Now is the perfect time to celebrate. The biggest event of the year is about to begin: the Tour de France. The 109th La Grande Boucle will open in Copenhagen on Friday, July 7, with drivers to watch for in the coming weeks.
After being postponed last year to host the 2020 European Football Championship, Denmark will host a grand launch for the first time. Belgium (Phase 6) and Switzerland (Phases 8 and 9) also joined, marking the first time in more than a decade that eight countries have been included. There will be approximately 176 riders; Each of the 22 teams has 8 drivers. Since 2021, the number of teams has decreased by one.
The 2022 Tour de France kicks off in Copenhagen with the participation of the world’s top athletes, including two-time world champion Filippo Ganner, Switzerland’s Stefan Bisseg and two-time world medalist Van Alert. Although some may not think so, there is no doubt that the Tour is one of the biggest and most challenging events in the world, accounting for around 80% of the World Tour organization’s sponsorship revenue.
Founded in 1903 by Henri Desgrange, editor of the L’Auto newspaper, it may not be the most popular stage event for cycling enthusiasts, but it appeals to the general public and the cycling community. Because of this, it is one of the most watched sporting events in the world, including the Olympic Games or the World Cup of football, among others. If the race ends in Denmark, it will continue on Tuesday, July 7, when the race will again be dominated by cobblestones, as it has been since 5. With the start of the first phase, competitors will outline the Olympic Stadium in Lausanne at Super Planche des Belles Filles, followed by Super Planche des Belles Filles in Switzerland.
At the end of the first week of the trip, cyclists will spend the next two days in the mountains. Stage 11 will have two climbs: Col du Telegraphe and Col du Galibier, topped by Col du Granon; Bastille Day will also feature two climbs, and this year marks the return of Alpe d’Huez.
When the 2022 Tour de France crosses the central highlands, it will enter the Pyrenees for a day off before heading to Carcassonne and finally the Pyrenees. Returning to the top of stages 17 and 18 (Peyragudes) will be the last chance for climbers with special skills to cover the GC deficit. Stage 20 will feature a 40km time trial. The sprinters will make their last race along the Champs-Élysées at the end of the last road stage.
Which teams will be competing during the 2022 Tour de France?
As with all other World Tours, top teams are invited, and as for the Tour, every team participates. Top ranked ProTeams Alpecin-Fenix and Arkéa-Samsic both qualified for the competition, and tournament organizer ASO also provided wild card spots for B&B Hotels-KTM and TotalEnergies.
competitor
A major challenge for Tadej Pogacar is likely to be Jumbo-Visma, which poses two major threats to the entire race.
Without a doubt, Primoz Roglic is one of the most honored team players, having won the Rio de la Tiers three times and was on the podium on the 2020 Tour of New York. His first two victories of the year were Paris-Nice and Criterium du Dauphine, giving him a good start on tour. Nevertheless, he will start in the absence of his Slovenian opponent. Arguably, Roglic performs better in time trials in flat situations, but Pogacar is unlikely to beat him in mountain races. It’s quite possible that if Roglic doesn’t crash like last year, he can compete with Pogacar.
Romain Bardet has enjoyed a kind of renaissance since joining DSM and should join with the intention of making a difference. When he was forced to give up due to illness, he finished fourth overall in the Tour d’Italia; Just a few days ago, he also won the Tour of the Alps. Bardet’s efforts will focus on the top three of the GC Tour to which he belongs, regardless of his ranking by the end of the year. A realistic goal is to get into the top five. If all goes well, O’Connor has a good chance of making it into the top five. If he doesn’t successfully complete his GC program, he may switch to stage chases to improve his chances of running in the mountains over the next few weeks.
Since Ben O’Connor finished fourth after winning a fantastic stage last year, the Tour is back in the stage. The Western Australian has had a strong run-in, including top-tier results in the Trial del Sol, including Volta a Catalunya, Tour de Romandie, and third place in Dauphine behind Jumbo- and Vingegaard. Vision.
Chris Froome is back
No matter what Chris Froome does, his achievements in cycling will always be remembered. It’s important to look at his character and you’ll see that the former Tour de France champion doesn’t shy away from challenges, especially the most challenging of his career as a cyclist. Froome is under a lot of pressure to compete in the Tour de France.
Despite the British’s best efforts, his recovery did not come quickly. Still, Froome has proven every day that he can face challenges – and so far he’s come to the end without problems. For Froome to deliver a strong performance ahead of the Tour from July 7 to 1, Pogacar, as well as those vying for the title, must be vigilant. In terms of wins and losses, Froome is unlikely to win, there will be many twists and turns, and it will be a threat to the whole game.
Other Competitors
Together with the main protagonist of maillot jaune, Enric Mas hopes to bring the Tour de France podium to the Movistar team, which has not been on the podium since 2016
Citroen AG2R driver Ben O’Connor aims to improve his stage title and finish fourth in last year’s event; However, the large number of time trials may not make his performance easy. Similarly, O’Connor’s compatriot Jack Haig will have a good feel for the race after his recent win over Vuelta, although he may find it necessary for him to share the lead responsibility with Damiano Caruso and the Bahrain-Victorious team.
Is it possible for a French title? Almost four decades have passed since Bernstein began wearing the yellow jersey in Paris. It seems that Roman Barday has a bigger chance of scoring than anyone else in the Giro d’Italia, although the DSM team had to leave early due to illness, so he seems to have a better chance of scoring. In the race of Thibaut Pinot, who missed last year’s competition, Groupama-FDJ’s best chance was David Gaudu.
Conclusion
The top players in the general category will compete throughout the course of the competition to cut off their competition – especially in mountain races, as well as those seeking to win the junior category. Based on the points ranking, sprinters will compete for spot in the cluster sprint on the track of the 19 road stages. The race will be decided between those who cross the mountains and the most difficult between the Alps and the Pyrenees, the most successful of the 2022 Tour de France.
