Europe dominated the Tour de France: France is the strongest nation, not surprisingly, is the biggest Cycling race in the world. Surprisingly, it is: The Tour is less international than in previous years.
The Tour de France is a French race through France. Clearly, there is a long startup or stages abroad, but the majority of the route runs through the Grande Nation. This is one of those every year, and has not changed in the course of time. What has changed more is the field of riders. A glance at the history of the race shows that the Initial event in 1903, 80 riders, including six Swiss, five Belgians, two Germans, an Italian, and all the others were French started. A purely European matter.
This is different today. Cycling is an international Sport with drivers, Teams and races in all parts of the world. The UCI world tour, the piano Nobile of Cycling, is played in 15 countries and on four continents. With new sponsors and new markets in the Radindustrie new nationalities were added in the past few years. Also, the Tour de France is so as the figurehead of the Cycling becoming more and more international?
The number of Nations decreases
Surprisingly no way. The number of participating Nations increased in the recent time: from 2016 35 nationalities, and 2017 is still 32, so it is 2019, exactly as in 2018, only 30. The reason for this could also be a Reform of the rules, which forced some Teams to rethink their approach. Since 2018, only eight riders per team are allowed in the Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’italia and Vuelta a España), bringing the total number of Starters is reduced, for example, in the case of the Tour from 198 to 176. The race should be more exciting and less easy to control.
The nationalities of the Starter 106. Tour de France
But this also has an impact on the starting positions for drivers who do not come from the traditional Cycling Nations. While the number of Starter castles, such as France (35) Belgium (21) Italy (15) remained high and more or less constant, lost smaller Nations to the ground. Thus, the Region of Asia and Oceania had in the previous two years, the 18 runners, but this year there are only 13 professionals. For African athletes, the Tour de France less and less space, and laments Interview with Natnael Berhane in the DW. Of the six starters in 2015, five in 2016 and 2017, as well as four in the previous year to the current three at this year’s edition. The number of riders from the Americas remained with twelve starters constant. Europe, since time immemorial, the Basis of professional Cycling, with 148 participants, the absolute majority of the peloton.
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Who will win the Tour de France?Who makes the race?
Even without the hard-to-ousted Chris Froome it will be a thrilling race. The Tour de France promises to be a voltage, even if the current Sky Team (sponsors exchange is now Ineos) again the strongest. Our candidates check shows, who could be the British dangerous…
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Who will win the Tour de France?10 Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quickstep)
Sunken cheeks, deeply seated eyes, spindly limbs and short cropped head of hair – Enric Mas many a viewer’s horror. However, the 24-year-old Spaniard is very healthy and extremely in shape. As a strong climber, he was drove to 2018, surprisingly Second in the Vuelta, this year, but so far unremarkable. Forecast: It’s not enough for the whole of the front.
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Who will win the Tour de France?9 Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
The time from Nairo Quintana is already over? From 2013 to 2016, he rode at the Tour, Giro and Vuelta will always be on the places one to four, was on the mountain a Power. But lately, the silence of Colombians, the media appointments falters shy and usually is shielded, of all the serious climbs. It is likely to be his last Chance as a captain in the Tour. Forecast: He doesn’t use them.
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Who will win the Tour de France?8 Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale)
Hopes weigh heavy Bardet on the narrow shoulders of Romain. The lanky climber is to end the long losing streak to the Frenchman in the Tour. In the last few years, it looked as if he could come closer to this goal. However, currently Bardet, who has a University degree in Management follows, its Form and the opponents. Prediction: Lose in the time trial too much time.
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Who will win the Tour de France?7 Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)
“We have taken different paths, but we are very close and talk daily to each other,” says Adam Yates, over his relationship with his twin brother, Simon. Both are talented contenders for the overall classification. In France, Simon was at the Giro captain will continue, probably for Adam. In the mountains, well, in the time trial and solid. Forecast: you Can play, but not win.
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Who will win the Tour de France?6 Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe)
From the talented riders to podium candidate Emanuel Buchmann has in preparation a strong impression of the race left. The mountain of silence Schwabe is now one of the Best in the time trial, he has improved. What is missing from the 26-year-old, is the Punch and self-confidence for a great victory. Forecast: His curve continues upwards.
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Who will win the Tour de France?5 Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
The Double of Giro and Tour has proved in the last few years, always too demanding. Also experienced the “shark of Messina” is to point out the hardships of the tour of Italy, which he also lost because of a tactical error, still. But with its constancy and suffering of the 34-Year-old points. Forecast: The shark a couple of teeth for a powerful bite missing.
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Who will win the Tour de France?4 Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)
The fear of the descents is defeated, his time trial weakness, he has worked in – it is Pinot Thibaut is now finally ready for more than a good placement? Almost. The Frenchman chose a continuous structure and is focused again for the first time on the Tour. His Team is good, but others are better. Forecast: Pinot is to attack his opponents but not all of them can shake off.
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Who will win the Tour de France?3 Geraint Thomas (Ineos)
The title defenders had at the Tour de Suisse, a scary moment: After a severe fall, the dream of a second tour victory out seemed to be already dreaming. But the 33-year-old Welshman can start. His preparation of delivery is not ideal – it’s the lightness of the previous year is missing. Forecast: But to the Podium, it’s still enough.
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Who will win the Tour de France?2 Jakob Fuglsang (Astana)
For years, the Dane was in the employ of other Top riders: Jakob Fuglsang rode for the Schleck brothers, as a helper, and also in Astana, mostly in the shade. Now he is captain, and rightly so. This year, he was the most consistent of the Tour candidates, has increased on the mountain once again. Forecast: the Yellow Jersey is very close.
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Who will win the Tour de France?1 Egan Bernal (Ineos)
Viva Colombia! The Cycling-mad Nation, is looking forward to the next Star, the raptured in July, the home. And this Time it may really. Egan Bernal has exceptional performance data, and driving at Ineos in the strongest Team. At the Tour de Suisse, he was unbeatable, now he could push up the Tour of his stamp. Prediction: He leaves Colombia cheer.