This great departure, therefore, started with the traditional official presentation of the teams, after having given the floor to those who are guessing to be the major actors of the next three weeks. While some were welcomed in real heroes on a well-stocked grand-place (without being full of cracking), others gave audience in the main room of the neighboring opera. Between the sumptuous chandeliers and the huge ceilings garnished with gilding, the setting reflected the importance given by the organizers to their hosts one evening. Biniam Girmay, winner of three stages and winner of the green jersey twelve months ago, was the first to appear in front of the hundreds of journalists. No question for the Eritrean to ignore a scarcity started just after his arrival in green on the Promenade des Anglais (Editor’s note: but he finished seven times in 2nd place). “”I know that the long absence of victory does not plead in my favorsaid Intermarché-Wanty runner, But I dare to believe that I present myself at the start of the Tour in the same form as last year. “
Frankly, there will be enough to have fun. “
Remco Evenepoel the modest and prudent cheek before the departure of the Tour de France: “I don’t know what it will give …”
Adept of shows and shows of all kinds, especially when they are done in the spring dust and on the cobblestones, Mathieu Van der Poel has already said on several occasions that he is not a big fan of the Tour de France. But, to see his relaxed mine this Thursday alongside Jasper Philipsen, we would come to believe that he now appreciates the big loop more. “”If I had had to draw the course of the first ten stages, I would have reproduced the one waiting for us from Saturdayhe launched. We can expect nerve days with a lot of opportunities for the team. Frankly, there will be enough to have fun. “ It is not Jasper Philipsen, his friend and a teammate, who will say the opposite. Like Milan and Merlier, he will target the yellow jersey this Saturday. “This season, I have experienced ups and downs, but I’m not more worried than that. I always know how to sprinter and the yellow jersey is a real lens”declared the Antwerp with his usual conviction.
This Thursday evening, he was able to realize that he is light years of MVDP in terms of popularity, but he does not care. On the other hand, the Belgian-Dutch pair has little to add the Montmartre Butte during the last stage. “”It will bring a lot of unnecessary stress within the peloton “Assura van der Poel. “It is a different philosophy with a last step still very difficult “added Philipsen.
Let’s go my Kiki. “
Eddy Merckx is 80 years old: relive 80 major victories of the cannibal
Discreet in recent weeks, Primoz Roglic has shown in the Assembly that he has lost none of his sense of humor. Waiting for the questions of the assembly, he launched: “Let’s go my kiki “. In French in the text. On the presentation podium, as at a press conference, the Slovenian had an easy joke. “You know, I am 36 years old, I am approaching the end of my careerhe explained. I’m proud to be there always, but I have to focus on my own race. I learned that over time. I am writing my own story and that suits me. “
My goal is to give them the most complicated task possible. “
No more stressed than his elder, Remco Evenepoel made a proposal to the organizers. “”Why would they not put bonuses during time? There are good in the mountains and in the event of a sprint. “
HIM-ENDER, MIGHT, the double Olympic champion confirmed the realistic speech held the day before. “When you are not physiologically advantaged in the mountains, progress in this sector is done over the years, not in a few weeks. Tadej and Jonas are the big favorites because they have won the last five laps. My goal is to make the task as complicated as possible.”
While waiting to start hostilities on Saturday, the actors of this series in 21 episodes posed. To give back to Lille all the love she gives them.
