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Tour de France 2020 Many unresolved issues in France
ORna first bland week, marked by falls, controversies and lack of combativeness, gave way to a volcanic Pyrenean weekend in which the young Slovenian emerged as the protagonist Tadej Pogacar, who revolutionized the attack on a Tour led by his compatriot Primoz Roglic within a tight general.
The Tour moved from Pyrenees to La Rochelle to enjoy the first day of rest, a day of activity for the PCR tests for the whole squad and the training of a couple of hours that the teams carry out. The race reached the coast illuminated by a renewed interest in the two stages of the Pyrenees, in which some schemes that seemed solid were broken or modified.
Primoz Roglic, winner of the 2019 Vuelta, arrives as a skipper for the second week. His team, the Jumbo Visma, has reaped 3 stages and has been the dominator of the race, but with unknowns sown. The yellow jersey has his main rival, Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos), defender of the title, 21 seconds away. Both are still the top favorites.
Equality rules for the moment. The French front formed by Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) and Romain Bardet are half a minute away, and until the 10th place occupied by the Spaniard Mikel Landa (Bahrain McLaren) the margin is just over a minute. In between three Colombians: Nairo Quintana (Arkea), Rigoberto Urn (EF) and Supermn Lpez. Pogacar threatens 44 seconds.
For the Spanish band Mikel Landa has established himself as a reference, although the time he lost in the Lavaur fans may cost him dearly. Outside the top 10 live the two leaders of Movistar: Enric Mas is at 2.02 minutes and Alejandro Valverde at 3.43.
The initial dominance of the Jumbo Visma over the usual Ineos, and even the potential of Bernal’s team, were questioned in the Pyrenees.
Pogacar’s recipe of attacking full and insistent left Roglic and Bernal without a team, forced to fight in their own strength. His starts ended with the resistance of key men from Jumbo and Ineos, such as Dumoulin and the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz. The shortcomings were exposed, the teams do not sweep, and it will be the individuals who make the difference.
Pogacar’s offensive, third in the 2019 Vuelta and winner of 3 mountain stages, endorses the leader of UAE Emirates as one more favorite. “If I’m okay, I attack,” he assures. And if it attacks, it is one of those that causes damage. He only disarmed the team strategy, and with all the mountain that remains, especially in the last week, he will be a key piece in the gear of this Tour.
Although the Tour will be decided in the last week, and especially in the time trial that reaches the top of the Beautiful girls board the last Saturday, the second week presents incentives to consider.
After the first break there are two flat stages suitable for sprinters, but also for the wind to appear and distribute troubles, especially on Tuesday’s on the Island of R.
After the race, it will enter the Massif Central again on the way to Sarran and will start on Friday with the hardest stage taking into account its 4,400 accumulated unevenness, in which seven passes will have to be overcome. The finish line at Puy Mary (1, 5.4 km at 8.1%).
A half-mountain day ending in Lyon, yielding the baton to a complicated route through the Jura mountains. It gives key with Selle de Fromentel (1), Col de la Biche (1) and final in the Grand Colombier (Special; 17.4 km at 7.1%).
The Tour de France of the bubble has aroused his interest in the sports field thanks in large part to the “pirmano” Pogacar, who already has a stage in his debut, but at the same time crosses his fingers at the results of the analysis of the Covid- 19, which will be known on Tuesday.
The organization will make 650 between Sunday afternoon and Monday. If a team has two positives, they will be out of the Tour.
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