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The illusion that Colombia will win the Tour de France for the second time it is still latent, but in light of the 2021 route released yesterday, it is not so clear to celebrate again.
This time the organization only contemplated three high arrivals and two sections on the clock, which harms the interests of Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana and Miguel Ángel López.
It may interest you: (This will be the tour of the Tour de France 2021)
Although there is mountains, Mont Ventoux will be climbed twice, passing through Colombiere and Tourmalet, because none of those days will be the goal.
The three stages with a high finish are: the ninth in Tignes, then with a 21 km climb and an average incline of 5.6 percent; the 17 with goal in the Col de Portet, of 16 km and average of 8.7 percent and the 18 with arrival in Luz-Ardiden, of 13.3 km and 7.4 percent of incline, something that favors Colombians.
But, there is always a but, this time there are 58 kilometers to the clock: a 27 km day in the fifth stage and a 31 km one a day before the end, which does not favor Colombian interests.
It is not something new, when a race has a time trial it is very difficult for national riders to aspire to win, more when one is at the start of the competition and the second at the end and with extensive mileage.
It will be one more Tour for men like the champion Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin and Julian Alaphilippe himself, who have shown that they are doing well on the clock and on the mountain, a clear advantage over the Colombians.
Running the Tour is not a straitjacket and here the teams would enter to evaluate the options of running it or going to the Giro d’Italia, but you have to wait and know the route of this second competition.
Egan at Ineos is one of those who is watching. Clearly for Bernal it is difficult to go to France for the route and because he will have the option of going with Geraint Thomas or Richie Porte himself, third this year, with an exceptional time. There Daniel Martínez could enter, but the issue is what will be the role he will have in the British squad.
Egan Bernal and his boss, Geraint Thomas, finishing the Tour.
Archive / TIME
The Nairo issue happens because the Arkea gets its invitation to the Tour, it would clearly be an obligation to go, But I wouldn’t have much of a choice. If it is done to a World Tour chip (everything is possible), then it would also enter to watch the Giro.
Already López, with his new team, would also analyze, but it is clear that the Tour chronicles condemn him, We already realized what happened in the 34 kilometers of the last edition.
Almost different from that of Rigoberto Urán, who goes well to the clock and endures in the mountains, but the latter would not be enough to go for the title, although it would fight for the podium.
Lisandro Rengifo
Editor of EL TIEMPO
@lisandroabel
