The Tour de France 2018 plays in favor of beetles

In the 104 years of the history of the Tour de France, the most prestigious race of world cycling, no Colombian has managed to conquer it.

A day after the start of a new edition of the test of 3 299 km 21 steps -, the expectations of seeing a national runner on the highest podium of the podium grow again, especially because of the remarkable results of in recent years not only in this test, but in the following two in the category: Giro and Vuelta a España

In 2013 and 2015, the boyacense Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) was finalist and in 2016, the third of this competition created in 1903. And last year, the Antioquia Rigoberto Urán (EF Education Team) finished second

Both, full of & # 39; 39, experience and kilometers of road, in different European tests, which they went to prepare what is advertised as "Assault Tour" this year, return to the Tamen and are among the candidates for the title (see graphic).

In addition to them, other compatriots come with options to appear: Fernando Gaviria ( Quick-Step), Darwin Atapuma ] (UAE) and the new sensation of this sport: Egan Bernal, of the Sky team, in which he plays Chris Froome, winner of the last Tour of Italy and who will seek his fifth tour in this edition.

Philippe Bouvet, French cycling specialist, warns that what he felt 38 years ago is beginning to come true. "Colombia, sooner or later, will be one of the dominators of global pedagogy, and in this edition of the Tour, I'm sure she will make history."

But, why this man who worked 30 years as a journalist of the newspaper L & # 39; Team makes such a claim?

"For the impulse that they have shown since their arrival in Europe although they do not have the international touch or the technology of the time in the face of the other rivals ", says Bouvet, today in the organization of competitions in his country, as the Tower of the Future, the second most important test of this country, and who confesses that he had afraid, twenty or thirty years ago, with the strength of Alfonso Flórez ] Francisco Rodríguez, Pablo Wilches, Fabio Parra or Lucho Herrera in the mountains, is now more surprised by Nairo and Urán's overflowing talent climbing, as well as Gaviria in the flat stages.

"The list of figures is am plia The Colombian pedalismo has evolved a lot, which makes us think that it can impose itself in the great tricks," he adds

Can he finally do it in this Tour that starts tomorrow in the town of Noirmoutier-en-l-Î?

The Vuelta a España was realized with Herrera, in 1987, and with Nairo, in 2016. And the Giro with his own Quintana in 2014.

"There are good sensations, but in a three week run everything can spend, day by day puts you in the place that is. The important thing is that a good preparation has been made. It's just to get lucky and fight to give more joys, "Urán told EL COLOMBIANO before traveling to Europe.

Nairo, who will have a team strong enough to support his aspiration to the title , insisted on the fact, with cyclists like Froome, Richie Porte and Romain Bardet but the idea aims to win. "

For many scholars, there factors influencing Colombia, with some of these athletes, can win and celebrate July 21, when the last stage is completed at the Champs-Elysees.

The ex-cyclist Mauricio Soler, who was champion of the Mountain Tour 2007, states that the learning acquired by our representatives allows them to face the race with confidence and without jitters. "You already know what it is like to run in Europe, you know your rivals, and in the case of Nairo and Rigo, they have already made podiums in big towers, and this respect is fundamental."

Soler adds that the experience they have must be supported in their teams. "Especially in the Movistar of Nairo, because there are two other leaders, Alejandro Valverde and M Ikel Landa, who in the case of a weak of Colombian, would be alternatives to challenge the title.I think that Nairo's seniority in the team must be respected, and that both put their combination to work for him. "

And he points out that, although the course is complex, they have the ground to make the difference. "There are six high mountain stages and three big finishes (Fontenay-le-Comte, Sarzeau, La Rosière and Ezpeleta) to excel and enjoy."

Uran managed to train in Colombia before the big races. "There are very good places to train, like the Antioquia region, especially because of the altitude, and also because you are at home," he says. runner, who won the stage of the Tour-2017.

Libardo Leyton Colombian cycling coach, believes that the preparation in Colombia is positive on the psychological and physiological level.

the sportsman is surrounded by his family, can accompany the son to school, see the parents, solve for himself what is presented to him, eat better, in himself he is calm; Second, in height. As his body adapts to the oxygen needs of where he lives or trains, his lung capacity is wider and more effective when he arrives in Europe. "

And he adds, as a third benefit, that he works with pedals that they are at a performance level similar to theirs, which forces them to do more.

Leyton adds that Nairo's planning change, for example, may give him more benefits. For the competition of the Tour of 2017, the Boyacense arrived with 6.888 kilometers traveled in pre-season; Currently, he will arrive with only 4,292 km. "Nairo will not go to the race as exhausted as the other times he has played important preliminary tests and fight for the top spots in each of them."

After leaving the country, Urán and Nairo achieved important results. The Paisa was just second in the Tour of Slovenia, winning one stage, and the Boyacá was third in the Tour of Switzerland, in which he also won the stage.

"There is a lot of optimism, but it is clear that such a tough competition like the Tour de France, nothing is known. The race puts everything in its place, with the Team support, preparation – physical and mental – and I hope it will be paramount, "says Nairo.

Eusebio Unzué Movistar's sports director, says Froome, "will be the number one rival to beat," whether or not he is from the Giro. There will also be the second of this test, the Dutch Tom Dumoulin. In recent years, several riders have tried to make the double Giro-Tour, but have failed in their attempt, as was the case for Nairo in 2017, second in the first and 12th in the second. The same thing happened with Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador already retired.

The kilometers that add this year the legs of Froome (5,979) and Dumoulin (5,604) reveal a new duel between the two in the French mountains.