansgrohe we - as total beginners on the Playstation 4 - dare the challenge of the Tour de France 2020 at the professional level of difficulty. In the game of Bigben and Cyanide we have a lot of goals to achieve with this German racing team. Above all, Peter Sagan and Emanuel Buchmann should take care of it. While the Slovak wants to win his eighth green jersey, the German is eyeing the podium in the general classification. The two captains will be supported by the Austrians Patrick Konrad, Felix Großschartner and Gregor Mühlberger, as well as by youngster Lennard Kämna, climber Rafal Majka and the German champion Maximilian Schachmann. Already on the first nine stages, our brave troupe had to put up with a few setbacks, but were also able to celebrate one or the other success. But see for yourself...
1st stage: Nice – Nice
Mass sprint at the start of the Tour de France 2020. Although a sprint royal seems unavoidable, we go with Gregor Mühlberger in the first breakaway group of the tour. Together with compatriot Matthias Brändle, the Frenchman Kévin Réza and the German André Greipel, he forms the escape quartet. However, we were unsuccessful on the three laps through the hinterland of Nice – on all levels. At first Gregor Mühlbeger didn't succeed in conquering the mountain jersey, then Peter Sagan completely messed up the intermediate sprint. In the final sprint it is only enough for ninth place. We recognize that without practice we hardly have a chance in this game. But as the tour progresses we will learn and get better. The stage win at the start and with it the yellow jersey goes to Sam Bennett – a sprinter of all people who left our team just a few months ago. Kévin Réza starts tomorrow in a mountain jersey.
2st stage: Nice – Nice
On day two of the 2020 Tour de France, we seek redemption. With Rafal Majka we send a man to the group early on. But after a few kilometers the quartet is caught. There's a new group. We're at it again. Patrick Konrad should score for us this time. In the person of Tim Wellens, however, he has to deal with a strong opponent. The Belgian and the Austrian duel at every climb. At the end of the day, however, our Patrick Konrad was awarded the mountain jersey - tied with Tim Wellens. But again we can't really intervene in the fight for the day's win. In the last climb we have to beat Thibaut Pinot and co. to let go. But with Maximilian Schachmann and Emanuel Buchmann we only lose 14 seconds. It was harder for Chris Froome, who lost almost three minutes.
3rd stage: Nice - Sisteron
Despite seven mountain classifications, the sprinters should fight for the day's victory again today. The men from Bora - hansgrohe, on the other hand, were able to rest as much as possible today, because regeneration also plays an important role in this game. So it means: Full concentration on Peter Sagan and the mass sprint - but this time the Slovakian shouldn't even come close to his achievements in real life. While this time Wout van Aert wins ahead of Sam Bennett, we're only 14th with Peter Sagan. At least we won the intermediate sprint out of the field. Slowly we seem to understand how to steer the triple world champion!
4th stage: Sisteron - Orcières-Merlette
With six mountain classifications and a mountain finish at the end of the stage, this section should be another pointer in the overall ranking. But first Peter Sagan had to prove himself. Like the day before, he managed to win the intermediate sprint behind the escapees. In the fight for the green jersey, the Slovak is slowly coming within striking distance. But today he can rest again. Climbers are in demand now. The escapees were spotted right on time at the foot of the last climb and the fight for yellow began. Frenchman Thibaut Pinot can once again celebrate the stage win. Emanuel Buchmann loses just over a minute, but comes in a strong sixth and is therefore in the same place in the overall standings. It was a bit unfortunate for teammate Patrick Konrad. The Austrian has to give up his mountain jersey to Tim Wellens because of two points.
5th stage: Gap – Privas
Mass sprint on a slightly uphill home stretch? Well, if that's not for our Peter Sagan! Fully motivated and with the belief in our first stage win, we started the fifth stage in Gap - and were not disappointed. After Peter Sagan won the intermediate sprint, he did the same in the final sprint. Our man was the first to cross the line with confidence. On the podium he was even given the green jersey. Now we have finally arrived in the Tour de France 2020! Thanks to the regeneration bonus, our squad can now have a good rest before tomorrow's stage.
6th stage: Le Teil - Mont Aigoual
Four mountain classifications in the last third promise an exciting stage. Eleven breakaways - with Mühlberger and Wellens - are caught just before the last climb. After all, our man was able to contest a few points in the mountain classification with his competitor, Wellens. In the evening at the hotel, fellow countryman Konrad will surely thank Mühlberger for this. However, Emanuel Buchmann will be less in a good mood there. Our classification driver did not have a good day. In the Col de la Luzette he loses touch and at the end of the day more than two minutes behind the day's winner Julian Alaphilippe. Jakob Fuglsang took over the yellow jersey as third in the stage.
7th stage: Millau – Lavaur
Pure excitement down to the last millimeter! What was actually a rather boring stage has turned into a real eye-catcher today. Because for a long time it looked like the peloton had the escapees under control. However, they fought back until the home straight. Also present: Patrick Konrad, who can draw level with Tim Wellens in the mountains classification thanks to today's result and will wear the coveted mountain jersey tomorrow. However, the Austrian was not fast enough to win the stage. Oliver Naesen secured this. The Belgian was the only escape from the peloton and was able to save himself across the line. Peter Sagan was just a tad late. However, the Slovak can confidently extend his lead in the points classification.
8th stage: Cazères - Loudenvielle
The 2020 Tour de France arrives in the Pyrenees. After three hard climbs, the overall classification is to be rewritten today. Unfortunately, we don't play a good role in that. As announced on the previous days, Emanuel Buchmann doesn't seem to be in top form. Our trump for the overall standings loses more than 13 minutes today and is thus out of the top 10. At least the team management made the wise decision not to delegate Maximilian Schachmann to him today. The German champion was able to pull away together with Egan Bernal on the final climb and finally secured second place in the daily ranking. Things also went well for Patrick Konrad. The Austrian continues to collect points and extends his lead in the mountains classification.
9th stage: Pau – Laruns
Emanuel Buchmann strikes back! One day after his collapse, the German took his heart in both hands and attacked on the final climb towards Laruns. Since he is now far behind in the overall standings, his competitors let him go. Bora - hansgrohe celebrates the second win of the day. In addition, the German racing team leads three ratings. Patrick Konrad is currently being honored as the most combative driver and is wearing the mountain jersey, Peter Sagan green. All is not lost in the overall standings either. Maximilian Schachmann might even have a chance of making the top 10 and with Emanuel Buchmann we might be able to start a comeback with a quick action...
