O N O UR COVER
THE PELOTON RIDES THROUGH PARIS
Main picture: Gruber Images
Riders: ASO/Pauline Ballet, ASO/Alex
Broadway, ASO/SWPix
YOUR 2019 TOUR GUIDE
CONTENTS
164
36 Giving back: The
ed joins a team of
bike-riding stars on a
fundraising mission
38
50
12 Past champions:
Chris Froome and
Geraint Thomas look
forward to a winning
chemistry with Ineos
16 Africa’s Team: Head
of Performance Rolf
Aldag discusses the
season’s highs and
lows, plus all-important
Tour logistics
GEAR
Get inspired for winter
rides with the cool new
tech launched for Grand
Tour season
28 Women’s racing: Why
Anna van der Breggen
has new motivation,
plus other star turns
6 | TO U R
D E F RA N C E 2019
52 Slovene star: Primoz
Roglic could fl y down
to a podium fi nish
54 French hope: Can
Romain Bardet win on
a climber’s route?
56
Local heroes: How a
motivated young team
conquered the CDC
164 A symbol emerges:
Why Tour founders
decided on yellow
59
70 THE ROUTE: From the Grand
Départ in Brussels, through
the Vosges, Pyrenees and
across the Pont du Gard to
the Alps, we highlight crucial
strategic stages
88 THE ÉTAPE DU TOUR:
Amateurs on a high stage
162 A Cannibal is
born: Eddy Merckx
dominated his fi rst Tour
22 SA Champ: Daryl
Impey says he’s now
hitting his prime aft er
a rollercoaster ride
68 THE TOUR DIRECTOR:
Christian Prudhomme shares
the many highs for 2019
77 THE WOMEN: La Course
by Le Tour takes on Pau
Local rides: What’s
not to love about the
gees, gravel and grit of
these top SA races?
Green machine:
Peter Sagan has his
sights set on a record
seven Maillot Vert
66 THE MAP: The 2019 Tour
de France route at a glance
170 Last word: We look
back at 100 years of
the Maillot Jaune
90 THE REGULATIONS: The
key jerseys and prizes, plus
the all-important bonus points
92 THE STAGES: Race Director
Thierry Gouvenou explains the
route, plus all the stage maps
and profi les from Paris HQ
136 THE TEAMS: Two-time Tour
winner Bernard Thévenet tells
us who could shine where
166 THE STATS: Past winners
of the yellow, green, white
and polka-dot jerseys
THE SUPERSPORT
SCHEDULE: p67
Full TV listings so you
don’t miss a minute
FRANCK
12
32 A fan’s perspective:
Donovan van Gelder is
addicted to the cut and
thrust of pro cycling
46 THE FAVOURITES: Who’s
looking good for a spot on
the GC podium in Paris