Cycling: After the more or less successful start, we want to achieve our goals with the Bora – hansgrohe team in the second week as well. In the game Tour de France 2020 we control the German racing team on the Playstation 4 - and have already conquered two ranking jerseys.
Tour de France 2020: We dance at all weddings
What seems almost impossible in real cycling, we try in the game Tour de France 2020 by Bigben to realize. After the first 9 stages we mix with Bora - hansgrohe at the top in almost all ratings. Patrick Konrad leads in the mountain classification and is currently the most combative driver. Peter Sagan wears the green jersey and has already clinched a stage win. Emanuel Buchmann also managed a day's win - and he will attack again in the overall standings to make it into the top 10. There is already Maximilian Schachmann, who, as the reigning German champion, is now also registering ambitions in the overall ranking. But there are still 12 more or less difficult stages ahead of us...
10th stage: Île d'Oléron - Île de Ré
The Tour de France 2020 starts relatively comfortably after the first day of rest. The 162-kilometer flat stage from Île d'Oléron to Île de Ré poses few difficulties. However, when it starts to get really windy over the last 50 kilometers, we join Bora – hansgrohe in speed work. The breakaways are caught and the mass sprint is enforced as planned. Peter Sagan confidently manages to win the second stage - and the green jersey sits more and more firmly on his shoulders.
11th stage: Châtelaillon-Plage - Poitiers
The sprinters and their helpers also have to prove their skills on the second day after the rest day. A consistently boring stage ends in Poitiers with the expected mass sprint, without us having to work with Bora - hansgrohe for it. The pure sprinter teams didn't give the breakaways a chance today. And Peter Sagan should also be left behind today. After a fall in the last quarter of the race, the Slovakian had to fight his way back to the front of the field. In the end, the forces are only enough for 6th place. The stage win goes to Wout van Aert. After all: Peter Sagan does not appear to have sustained any injuries.
12th stage: Chauvigny - Sarran
It's finally getting a bit hilly again at the Tour de France 2020. With Felix Großschartner we're going on the offensive. But he and his companions do not get away decisively. In the second wave of attacks, we miss placing a rider in the leading group. Unfortunately, Tim Wellens - the biggest competitor in the fight for the mountain jersey - crept into the escape group. The Belgian managed to catch up a few points on Patrick Konrad, but our Austrian kept the points even after today's stage. In the end, the day's victory in Sarran is decided by the favorites among themselves. With Maximilian Schachmann we only just lose the uphill sprint against Julian Alaphilippe.
13th stage: Châtel-Guyon - Puy Mary
The professionals have to climb more than 4.400 meters in altitude on today's stage through the central massif. Our mission is clear: Patrick Konrad has to join the group to keep collecting points for the mountain jersey. Together with Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, Marc Soler and Alessandro De Marchi, the Austrian is on the run. In exciting duels and gripping mountain sprints, Patrick Konrad once again manages to keep his competitors in check. Things are not going so well for our ambitions in the general classification. After the breakaway group has been caught, the favorites set off fireworks. Egan Bernal wins the stage and extends his lead in the general classification, while Maximilian Schachmann and Emanuel Buchmann continue to lose ground. They are now only in ranks 21 and 12.
14th stage: Clermont-Ferrand – Lyon
Transfer stage to Lyon. The undulating terrain invites the riders to try a dedicated escape. However, the men from Bora – hansgrohe are resting today. Although Peter Sagan's profile seems tailor-made, we want to save our strength for the tasks ahead. Since the pure sprinters only see small chances of the day's success, the escape group gets through. Zdenek Stybar wins ahead of Michael Valgren. Peter Sagan wins the sprint of the field and thus extends his lead in the points classification.
15th stage: Lyon – Grand Colombier
Why only drive up the Grand Colombier once? That's what the route planners must have asked themselves when they turned their attention to today's section. Because on the 15th stage of the Tour de France 2020, the professionals have to conquer the dreaded mountain several times. Twice it's up, once it's down. So three of the four access routes are being explored today - and Bora - hansgrohe has planned a tactical masterpiece for this special day. After 13 men - including Patrick Konrad, Tim Wellens and Alejandro Valverde - had already fled at the beginning of the stage, Emanuel Buchmann attacked at the Col de la Biche.
One day before the second rest day, the former German champion is putting everything on one card. As 21st in the overall standings, he doesn't have much to lose anyway. And the competition seems to think the same way, because at first they let our emu go. He gradually catches up with the drivers who have already been dropped from the leading group and joins the first group around Wilco Kelderman, Pello Bilbao and teammate Patrick Konrad. Also thanks to the work of the Austrian, we measure a lead of four minutes at the summit. At the foot of the final climb there are three more.
After the work is done, Patrick Konrad can no longer follow. Now Emanuel Buchmann is on his own. Finally, Pello Bilbao and Wilco Kelderman also have to let go. Behind them, the top favorites attack from the decimated field. Buchmann's kick is getting harder and harder. The ledge melts. But Emu can save himself over the line. Leader Egan Bernal finishes 34 seconds behind him. Maximilian Schachmann is strong tenth. In the overall standings, last year's winner is now 2:15 minutes ahead of Jakob Fuglsang. Emanuel Buchmann climbs up to 17th place. With his second day's victory in the Tour de France 2020, the tour is already a great success for him. But the gap to the top 10 seems too big...
