The Tour de France gets started: Slovenian duel 2.0?

In addition to the many blue, white and red flags for the European Football Championship, the port city of Brest has dressed up entirely in yellow. Deep in the west, not far from Bernard Hinault's Breton homeland, everything is ready for the start of the 108th Tour de France - despite all odds. There was no more space for the tour in the actual starting location of Copenhagen because of the European Championships, and some environmentalists back home opposed it - and the concept ultimately had to be corona-compliant.

When the caravan sets off on the 3414,4 kilometer journey to Paris on Saturday, cycling hopes for a slow return to normality. Thanks to the falling incidence values and relaxations, things at the national shrine could be more atmospheric than last year, even if the tried and tested Corona protocol applies again. In terms of sport, everything boils down to another Slovenian duel between last year's winner Tadej Pogacar and the unfortunate runner-up Primoz Roglic. The less mountain-heavy route is also “a gift” for the French world champion Julian Alaphilippe and gives the Grande Nation hope for the end of the dry spell since Hinault's triumph 36 years ago. Roglic drama is still fondly remembered The images from the 2020 Tour are still fondly remembered, when Roglic sat on the asphalt in La Planche des Belles Filles, disappointed and with an empty look. In a memorable mountain time trial, Pogacar snatched the yellow jersey from his compatriot on the penultimate day and became the youngest Tour winner since 21 at the age of 365 years and 1904 days. “When you win a big race like the Tour de France, it makes you want more,” says Pogacar. Eight victories in 2021, including the triumph in the classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, seem to underline this.

Primoz Roglic is considered one of the big favorites. © AFP / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

Roglic doesn’t see himself as “the favorite”. There are also 20 other good drivers. The former ski jumper certainly has the Ineos team in mind with ex-Tour champion Geraint Thomas, last year's third-place finisher Richie Porte and the two ex-Giro winners Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richard Carapaz. The days when the British super racing team dominated the tour for almost a decade with four-time champion Chris Froome are apparently over.

Speaking of Froome. After three years, the superstar is making his comeback on the tour. Since his bad fall during the Dauphiné Tour in 2019, the 36-year-old has no longer come close to his best form. For Team Israel Start-Up Nation, Froome sees himself more in the role of water carrier for captain Michael Woods: “You can definitely expect to see me picking up some bottles in the next few weeks.” Strict corona rules Before the 2021 Tour winner is crowned, the Corona hurdles must also be overcome. In plain language this means: All riders are tested twice before the start of the tour, after the fifth stage and on the first and second rest days. If two drivers from a team test positive within seven days, the respective racing team should be excluded. This was handled similarly last year and largely worked. No driver tested positive.

Due to the corona pandemic, the organizers were forced to look for a new starting location, as Copenhagen had to pass due to the European Football Championship being postponed to 2021 and is now next year. After that, Rennes was supposed to host the Grand Depart, but the city council, which was co-governed by the Greens, voted against it. In any case, the tour is facing increasing criticism because of environmental pollution.

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The Tour de France gets started: Slovenian duel 2.0?

Almost nine months ago, Tadej Pogacar was crowned the youngest overall winner at the Tour de France since 1904. This time too it could be a Slovenian success story. The tour starts on Saturday: in Brest instead of Copenhagen, and again under Corona conditions.

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