Cycling: In the second part of our team presentation for the Tour de France 2022, we dedicate ourselves to all those teams that have hopes for the podium in Paris.
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UAE
It's all for one again this year in the UAE Team Emirates. Tadej pogacar wants to win his third Tour de France in a row and there doesn't really seem to be anyone who can challenge the Slovenian. In the high mountains he can rely mainly on the help of the Pole Rafal Majka, of the Spaniard Mark Soler, of the American Brandon McNulty and the New Zealander George Bennett build. UAE has the Norwegian for the numerous kilometers on the flat and on slightly undulating terrain Vegard stake lengths and the Danes Mikkel Bjerg nominated. Since Matteo Trentin tested positive for the corona virus, you also have the Swiss Marc Hirschi included in the roster. He's considered one of the best punchers in the world but has yet to come to terms with his role as Pogacar's helper.
Prognosis: In Team UAE there is only one goal: Tour victory with Tadej Pogacar! And we will do everything we can to achieve this goal again. That's why this team has a captain and seven helpers - no ifs or buts. If everything goes according to plan, Tadej Pogacar will win the Tour de France again – and probably one or two stages along the way.
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Jumbo–Visma
Jumbo – Visma sends what is probably the strongest team overall. With Primois Roglic and jonas vingegaard you have two co-favorites for the tour victory in your own squad. While the Dane finished second last year, the Slovenian did so two years ago. This time, however, one of them should take a seat at the top of the podium in Paris. In order for this to succeed, the team bosses have nominated a veritable mountain armada. Sepp kuss from the USA, Steven Kruijswijk from the Netherlands and Tiesj Benoot from Belgium could hold captain status with some other teams. At Jumbo - Visma, however, they will have to work for their bosses for three weeks and put their own ambitions on the back burner. Although the goal of tour victory is the top priority, the team for the Tour de France 2022 has been divided into two and is therefore targeting the green jersey at the same time. wout van aert has announced that it wants to win the points classification. He gets it Christophe Laporte from France and Nathan Van Hooydonck from Belgium, two riders with enormous strength in their legs were put to one side.
Prognosis: In modern cycling, we rarely see a team committing to two labor intensive goals at the same time. At Jumbo - Visma you dare to be able to drive yellow and green - and rightly so. Wout van Aert can also drive around the green single-handedly and at the same time be a helper for Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard. The two, in turn, can take it easy and hope for the help of their three precious helpers in the mountains. The only question is whether Tadej Pogacar can be beaten at all. But: The green jersey should only be a formality.
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Ineos Grenadiers
At Ineos Grenadiers you not only build on a two-man but even on a three-man leadership. Actually was the Brit Adam Yates intended as the sole captain, but a positive corona test is now causing question marks. His substitute Daniel Martinez from Colombia didn't completely convince at the Tour de Suisse. Finally jumped there Geraint Thomas into the breach. The Briton won the tour and is now suddenly the number one candidate for Ineos Grenadiers. Before the three leaders are left to their own devices in the mountains, they can count on the active support of tom pidcock hope. The Brit shows his qualities above all on hilly terrain, but he will be together with the Spaniard in the high mountains Jonathan Castroviejo try to stay in the top three for as long as possible. The unbelievably strong line-up is completed by three pros who tend to have their qualities on the level. Luke Rowe from Great Britain, Dylan van baarle from the Netherlands and Filippo Gana from Italy will ensure that the mountaineers in the team don't lose any time on the flat stages and the classic stages. In addition, Ganna has actually already booked at least one stage win in a time trial.
Prognosis: Thanks to his top three, Ineos Grenadiers has the chance to turn the race upside down at any time. With early attacks on the penultimate mountain, clever relay stations and recurring pinpricks, you could defeat the two Slovenians. For this, the top three would have to be at a top level over the entire three weeks.
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Ag2r – Citroën
Thanks Ben O'Connor is the team Ag2r - Citroën in this second part of our team presentation. The Australian won a stage last year and finished fourth overall in the Tour de France. After that, however, it became a little quiet around him. But the good results didn't stop there. He was seventh in chronological order at the Ruta del Sol, sixth at the Tour of Catalonia, fifth at the Tour de Romandie and third at the Critérium du Dauphiné. It almost seems like he's getting better and better every month. Without a doubt, however, he has the weakest team of all the favorites for the podium. With the French Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Geoffrey Bouchard and Mikael Cherel but he still has three helpers for the high mountains - even if they can't stay by his side until the end. Otherwise, the contingent consists mostly of stage hunters. The Luxembourger Bob jungels likes the classics as well as the Belgians Stan Dewulf and Oliver Naesen. It is quite possible that we will already see them on the offensive in the first week. The Frenchman Benoit Cosnefroy is one of the discoveries of recent years. He's always good for an attack on bumpy courses. He would be capable of a stage win in the second or third week.
Prognosis: Ben O'Connor is a grab bag. Although he has always done well since his strong performance at the 2021 Tour de France, somehow you don't really trust him to be on the podium. Ultimately, however, his performance is irrelevant to the team's strategy. Either way, Ag2r - Citroën will present itself offensively and can be found in groups from time to time.
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Bora-hansgrohe
The 2022 season is already a complete success for Bora - hansgrohe. In May, the Raublinger racing team won the Giro d'Italia with Jai Hindley. Now you also want to be on the podium at the Tour de France. candidate for it Aleksandr Vlasov. The Russian recently presented himself in top form in Switzerland. However, due to a positive corona test, he had to leave the tour as the overall leader. If he drives as well in France as before, he is definitely a serious competitor. In the high mountains he is mainly supported by Lennard Kaemna. The freshly crowned German champion in time trials has improved a lot in the past few months and can confidently be called a noble helper. The Austrians too Patrick Conrad and Felix Grossschartner, as well as the German Maximilian schachmann will be of great help uphill. This line-up shows – and above all the fact that sprinter Sam Bennett was not nominated – that everything is also going towards the overall ranking in the Tour de France. With the Dutchman Danny van Poppel, the Austrian Mark Haller and the new German champion Nils Politt you still have three drivers for the level with you.
Prognosis: The non-nomination of Sam Bennett is a big risk for Bora - hansgrohe. If Aleksandr Vlasov is not in top form, the Tour de France can turn into a fiasco. However, the Raublinger racing team has already shown at the Giro d'Italia that they are willing to take risks. A stage win must be at least possible for the only German team.
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Movistar
All the hopes of the Movistar team rest on the shoulders of Enric Mas. The Spaniard has to get the coals out of the fire for his team. With him one hopes to be able to intervene in the fight for the yellow jersey. The 27-year-old is supported by the strong climbers Charles Verona and Gorka Izagirre from Spain, as well as the Austrian Gregor Muehlberger. The American Matteo Jorgenson at 22, could become the discovery of the Tour. He is considered a strong climber and a potential GC rider of the future. Sprinters bring experience to the team Albert Torres from Spain, the strong time trialist Nelson Oliveira from Portugal and of course Imanol Erviti. The now 38-year-old Spaniard will contest his 28th Grand Tour and should be up to speed.
Prognosis: The Movistar team has been run down over the past few years. The average age of the squad is getting older and the quality of the drivers seems to be declining. In the past you competed with a strong three-man lead, but now you rely on a single classification rider who has not yet made it past fifth place in the Tour de France. Nevertheless: Enric Mas showed in Spain that he can drive for overall victory. If he's too far away this time, the rest of the team will have to go chasing stages - and they're definitely good enough for that.
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Groupama - FDJ
Groupama - FDJ can also have legitimate hopes of a top position in the overall classification at the 2022 Tour de France. With david gaudu and Thibaut Pinot you can even rely on a dual leadership. However, it is unclear whether the two French really want to go for the overall standings or whether they would rather concentrate on the stage hunt. It is possible that Gaudu would like to be on the podium and Pinot will fight for the mountain jersey. In this way, the team could kill two birds with one stone. And she would be strong enough for that, because with Michael Storer from Australia and Valentin Madouas from France, two more top climbers were nominated. The rest of the team provides stability on the classic stages. Then Olivier LeGac and Kevin Geniets from France, as well Antoine Duchesne from Canada will probably not be able to stay with their leaders for long in the high mountains. Stefan Kung of Switzerland will be hoping to claim his first Tour de France stage win in the time trial.
Prognosis: Groupama – FDJ is extremely difficult to assess as David Gaudu's form is not really known. In the case of Thibaut Pinot, too, we don't know to what extent he can still put up with a three-week tour in good health. He's been having problems lately. The team management will also know that, which is why we can hope for an active performance by the team - which will certainly be rewarded with a stage win. Anything more would be a bonus.