Stage 1: "Not the end of the world – But the homogeneity could have been better"

00:00:02: Inside Red Bull Bora Hanskowe, the podcast from OVB online on The Tour de France.

00:00:09: For three

00:00:10: weeks we are joining team manager Ralf Denck as he guides the biggest and most successful German cycling team

00:00:18: through

00:00:18: The Tour De France.

00:00:20: Do you have questions for Ralph Denck?

00:00:22: Send them to Tobias.roofoffbmedia.de

00:00:27: And now enjoy the new episode!

00:00:31: Wismalies, a bike wins the team time trial in Barcelona.

00:00:36: Jonas Vingegard is first wearer of yellow jersey at this Tour de France.

00:00:42: Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe takes fifth place At The Start.

00:00:46: Let's get into analysis with the team manager of Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe.

00:00:51: Hello to Barcelona!

00:00:52: To Ralph Denk.

00:00:55: Yes, Reilf.

00:00:59: A stage win was the wish.

00:01:01: it was goal!

00:01:03: It clearly wasn't enough in the end.

00:01:05: Nineteen seconds behind Wismar how are you and team feeling?

00:01:10: Yes, the mood is good.

00:01:13: I mean this isn't the end of the world.

00:01:15: we lost nineteen seconds to Jonas Wengegard with Remko Evernepol who was our best rider today.

00:01:27: Our team's consistency could perhaps have been a little bit better.

00:01:32: That is why we were already relatively far behind at the first intermediate time, twelve seconds.

00:01:40: But we were able to hold that so we did not get any slower towards the end.

00:01:45: but yes it's a team-time trial.

00:01:48: you need eight riders on highest level to win that at Tour de France.

00:01:53: It wasn't quite enough for this.

00:01:55: and thats' why finished.

00:01:56: fifth

00:01:57: Exactly, striking as you said that first sector.

00:02:01: Have you been able to determine in a quick analysis where things went wrong there?

00:02:08: The plan was to approach the whole thing relatively conservatively but in the first section or the first half... ...the first ten kilometers were it mostly flat.

00:02:21: we had expected bit more from Dense and Van Dyke And perhaps those two didn't have the best of days.

00:02:33: Then we had to use other resources.

00:02:34: by other resources, I mean for example Jai Hindley To a certain extent sooner sounds bad but that's how it is and That's why in the end It wasn't quite enough.

00:02:46: But we have already analyzed everything all of its individual sectors And for example, Remco wrote the last two kilometers sensationally.

00:02:56: So that was a really good time at pretty much the same level as Tadej Pogacar and from that perspective we can be satisfied.

00:03:05: but as mentioned in the start to win you need eight people on highest levels.

00:03:11: That was unfortunately not quite the case today and I do not want to criticize Nico Denzel, Mick van Dijk.

00:03:19: But they perhaps hoped for a bit more yet were not at one hundred percent today but maybe only at ninety-nine percent.

00:03:29: How exactly are positioning and lead lengths timed out in advance?

00:03:36: It is very, very precisely timed because our race engineers run everything through simulation software.

00:03:46: And many characteristics or parameters are entered like the weather and wind what individual cyclists can achieve.

00:03:57: The analysis software actually then speeds out the pacing strategy.

00:04:03: And for us, there were drivers who did very long turns of fifty seconds but also drivers that only turned ten to fifteen seconds.

00:04:16: How does the communication between riders work?

00:04:19: Do they say switch now and move from position one two three four?

00:04:24: You know what I mean!

00:04:27: Yeah, that's not done by the razor himself but by this sporting director in the car behind.

00:04:35: So he basically has his prayer book.

00:04:38: who writes In What Order and who rides what length of turns?

00:04:43: The so-called turns.

00:04:45: And then he says after fifteen seconds Nicodence out After forty five seconds Remquot and so on He basically delegates that from the car.

00:04:57: So they all have the identical transmitter in their air, so to speak.

00:05:01: Exactly!

00:05:03: The team radio is such that on a time trial it's one way.

00:05:08: That means there are different lighter radios.

00:05:11: The riders cannot talk back.

00:05:13: They only receive instructions from car.

00:05:17: Okay Interesting.

00:05:19: It was noticeable that Remco set the pace from start and helped dictate it, what were their thinking behind?

00:05:28: With other teams?

00:05:29: you saw differently with their captains at times.

00:05:34: Yes there is this strategy in that one.

00:05:38: so Wismatch chose a different strategy.

00:05:40: they basically used heavy guys first for part of course on flat.

00:05:46: At the end came two smaller climbs and we tried to approach it very consistently.

00:05:54: That is why Remco did a lot of work at the beginning but still set one of best times in last two kilometers.

00:06:01: that shows he's actually really good shape.

00:06:07: Nonetheless, Flogen Lipowitz also put on great performance today finishing just a few seconds behind the Remco and both are now in fifth-and eighth place, so we can already be quite happy with this result.

00:06:26: But first stage win is gone!

00:06:28: The prestigious one where yellow jersey was also at stake today.

00:06:33: I personally make no secret of that fact.

00:06:35: We would have liked to've had it.

00:06:38: So you mentioned Florian he's

00:06:57: No, well one would have liked less but you also had to pay team Vismalis a bike compliment.

00:07:05: They definitely did not have the strongest team on paper, but they had a great pacing strategy.

00:07:11: Had great individual performances led the team homogeneously and chose different strategies than we did.

00:07:19: perhaps that was better one?

00:07:21: But they won deservedly

00:07:24: Yes!

00:07:24: Definitely weren't favorites beforehand other names were everyone's lips in yours people talking about you.

00:07:32: It's logical that Vismallis, a bike wouldn't finish twenty second but I was surprised by how good they were.

00:07:38: How are you doing?

00:07:39: Ah...I feel exactly the same!

00:07:41: The whole scene here we discussed at a bit after the finish line.

00:07:45: also among other teams everyone was surprised because of their performance because they did have Italian climber Paganzoli and also SEPCAS Had two guys in there who supposedly do not have the team time trial as their favorite discipline, but they managed it well and were the best today.

00:08:07: Were also better than the Team UAE which has been outstanding so far this season and simply won deservedly.

00:08:16: Do you consider your favourite discipline?

00:08:18: You had said beforehand good idea.

00:08:21: what is your conclusion after that fact?

00:08:23: Yes, if you just observed the whole day in the paddock what was going on how the tension was.

00:08:33: How all technical staff work today worked to get eight bikes really race ready down into last detail and then went through the course again.

00:08:46: Oh, one of our engineers drove through Barcelona for example yesterday or the day before because the racetrack was car-free there in the middle of night at three in the morning and filmed everything.

00:09:01: We then showed this film to the riders before the start so they could memorize the corners and see where everything is, because during that day you can't really film a track as it's just stop-and-go in Barcelona.

00:09:15: but he got up at three in the morning and filmed the track.

00:09:19: That really shows the passion, that people behind the drivers have for this sport.

00:09:24: And then it is no problem at all to get up at three in the morning and quickly cycle the twenty kilometers just to get live footage of the track.

00:09:36: Do their bikes an equipment differ compared a normal individual time trial?

00:09:44: Not really, but of course with Specialized we have top notch equipment for this discipline.

00:09:53: And Specialized is just very supportive.

00:09:57: so they even flew in extra technicians here and there who supported our technicians where certain things were also discussed.

00:10:04: Also SRAM is a big partner of ours that you make the right choice of gear ratio And that is, yes there we have to for such a team time trial.

00:10:16: Many small gears have to mesh together.

00:10:19: so in the end great times comes out.

00:10:22: support also plays big role.

00:10:25: before Tour de France another final version of new time trials suits specialized also provides us with.

00:10:35: And yes, all in all the preparation for this day was already enormous.

00:10:41: But I also believe that ultimately it makes our sport bigger when it becomes so technical – such a day like today!

00:10:51: When you look forward to it so much and when teams strategically prepare for these days then there is already great start towards the Tour de France.

00:11:00: Well, I just find a start like this nicer and more extravagant than say a classic flat stage.

00:11:08: The spectators on site are seeing real spectacle there.

00:11:11: please tell us about Barcelona.

00:11:15: the images on TV looked great but what is it like?

00:11:20: We're always here in Barcelona The Barcelona weekend of the tour of Catalonia, I mean this is basically where the Tour Of Catalonia ends.

00:11:30: so we are very connected to the region.

00:11:33: We know that also today or tomorrow there's nothing new for us and it simply because we're in a hotel in the hinterland.

00:11:46: I was out in front of the hotel briefly this morning as cyclists were riding by.

00:11:51: This is a region that's passionate about cycling, it was an Olympic city and you can really feel the enthusiasm for sports.

00:12:03: but then today compared to a tour of Catalonia

00:12:09: That is indeed the case because it's The Tour de France and The Tour De France is actually a French sporting event.

00:12:18: Today, It started in Catalonia In Barcelona – the capital of Catalonia And Indeed the streets were much more crowded than in March at the tour of Catalonia.

00:12:32: The global events Tour de France, what does the rest of the evening look like now?

00:12:39: It is exactly eight forty five.

00:12:41: We are for a tour de France running comparatively very late and at this time you usually already have to podcast in your feed-at-home And hopefully I've all ready listened it.

00:12:52: um...it's off course a bit later for start.

00:12:54: especially today Is going get even more hectic now.

00:12:58: or how?

00:12:59: How was the evening go?

00:13:00: This is going to be a really long night, especially for the service staff.

00:13:06: By service staff I mean the physiotherapists... ...the osteopaths and doctors are taking care of their riders.

00:13:13: now They're all getting treatments because that was tough race.

00:13:18: You could see it with Lipovitz today.

00:13:20: he went deep And I was able to speak with him briefly beforehand.

00:13:27: He said, wow!I am on the first floor but i'm taking the elevator.

00:13:31: my legs are already hurting.

00:13:33: Okay and well we're at hotel.

00:13:39: that means the entire medical team is currently taking care of the races, and the technical service staff is basically clearing away all the time trial equipment.

00:13:53: We have different vehicles for the time-trial equipment which are then stored in a secure parking lot here in the region And... The whole thing goes directly into Lake Geneva where the individual time trial of Tour de France takes place.

00:14:13: So we are not driving the equipment back from here to Robling, but we're storing it here and then driving it from Barcelona to Geneva in the final week of the Tour de France.

00:14:24: That is the whole thing... The entire logistics for the time trial equipments And otherwise the bikes will be prepared tomorrow.

00:14:32: right now A massive amount of bottles being filled Supplies being prepared.

00:14:39: So, in the hotel parking lot there is a large port-au-feu where various support staff are well yes preparing to race.

00:14:50: The bikes preparing for tomorrow and that will certainly take another one or two hours.

00:14:56: I just saw on our chat earlier.

00:14:57: so stuff dinner at eleven

00:15:00: p.m.,

00:15:00: rider's dinner ten thirty p. m.. These are very, very long days but that is just part of the tour de France.

00:15:09: Exactly!

00:15:10: So tomorrow it's keyword – It goes from Tarragona to Barcelona again.

00:15:16: One hundred sixty-eight point five kilometers will be ridden.

00:15:20: The stage is classified as an e-stage on hilly terrain.

00:15:24: After ninety four kilometers, a second category climb awaits before three laps through Barcelona with three climbs up Montjuic follow.

00:15:33: The stage starts at thirteen forty five and the finish is expected around seventeen twenty-five.

00:15:40: speaking of expectations what will we see tomorrow?

00:15:43: What's your feeling?

00:15:45: Yes first off all about the route.

00:15:47: We also know this section on the route very well from the tour of Catalonia and the first part goes along the sea.

00:15:56: And here too, the roads are often narrow roundabouts road narrowings speed bumps... I expect a very hectic rays because it is the two defants that are massive amounts of people along the route.

00:16:12: Then, if goes into a small turn in to the hinterland there's category II climb now and then it go down to Barcelona.

00:16:19: And yes!

00:16:21: The root isn't really straight or wide.

00:16:25: So, I expect a very hectic race tomorrow and when we get to the circuit in Barcelona.

00:16:32: A similar circuit is also the finale of the tour of Catalonia.

00:16:37: so We know this circuit too And it's really tough.

00:16:41: It is really tough!

00:16:42: We ride three laps on the circuit and i expect that tomorrow The best meaning Vingegard Pogacar hopefully also Remco Florian Ayuso will fight for the stage win again Tomorrow.

00:16:55: It is not just a healy transition day for me, but it's Sunday morning second stage of the Tour de France.

00:17:02: Many people on the route and I expect really hard bike race tomorrow.

00:17:08: That means that for team protect their captains get them into good position.

00:17:13: they will then probably have to settle themselves at end.

00:17:18: Yes, yes well the climb is really steep too.

00:17:23: It's not long but it's a really steep climb.

00:17:26: then the finish line comes right up towards the finish and goes uphill more aswell.

00:17:31: That is less... ...less steep.

00:17:37: But before the final climb that one was tough.

00:17:41: We ride over it three times.

00:17:42: I think there will be selection again tomorrow.

00:17:46: Positioning is very, very important.

00:17:49: And the best riders of this year's Tour de France will fight it out for a stage win!

00:17:55: Then we can look forward to tomorrow's Stage and of course tomorrow's Inside Red Bull Borahansgrohe podcast.

00:18:02: So Ralph in two hours and eleven minutes It's time for you to eat.

00:18:06: I wish you a good appetite.

00:18:08: say thank you very much.

00:18:11: Yes We Will Talk Again Tomorrow.

00:18:14: I am happy and sending greetings back to Rosenheim.

00:18:18: That was the latest edition of Inside Red Bull Bora Hanskohr, The podcast from OVB Online on the Tour de France.

00:18:27: You can find the podcast on all common podcatchers and on the websites of OVBMedia & E-Penmedia.

00:18:35: Thanks for listening!

00:18:36: And see you in next episode.