Stage 7: "Everyone loves each other and we are focusing on racing"

00:00:02: Inside Red Bull Bora Hans Krohe, the podcast from OVB Online on The Tour de France.

00:00:09: For three weeks we accompanied team manager Ralph Denk and the biggest and most successful German cycling team through The Tour De France.

00:00:18: Do you have questions for Ralph DenK?

00:00:21: Send them to torbayas.rufeovbmedia.de And now enjoy the new episode!

00:00:31: Tim Millier wins the seventh stage of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar remains in yellow and Red Bull Borahans Grower experiences a seemingly quiet day.

00:00:40: Whether that was actually the case I will discuss as every day with team manager.

00:00:44: so warm greetings to Franz.

00:00:46: to Ralf Denk!

00:00:48: Hello and greetings to Rosenheim.

00:00:50: Yes Ralph before we look at today one last look back.

00:00:53: yesterday you had already told us on the podcast that emotions have calmed down.

00:00:59: Were yesterday's events still a topic for you today?

00:01:01: I mean in the media, i can answer that with very clear yes.

00:01:05: It was on everyone's lips and our podcast was quoted everywhere nationally and internationally.

00:01:12: how does it look inside the heart of Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe?

00:01:16: Can we just put them out at rest and say new day let us move on everything is settled.

00:01:21: Yes, first of all I was pleased that our statement from last night or my statement in our podcast spread so much.

00:01:31: We were happy too!

00:01:34: And yes on the other hand... The topic has already settled internally and everything is fine.

00:01:40: i believe they spoke to the media again today as well.

00:01:42: Rolf Aldaag also spoke again Our Head Of Sports.

00:01:46: But no, it has become much bigger.

00:01:49: And you can also see here what power the media have at such a big sports event and how from small misunderstandings such a huge deal is made.

00:02:00: but everyone loves each other.

00:02:03: we are focusing on racing.

00:02:08: That's How We Will Do It.

00:02:09: So let us look at the racing, two breakaway riders out in front but without any real prospect of success.

00:02:17: A royal sprint?

00:02:19: Yes and

00:02:26: no, I would have thought that at the last sprint of the cup.

00:02:31: That was two days ago in Pauw there were only one single breakaway rider who by their way also represented again today on the Two-Man Breakaway Group.

00:02:43: I though that wildcard teams used a chance to present their jerseys and logos for their partners once more.

00:02:53: The Tour de France has live coverage in one hundred and ninety countries from start to finish.

00:03:01: That is of course a huge amount of awareness that you can achieve there for the team's partners, And it surprised me that only two teams again had the courage set off to attack but two against large field where the sprinter teams are back were controlling the race was actually a hopeless fight and in the end it just came down to a sprint royal in Bordeaux.

00:03:30: Bordeau is often where the Tour de France ends, an often-in-a-bunch sprint.

00:03:36: there are some truly great winners In Bordeux And that's why todays sprint was prestigious.

00:03:41: I watched on television.

00:03:43: of course Tim Mellier won deservedly

00:03:49: Absolutely, I mentioned it in my introduction.

00:03:52: Now i do not know for sure.

00:03:54: was the quiet day that appeared to be at first glance?

00:03:59: Yes!

00:03:59: It was relatively relaxed.

00:04:01: we always had a bit of butterflies on our stomachs.

00:04:04: hopefully nothing happens especially when the race gets more hectic and no one crashes.

00:04:12: Everyone is super exhausted from yesterday, from the hard Pyrenees stage.

00:04:17: Not just physically but also a bit mentally.

00:04:20: We have been racing for almost a week now and you often make careless care.

00:04:25: careless mistakes crash But everything went well Everything's safe And From that perspective it works For us.

00:04:35: It was relatively relaxed day.

00:04:38: Do you know what was up with the radio today, on-screen graphics?

00:04:41: On TV I couldn't read them at all or only with great difficulty.

00:04:46: The colleagues at EuroSport also said there seemed to be problems.

00:04:49: did you hear anything about

00:04:50: that?".

00:04:51: I noticed they were often outages but i have no background information as to why.

00:05:00: Okay good so now fittingly Bordeaux is called the city of sprinters.

00:05:08: Let's take this opportunity and talk about exactly that topic sprinting at the Tour de France today.

00:05:36: Before the finish it is activated and protects riders from losing time due to crashes or mechanicals.

00:05:44: Now Akim wants know, Is there a team tactic to potentially open gap for other general classification riders?

00:05:54: And gain few seconds?

00:05:56: on the other hand... ...is that the opposite of making sure others don't do this?

00:06:05: Yes, the five kilometer mark.

00:06:07: You have to know that the virtual finish line is not here.

00:06:10: only if something happens in your last five kilometers meaning If you have a flat tire or crash and several people crash then it gets the same time.

00:06:21: but still don't let any gaps open up for the winner because they get different times.

00:06:29: And that is of course the goal for teams fighting for a general classification here, not to let any gaps open up.

00:06:40: But the last five kilometers or ten kilometers are so stressful... ...that the team still playing their role in the general classification do not hurt each other and perhaps gain another three seconds somewhere!

00:06:55: That is absolutely not worse.

00:06:57: The risk on the contrary, all let's say teams that don't have sprinters... ...that only have general classification riders and definitely includes Team UAE Emirates.. ..that include Wismaliser Bike could also be us as well.

00:07:15: So rather I heard this from the riders of the first sprint stage that Tadej Pogacar said Hey, the teams fighting for the general classification.

00:07:25: Let's just stay together then we'll all be fine.

00:07:28: so more in that direction to get home safely rather than going The other way and trying to gain three seconds with an enormous amount of risk.

00:07:40: So it is a kind of gentlemen's agreement.

00:07:42: could you call at that?

00:07:43: Yes yes And It Is nice That such gentlemen's agreements still exist and that of course also distinguishes the current great cycling star, Tadej Pogacar when he initiates something like this.

00:07:58: Okay good topic.

00:07:59: sprinting at the tour de France.

00:08:01: A few days ago, we talked about the route and we both agreed.

00:08:05: those days when a tour de France just rolls along are over.

00:08:10: And you already hinted that the organizers would actually prefer to only see stages that go into the mountains That are hilly where there is constantly something going on Something happening as opposed to stage like today.

00:08:27: We're in Bordeaux The city of Sprinters.

00:08:29: I mentioned it talked about it.

00:08:32: In the past, the topic of sprinting was at least in my perception an absolute centerpiece.

00:08:40: On

00:08:57: the other hand, sprint stages are a bit boring for the viewers because it takes two hundred kilometers until the final kilometer arrives and action starts.

00:09:16: I understand that the organizers want to avoid this.

00:09:20: now.

00:09:21: What I do miss a little is the aggressiveness of teams that can neither win in a sprint because they don't have top sprinter nor perhaps finish in the top five or top ten.

00:09:40: And there are several teams, let's join forces and each send two riders into attack and try something because that would obviously make the whole race much more entertaining.

00:09:58: That surprises me a bit, I am also surprised!

00:10:01: And i can still remember this myself... Back then, we didn't have a world tour license.

00:10:18: No automatic ride to start in the Tour de France.

00:10:21: We only had that from twenty seventeen and I can still remember That the tour director Christian Prudham usually told me over-the phone Hey Ralph your team is getting a wild card?

00:10:31: I was really happy but you have to promise Me one thing i expect A Wildcard Team To liven up The race for You to Ride Offensively And For You to Attack.

00:10:42: I don't expect from you, You have a small budget.

00:10:45: A stage win or guy or one in the top five.

00:10:51: But with this small budget... ...you should do your best to shape and help shape the race And make it more attractive for viewers.

00:11:00: It surprises me that teams Currently struggling to secure a stage win in a sprint or top five.

00:11:08: In the general classification, don't go on the offensive more on stages like today.

00:11:16: How could we make stages?

00:11:18: Like Today More attractive?

00:11:21: Let us let our thoughts run wild Make them shorter Or maybe add extra benefits like bonus seconds premiums, I don't know.

00:11:34: Have you thought about how in the end?

00:11:37: Because we all agree that a sprint is part of a cycling tour.

00:11:41: right but How could we make the whole thing more attractive?

00:11:46: it Is funny because Two days ago We were following.

00:11:51: Well, we The extended management Of our team usually sit and Our Team bus during the stages and we were watching the race.

00:12:00: We had the exact same discussion, what can we do to create drama and excitement today two days ago when this stage ended in Paul?

00:12:14: Okay, okay fine.

00:12:17: It happens quite often in our podcast that there is no concrete answer from Ralph Denk but yes I think it's a difficult topic.

00:12:23: you have to put your heads together.

00:12:25: how do you feel about the trend?

00:12:27: That this print feels like its becoming less significant Would say ifs bit of shame or just way things go as sport naturally evolves over many years.

00:12:37: Is it natural process development?

00:12:40: Do see it objectively and melancholically.

00:12:44: No, I think it's a pity because... Back then when i was a racer myself.

00:12:51: It was impressive.

00:12:52: the legendary Seiko Kanondale train of Mario Cipollini for example or Cavendish was great sprint protagonist at Tour de France but Eric Sabel also won many stages.

00:13:09: That was really inspiring for me and a sprint is still inspiring to me today, but it's more about making the time from the start to the last ten kilometers before the finish a bit more exciting.

00:13:25: But as I said we've already discussed it a lot internally.

00:13:30: We haven't found a perfect solution yet But perhaps it's part of the Tour de France that there are quieter days too.

00:13:37: Okay?

00:13:38: You have to accept, That TV ratings on flat stages might not be quite as high As on mountain stages.

00:13:46: If you compare it to rally racing.

00:13:48: There are special stages And so-called liaison stages.

00:13:53: Maybe maybe It is just a part Of it and you Have To Accept Because one thing makes The Tour de France is very, very special.

00:14:03: It's a three-week sporting event with only two rest days.

00:14:08: that doesn't exist anywhere else in the sports world where in twenty-three days twenty one competitions take place and maybe your kind of transition stage just part it too.

00:14:22: Yes, well the sprint was of course also a significant part of your team's history.

00:14:28: Peter Sagan is obviously the key name there.

00:14:32: you yourselves have changed your focus and said we are now a team that wants to target the general classification.

00:14:41: When that switch happened, did you already anticipate this development or was it a fundamental decision?

00:14:49: That had nothing to do with the current evolution of the Sprint.

00:14:54: No!

00:14:54: It's our decision and actually has nothing to Do With The Current Trend Pro or Contrast Print.

00:15:01: You have To Know The Yellow Jersey Is Or The General Classification?

00:15:05: That is The Supreme Discipline.

00:15:07: Yes So That Is The Most Valuable Jersey The green jersey for the best sprinter, you get to go to the podium in Paris.

00:15:16: You get to call yourself the best Sprinter at Tour de France but it does not have nearly value of yellow jersey.

00:15:26: We won the green jersey twice with Peter Sagan.

00:15:30: He was crowned the best sprinter at the Tour de France, and we won many stages with Peter-Sagan And that is naturally part of our history.

00:15:40: but we want to continue developing the team.

00:15:46: It's clearly a part To try and attack the Yellow Jersey, we have managed to reach third place so far in Paris.

00:15:54: We were already on the podium last year with Florian Lipowitz.

00:15:58: I want to move further up In the medium term ,in the long-term And that is why we will also invest in That area.

00:16:04: i must Also add that this Is The most budget intensive part because a top rider who can finish the Tour de France and top five costs significantly more money than a rider, who perhaps produces two or three stage wins at the Tour De France.

00:16:26: Maybe if we come back to the topic of sprinting that one big name is missing?

00:16:31: That absolute superstar!

00:16:32: You spoke about Mario Cipollini.

00:16:35: Eric Zabel Marc Cavendish My Marcel Kittel is the German record winner at The Tour de France with fourteen stages.

00:16:43: Zabel won twelve, Andre Greipel won eleven.

00:16:47: Maybe the international perspective is missing.

00:16:49: I don't want to offend the fast guys but that glamour factor a la Cipollini um i'm missing.

00:16:57: That's one big figure perhaps missing there both internationally and nationally.

00:17:07: Yes, naturally more of a sprinter.

00:17:09: Yes always characters who are a bit polarizing like Mario Cipollini for example.

00:17:18: I just think of his special outfits that he always wore the fines He got from them and was happy to pay or his team paid.

00:17:28: Sure, such characters are missing in the sprint field.

00:17:32: Nothing against Tim Malier or nothing against Jasper Philipsen but they're not as polarizing as say Mario Cipollini perhaps was.

00:17:40: maybe that is also a good assessment from you.

00:17:47: Let's keep that in mind.

00:17:48: Sprint, the big topic of today because our preview for tomorrow also smells like a mass sprint again or maybe not?

00:17:57: let's hear about it at this moment.

00:17:59: so... It goes from Perigot to Bergerac.

00:18:02: One hundred and eighty kilometers will be ridden.

00:18:06: we have more in profile than was the case today.

00:18:13: So two fourth category climbs Yes.

00:18:17: Well, I have the feeling that due to the passivity you mentioned from other teams... ...I don't know if it will change much tomorrow and then we would see another bunch sprint.

00:18:28: What is your assessment?

00:18:33: If you had asked me yesterday whether there'll be a bunch sprint than i'd say ninety-nine percent For tomorrow, I would say maybe sixty-forty because it is significantly hillier.

00:18:46: There are more climbs and there's also a category two climb.

00:18:50: The teams that do not want to sprint with very small group will definitely try drop the really fast guys like Tim earlier in company.

00:19:04: But I also think that since the start or first part of this stage is already a bit hillier, there will be bigger fight for the breakaway tomorrow and that the break away group would be significantly larger.

00:19:17: And more people break away ,the greater probability they make it.

00:19:24: because it is simply mathematically like that.

00:19:27: If ten teams have, if ten people are in front from ten different teams then ten teams automatically aren't working behind and the probability of a group making this is significantly greater.

00:19:40: so as I said i'm committing to sixty percent bunch sprint forty percent breakaway

00:19:46: Yes, and can you commit to a percentage of how likely it is that we might see a Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe jersey in a potential breakaway?

00:19:54: A lot of hypotheticals.

00:19:56: We have people specifically brought along for that.

00:20:01: I'm thinking of Jan Tratnik perhaps or maybe even Maxim van Gils tomorrow.

00:20:06: Or yes, we will certainly give our guys the freedom To try something tomorrow.

00:20:12: Okay, so the start is at one fifteen.

00:20:15: Expected arrival is five twenty and what is certain?

00:20:18: Is that after this stage a new episode of inside Red Bull Borehanskrohe will land in your pod catcher And demand responsible for that.

00:20:29: it's The One I thank for today and we'll speak to again tomorrow.

00:20:33: best regards and Thank You to Ralph Decker.

00:20:37: Good evening and best regards back to you.

00:20:41: That was the latest edition of Inside Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, a podcast from OVB Online on Tour de France.

00:20:50: You can find this podcast in all common podcatchers and on the websites of OVBMedia & Ipenmedia.

00:20:58: Thanks for listening!

00:20:59: See you next time.