The beginning gate was a hub of exercise, with most of the poncho-clad followers exterior the Tivoli theme park, subsequent to Copenhagen’s eye-catching central practice station, having fun with hotdogs and beers in a festive ambiance.
Slovenia’s bike owner Tadej Pogacar of the UAE Team Emirates seems on earlier than a coaching session, in Koge, on 29 June 2022, forward of the beginning of the 2022 version of the Tour de France biking race, in Copenhagen, on 1 July 2022. Picture: Marco BERTORELLO/AFP
DENMARK – Fans braved the rain and packed downtown Copenhagen because the Tour de France acquired underway Friday, with Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik watching from in entrance of the royal palace as riders set off gingerly on the rain-slick roads.
The 176 riders will hit speeds of as much as 60kph as they trip previous sights together with the Little Mermaid statue, the harbour-front Blox constructing and the Amalienborg palace.
“What a gift to me from my team,” stated Jeremy Lecroq, who went first.
The beginning gate was a hub of exercise, with most of the poncho-clad followers exterior the Tivoli theme park, subsequent to Copenhagen’s eye-catching central practice station, having fun with hotdogs and beers in a festive ambiance.
The showpiece opener is a showdown between biking’s high time-trial specialists, Italian Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers and Belgian celebrity Wout van Aert of Jumbo-Visma.
The pair depart the starter ramp consecutively at 5:04 pm (1504 GMT) and 5:05 pm native time.
Riders compete on specialised bikes for the time-trial and put on tailor-made aerodynamic outfits that price as much as and above 4,000 euros ($4,161).
Van Aert, winner of a time-trial, a dash and a mountain stage on the 2021 Tour, was excited after two editions impacted by Covid-19. “I was surprised by the amount of people on the roadsides. After two years, we can finally have a Grand Depart with huge crowds,” he stated.
Ganna accepted his tag because the favorite to win the primary stage and don the general race chief’s yellow jersey. “It would be nice to wear the yellow jersey, nothing is easy but I want to try and put that in my museum,” he stated.
Overall race favorite and two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar was impressed by the rapturous reception the Tour obtained on Wednesday. “I’m ready personally and my team is ready too, and you can only be happy with the kind of reception we have had here,” stated the UAE Team Emirates chief.
Around a dozen riders scheduled to race have examined constructive for Covid and been changed, though none of them have been among the many favourites.
French climbing specialist Romain Bardet stated he felt panic when he boarded his flight to Copenhagen and realised few individuals have been carrying masks. Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen averted the problem by travelling by campervan.
Doping raids on the motels, group vehicles and residences of employees at Team Bahrain Victorious additionally forged a cloud over the Tour.
The group stated no illicit substances have been uncovered, whereas the French police behind the Interpol raid stated substances and digital materials had been confiscated.
From the Fjords to the Pyrenees
The sport’s best race attracts as much as 15 million roadside followers per 12 months and the opening three days in cycling-obsessed Denmark on the 109th version will present the identical festive ambiance so beloved by the French.
Saturday’s second stage runs 202.5km from Roskilde to Nyborg alongside roads adjoining to fjords and culminates with a 20km crossing of the Great Belt Bridge.
Sunday’s remaining day in Denmark is a 182km run from Vejl to Sonderborg.
The Tour de France caravan transfers to France subsequent Monday for a tough week that includes outdated, cobbled mining roads.
The race then heads throughout the Alps, together with an epic climb up the legendary Alpe d’Huez, and into the Pyrenees the place the equally fearsome Hautacam summit awaits.
If these mountains haven’t been sufficient to supply a winner, the 40.7km particular person time-trial ending in Rocamadour on the penultimate stage ought to do the trick.
While Pogacar is one of the best rider, Dutch outfit Jumbo-Visma seem like the strongest group, and the as soon as mighty Ineos have promised to race aggressively to wrestle again the title.