Copenhagen, June 29, 2022 – Leaves Denmark on Friday Tour de France 2022which features six mountain stages and two time-trial stages, in fact bread for the teeth of the cannibal Tadej Pogacar. Slovenian is among the greats favorites of the race with the bookmakers who rate him below 2, behind him are Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard with odds between 4 and 5 times the stake. Much behind the others. Let’s see ten possible protagonists of the Grand Boucle.
Tadej Pogacar
He is the big favorite, if only because he has already won the Tour de France several times and in fact looks unbeatable. He is strong in the time trial, he is very strong on the climbs, he has no weaknesses and the only difficult moment was on the Ventoux a year ago when he attacked Vingegaard. Suffice it to say that in 2021 he won with a 5-minute lead.
Primoz Roglici
One of the few able to rival. He too, like his compatriot, is strong both in time trials and uphill, but he has always lacked a cent to make the euro in the Tour de France. The age advances, he goes to 33 years, but he can play with experience and tactics using a team that is perhaps stronger.
Jonas Vingegaard
It is the new name of stage races after the 2021 Tour closed in second place. Born in 1996, he has the enthusiasm and the right qualities when going uphill to clear the cards. The Jumbo can use him for a more unscrupulous tactic, with Roglic perhaps controlling Pogacar. And Tadej will not be able to follow everyone.
Geraint Thomas
Lost Bernal, the Ineos must refer to an old lion of the race, among other things a former winner. A Thomas at full capacity would have the right characteristics to try, strong uphill and very strong in the time trial, but for a couple of seasons he has not been what he used to be. Who knows that by finding the captain’s stripes, he won’t be able to show off the best version of him.
Daniel Martinez
Fundamental in the 2021 Giro for Bernal, Martinez is a pure climber who has nothing to envy to the best on the climbs. Without the Colombian he will have a more important role in the Ineos and on the big climbs of the Tour, and there are many, he will be able to attack to create havoc among the big names, who will mark each other.
Alexander Vlasov
Switched to the Bora, Vlasov will have to try to devote himself to a great tour. He sprints hard on the climb, he defends himself at the time trial, his condition seems good and he can have a podium chance if someone, in front, will stick in the race. With the general marking between Uae, Ineos and Jumbo, the Bora will be able to take advantage of it.
Enric Mas
The lead man of Movistar. It is a concrete climber, one of those who always find him in the top positions even though he is not noticed much. He already boasts two top ten in the Tour de France and two podiums in the Vuelta. It will not be easy to take him off on the climb but he remains an outsider.
Ben O’Connor
Last year he finished in fourth position using a breakaway. Uphill he can go fast and this will be the first real test of the Ag2R Citroen captain. It will not be easy for the Australian with this competition but he will have a chance if he is in good condition. He already boasts a stage win in the Tour and a stage win in the Giro.
Jakob Fuglsang
An old fox from the caravan. He changed teams to Israel where he will play an important role given Chris Froome’s lack of condition. He has never managed to win a great lap and will hardly make it this time, but he will be able to put on a show in some stages and hope for a top ten overall.
Damiano Caruso
The only Italian card with top ten hopes in the general classification. He comes from a nice podium in the 2021 Giro and at the Dauphiné he has shown that he is not far from the best on the climbs. He is a climber of pace and not of sprint, this penalizes him, a bit like his age, but in recent years he has found a new dimension. However, it will be necessary to understand what Bahrain’s tactic will be, that is, if he will use the Caruso-Haig duo for the classification or if he will seek the single stage victory
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