The 2019 tour de france gets underway – and in cycling-mad belgium, too. In the old town of brussel already on thursday 75.000 enthusiastic fans joined in the celebrations as the teams were presented on the magnificent grand place.
On the first 194.5 kilometers of the 106. Tour of france this saturday (12.00 o’clock/one and eurosport) become even more.
THE STAGE: at the prestigious first stage of the tour, not only a stage win beckons for the 176 starters, but also the jump into the yellow jersey. The first rider to cross the finish line of the brussels leg over the geraardsbergen wall and charleroi back to the belgian capital will be the overall leader in the team time trial this sunday. The start seems to be made for the pure sprinters. There are two climbs of the third and fourth category on the program, but after that it is still a long way to the finish.
THE FAVORITES: the men with the highest speed. Besides six-time grun winner peter sagan (slovakia), dylan groenewegen from the netherlands and italian elia viviani are also considered to be hot contenders for the podium and the yellow jersey. On the tour favorites around geraint thomas, the feasible starting stage has not yet had a rough influence.
THE GERMANS: the strong sprinter andre greipel, who has won the tour eleven times, only has a chance of winning the second stage. "I didn’t like to talk about winning, even though it was already true," said the 36-year-old from team arkea-samsic before the start in brussel. Maybe rick zabel will sprint along in front. His team katusha-alpecin decides from day to day for whom to ride the flat stages. Even brave riders had little chance on the flat terrain. Sprinters marcel kittel (personal time out) and john degenkolb (not nominated) will not participate in 2019.
ATTACK ON THE RECORD: three-time world champion sagan has equaled erik zabel in 2018 and is now chasing the sole tour record with seven green jerseys. "It’s a rough target. That’s why I’m here. I will do my best," said the extroverted sagan, whom his bora hansgrohe teammates consider a blessing even away from the sporting arena. "It’s easier for the young riders after all. Peter has the most pressure. He gets the most money and the most is expected from him", said the german emanuel buchmann.