Among the colorful houses that look like a postcard from a distance, the spiers emanating from the churches and next to the small canals, the 109th edition of the Tour de France - one of the biggest sporting events in the world - kicked off today (Friday).
For three weeks, 174 riders from 22 different teams will cycle 3,328 kilometers, this time spread over no less than 4 countries (including excursions to Belgium and Switzerland), with the aim of arriving first on July 24 on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France, near the Victory Gate, and wearing The yellow shirt.
This year's route will include six plain sections, seven hill sections, six mountain climbing sections (five of which will end at the summit) and two individual clock sections (including one on the opening day), with riders getting two days of rest and one more day of transfers.
As a tradition introduced in the Grand Tours in recent years, such as the 2018 Giro in Israel, the first three sections called: "The Great Opening" will take place on Danish soil, and this will be the first time in the column's history that the starting point will be so northern.
Who will stop Pugachar?
At the top of the favorites to win this year is the winner of the last two years and the best stage rider on the planet at the moment, Taday Pogachar.
The 23-year-old Slovenian, from the Emirates team, rode this year in three stage races (United Arab Emirates column, Tirano-Adriato and Slovenia column) and defeated them all, taking two stages in each, so whoever was still in doubt - he proves he is in great shape.
Today Pugachar.
On the way to a third win ?, Photo: AFP
Pugachar is a diverse rider.
He climbs brilliantly, wonderfully against the clock, he has a sprint that allows him to collect bonus seconds against his opponents, and he is more than happy to go on the attack when he feels it is helpful.
If all that is not enough, the Slovenian also has a strong group around him.
Poland's Rafael Magka comes in with excellent fitness after two victories that took sections in Slovenia, along with American Brandon McNoletti and New Zealander George Bennett who will also set the tone in the race.
In the end, it's a pretty simple equation: if Pogachar rides as best he can, and stays out of trouble for the three weeks (avoids falls, crashes, and technical glitches), he should win the third row in a row.
The one who will try to challenge Pogachar is his compatriot Primoz Roglic (32) from the Yombo-Wisma team, the Spanish Valletta champion for the past three years.
The Olympic gold medalist from Tokyo in the race against the clock, is probably the best rider in the superficial track, with victories in two preparatory races and we have to wait and see if he can give a fight until the last days against his good friend.
More riders will come with more modest ambitions, and will try to get out of the grueling race with one of the other shirts awarded, like the polka dot shirt bestseller, the green shirt awarded to the rider with the highest number of points, the competitors are usually the top sprinters and the white shirt to the best young rider.
Primoz 'Roglitz'.
Will face his best friend, Photo: AFP
Prominent names include Grant Thomas Holshi of Inaus, 2018 tournament champion and teammate, improving Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez and Briton Adam Yates, who may be in the most uncomfortable position for him, after not winning the season and retiring from the Swiss column because of Corona.
The professional cycling team "Israel Premier Tech" will also try to set the tone in this year's race, in the third appearance in the Tour de France, with an experienced and victorious team - with the stated goal of achieving a historic victory in one of the largest and most important races in the world.
Israeli rider Omar Goldstein will not participate in the column this year, after being exposed to a Corona patient, and the one who jumped in to replace him is Guy Niv.
The Israeli team will feature four-time columnist Chris Fromm, the excellent Canadian climber Mike Woods, who is considered the star of the team, and a variety of riders with diverse abilities such as Australian Simon Clark, Canadian Hugo Hall, Latvian Christs Niles and Dane Jacob Fogelsang.
These riders share 20 Grand Tour victories.
The corona will not hit the column
Although the Korna is still here with us, the International Cycling Union (UCI), this week published updated protocols, which in the last line make it very easy for riders and less endanger the entire event, as they have feared for the past two years.
Riders of "Israel Premier Tech".
Will they achieve the goal ?, Photo: EPI
The crucial point is to remove the requirement from the race organizers, to cancel the participation of teams with two or more riders or team members who are found to be positive.
In fact, the new rules even leave room for the rider with the corona virus to stay in the platoon.
In a summary of a lengthy technical document, the UCI clarifies that teams should not be concerned about wholesale exclusion from the Tour de France due to positive testing.
The major changes come shortly after a wave of Corona virus cases affected the column in Switzerland and other races that serve as preparatory events for the Tour de France.
The new protocols came in an assessment of the current corona condition, with the UCI noting the efficacy of vaccines, the good vaccine coverage in Pluto and the new variants that do not cause serious problems.
So what will happen this time?
The new protocols require additional antigen testing for both riders and crew ahead of the race, as well as testing at least every three days during the event.
On rest days, mandatory tests will also be presented to staff, staff, UCI personnel and drug testing personnel.
In case of a positive result within a group (riders or team members), the decision on possible isolation will be made by the team doctor, the event corona doctor and UCI medical director, all taking into account the symptoms developed by the competitors, aim to prevent as little column dropout, certainly not because The corona.
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