Cycling: 176 riders divided into 22 teams will tackle the 1 Tour de France on July 2022st. We look at all teams and their goals. In the first part we focus on all teams that have a first-class sprinter in their ranks and therefore focus on the mass sprints.
 |
 |
Quick Step Alpha Vinyl
Almost traditionally, the Belgian team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl goes into the Tour de France as a sprint team. With Fabio Jacobsen you have what is currently probably the fastest man in your own ranks. Therefore, one can even afford to leave the newly crowned British Champion Mark Cavendish at home. Two sprinters are just one too many. And so, with Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, they are fully backing the Jakobsen card. With the Dane Michael Morkov he has the best starter in the world at his side and will undoubtedly be the favorite in the bunch sprints. If the section is too difficult for him, the team will go on the offensive itself. But this time without Julian Alaphilippe, because the Frenchman was surprisingly not nominated either. Instead, they rely on a classic team around the Dane Kasper Asgreen, the Belgian Yves Lampaert, the french Florian Senechal, as well as the Italian Andrea Bagioli. For the mountains were the Dane Mikkel Honore and the Italian Mattia Cattaneo nominated.
Prognosis: As always, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl has a clear plan. With Fabio Jakobsen you will win more than just a mass sprint. On all other stages the motto is: Fire at will! Then the troupe will create groups themselves and compete for daily victories, especially on hilly stages.
 |
 |
Alpecin-Deceuninck
Alpecin - Fenix becomes the Tour de France 2022 Alpecin - Deceuninck. The alignment of the team, however, remains very sprint and classic-heavy as usual. Head of the team is natural Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman will demonstrate his skills on bumpy stages and fight for stage wins. If the section is flat, Sprinter gets Jasper Phillipsen all the support of the team. The Belgian is fast and has already shown that he can do it in important races. The rest of the team will support the two stars and will rarely be allowed to drive on their own account. However, it may be that the Swiss Sylvan Dillier, the Austrian Michael Gogl, the German Alexander Krieger, the Italian Kristian Sbaragli and the two Belgians Edward Planckaert and Guillaume van Keirsbulck receive their freedom in the second or third week. Because it is also unclear this year whether Mathieu van der Poel wants to end the tour at all.
Prognosis: In the Alpecin – Deceuninck team, the roles are clearly divided. If it's flat, you drive for Philipsen. If it's wavy, you drive for Van der Poel. The troops are therefore very predictable, but also strong on their terrain. If you leave this terrain, however, you will hardly see the team. In the mountains, for example, the Belgian team doesn't have much to offer.
 |
 |
Lotto – Soudal
Many fans and pundits were surprised when Lotto – Soudal announced their squad for the 2022 Tour de France. With the Australian Caleb ewan you have nominated the top sprinter, but you don't give him a sprint train. Among other things, the German driver Roger Kluge has to stay at home. The Belgian Frederic Frison and the South African Reinardt Janse van Rensburg will still support Caleb Ewan in the best possible way when it comes to the last kilometers. Otherwise, Lotto - Soudal relies on other stage hunters. The Belgians Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch and Philip Gilbert should cause a sensation on undulating terrain and on cobblestones. of Belgium Bren van Moer and Denmark Andrew Kron even bring qualities for the mountains. This means that the team is much more flexible and broader than in previous years - but doesn't that take revenge in the mass sprints?
Prognosis: Caleb Ewan will not have been happy to learn that half the team will not be available to help. Nevertheless, we know that the Australian can do it without a sprint train. Therefore he will be able to win at least one stage. And it won't stop there, because the team can be trusted to go in groups and shoot the thing on almost any terrain.
 |
 |
Cofidis
The French Equipe Cofidis is going two-pronged in the 2022 Tour de France. With William Martin you have a strong climber in your ranks who is aiming for the top 10 in the overall ranking. At the same time, the team management also nominated bryan coquard, who should ensure success in the sprint arrivals. The two Frenchmen each get a few drivers to the side. So will the Spaniards Ion Izagirre, the German Simon Geschke and the two French Anthony Perez and victor lafay mainly take care of Guillaume Martin, while the German Max Walscheid and the French Benjamin Thomas rather have to look after the well-being of Bryan Coquard. At the same time, however, they will all be able to enjoy their freedom from time to time, just as we know from Cofidis in the past.
Prognosis: Bryan Coquard will have a hard time claiming a stage win in this sprinter competition. The same applies to Guillaume Martin, who has already shown at the Giro d'Italia that he can drive very actively, but not very efficiently. A stage win via an early escape seems to be the most likely outcome, no matter which Cofidis pro.
 |
 |
DSM
Already at the Giro d'Italia a few weeks ago Alberto Dainese surprised the competition in the mass sprint. The Italian should now repeat the same thing at the Tour de France. DSM provides the German for him John Degenkolb, the danes Casper Pederson and the Dutchman Nils Eekhof away. The four of them should ensure a success in the mass sprint on flat stages. If it gets wavy or even mountainous, the other five professionals are in demand - above all Romain Bardet. The Frenchman is past his best, but was able to impress with excellent performances at the Giro d'Italia. Can he go back to the general classification? Or do you rely on the young Norwegian Andreas Leknessund? It is clear, both these two, as well as the Australian Chris Hamilton and the Dutchman Martijn Tusveld are able to walk in groups and win stages in high mountains. Maybe you even look at the mountain jersey if it doesn't work with the yellow one.
Prognosis: Team DSM does not have the best rider in its own ranks on any terrain, but can still get involved everywhere. It's almost to be hoped that the ambitions in the general classification will be shelved early on so that we can see an offensive team. Then DSM will go hunting for stages and the mountain jersey - and both will then also succeed.
 |
 |
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
In the second WorldTour year, the Belgian team Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux is having a hard time. The top drivers are missing from the squad and the most well-known are also those who simply can no longer reach their old level of performance. alexander kristoff for example, used to be considered a prime candidate for stage wins. Even now he is still capable of a coup, but he is no longer mentioned as one of the favourites. In addition to the Norwegian, the French should Adrian Petit and the Italian Andrea Pasqualon ensure success in the sprints. It is unclear whether the three will work together with a clear distribution of roles, or whether everyone will take turns or even drive at the same time on their own account. One thing is certain: Since success in the mass sprint is unlikely, the breakaway groups will be equipped at the same time. The Belgians are suitable for this Kobe Goossens and the Norwegian Sven Eric Bystrom perfect as an all-rounder. Dutchman Taco van der Hoorn will go in groups on flat stages and hope to pull off another surprise coup. In the mountains you might look at the South African louis meintjes and the Germans George Zimmerman set. But even on this terrain you are certainly not one of the favorites, so that an early escape seems the only way out.
Prognosis: Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux has no choice but to flee every day. If you wait until the final, you have almost no chance. The German fans can hope for a strong Georg Zimmermann, who may celebrate his big breakthrough at the 2022 Tour de France.
 |
 |
TotalEnergies
It is the first time in many years that Peter Sagan does not start as a favorite for the green jersey in a Tour de France. Although the Slovak recently won a stage at the Tour de Suisse, he is miles away from his former quality. Nevertheless, the team will do everything to make him king in the points classification again. His faithful companions Daniel Oss from Italy and Maciej Bodnar from Poland will also be there for him around the clock in the new team. The same goes for the French Anthony Turgis. The experienced Norwegian should have a relatively free role Edvald Boasson Hagen receive. The rest of the TotalEnergies squad is actually more suited to the mountains, and as a captain, of course Pierre Latour can be identified. The Frenchman will aim to finish in the top 10 in the overall standings. Above all, he can build on his compatriots Alexis Vuillermoz and Mathieu Burgaudeau, who will always be found in groups. TotalEnergies cannot afford to wait until the final climb.
Prognosis: TotalEnergies has set itself high goals with Peter Sagan and Pierre Latour, which they will probably all miss. Peter Sagan will not win the green jersey and Pierre Latour will have a hard time actually finishing in the top 10. Therefore, in the third week at the latest, everything will be done to win the day via breakaway groups in order to save the balance sheet at the Tour de France 2022.
 |
 |
BikeExchange—Jayco
With the obligation of Dylan Groenewegen and the return campaign from Michael Matthews the BikeExchange – Jayco team has realigned itself. While the Dutchman is supposed to ensure success in mass sprints on flat stages, the Australian will be used as captain on slightly undulating terrain. The Slovenian Port of Mezgec is strong enough to support both. However, the rest of the squad will have a hard time putting themselves in the limelight. Nick Schultz is a gifted climber but will go down in this competition. The Australian has to catch the right group on the right day if he is to be able to fight for a stage win in the mountains. his countrymen Luke Durbridge and alex edmondson, and the New Zealander Jack Bauer are strong time trialists and always active in one-day races. You will be like the Norwegian Amund Jansen sometimes go in groups if the road is not too steep.
Prognosis: With a bit of luck, Dylan Groenewegen and Michael Matthews can make the Tour de France a success for the team on their own. However, if these two fail to live up to expectations, the rest of the squad will have to try and save the Tour de France somehow with breakaway attempts. Nick Schultz could finally make his breakthrough and is arguably the team's best hope for that.