Traditions sometimes have to give way.
This Friday marks the grand launch of the Tour de France.
On the program, a 13.2 kilometer time trial in the streets of Copenhagen that Tadej Pogacar will not be the last to go.
It may seem futile but usually it is the last winner who concludes this very specific exercise.
A final honour, in a way.
Only, weather obliges, the UAE Emirates training will depart from custom.
His jewel will start at 5:05 p.m. exactly.
Just after the favorites Filippo Ganna (5:03 p.m.) and Wout Van Aert (5:04 p.m.) but well almost two hours before Marc Soler (6:55 p.m.).
As the title winning team, UAE has only one obligation, to place one of its men in last position.
And so it was the Spanish climber who was selected.
Not a gift since the weather conditions are likely to deteriorate at the end of the afternoon.
Precipitation is feared from 5 p.m. but the probability of large drops increases after 6 p.m.
The wind, on the other hand, should leave the runners alone.
Read alsoTour de France: we rode the time trial course in Copenhagen
Time slots are allocated by drawing lots to each team.
It is then up to each of them to place their runners in the order of their choice.
This Saturday, the best chances of victory leave without surprise quite early.
Some like Pogacar allow themselves the time to glean some indications via the returns of the first to arrive.
But other contenders have decided to leave as soon as possible, such as the Swiss Bisseger (4:07 p.m.) or the Batavian Van Der Poel (4:11 p.m.).
So we won't have to drag too long before following this time.
The podium is likely to take shape around 5:20 p.m.
The contenders for the general classification like Roglic (4:20 p.m.), Vingegaard (4:42 p.m.), Vlasov (4:39 p.m.) or Gaudu (4:12 p.m.) will also all have already finished.
It would be too stupid to fall or slip right from the start, especially when you know the hearty main course that awaits them on Saturday.
All hope to be in the running again in three weeks for the second, perhaps decisive, time trial.
It will be Saturday July 23 in Rocamadour.
And this time, the starting order will be defined according to the general classification.