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Cheers and worries in Copenhagen (nd-aktuell.de)

Two celebrated tour favourites: Jonas Vingegaard (right) and Primož Roglič from Team Jumbo-Visma

Foto: imago/David Stockman

There was a festival atmosphere at the Tivoli in Copenhagen at the team presentation of the Tour de France. The Danish stage chaser Magnus Cort Nielsen already heated up the excitement level when he briefly picked up the microphone during the introduction of his team EF Education First. When old master Jakob Fuglsang, also a Dane, entered the stage with his team Israel Premier Tech, he was greeted by a wave of chants. His name was chanted again and again. The professional cyclist might feel like a football star or a rock star. After all, Roskilde, the host town of the huge rock festival, is not far away – and is the starting point of the second stage.

When Jonas Vingegaard finally came, last year’s tour runner-up, the chanting became so intense that the 25-year-old’s eyes watered with emotion and even his captain Primož Roglič couldn’t help but say “Vingegaard” when the moderator asked him who in the team had the final say in deciding who to drive for.

Don’t take Roglič’s answer as the truth set in stone. In the end, the Jumbo-Visma team will mobilize all their strength for whoever is in better shape and placed better. But nobody could escape the enthusiasm of the Danes for cycling itself and the Tour. Even the tour boss Christian Prudhomme, who is usually a bit stiff at public appearances, was carried away by the emotions. He spread his arms and said that you, the Danes, the people of Copenhagen here on the fairground, deserved the first yellow jersey of this Tour de France. There it really was, that magical moment that the Tour de France can have: a celebration for everyone.

However, how long this moment lasts is also a question. Before the Grand Depart this Friday, some pros criticized dangerous sections of the route, especially on the stages in Denmark. “I’m not looking forward to the first week at all. What I really complain about is: The organization knows that the first week is super nervous and the riders really fight for every inch,” criticized former stage winner Simon Geschke. “It’s supposed to be a spectacle. But there is definitely risk involved and it makes it super dangerous for us. The Tour de France is not an action film,” warned the native of Berlin, who is tackling his ninth Tour of France in Copenhagen. The newly crowned German champion Nils Politt hopes »that it will be possible without any major falls«.

The topic of doping hardly ever comes up – the other major danger is once again the corona virus. Several previously nominated drivers were withdrawn at the last moment because of positive tests. This affected, among others, the Italian Matteo Trentin from the racing team of the defending champion Tadej Pogačar. He is replaced by Marc Hirschi. The Swiss was recently taken out of the race at the Tour de Suisse, but tested his freedom in good time. Team Quick Step has to do without the pacemaker Tim Declercq. Israel’s time trial champion Omer Goldstein, who had been immensely looking forward to racing against the clock this Friday, also departed due to Covid. The staff in the escort cars are also affected. Merijn Zeeman, sporting director of Roglič and Vingegaard, will only determine the tactics from his home office during the first days of the race due to a corona infection.

However, it is questionable whether the hygiene bubble can be sealed in time. With its new medical protocol, the world association UCI is more likely to ensure that the peloton is still big enough to get through France. Drivers who have tested positive do not necessarily have to go home if they are symptom-free, but can continue to drive after a medical check-up.

The rule that a team is withdrawn from the race if two tests are positive has also been removed. After all, the number of corona tests has increased. Instead of just one test before the race and one more on the rest days, the UCI now recommends daily testing for the five days leading up to the event and for the entire three weeks of the tour. In this way, at least a more precise picture of the sources of infection can be obtained. On the other hand, the rule that infected riders can remain in the peloton is very risky. It was also discussed very controversially in the medical committee of the world association. The jubilation of the – completely unmasked – Danes on the Tivoli could only drown out the worries for a short time.

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