Luke Rowe is one of the most valuable helpers in the field of the Tour de France. He is often in the picture, but it is usually overlooked. In a DW Interview he talks about the dominance of the team, Ineos, and the fast maturity of Egan Bernal.
Luke Rowe is a cornerstone of the team, Ineos
DW: you are since 2015 is part of the team that determines the Tour de France. It annoys you sometimes, if you listen, your Team is too dominant?
Luke Rowe: From the outside it looks sometimes, as our Team was dominant, and that we can control the race always. But you can be sure: There are moments in which we are close to the collapse. And in the Tour You can lose everything in a second. Yes, I can understand that some people get frustrated and annoyed are the way of our driving. But that doesn’t change our approach. We always give our Best. And when people say that we are too dominant, I’ll take that as a compliment.
Every year we see them for many hours at the top of the field. How much work is behind the approach of the Team, Ineos, to control the race?
To control the race, it means a lot of kilometers at the top to spend in the Wind. That is, one’s chasing the outliers. But You can control the race only if You have the Yellow Jersey, or in a Situation are, to get it to You soon. And that is not easy. We are, fortunately, since a couple of years in this Situation – and we appreciate it very much. It is worth the work.
“Everyone in our Team is replaceable”
What is needed, in order to be part of the Tour de France team of Team of Ineos?
This is not a simple task. You have a lot of work on the bike, many miles to go. The most Important thing is that You have to get in shape. Go for it, in the meantime, more and more of us to the high-altitude training camp. I’ve always tried to avoid, because ten days in the Isolation of the mountains are nothing for me. But somehow they convinced me to to go with. Because behind me a number of strong riders waiting on the Chance to drive for Ineos to the Tour. Everyone in our Team is replaceable. To be here and to be part of our eight-person Tour Team, is an honor.
Two Welsh celebrated in 2018, the tour victory: captain and champion Geraint Thomas and his assistant Luke Rowe
Her young Co-captain Egan Bernal impressed. But some say he is still too young and inexperienced for the Tour win. What do you think?
Yes, he is only 22 years old. But this is only a number. He is more Mature than his age suggests. And it is more about whether someone is ready for his task. He has already won three world tour-tours: the Tour of California, Paris-nice and the Tour de Suisse. Paris-nice, the most impressive victory, as this race had everything: A time trials, sprint stages, mountain and wind the edges of situations – and Egan has always remained at the top. He is a born leader. He has the Aura, the personality, and the Pit-Bull mentality, characteristic of Chris Froome. He is the guy I’m going up to the end of the world, for I give all. The road to Paris will show what Egan is capable of.
Luke Rowe, born in 1990 in Cardiff, was formed – like so many of the drivers of the successful British Cycling-Generation – in the Olympic development program of the United Kingdom. According to the European titles on the track, he was in 2012, part of the Sky team (now Ineos). His greatest success is with a stage victory in the Tour of Britain. Much more impressive is the fact that he helped as a Domestike to win with his Team the last four editions of the Tour de France. As a helper for his captains Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, it is his job to control the race on the flat and hilly stages.
The Interview was conducted by Joscha Weber.
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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.