Stage 17: "That was pure chaos today – and in the end too hard for Nico"

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

00:00:09: For three weeks we joined 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 dot roof at ovbamedia.de

00:00:27: And now

00:00:28: enjoy the new episode!

00:00:31: Jasper Philipsen wins the seventeenth stage of Tour de France.

00:00:35: Tadej Pogacar defends yellow and Remko Evernepul remains in second place in general classification.

00:00:42: We switch to Franz, to team manager Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe.

00:00:46: Hello to Ralph Tenk

00:00:48: Greetings from Grenoble and best regards to Rosenheim!

00:00:52: We have been doing this for seven years now Ralf but rarely have I been as confused today.

00:00:58: Can you help me understand how the stage played out?

00:01:01: I lost track at some point.

00:01:04: Was that still The Tour de France with those classics, is it because It Is The Seventeenth Stage ?

00:01:10: Is It The Green Jersey?

00:01:13: What was That?

00:01:13: Today?

00:01:15: We can summarize it briefly A chaotic stage Thank You!

00:01:20: we saw many different interests in the race The big battle for the green jersey which now very close again that is one A-one, one building block of the stage.

00:01:36: Then at the beginning they also tried to some extent with general classification riders and it was relatively fast And the current third place Isaac Del Toro was temporarily dropped behind Remco.

00:01:51: That's so surprising for me but well... It just went like this.

00:01:58: And on the other side, we naturally have many teams that do not have anything to show for themselves here yet.

00:02:07: I criticised it a bit at the beginning especially during the flat stages... ...that smaller teams who cannot play a role in general classification did not try hard enough for stage wins.

00:02:18: they are all waking up now!

00:02:20: Now there's four days of the two difference left and oh we still have nothing!

00:02:25: And that is why they all tried to attack today back and forth, everyone wanted try something one more time.

00:02:33: Yes ultimately from a relatively large leading group Jasper Philipsen managed win his stage in impressive fashion also with impressive leadout work from Mathieu van der Poel.

00:02:46: Did the competition?

00:02:48: Now we're getting into final phase.

00:02:50: Also I didn't understand.

00:02:54: Little track is obviously going for the green jersey with Matt's Patterson.

00:02:57: You mentioned it.

00:02:59: That is only seven points now.

00:03:01: Then you win the intermediate sprint, but somehow it all leads to that.

00:03:05: then You let's just perceive and go.

00:03:08: It leads to the group right behind catching up again reeling in Steven And then a certain Moncier van der Poel Is there who can of course lead out this?

00:03:20: Print for Philipson.

00:03:22: like almost no one else did they somehow gamble it away There.

00:03:27: I mean i didn't get that from that perspective either.

00:03:30: Do you know what?

00:03:32: Yes, the whole Lidl track team invested an incredible amount.

00:03:36: today also Mats Pedersen himself invested a great deal and we had Nico Denz upfront right then also Jai Hindley.

00:03:46: Jai hindley has bit of watchdog role for us up front and Nico Denze would have free ride.

00:03:53: but I just spoke to Nico briefly.

00:03:55: It was so hard up there and Nico was also at his limit.

00:04:00: And then Mats Pedersen, he could not hold in the sprint against Jasper Philipsson but only finished sixth or seventh.

00:04:12: that is why the fight for The Green Jersey is wide open again.

00:04:18: You mentioned Jai Hindley, I understood Niko Dentz.

00:04:21: We saw him quite early on too.

00:04:24: First of the question about him was he the card they wanted to play today?

00:04:29: Primarily yes Nico knows this region very well because The start was in Yes Shambhuri and In Shambhii.

00:04:37: He actually did his cycling training .He once rode there for the team AG-II R in the under twenty three category That is based in Shambhari and that's why Nico knew.

00:04:50: The route today very, very well And also the mountains.

00:04:55: He certainly felt capable of it If stage took a relatively normal course.

00:05:02: But there was no normal course.

00:05:03: There were pure chaos Also super hard racing In third week and thats why Nico Was completely at his limit.

00:05:13: He wrote really well, but a calibre like Mats Pedersen up front with Mathieu van der Poel.

00:05:20: he just couldn't hold his own against that and... ...he did arrive in the front group But was no longer able to secure a placing for us.

00:05:31: You mentioned Jai Hindley In a breakaway role.

00:05:34: I felt Like i was in A time machine For a second because i actually expected Jai hindley To be further upfront starting tomorrow not Really today.

00:05:43: What is this minder role, as you call it all about?

00:05:47: Yes.

00:05:48: Well when such large lit groups form You want to have a presence.

00:05:53: It's simple...you're at the front and show your colours And don't wanna be on the defensive.

00:05:59: You can always bring people back if needed But never just send them to the front like that.

00:06:13: please have someone go with them.

00:06:15: You can do that because if the group up front is that big, then it's no harder and they break away a group upfront than at their back Because you'll have so much slipstream in the breakaway group too.

00:06:26: That makes relatively little difference In terms of effort whether sitting on the front or back.

00:06:34: That is enough for today.

00:06:36: Let us look back at yesterday the diagnosis of a broken collar bone.

00:06:40: when we last spoke Ralph it was not yet confirmed for Florian Lipowitz.

00:06:45: Everyone probably heard about that.

00:06:47: can you give us any further updates on Florian?

00:06:49: Where he?

00:06:50: how is he doing right now?

00:06:53: He is doing well.

00:06:54: That's always the most important thing, he was operated on last night and that is a good thing!

00:07:02: The healing process can begin as quickly as possible And we also use contacts from Red Bull network so it was operated in best hands or late last nights.

00:07:18: We also want to protect his privacy a bit, so we are not going to communicate where he was operated on.

00:07:26: Also when he will return for training and race again.

00:07:30: those things still exist in the future but I can say here that he is doing very well considering these circumstances as I spoke with him this morning.

00:07:39: Yes!

00:07:39: He has already taken it with some gallus humour because The disappointment is naturally huge because you have to know Tour de France.

00:07:51: You prepare for that with more than half a year of lead time.

00:07:55: Those are sacrifices, those hours of hard training often in miserable weather too and then he drops out like this.

00:08:02: That's really bitter.

00:08:04: but I also told Florian He isn't the first major protagonist To leave the Tour de Frans Like This And won't be last.

00:08:11: It is somehow part of it.

00:08:12: and in the end he already made a relatively composed impression on me during our talk this morning.

00:08:21: Quickly, He was actually operated that very night.

00:08:25: I mean you don't have a surgeon with you.

00:08:27: how?

00:08:28: How...he's not just going to say oh there's the nearest local hospital.

00:08:34: um i'll Just go There And Have It Done!

00:08:38: How does That

00:08:39: Work?!

00:08:41: No, well we obviously have a medical team on our side with great contacts and if your medical team did make the job in my opinion.

00:08:51: So big thank you once again to my medical team.

00:08:56: And then when things are urgent When it concerns important athletes You can get such quick decisions done overnight even before midnight And that happened yesterday.

00:09:09: That is also what distinguishes this whole project here, you have such an

00:09:13: infrastructure.".

00:09:15: So he's then basically on call hey something happened.

00:09:21: pack your doctor's bag to put it bluntly and off we go.

00:09:25: I can imagine it vividly

00:09:28: Something like that.

00:09:28: It is relatively one-sided, but yes we have these networks through Red Bull and We are also very proud and happy that we have them.

00:09:39: What is the prognosis for the healing process?

00:09:41: Is there a goal already?

00:09:43: you have naturally had many conversations given Many interviews to and said that with an injury like this it is unfortunately part of cycling.

00:09:51: We will most likely see him on the bike again this season.

00:09:55: Is there a goal already or is it too early at this moment?

00:10:14: Exactly, he deserves that.

00:10:16: Regarding the mental perspective are you addressing?

00:10:23: Well, he is also still with such surgery.

00:10:27: You always get general anesthesia that has some after effects to a certain extent and we are leaving him in peace for few days now.

00:10:36: but we have specialists here on our network who can support the mental or this mental processing.

00:10:45: then it's of course bit common sense.

00:10:48: you apply there a good environment, family-like but also from the team.

00:10:52: We are all very supportive and stand behind Florian because he is an exceptional athlete.

00:10:57: He has done great deal for our team.

00:11:00: Standing next to him when his on the podium that's easy But there are days like this you saw.

00:11:07: if your truly a team.

00:11:10: Well, the ones who fortunately don't leave us alone Ralph are the listeners because we're getting very many questions.

00:11:16: Many thanks to everyone!

00:11:17: We will try somehow to answer as many of them as possible and won't be able to answer all.

00:11:21: in the end That is the price that you pay for sending so much.

00:11:27: But let's take a few question today.

00:11:29: Let's start!

00:11:31: Begg Siegspergel is his name And Nina Janjic have a question about UV protection.

00:11:38: You never see the riders applying or reapplying sunscreen on the bike.

00:11:43: What do they put before a stage?

00:11:46: Is it special product with sun protection factor of one hundred?

00:11:50: and are the Jersey's special UV clothing, It is a topic that naturally becoming more important.

00:11:57: How does this work then?

00:11:59: Yes well you see those who don't apply sunscreen because already applied so much.

00:12:06: And if you look at old photos of cyclists, we have this distinct tan line.

00:12:11: The arms and legs are dark in the rest of the body is white.

00:12:15: today's cyclist don't look like that anymore because much more sunscreen is used.

00:12:20: More cyclists take the subject very seriously.

00:12:23: use a high sun protection factor.

00:12:27: We have various sun protection factors available on our bosses.

00:12:30: everyone can decide how sensitive their skin is but it really.

00:12:36: But are those special products, if I may ask?

00:12:39: Yes.

00:12:40: We have these products from our partner Dynamic Bike and Body Care And the riders like to use them too.

00:12:48: Do the jerseys has some kind of a special function that you need.

00:12:52: No no more in other direction.

00:12:54: More it shines through.

00:12:57: They're so thin.

00:12:58: So really put sunscreen on your back before putting on your racing suit.

00:13:02: If don't want sunburn

00:13:05: Oh, okay.

00:13:06: That doesn't just apply to racing cyclists but some protection factor.

00:13:13: sunscreen is good for everyone.

00:13:15: Let's take the next question.

00:13:17: Axel Jacken wants to know your opinion on the planned tour start in Berlin in twenty-twenty nine.

00:13:24: Is that a good idea and principle?

00:13:27: Should we perhaps focus more on regional tours and invest money there?

00:13:32: What is your opinion on this idea, which has already quite advanced?

00:13:36: The bid for the tour start has been submitted and it's all ready.

00:13:40: Quite far along.

00:13:42: nothing is certain yet but they are on kind of home stretch.

00:13:46: as what...what do you thoughts on the planned start in twenty-twenty nine?

00:13:51: My premiere was a German racing team.

00:13:55: to have a Grand De Par in Germany is certainly yes, and I know it's nice.

00:14:12: Now Berlin is up for discussion, and I do not know the operating company.

00:14:17: Behind a bit they have not introduced themselves to me yet but i don't know their position of the ISO.

00:14:42: That is then a major political event, where in the end Macron and Mertz will likely settle the deal between themselves.

00:14:49: And such funds flow more easily than if it takes place at original

00:14:54: level.".

00:14:55: And that is why I believe Berlin has very, very good chances.

00:14:59: Originally it was more like in the states of Thuringia and Saxony but that's not nearly as sexy now than in the state capital.

00:15:10: That is why Christian Puddam told me his clear preference would be Berlin And I also believe that we can outbid our competitor, and this is a serious competitor.

00:15:23: Slovenia which is the home of Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar.

00:15:27: they are also bidding for the Grand Depart in twenty-twenty nine.

00:15:31: yes or outbide them with arguments as to why Berlin?

00:15:37: Well there's a pitting process!

00:15:44: The fall of the Berlin Wall forty years ago will perhaps also play a symbolic role, reviving the topic and bringing it to mind once again.

00:15:54: And the Tour de France took place in Berlin back in the eighties when the wall was still standing... I remember that as little boy because for that i would be happy if we are in berlin.

00:16:08: twenty-twenty nine start off

00:16:11: Exactly!

00:16:12: And once everything is finalized, we will hopefully be able to talk about it in detail here over the next few years.

00:16:20: Let's stay in Germany and look at The Deutschland Tour which runs from the nineteenth to the twenty-third.

00:16:26: August.

00:16:27: Christian Adelman wants to know how important is The Deutschland tour for you?

00:16:38: As for who will ultimately write the Deutschland tour, we are still juggling that a bit.

00:16:43: So I cannot name any names yet.

00:16:46: however because it is not part of The World Tour but the pro series which is basically one category below The World tour It'll open up the possibility to perhaps field one or two rookies Which i find very exciting.

00:17:00: The Deutschland Tour is quite important for us, as it's our home race.

00:17:05: We do not have that many races in Germany.

00:17:09: In my opinion the timing a bit inconvenient.

00:17:13: It falls on the same weekend when the tour of Spain starts.

00:17:16: At the same time.

00:17:17: we also had the World Tour Race, the Benelux Tour.

00:17:20: So we are running three programs That weekend meaning three different races.

00:17:26: That means a big effort for us as a team, but on the other hand it dilutes it a bit and I would prefer The Deutschland Tour to be at different time.

00:17:36: May is quite exciting perhaps parallel with Giro d'Italia where there are not so many races Where the Bayern Rundfahrt used to be And that was always somewhat of prelude in preparation For the Tour de France.

00:17:51: You could generate even more attention during the holiday season in August.

00:17:59: Let's take The teams

00:18:24: agreed to sell the radio communications, so we get a little money.

00:18:33: I say deliberately more money and ASO then sells it on... ...to the company that produces the TV signal.

00:18:43: they come with time delay.

00:18:45: They are definitely real.

00:18:48: That is exactly what the sports director was saying.

00:18:51: It's delayed, so it isn't relevant to race and doesn't distort competition if anything is revealed.

00:19:02: But I mean you are not directly involved with these radio communications but could tell them in end please do not release this to public.

00:19:14: or when you sell them as you say, do you no longer have any control over what you've sold?

00:19:22: No.

00:19:23: Well it is unfiltered and should be unfiltered because otherwise we only get the things that don't want to hear.

00:19:32: And well... It's okay if they are unfiltering also takes a bit of getting used for these sporting directors in the car.

00:19:43: having that in the back of their minds all day, they shouldn't perhaps blurt out things.

00:19:50: How should I say sometimes be below the belt?

00:19:54: So eyes and ears or brain first engage before you let your mouth do work!

00:20:01: That never hurts in life, generally speaking.

00:20:03: Well thank you very much for the insights Ralph and we look ahead to tomorrow.

00:20:07: We look a head to Thursday.

00:20:09: it starts at twelve thirty five.

00:20:11: Expected arrival is around seventeen fifteen.

00:20:14: It goes from Varón to Ossias Merlett.

00:20:19: The Alpine Trilogy begins, one hundred eighty five kilometers will be ridden at the start.

00:20:24: A first category climb.

00:20:26: a second category follows two third categories and the mountain finish is their first category again.

00:20:34: yeah what's going to happen tomorrow after that?

00:20:37: The alpine trilogy.

00:20:38: there's Alpe d'U.S twice.

00:20:40: I find it this incredibly hard to judge.

00:20:43: What's your feeling?

00:20:44: you're knowledge with whats coming up tomorrow?

00:20:47: Yes, well I know the final climb relatively well.

00:20:51: We had a Tour de France mountain finish here a few years ago.

00:20:55: It is a relatively wide terrace not to steep going up.

00:20:59: it Is not high mountains.

00:21:01: yet we will be in The High Mountains on Friday and Saturday And i could imagine that tomorrow might Be another chance perhaps for A breakaway group.

00:21:12: That is why the first mountain, the one that comes after forty-fifth kilometers.

00:21:20: there will certainly be a hard fight for The Breakaway Group.

00:21:24: And then I expect perhaps if There Is A Breakaway group even two races – One For The Stage Win and Well The Fight For The Yellow Jersey because but i also believe in the group of favorites it's basically the riders who are fighting.

00:21:41: I believe that tomorrow not everyone will put all their cards on the table yet.

00:21:46: And, this is why i believe that a group around Pogacar meaning The Best Climbers in the world who hopefully will include Remko Evinepol again Tomorrow we'll arrive at the top relatively together

00:21:59: With Florian Lipovitz out.

00:22:01: Is there new tactical approach?

00:22:04: Yesterday you said it was too early to talk about It...is there one for tomorrow yet?

00:22:11: Yes, we have of course looked at the result and we had a lead-off over two minutes on third place rider.

00:22:20: Primarily we can take it easy and ride rather passively because you do not need to make up time.

00:22:29: The others will have to make some time for us in the fight against podiums especially tomorrow.

00:22:36: I think that would be well advised if they take their weight and see approach.

00:22:40: And while I always hold the opinion that ATAK is best form of defence, you mentioned Alpine Trilogy earlier.

00:22:48: Perhaps we don't need to do it on a very first day?

00:23:10: My pleasure and have a good evening.

00:23:12: Best regards

00:23:21: to Rosenheim!