Chris Froome and Egan Bernal They will share equipment again, this time in the Route of Occitania, which will begin today with a stretch of 187 kilometers, after a year four months and four days, because the last time they did it was in the title of the Colombian in the 2019 Tour of Catalonia.
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Much water has passed under the bridge in these 489 days. The two experienced very different moments, just like today.
While the Briton comes from a hard recovery, after the crash he recognized the Criterium Dauphine time trial and that forced him to go seven months without competing, the Colombian is in good health, he is the current Tour champion and favorite to prevail in Occitania, which will end on Tuesday.
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It will be the fourth time they share a team. Coincidentally, the first time was in the Tour de Francia 2018, when Geraint Thomas he was the champion, Froome was third, he came from winning the Tour of Italy, and Bernal was a debutante in the competition that would win a year later.
The second time was for the Tour Colombia 2019, in which Egan occupied the fourth space and Froome 91. And in Catalonia, Bernal was the champion and the winner on four occasions of the Tour was 94.
It is a squad that has the privilege of having Bernal, a young man, of great talent, class, a phenomenon and he will be the leader
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Despite the announcement of Froome’s abandonment of the Ineos at the end of the season, because the idea of the ‘power struggle’ continues in the squad in the Tour de France and Occitania It will be a good opportunity to gauge when they are Froome and Bernal, in the absence of Thomas, the other potential captain of the ship.
“Of course there will always be a power struggle, but in this case I consider that Ineos knows what he is betting on. It is a squad that has the privilege of having Bernal, a young man, of great talent, class, a phenomenon and he will be the leader ”, told EL TIEMPO Michelle Bartoli, Italian ex-cyclist and nowadays a coach for several riders.
And I add: “Froome has it complicated, it is a real unknown how fit he is. This race will be good to know what he is up to ”.
Chris Froome has only been able to compete once this year. He did it on the UAE Tour, he was in all five stages of the seven in the road book, but the test had to be canceled two days before the end due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Egan Bernal He made his first race in Europe in 2020. He was third in the National Cycling Time Trial, second on the road and fourth in the Tour Colombia, traveled to the old Continent, but did not compete.
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Gan Bernal is a favorite to win in Occitania.
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Archive / THE TIME
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Your technician, Nicolás Portal, and second because of the pandemic, that’s why he couldn’t defend the title of the Paris-Nice.
“This race is key to know what is Froome’s fitness status. I saw him in the UAE I saw him walk with difficulty. He is not recovered for a level of high competition, much less having the best in the world at his side, Egan ”, explained Carlos de Torres, journalist specialized in cycling of the EFE agency.
“Froome, 35, has little to do with Bernal, a young rider who is a reality and who is progressing. The Ineos technicians will have no trouble seeing clearly what their potential is. Froome is not the enemy for Bernal, he is the bet and the strongest, “said de Torres.
Both Froome and Bernal will be well surrounded in Occitania. The Spanish will accompany them Jonathan Castroviejo and Costa Rican Andrey Amador, in addition to Tao Geoghehan Hart, Pavel Sivakov and Dylan van Baarle.
According to the list of participants, Bernal is one of the favorites. It has how to beat men of the stature of Romain Bardet (Ag2r), who this year was second in the VAR Tour, in which he was defeated by Nairo Quintana and it was 19 in Paris Nice.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama) is another strong man. In the season he was seventh in the Tour of Provence winner by Quintana, sixth in the VAR y tour fifth in Paris Nice.
Richie Porte (Trek) won the Santos Tour Down Under, plus one stage, and was third in the VAR Tower and 41 in Paris Nice.
The test consists of four days, but the most important will be that of Monday, when the fraction ends high. It will be between Saint-Gaudens and Col de Beyrede, 163 kilometers.
The day will have four mountain passes, one third and three first, the last one at the finish line, a 10.9 kilometer climb, with ramps of 7.2 percent difficulty. At kilometer 6 of the climb is the most difficult part with a 9.3 percent incline.
Occitania, formerly called Ruta del Sur, has played a leading role in Colombian cycling. Eight runners have finished on the podium and they have accumulated three titles: Nairo won in 2016 and 2012 and Álvaro Mejía did it in 1994.
Ivan Sosa was second last year behind Alejandro Valverde, while Rigoberto Urán finished third. Nairo was second in 2015 escorting Alberto Contador, Reynel Montoya was third in 1989 and Edgar ‘Condorito’ Corridor he held that same position in 1984.
The test will also include Colombians Miguel Ángel López, that makes its first competition of 2020, Hernando Bohórquez and Hárold Tejada, support for López in the Astana, Johan Garcia (Cajar Rural) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain).
Occitania will be a good thermometer to know the conditions of cyclists ahead of the Tour de France, including Egan and Froome, who dispute the leadership of the Ineos.
Lisandro Rengifo
Editor of EL TIEMPO
@lisandroabel
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