Special envoy to Nice,
A as Absent
They were expected figures, not selected by Ineos, Christopher Froome (winner in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Geraint Thomas (winner in 2018; 2nd in 2019) will not appear on the starting line (other former winner Vincenzo Nibali favored the Giro). Steven Kruijswijk (3rd in 2019), one of the members of the Jumbo-Visma trident, neither. Sprinters Mark Cavendish, Arnaud Démare and Nacer Bouhanni are not included in the cast of a Tour tailored for climbers.
B for Bizuths
The Israel Start Up Nation and B&B Hotels Vital Concept teams will experience their first Tour de France.
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C for Chrono
Only one (individual) time trial is on the program for the 107th edition of the Tour: 36.2 km the day before the parade on the Champs-Elysées, between Lure and La Planche des Belles Filles.
D for Flags
The first appearances of the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Ineos-Grenadiers) and the Israeli Guy Niv (Israel Start Up Nation) will fly two new flags in the history of the Tour.
E
for Ineos-Grenadiers (formerly Sky) Deep Celsius Footprints on the run for the past decade with 7 wins in 8 years from Bradley Wiggins (2012) to Egan Bernal (2019), the Colombian wearing the favorite costume. Suffering from back pain, he left the Critérium du Dauphiné worried, he has the assurance of a team running 100% for him according to David Brailsford, the manager of the British training.
F for French
After a 2019 Tour all fire, all fire, Julian Alaphilippe (14 days in yellow, 2 stage victories) and Thibaut Pinot (masterful in the Alps, domineering at the top of the Tourmalet, before having to give up on injury) are eagerly awaited. Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil and Guillaume Martin can shine. Like Bryan Coquard in the sprint.
G for Glières
Plateau posed during the 18th stage with its spectacular and moving stony area. In 2018, the passage had inspired Julian Alaphilippe.
H for Hinault
The legend after which the French have been racing since 1985. Le Breton, five-time winner of the Tour, is the last French winner.
I like Islands
12 cities or unseen sites (out of 35) appear on the map of the 2020 Tour (Le Teil, Mont Aigoual, Cazères-sur-Garonne, Île de Ré Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Châtelaillon-Plage, Chauvigny, Châtel -Guyon, Puy Mary Cantal, Grand Colombier, La Roche-sur-Foron, Lure, Mantes-la-Jolie), with in particular a very awaited first passage on the island of Ré, at the end of a maritime breakaway launched from the Ile d'Oléron (10th stage).
J for Jumbo-Visma
The new terror. The Dutch team impressed during the Dauphiné imposing a hellish train to suffocate Ineos and Egan Bernal. Touched and forced to retire while wearing the leader's jersey, the Slovenian Primoz Roglic stealthily advances, after having let slip some benchmarks. But his team ensures that he is "ready" to take up the challenge. Tom Dumoulin is the second blade.
K for Kilometers
3.470 km on the program of the 107th edition of the Tour. 122 km for the shortest stage: Mantes-la-Jolie - Paris (21st); 218 km for the longest Chauvigny-Sarran (12th).
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L for Loze
Above Méribel, the roof of the Tour (2304 m). A novelty. A curiosity. Beautiful. One of the 4 high altitude arrivals (with Orcières-Merlette, Puy Mary, Grand Colombier) of the edition (17th stage).
M for Mountain
29 passes are on the menu of an edition which will rub shoulders with the 5 mountain ranges of France (in the order Alps, Massif Central, Pyrenees, Jura and Vosges). And from the start, the difficulties will arise, with from the 2nd stage two passes of 1,500 m, a strong entry point forgotten for 40 years.
N for Nice
Nice (7th departure from the great South after Fleurance in 1977 and 1979, Nice in 1981, San Sebastian in 1992, Monaco in 2009 and Porto Vecchio in 2013), theater of the great departure poses, on Saturday, the first part of his triptych graphic, toned.
O for Orcières-Merlette
A legendary passage marked in the Tour by the brilliance of Luis Ocana who had relegated Eddy Merckx to 8'42 ”in 1971. A meeting awaited by the headliners. To mark the spirits.
P for Poulidor
“Poupou”, a key figure in the Tour, who died last November, will be honored during the 10th stage crossing Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat to go to Sarran.
Q for Quintana
One of the resounding transfers of the offseason. After a successful start to the season (5 wins), the Colombian embodies the great ambition of the Arkéa-Samsic team. He will be able to benefit from the support of Warren Barguil.
R as Substitutes
Rémi Cavagna, the new French time trial champion, was called up by Deceuninck to replace the Czech Zdenek Stybar (tendon pain in a knee). Kevin Ledanois replaced Maxime Bouet who had fallen during the French championship.
S for Health surveillance
Masks, frost, bubbles, distancing, distance from spectators ... the organizers, helped by the authorities, did everything in their power to ensure that the Tour could start from Nice as part of a start "almost behind closed doors", as presented by the Prefect Bernard Gonzalez, following the classification Thursday of the Alpes-Maritimes in the red zone.
T for Tests
The riders were twice before the start. They will be twice again during the Tour.
U for Us and Customs
A host and hostess will share, for the first time this year, the protocol for handing out shirts as part of a lighter device due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
V for Virus
The threat of Covid-19 haunted the preparation of this Tour and will accompany it throughout the event. Two positive tests for Covid-19 leading to the exclusion of the team, Thibaut Pinot assures us: “The risk that the Tour does not go to the end, I do not think about it to stay in my thing. But we try to put everything in place to be careful. We know we all have a Damocles sword above our heads. ”
W for Warm up
No warm up lap, the Tour will start at full speed. With the 2nd stage, Sunday, climbs able to give indications on the state of form of the candidates for the podium.
X-rays like X-rays
30 nationalities are on the starting line. Behind France (39 riders), are placed Belgium and Spain (17). Colombia (10) is in 6th place. 42 runners will discover the Tour. The youngest of the peloton, the French Maxime Chevalier (B&B Hôtels-Vital Concept) who will discover the Grande Boucle at the age of 21; the dean the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (12 Tours) is 40 years old.
Y for Yates (Adam)
Flag bearer of a Mitchelton-Scott team which, as in 2019 (4 bouquets) will seek stage victories.
Z for Zero
The number of kilometers abroad. 6 French regions and 32 departments are on the menu.
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