Cycling is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet and very few races on the professional calendar are as challenging as the Tour de France.
On July 6, eight riders from UAE Team Emirates set off to tackle three weeks, 21 stages, five summit finishes and nearly 3,500km of road racing at the 106th edition of not just cycling, but one of sport’s most iconic events.
It was a Tour designed to test even the most accomplished bike rider and – with 30 categorised climbs, six of which went above 2,000m in the final three mountain stages – it did just that.
UAE Team Emirates headed out to France in good shape. Both General Classification leader and stage hunter Dan Martin, and sprinter Alexander Kristoff were full of confidence, while Fabio Aru was looking stronger every day as he fought back from a leg surgery earlier in the season. However, it was not to be UAE Team Emirates’ year after two stage wins in 2018 and an eighth-placed overall finish for Martin.
Despite getting two men inside the overall top 20 the team’s riders were unable to produce the same level of performances that delivered a remarkable two stage wins and an award for most combative rider (Martin) the previous year.
After finishing 18th in the GC, Martin said: “The 2019 Tour de France was definitely the hardest Tour I’ve done.
We captured the beauty of #Paris on the final stage of #TDF2019 🇫🇷, thank you for the amazing support over the last 3 weeks! #UAETeamEmirates #RideTogether #YearOfTolerance
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamUAEAbuDhabi) July 28, 2019
📸: @bettiniphoto | @PhotoFizza pic.twitter.com/SpywoHsgAs
“We knew when the route was released that it was going to be tough but the conditions and high level of competition really added to it this year.
“Every day we had a new challenge – wind, the mountains, forty degree heat and even landslides. It was never boring for sure and we’re glad it’s over now so we can rest up and prepare for the next races.”
Martin is one of the most determined and committed men in the peloton, and he’s a rider that likes it when the going gets tough. This year his form didn’t quite match that of his stellar 2018 performances, but he is already looking to the future.
“It’s been a strange Tour for me,” he added. “Obviously I came in with really good condition and for whatever reason it just didn’t happen, but I am going to work with the team and come back even stronger.”
Aru, who finished just above Martin in 14th spot, was able to take a lot of positives from his experience: “During the Tour my performances improved steadily but I was still a bit behind the top GC guys,” said the Italian, winner of the 2015 Vuelta a Espana and twice a podium finisher at the Giro d’Italia.
“I consider this a good test, so now I’ll take a short rest and will get ready for my next block of races.
“Stage 20 was a good stage for me. After three weeks of racing, we went full gas for the whole two hours and I was able to sustain the pace. This is a positive sign for me and will help my progression.”
Although it was billed as the highest Tour in history, there were also a good selection of technical flat stages for the fast men to contest, with the competition for sprint wins as fierce as it has ever been.
Kristoff managed to earn himself four top 10 finishes, including a second place, where he narrowly missed out on the Stage 4 win to Elia Viviani (Deceuninck Quick-Step). Known as a rider that gets stronger as the Tour goes on, Kristoff was hoping to relive last year’s Champs Elysees success by taking the final stage in Paris.
However, luck was not on his side and the Norwegian powerhouse experienced a mechanical issue with just 2km to go.
Fabio Aru enjoyed a return to form at Le Tour, finishing 14th overall.
Another UAE Team Emirates rider, young up and coming Belgian talent Jasper Philipsen, the youngest rider in the field, showed his form after holding his own with some of the world’s best sprinters.
He came into the race as Kristoff’s leadout man and his remarkable efforts were rewarded with three top 10 finishes – an impressive feat for a 21-year-old taking part in their first ever Grand Tour, during their WorldTour season debut.
Overall, the 2019 Tour was not only the most open and exciting edition that fans have experienced in recent history, but a race that every single one of the riders and team staff enjoyed.
For UAE Team Emirates, it is now onwards and upwards as all eyes focus on their next stage race in Poland. The team heads there with a formidable line-up, including both Diego Ulissi and superstar Fernando Gaviria. The Columbian fast man is gunning for a stage win after taking a few months out of racing to recover from a knee injury.
Meanwhile, his team-mate Ulissi is also looking to take a win on one of the uphill finishes – a finale that always seems to suit his characteristics well.
