Julian Alaphilippe or Thibault Pinot? In the overall standings of the Tour de France and two Frenchmen are at the front of it. The euphoria among the Fans is rising, and also the French President can be re-infected.
No matter where the Tour comes on the roadside enthusiastic Fans cheer Alaphilippe
The small ski resort of Valloire is bursting at the seams. Cycling fans from all over the world gather in the range of 18. Stage of the Tour de France. Cafes, Bars and Restaurants are colorfully decorated. Mostly, of course, in the national colors of the French. Also Albert and his family have prepared well. They arrived early in the morning from Grenoble, and have secured a place just before the finish line. “Since 10 am we are here,” says the Fan while his daughter, Anna, under a large umbrella comes out.
The sun is shining and the Thermometer up to 38 degrees Celsius. The mood is omitted, the anticipation of the Finale of the first Alpine stage is increasing by the Minute. “Last year, we have become the football champion in this year we want to win the Tour de France,” says Albert euphoric. “Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot are in a good mood and can win both.”
Macron: “That would be a historic day,”
Tour-Fan Albert (m.) on the target channel in Valloire: noticeable euphoria
A French driver to the top of the podium in Paris? Most recently, the Bernard managed to Hinault 34 years ago. “It is a new era. Now we have Bardet Alaphilippe, Pinot, or Romain,” explains Dominic, who has built up next to Albert, his (Fan) bearings. “It’s good to have young athletes, you are good role models for our children,” he adds. The finally, again a Frenchman in the prestigious tour win, the President of France Emmanuel Macron has could even be plugged in. “That would be a historic day,” said the head of state. “I wish that one of the two brings with it the Yellow Jersey on the Champs-Élysées and the other Second.”
Only a short moment of Shock
Alaphilippe had to suffer: “A terrible stage, as expected.”
While Albert and his family, the body will try to hold temperature with a cool drink on a budget Level, fight Alpahilippe and Pinot on the second climb, the Col d’izoard, to important places. “I don’t believe that the Tour will decide today,” says Dominic. “You will save your forces for the next two stages.” The race track, the Fans on one of the large canvases, which are constructed at the track. As Alaphilippe must allow the ascent to the Col du Galibier in the short tear-off, are Albert and the other a little nervous. After the 27-year-old Quickstep-calm driver but back to the favorites group fights, the tempers quickly.
In the departure of the Frenchman shows his quality and his Fans cheer. “Julian, Julian”-along Call halls, narrow streets. Shortly thereafter, the Colombian mountain specialist Nairo Quintana rolls out as the first of them, the secures the day’s victory. Alaphilippe crossed a good five minutes after the finish line, together with the other favorites. He retains the Yellow Jersey with a 90-second lead on Egan Bernal. The young Ineos-driver but a few seconds and pushes on to his team-mate Geraint Thomas in second place. “We are very satisfied,” sums up Albert the day. A French success, even after the 18. Stage is still possible. “A Tour victory would make us very proud,” he says. “It would be a success for the whole Nation, we would be very happy.”
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?6. Emanuel Buchmann
A place among the Top Ten is still the stated goal of Emanuel’s book’s. However, for the 26-Year-old is clearly in there. The captain of the German team “Bora-hansgrohe” has a residue of only 2:14 minutes on the Yellow Jersey. After his strong performances in the Pyrenees and on the first Alpine stage of Emu is “on” position, as his friends call him, in the Lauer.
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?5. Thibaut Pinot
Once the Frenchman was already on the Champs Elysees on the podium: third in the Tour in 2014. And the Cycling fans of his home saw in him the coming of the triumphant. However, the bar was set too high. 16th place the year after, twice not arrived in Paris, in 2018 it will not boot. Maybe the node is bursting now with Pinot. The residue of the 29-Year-olds: 1:50 minutes.
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?4. Steven Kruijswijk
With 32 years in the low countries is one of the more Experienced of the six contenders for the podium. 2018 ended Steven Kruijswijk of the Tour de France on rank five. Fourth places at the Giro d’italia 2016 in the tour of Spain to 2018 show that the mountain specialist place is quite for a podium well. 1:47 minutes missing Kruijswijk to the Yellow Jersey.
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?3. Geraint Thomas
Can defend the British title? In the previous year, his team (then the Sky, to a sponsor, now Ineos) controlled almost every stage, and Geraint Thomas was the Strongest of the team. Compared to 2018, the 33 drives a-Year-old this time, less constant, he gave some of the pelts. Nevertheless, Thomas has a gap of 1:35 minutes of all the opportunities.
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?2. Egan Bernal
In the White Jersey of best young professionals in the 22-year-old Colombian rides through the Alps. The attack on the Galibier, he moved to 1:30 minutes to the top riders. Bernal, goes as the defending champion Geraint Thomas in the Ineos Team, is a shooting star: The mountain specialist won already this year, the Paris-nice and the Tour de Suisse.
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Tour de France: Who wears the Yellow Jersey to Paris?1. Julian Alaphilippe
If the French would like to be a Tour winner from within its own ranks, it would certainly be Julian Alaphilippe. The 27-Year-old is clearly the crowd favourite and the country has dealt with its long travel in Yellow in euphoria. He is three days before Paris is still at the top, comes as a surprise. Alaphilippe is fighting to Yellow like a lion.