Cycling: For the pros on the road, the 2022 season is over. Occasionally there are still small criteria and round trips, but the last WorldTour race is long behind us. time to look back. Today we take a closer look at the three major national tours in Italy, France and Spain.
Giro d'Italia: Bora – hansgrohe pulls off a masterpiece
It's done: The German team Bora - hansgrohe wins its first Grand Tour in May 2022. Jay Hindley defeated in an exciting duel Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers). At the end of the three weeks, he is 1:18 ahead of the Ecuadorian, who was already victorious in 2019. The decision was only made on the penultimate day when Jai Hindley was able to distance his opponent decisively up the Passo Fedaia. He took over Rosa and didn't give it up in the final time trial either. The fight for the points classification and the mountain jersey was a little less exciting. In the sprints proved Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ) as clearly the strongest driver. The Frenchman won three stages. Koen Bouwmann (Jumbo – Visma) from the Netherlands scored so many points in the mountains that he ended the Giro d'Italia with almost twice as many points as the runner-up.
Feel good story: To be honest, there were several feel-good stories to follow at this year's Giro d'Italia. Starting at Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who was due to retire at the age of 37 at the end of the season. He rode the Giro for the last time and ended up in a thankless fourth place overall. Nevertheless, he was able to prove once again that he was one of the greatest professional cyclists of our time. The stage victory of was also nice Mark Cavendish (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), which gets a whopping 16 at the Giro d'Italia. These three weeks in Italy will never be forgotten Juan Pedro Lopez placeholder image (Trek – Segafredo). The Spaniard took over the Maglia Rosa after the third stage and did not give it up again until the 14th. In the end he was able to be celebrated as the best young professional in Verona.
Incredible: It actually also made for an absolute feel-good story Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux). The Eritrean won the tenth stage and thus ensured a huge success for the black Africans. But only a few moments - pun intended - later the feel-good story should become a sad story. Because at the award ceremony, Girmay shot the champagne cork in the eye. He had to give up and take a break from racing.
German highlight: Picking out a German highlight at the Giro d'Italia 2022 is almost impossible. Because the Tour of Italy was full of German top performances this year. Starting with the strong team performance of the Raublinger racing team Bora - hansgrohe, through seventh place overall Emmanuel Buchman up to the stage victory of Lennard Kamna everything was there on Mount Etna. With Rick Zabel (Israel – Premier Tech) and Lennard Kämna, two German professionals were even allowed to wear the mountain jersey for a short time. Lennard Kämna provided THE German highlight on the penultimate stage, which will be remembered for years to come. There he dropped back from the leading group in the high mountains to support teammate Jai Hindley. His increased pace eventually managed to distance Richard Carapaz and seal Jai Hindley's Giro win. An unforgettable moment.
Tour de France: Jumbo – Visma defeats Pogacar
The Tour de France showed us once again that cycling is a team sport. Because the Dutch team Jumbo - Visma put the stamp on the Tour of France so much that even the two-time tour winner Tadej pogacar (UAE) broke it. But before jonas vingegaard went into action, the Tour de France belonged wholeheartedly Wout van Aert. The Belgian conquered the yellow jersey on the second stage and was allowed to wear it for four days. In addition to three stage wins, Wout van Aert can also look forward to winning the points classification at the end in Paris. And let's be honest: He could have won the mountain jersey. But the dotted one should ultimately belong to Jonas Vingegaard, just like the yellow one. Because the Dane took valuable time from opponent Pogacar, especially on two days. Up to the Col du Granon and on the way to Hautacam, the Dane distanced himself from the Slovenian by a total of almost five minutes. Nobody would have expected that before the tour, especially since Vingegaard was actually only co-captain of Primois Roglic went into the race.
Feel good story: The 109th Tour de France made for some fell-good stories. Starting with the Grand Depart in Denmark, where the Danish fans caused worldwide astonishment for days off. Some of the spectators stood in rows of ten at the side of the road. Pure enthusiasm for cycling. The whole thing was crowned by the strong performance of Magnus Court (EF). The Dane won all of the first mountain classifications, so that he got eleven points. Never before has a professional cyclist been able to win so many ratings in a row at the Tour de France. The mustache made for a real record. But this should not be the only highlight on Danish soil. On the second and third stage cheered Fabio Jacobsen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) and Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo – Visma) on a stage win. Less than two years earlier, these two had a serious accident. At the Tour of Poland, Groenewegen pushed Jakobsen into the gang in a mass sprint so much that the Dutchman fell into a coma and almost died. The fact that both survived this accident and coped well was already evident in the first week of this year's Tour de France. The victory of the day was also heartbreaking Hugo Houle (Israel – Premier Tech). The Canadian won stage 16 in tears. He dedicated his success to his late brother. He used to watch the Tour de France with him. When he died, he promised him that one day he would win a stage of the tour for him. He has now kept that promise.
Incredible: It was hard to believe the strong performance of at this year's Tour de France wout van aert (Jumbo - Visma). The Belgian was not only a strong helper on any terrain, but always a candidate for victory himself. Whether in the high mountains, in a time trial, on cobblestones or in a mass sprint - Wout van Aert is usually a good tip. When he then decided not to take part in the mass sprint on the 19th stage. Jumped teammate and approacher Christopher Laporte for him - and won. Just unbelievable!
German highlight: Who else could have provided the German highlight at this year's Tour de France if not Simon Geschke (Cofidis)? The Berliner wore the mountain jersey for a whopping nine days and almost made it to Paris. But then came the last mountain stage and Jonas Vingegaard thwarted his plans. In the end, only eight points are missing from the tour winner. Geschke himself took it in stride: "The best climber won the mountain jersey." He's right. It's a pity anyway. We also don't want to forget the strong performance of Lennard Kamna (Bora – hansgrohe). After his stage win in the Giro d'Italia, he almost did the same in the Tour de France. On the way up to La Planche des Belles Filles, Kämna was overtaken just a few meters from the finish line.
Vuelta a Espana: Evenepoel becomes a Grand Tour driver
We've been hearing that over and over for a number of years Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) is said to be the new Eddy Merckx. And while he's already had some impressive results - and that comparison is unfair anyway - he's fallen short of expectations, at least at major national tours. That should change at the Vuelta a Espana 2022. The Belgian took over the red jersey on the sixth stage and didn't give it up until Madrid. The numerous attacks by Enric Mas Nicolau (Movistar) – who finished second at the Vuelta for the third time – he was also able to fend off in the high mountains. The podium is completed by Juan Ayuso (UAE) another Spaniard. At the age of 20, he is the great hope of an entire nation.
Feel good story: Also at the Vuelta a Espana the team Jumbo - Visma caused a real fireworks display, even if they were classified drivers Primois Roglic had to give up injured in the end. The team time trial was won right at the start, so that the overall standings could be exchanged happily. Robert Geink was allowed to wear the red jersey in his native Netherlands first. Then it switched to the shoulders of compatriot Mike Teunissen of Edward Affini to Primoz Roglic. A clear sign that things are right in the Jumbo – Visma team.
Incredible: Got in Madrid Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) presented the mountain jersey. After three stage victories, the Ecuadorian can be satisfied with his performance, even though he actually started the race with ambitions for overall victory. What was curious, however, was how the wearers of the mountain jersey dropped out of the race. The Monegasque Victor Langellotti (Burgos - BH) wore it until the eighth stage before falling and having to retire. It took over Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck). The Australian won two stages and already looked like a sure winner. But then it caught him too: a fall. Task! So Richard Carapaz was presented with the dot - and didn't give it back until Madrid.