Stage 5: "Days just like these are exactly when you can lose the Tour"

00:00:02: Inside Red Bull Borahansko.de The OVB online podcast on the Tour de France.

00:00:09: For three

00:00:09: weeks,

00:00:10: we are joining team manager Ralph Denk as he leads the biggest and most successful German cycling team through the Tour De France.

00:00:19: Do you have questions for Ralph Denke?

00:00:21: Send them to tobias.rufeovbmedia.de And now enjoy a new episode!

00:00:32: A calm start and a furious finale.

00:00:35: On the fifth stage to power, the sprinters left no doubt that today would be their day!

00:00:40: The best of them was Olaf Kuitsch from Team Decathlon.

00:00:45: There are not changes in general classification.

00:00:48: As always I send my greetings for our daily briefing to France To the team manager of Red Bull Bora Hans Grohe.

00:00:55: Greetings Ralf Denk.

00:00:57: Hello Good evening And best regards to Hohenheim.

00:01:01: Yes, Ralph.

00:01:01: It looked a bit more relaxed today than the past few days.

00:01:07: The start was a bit later then usual at first At least in the peloton.

00:01:12: there was lot of talking A little laughing and the solo breakaway rider Baptis Vadiky could also be controlled relatively well.

00:01:21: Was it as relaxed?

00:01:22: As it looks from outside until final or how did you experience it?

00:01:28: Yes, I would say almost all riders wished for today's stage.

00:01:32: The first four days were extraordinarily intense and everyone hoped a bit that it'd be calmer today.

00:01:41: It also felt not quite as hot to day the last few days And everybody was able recover a bit because every one has tomorrow tough perineal stage in back of their minds.

00:01:53: That is why we took easy at first But it is still a two-day front stage.

00:02:00: It was about a prestigious victory in power, and that's why the finale was stressful after all!

00:02:10: Yes we will get to this right away – five kilometers from the finish.

00:02:14: there were relatively bad crashes on the right hand turn.

00:02:19: several riders went down.

00:02:20: at first glance I would say none of you are involved.

00:02:25: Is that correct?

00:02:26: Yes, that is correct.

00:02:27: We got through it well but we want the riders again in the meeting this morning.

00:02:34: Want them!

00:02:35: Do not take your day too lightly stay focused ride together do not mess around on a bike.

00:02:42: On days like these you can't lose the Tour de France or have to drop out

00:02:48: And that is why our instruction was to really focus

00:02:52: on

00:02:52: it again, but Our guys did a

00:02:54: very good job today also with the view tomorrow.

00:02:58: Yes I think in days like these at least In general classification It's good if you are seeing relatively

00:03:04: little

00:03:05: in camera

00:03:05: shots.

00:03:07: Is it the case that in your routine when things are a bit more relaxed.

00:03:11: you have a little time?

00:03:13: You're on site, staying I believe today too.

00:03:17: Do you really try to get up at the same time and keep something similar or is everything spread out?

00:03:25: Well, today we actually slept at Toulouse Airport and had over one hour bus transfer to the start again so it wasn't much later.

00:03:37: And I don't think that's good!

00:03:43: And also nice.

00:03:45: today, we have a hotel in Pau where the finish line was today.

00:03:50: So that transfer is only five kilometers from the finish to the hotel very unusual for our Tour de France.

00:03:58: You can definitely use it I imagine.

00:04:02: Let's take a look at the finale.

00:04:03: As I said, it was definitely one for the sprinters.

00:04:06: today We were expecting big names like Tim Merlier and Jasper Philippsen.

00:04:11: in The end It was Olaf Kuj also no stranger to the scene.

00:04:16: What is your take on the final year?

00:04:19: Yes One of the really big sprinters won here.

00:04:23: i would have really loved for Max Kanter who finished second For team Astana To win but it just wasn't quite enough.

00:04:33: So the best rider deservedly won today, I watched this sprint of course and team Merlier and Jasper Phillipsen – The big favorites were somewhat out-of-contentioned today….

00:04:44: Yes!

00:04:45: How do you see that dual role Team Decathlon is taking on?

00:04:50: They have Francis' great young hope in Paul Lapera But also a sprinter who doesn't get as much support because of it.

00:05:00: Now you could easily say they won the first sprint, so it worked out perfectly.

00:05:06: You deliberately decided against that to have maximum support in the mountains as well?

00:05:12: How do we see how they did this?

00:05:14: I mean right now looks very good of course!

00:05:17: Because primarily the winner is always right and they won.

00:05:21: today We will see what impact that has on the general classification, it is definitely a bold decision.

00:05:27: What they have done?

00:05:28: They had very ambitious young man Paul Saxas with them who wants to reach the podium and then also entered as sprinter.

00:05:36: That's a bold decisions.

00:05:37: start-with It naturally caused quite a stir not just in France.

00:05:43: They kind of messed up the team time trial, they blamed it on the sprinters around Kuhlsch and his lead-out men.

00:05:51: I think that is not easy for Paul Saksas to understand.

00:05:55: there's another sprinter here even though he arrived in super form.

00:06:01: And yes, the next stages will show whether Paul Sixers can also deliver or if the decision to shine in this print finishes and have a sprinter along was the right one.

00:06:14: So as I said that is not my team The Decathlon Team but they definitely made a bold decision.

00:06:21: Yes!

00:06:22: Whether it pays off we'll see.

00:06:25: Ralph, even though it was a bit cooler today I still want to go offer what we briefly touched upon yesterday.

00:06:33: It was warm again and uh... We already mentioned everything you are doing on site.

00:06:38: You have an entire team taking care of having cooling vests handing out ice packs.

00:06:44: Afterwards they go into the ice bath, bottles are handed out endlessly.

00:06:49: But what I would still be interested in and surely some of our listeners too What do the riders to prepare for such conditions?

00:07:14: Yes, you have to distinguish between heat training and heat acclimatization.

00:07:20: Heat training has a similar effect to altitude training And heat adaptation is something that you do more for races that take place in warm or hot climates.

00:07:33: So those are two different things.

00:07:37: What you mentioned with the painter's suit both bundled up very warmly on the trainer that is heat training.

00:07:45: You actually add that to your normal training for about an hour.

00:07:54: And when you push your body temperature into those ranges, it has an effect similar to altitude training.

00:08:16: So that is one thing we talk about heat-training.

00:08:19: regarding heat adaptation That also happens after training but that happens more perhaps with very hot baths in the tub I go even though It's already warm outside into sauna afterwards.

00:08:33: Those are

00:08:34: for

00:08:34: acclimatization like here now for preparing

00:08:41: myself, for hot races.

00:08:43: I see...I also have heat adaptation versus heat training written down here but you've already wonderfully sorted that out.

00:08:52: accordingly we will of

00:08:55: course stick

00:08:55: to one thing.

00:08:58: I'll go back to heat training for a second.

00:09:00: Do all riders actually do this now?

00:09:02: Because you see it everywhere on Instagram and because obviously has scientifically proven effect?

00:09:09: or how do you approach it, individually...I know i've seen Wander Paul doing even before he joined your team.

00:09:18: what are the guidelines there?

00:09:21: Yes, that is different from case to case.

00:09:24: I cannot go into too much detail because... ...I am not a training scientist but i have been told or noticed in my team That with heat-training you run less of risk doing something wrong than with altitude training.

00:09:37: In altitude training You can also do great many things wrong.

00:09:42: That means you go too fast at altitude.

00:09:44: You don't acclimatize properly, so the risk of getting sick is definitely higher than if you train at sea level and so on.

00:09:53: So there's a lot going wrong in an altitude training camp.

00:09:58: The chance of a lot going wrong with heat training is relatively low.

00:10:03: That means heat-training might not be quite as effective as altitude training, but you are nowhere near as likely to do something wrong and it's actually also easier to implement!

00:10:15: And that is why you can do a lot of base work with Heat Training versus an Altitude Training camp.

00:10:22: I see...and so every one your riders has integrated into their training program.

00:10:29: That is determined individually or recommended by the coaches, but definitely we have had that and will have it in future.

00:10:38: Alright then I'll move on to the second pair of shoes.

00:10:41: Heat acclimatization, heat adaptation

00:10:45: When do you something like this?

00:10:48: Is that also a direct part of the final preparation?

00:10:50: because the body gets unaccustomed to it again, hot baths, sauna etc.

00:10:55: or how do you go about integrating?

00:10:59: Yes!

00:11:00: That is simply recovery measure which has an effect on preparing for hot races.

00:11:08: A normal person, if they cycle for four or five hours at thirty degrees... ...they actually don't go to the sauna afterwards.

00:11:14: But you can get into a bathtub and make water as hot as possible.

00:11:21: That is then real adaptation of hot races!

00:11:25: Okay but that's really an area for professional work in order to be ready for those conditions right?

00:11:33: Because I can say from my own experience, i have tried both.

00:11:36: It is not all that fun because you put out very little power at a very high heart rate precisely because this heat effect is added.

00:11:45: and as you just described the sauna session at thirty degrees is also yes!

00:11:50: Not very pleasant.

00:11:52: Would you recommend that to people who want try it out now or is really a thing for pure professionals?

00:11:59: Well, I would rather say Pure Professionals.

00:12:02: Very ambitious hobby riders amateur cyclists.

00:12:05: they can try it.

00:12:07: Personally, I don't find it enjoyable.

00:12:10: Absolutely not!

00:12:11: But at least for those days It is very helpful and from what i gathered From the interviews there were hot stages in the past too And seems like riders are better prepared now.

00:12:23: Would you agree with that?

00:12:24: All things considered

00:12:27: Yes definitely because In the past No measures were taken at all for such hot races, neither in the preparation nor directly during or before the race.

00:12:39: But you just accepted heat and today really deal with it in advance but also during the race.

00:12:47: And that is a main reason why racists currently tend to be faster because we have learned so much about the nuance of heat adaptation scientifically based and that simply did not exist twenty years ago.

00:13:07: Wonderful!

00:13:10: We are looking at the next stage.

00:13:12: But before we do that, I have a very small announcement and this is about the giveaway on our instagram page.

00:13:20: The new Instagram account at inside.tourdefranspodcast.

00:13:26: There's an opportunity to win a white jersey from last year from Florian Lipovitz.

00:13:33: All you have to stop by that page.

00:13:36: Everything is described there or in the show notes below.

00:13:39: So if you want to secure a signed Lipovitz jersey, A quick disclaimer it's available through us and The winner will be notified at end of tour de France.

00:13:51: Right!

00:13:52: Quick interlude over Ralph, we are looking at tomorrow and can expect much less relaxation than today.

00:13:58: We're heading into the Pyrenees covering over four thousand meters of climbing including the Koldu tourmalet and a summit finish.

00:14:06: What do you expect for tomorrow?

00:14:08: A big battle!

00:14:10: Yes it is very difficult stage tomorrow The first time in high mountains with climbs over ten kilometers.

00:14:18: In my opinion there's two scenarios.

00:14:22: Either the UAE team and Pogacar, who have made the strongest impression so far as a team and an individual rider start war So that everything basically explodes in their peloton And everyone rides up the decisive mountain The Turmale on there own.

00:14:42: All they say Okay We Let the Norwegian rider take The Yellow Jersey yesterday relatively without a fight.

00:14:52: We also want him to wear it after tomorrow's stage because It takes the burden and work of our team, it saves Our resources.

00:15:01: that could be as scenario.

00:15:03: Well I think Tomorrow the UA team will be in charge of how to raise unfolds and everyone else including us, we'll actually have more of a reactive role first.

00:15:17: We'll see How will the Pogacar attack be prepared?

00:15:24: We'll first see to it that we are in a good position and for as long as possible can keep up with best of the best on the tourmalette, then perhaps also on final climb-up to Gavarni.

00:15:38: Yes, so what I'm hearing is that your tactic to keep the scenario open and stay with them accordingly without saying yourselves you'll make a move here or there.

00:15:53: Yes, well you saw in the first stages how strong Tadeh Pogacar is.

00:16:01: I think no one wants to walk into a trap and that's why i think other teams including us but also Decathlon team will ride cautiously at first.

00:16:15: Or perhaps the young Frenchman Paul Setcher is so inspired by Koldu Turmaleh, it's a classic mystical mountain that he might try something against Pogacar.

00:16:29: but I would be surprised.

00:16:31: Everyone is waiting to see what UAE and Pogaca do!

00:16:36: All right, we will take a look at that as always.

00:16:39: Also... A quick announcement for tomorrow!

00:16:42: It is bit of special case.

00:16:44: We have to improvise a little.

00:16:46: You have an important appointment Right after the stage and That means For us we can only speak very late And does not mean The episode Will be cancelled.

00:16:58: But we'll talk As soon as possible and Analyze the whole Stage And that will Be whenever it's possible.

00:17:05: A quick question about that.

00:17:08: Can you say anything about the important meeting delaying the podcast or is there no information on it?

00:17:17: Yes, I am sorry to not be available tomorrow after this race but we have already talked about it.

00:17:22: The Tour de France isn't just a very big sporting event But business also being done around.

00:17:29: For me as CEO, the business side is at least important and there are a few things on this agenda.

00:17:37: Tomorrow I cannot postpone them but i will still take some time before going to bed for quick update of day.

00:17:45: That's exactly how we do it!

00:17:47: It'll also be edited that same evening which means you get to hear about night hours among yourself.

00:17:53: then the rest follow next morning.

00:17:56: For today, I'll say thank you very much and send my best regards to France.

00:18:00: You're welcome!

00:18:01: And best regards

00:18:25: back.