Stage 13: "The mood is a bit somber – but no blame on Maxim van Gils"

00:00:02: Inside Red Bull Bora Hanscoe, 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.

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

00:00:21: Send them to tobias.rufe of bemedia.de And now enjoy the new episode!

00:00:32: The thirteenth stage of the Tour de France had it all.

00:00:35: A huge breakaway group, a one hundred kilometer chase by the sprinters ,a podium attack in general classification by Tom Pitcock and the victory.

00:00:47: The Red Bull Borahanskrohe team was affected by all of this several times over.

00:00:52: As always, we will break everything down systematically and for that I welcome our Team Manager Ralf Denk as always!

00:01:00: Hello and greetings from the Foskus to Rosenheim.

00:01:03: Yes Ralph We have a lot to talk about And need to discuss.

00:01:09: I would like to go through the whole thing chronologically.

00:01:12: First of all, i'd say that after a long battle everything actually looked quite good because The Breakaway Group formed at the front which was large but included two of your riders Tim van Dijk and Maxim van Gils.

00:01:26: Did Everything Go according To Planat first?

00:01:29: or Was the group Actually A bit too big for you?

00:01:33: Both!

00:01:33: Well...I predicted yesterday That it Would be a day For the break away..i was right

00:01:38: We were represented and we were able to execute it as planned.

00:01:42: That means, we didn't want to waste our energy from kilometer one but we gambled, gambled until the group was finally set.

00:01:51: then we were represented with two men.

00:01:53: that's all great!

00:01:54: That it got so big and that second group caught up.

00:01:58: Well, that shouldn't have happened but Trek wasn't represented in the first group or Little Trek wasnt' And they really wanted to be there!

00:02:06: Thats why they managed.

00:02:08: do with Matt Spederson for The Intermediate Sprint.

00:02:12: And yes, the group ran well despite its size.

00:02:17: The group had built up an eight minute lead and they held that more or less They came in at seven thirty-two.

00:02:26: That was real bike racing.

00:02:28: We have two thousand four hundred meters of climbing today over two hundred kilometers An average speed of forty nine.

00:02:35: So there is pressure on all day.

00:02:38: I just spoke briefly with Remco or Florian, there were all few real bike racing today.

00:02:43: I can imagine that!

00:02:45: If i want to be mean ,I could ask did the group perhaps ride a bit too well because we still had candidate up front with Tom Pitcock who would potentially play role in general classification?

00:02:57: You said it was really intense upfront.

00:03:00: how you perceived situation as gap kept getting bigger and bigger.

00:03:06: I didn't get nervous because he was over eleven minutes behind before the stage Tom Pitcock and he did not give that time away voluntarily.

00:03:15: He lost it, but is not quite as good at the best ones up front.

00:03:19: And today made a big move!

00:03:21: He's currently in fourth place in the general classification.

00:03:25: That means Florian Lipowitz also lost to play which however no drama for us.

00:03:30: And we think that Tom Pitcock, he is a great racer Olympic champion in mountain biking and Tour de France stage winner stood on the world podium last year.

00:03:41: But I believe that he does not have the form from The Last World there... ...and i believe that He will finish the Tour De France in top ten spot but not towards the podium!

00:03:52: That's why it no big drama for us right now that he currently in fourth place okay?

00:03:58: Which then led to the situation where you had someone in Van Gils on the final climb who even attacked and proactively tried get away.

00:04:10: At that same time, You were responsible back at Peloton for ensuring a fast pace because of the gap?

00:04:20: Isn't actually a dilemma one doesn´t necessarily want to get into?

00:04:24: or are

00:04:25: not nervous when it comes?

00:04:27: No, that didn't matter in that case because there were eight minutes between us and we represented our interests at the back.

00:04:34: In the reduced main peloton.

00:04:36: We didn't want to let the gap increase to twelve-minutes to fifteen minutes.

00:04:41: That is why Our riders especially Mattia Cataneo took part in the pace setting.

00:04:49: on The other hand we never wanted to close the gap But we just wanted to keep it steady or reduce it slightly.

00:04:57: And that was the strategy.

00:05:00: And up front, Maxim Forthardt for a stage win.

00:05:06: in the end he finished fourth on this stage.

00:05:09: Not what we... would you have liked a bit more support there or were able to control everything within the scope of your team?

00:05:39: No, that was an alliance too.

00:05:40: The first ones to get nervous because Pitcock was up front were Team Bahrain Victorious.

00:05:46: They were the first to ride.

00:05:47: then a little track joined in and then we joined into so We didn't waste a huge amount of energy there.

00:05:54: But we also wanted to show our presence And that's why we rode along

00:05:59: All right.

00:05:59: Then let's move on To what you just mentioned.

00:06:02: Maxim van Gils super positioned at the front.

00:06:06: There was an attack towards the end of the climb before reaching the top.

00:06:11: Was that a call for him to try it there or what's behind its

00:06:17: idea?

00:06:17: We still had several teams with two, even more teammates in the lead group at this time and the attack was intended to ensure we would at least end up man-to-man.

00:06:29: That worked in part because J. Koalula, the team of the winner Mauro Schmidt today was still represented with two men.

00:06:39: also Team UAE Emirates uh was represented by two man and Maxime was alone Because we knew that Van Dijk from our team is not the greatest climber.

00:07:06: Is that really such a big advantage being able to play the card?

00:07:09: I mean at one point they even had four guys up front.

00:07:14: After the climb there were still two and UAE also had two left, is there much you can do about that or what should have gone differently for Van Geels to have a chance?

00:07:23: because in the final sprint he was basically next fastest after Tom Pitcock.

00:07:29: That is to some extent also playing roulette, and you only have certain cartridges.

00:07:36: And when they are spent?

00:07:37: They're spent!

00:07:39: When you have the numerical advantage then instead of eight cartridges... ...you've got sixteen cartridges.

00:07:45: The probability that your hit something is definitely higher….

00:07:49: …and this is why it's much more helpful if there were two of them.

00:07:55: And Team J. Koalula, they were two.

00:07:58: not only was Maurer Schmidt up front but Luke Plapp as well and both are great racers.

00:08:05: in the end They used their numerical advantage and deservedly won

00:08:10: Definitely how let's call it Disappointed RU.

00:08:15: that didn't work out.

00:08:16: You just said you don't really get many chances.

00:08:20: Does van Gils have any bullets left to try the whole thing again on a similar stage?

00:08:26: I mean, we already talked about it in the preview.

00:08:30: He had a broken pelvis in February was completely out for five weeks has written himself back into impressive form In my opinion and is now really right up there.

00:08:41: when it comes to stages like this What kind of impression do you have off him?

00:08:46: Does he still has power or was that really his limit today, no.

00:08:50: There are one to two stages coming up which might suit just as well as today's

00:08:56: And if the situation is right we will try again.

00:08:59: but yes Of course We didn't win Today!

00:09:02: We wanted to win and naturally The mood on the bus isn't yoy so it rather somber.

00:09:11: But you can't blame Maxim at all.

00:09:14: He was our man today, he made the jump into the lead group... ...he fought like a lion and from that perspective everything is good.

00:09:25: Alright Ralf.

00:09:27: I would like to talk about another topic which feels it's getting bigger for you guys.

00:09:35: We already teased it a bit in the preview, we have touched on this topic every now and then.

00:09:40: Today is definitely time!

00:09:41: And that's about your young talent.

00:09:45: Under nineteen and under twenty three team.

00:09:48: there was news today for example about Max Bock.

00:09:51: at the start of the sixty second Oster Tour A top race for young riders he took second place In The Time Trial.

00:10:00: There are constant reports about Lorenzo Finn who won the Giro next-gen.

00:10:05: We have Carl and Emil Herzog, who keep making headlines just to throw a few names out there that we'll be discussing shortly.

00:10:14: Can you tell me a bit about your young riders?

00:10:18: What is your approach there And Who Is Particularly Promising?

00:10:22: Yes!

00:10:23: The Young Talent...we call them Young Talent rookies.

00:10:28: That is the Under-Nineteen and the under-twenty three class.

00:10:31: It's very, very close to our hearts also due to history.

00:10:35: we have been running an under-nineteen team since two thousand seven.

00:10:39: it is very close but of course we want profit from it.

00:10:44: We are in high performance sports here... It is different than football.

00:10:48: you do not need this.

00:10:49: You can race too without being involved with youth development.

00:10:55: But part of our strategy paper is that the next generation is very, very important to us.

00:11:02: And the dream is one day win the Tour de France with one of our own.

00:11:07: That means someone who has gone through under nineteen and under twenty three teams and eventually wins The Tour de Frans or makes it to the podium right?

00:11:18: but definitely a guy over on.

00:11:22: That's one thing where you can tell a nice story, but on the other hand it is of course easier to work with people that have known since they were sixteen and seventeen.

00:11:31: And also when we get to know their writers what good about them are.

00:11:39: But you never know that when you sign a twenty-four year old, then have like at work one hour or two hours interview and decide for the rider.

00:11:51: There is no probationary period in professional cycling which means signing contract with the twenty four years old.

00:11:59: With residual risk will it even workout?

00:12:03: If you say in a racing driver who has been with us since he was sixteen or seventeen, it is much easier because then I know exactly how he ticks.

00:12:14: And that's of course also the reason why we are doing all this!

00:12:18: Can you tell what path and vision producing next to our winner from your own ranks currently looks like?

00:12:27: Who are the most promising candidates?

00:12:30: where you would say these are ones who could be ready in a few years?

00:12:35: Well, I don't want to name any names now and build up pressure but we do have one or two great future classics riders.

00:12:50: And we are naturally looking in cycling and road-cycling, but also increasingly at other cycling disciplines.

00:12:59: So for us, cyclocross is interesting as well – mountain biking is interesting too, track cycling is also interesting to us!

00:13:08: If someone emerges from another sport then we look them very closely.

00:13:14: We found someone last year in Lenard Kemmner who is now riding for Team Tudor, but we actually found him in speed skating.

00:13:23: We've found Florian Lipowicz in Biaslon and we are not yet at the point where we screen all endurance sports with the same intensity that we currently screen cycling.

00:13:36: But that is also part of our mission to expand it even further, to generate more data.

00:13:42: Because perhaps the two-difference winner of twenty thirty five or twenty forty... ...is currently still playing soccer!

00:13:51: You never know.

00:13:51: you shouldn't mention any names?

00:13:53: Or do you want to actually...?

00:13:57: We have a listener question about that from Axel Jacken.

00:14:00: He is very interested in your plans for Karl Herzog, he asks will you still be riding for Grengke Auto-Edder next season?

00:14:08: To clarify – That's the name of your under nineteen team!

00:14:12: Or it's a move to the under twenty three team conceivable even though here only seventeen on paper?

00:14:19: No, he actually has to move up.

00:14:21: You are only allowed to raise in the under-nineteen category for two years and Karl Herzog will race for our Under-twenty three team next year.

00:14:29: Okay one of the great German prospects I would think we have a few other names as well.

00:14:35: But what also interests me?

00:14:37: And we have touched on this a bit is how The French handle their young talent.

00:14:43: For example Decathlon with Paul Sakes says You have or rather you have always said that you want to develop your young riders more carefully.

00:14:54: How does that work in practice?

00:14:56: so when?

00:14:56: When do you say okay, we'll give someone who is maybe I don't know how old must they be Twenty twenty one twenty two the chance to ride in a world tour.

00:15:07: Yes Primarily it's about how do I approach that with the training and the competition load.

00:15:15: So that means how do I increase the training?

00:15:18: You have to know in the under-nineteen category, guys ride about fifteen thousand kilometers.

00:15:24: The professional riders ride thirty to thirty five thousand kilometers a year.

00:15:29: In my opinion it is more sustainable to slowly increase from fifteen thousand towards thirty thousand but you can of course also increase quickly.

00:15:40: The colleagues at the deck have long time and pole sexes increased very fast.

00:15:45: So the training load, and it is public of Paul Sexton.

00:15:50: It's immense even though that guy was only nineteen years old.

00:15:53: when I witnessed this morning We were together with The Cthulon at the hotel.

00:15:58: today The Hotel has already been besieged by fans early in the morning because of Paul sexton And the guy is nineteen-year-old so he really had to take a lot here.

00:16:10: That Is the Hope Of The Seekling Nation And I'm really curious how that turns out for him.

00:16:18: How things continue for him?

00:16:20: I wish him well because, uh...I know he personally is a fine guy also down-to-earth guy but it's truly enormous what his pouring in both from the competition load He's riding to Tour de France right away as first and has never ridden another three week tour before He has the pressure of the entire nation and, of course his training so that he can even compete at this level from I don't want to say zero-to one hundred but certainly increased from thirty two ninety.

00:16:56: And it remains to be seen how well The Boy handles that.

00:17:01: Yes, but that means for you.

00:17:03: You don't have this training load in the under-nineteen and under-twenty three categories That apol sixes has yet it only comes once he is out of the under twenty three category.

00:17:14: We have rather chosen the traditional path for our guys starting the whole thing a bit more slowly.

00:17:21: The best ones currently in our under-twenty three team are definitely Lorenzo Fin, then Maganotti and we also have Davide Donati.

00:17:30: Those are the three Italians.

00:17:32: those are certainly very talented racers but here too we still keep a protective hand over them.

00:17:42: do not let them train towards thirty thousand kilometers per year

00:17:48: All right, so I managed to get three names out of you.

00:17:52: Thank You for the assessment and we are curious to see when they will join The Big Stage.

00:17:57: as i said anyone who follows the junior classes a bit won't be able To avoid your team anyway.

00:18:04: no well in the youth sector We take it seriously As i said but we Are also creating some great successes there.

00:18:12: We won the Under-Twenty Three Paris Roubaix with Davide Donati, we won the under-twenty three Giro d'Italia with Lorenzo Fin last year.

00:18:20: We were the second best team in the world on the Under Twenty Three rankings and the Best Team In The World On the Under Nineteen category.

00:18:28: Well my people who are responsible for their youth development Are doing a fantastic job And I think that they're on the right track.

00:18:39: But we can also hear the resources, you can always spend more money on scouts and so but that is limited for us.

00:18:47: That's why we want to grow organically here... ...and not go from zero-to one hundred.

00:18:54: regarding infrastructure for the rookies So far it works well.

00:18:58: You have listed successes

00:19:01: Ralph, let's wrap up the background topic and look ahead to tomorrow because it is going to be really tough.

00:19:08: If you look at the profile there isn't a single flat meter.

00:19:12: There are four climbs three of them category one.

00:19:16: It goes completely through The Forges.

00:19:19: What do you expect from Tomorrow?

00:19:22: Yes!

00:19:22: Tomorrow for me already A major showdown for the riders who likely fighting for the podium here.

00:19:29: It is a roller coaster ride through the Vosges with almost four thousand meters of climbing, then finishing up at Le Moxtin.

00:19:37: I know that climb.

00:19:38: we have ridden there before in the Tour de France and tomorrow will be very clear race for the favourites!

00:19:44: I see fewer breakaways tommorow but i do not think they'll make it to finish.

00:19:52: And on the final climb, The best riders of these Tour de France will duel and I hope that our guys Remcoe and Florian we support from Jai Hindley.

00:20:04: Hopefully also Maxim van Gils will perform at their best tomorrow.

00:20:10: All right!

00:20:11: That answers everything.

00:20:12: We'll look forward to it for today.

00:20:16: We are looking forward too Tomorrow's stage.

00:20:19: Thank you very much Ralph Denk.

00:20:22: You are very welcome, and I wish you a nice evening in best regards.

00:20:26: That was the latest edition of Inside Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe – The podcast from OVB Online on Tour de France!