Tour of France
Vingegaard, Pogacar – and then? Tour de France favourites
Tadej Pogacar (r) and last year’s winner Jonas Vingegaard are again the favorites in the Tour de France. photo
© Thibault Camus/AP/dpa
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar are ready for a big show. But at the Tour de France, a bad day, a lack of attention can mean the end. The circle of favorites is therefore larger.
Jonas Vingegaard
The only direct duel with Pogacar was lost this year. At Paris-Nice, the Dane was only third. But Vingegaard won all the other races he entered. Unlike Pogacar, his whole season is geared towards the Tour, and he no longer has to share the captaincy with Primoz Roglic. Vingegaard is therefore the top favorite in the race.
Tadej Pogacar
The neo-cannibal wants revenge. All-winner Pogacar wants to prove last year’s defeat was just a blip. On the way to the tour, the Slovenian shone in the classic season, but broke his scaphoid in the Ardennes. After a two-month break, he made his comeback last weekend at the national championships, where he won time trials and road races. How good he really is is currently unclear and an opportunity for the competition.
Jai Hindley & Ben O’Connor
The Australian duo reflects the strong development on the distant continent. Hindley won the Giro last year and now wants to show it to the world on the Tour. A podium finish would be great for his Bora team. O’Connor was already fourth and was already in great form at the Dauphiné in mid-June.
Mikel Landa & Enric Mas
The heyday of the Spaniards is long gone, in 2015 a rider from the cycling nation landed on the podium in Alejandro Valverde. But the start at home and the manageable time trial kilometers speak for the Basque Landa and the Mallorcan Mas. However, more than third place is probably only possible without the two top favorites.
David Gaudu & Romain Bardet
You are the hope of France. The Grande Nation’s last victory to date dates back to 1985, when Bernard Hinault delighted the masses. Since then there have been many second and third places, and Bardet has also been on the podium twice. Gaudu finished fourth last year. Again, if neither Vingegaard nor Pogacar make it to Paris, they have a chance.