Politt lets Dominator Pogacar joke, Geschke with light end
In Nice, the annual Tour de France comes to an end in Nice. Tadej Pogacar can celebrate his dominance. But he praises his German bodyguard Nils Politt excessively. For the Cologne native, the cycling classic was a full success - and for other Germans? Who are the hopefuls for the future and who has to retire for the major tours?
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates)
The Cologne native didn't race for personal victories but had a fantastic Tour nonetheless. He contributed significantly to Pogacar's overall victory as a locomotive and bodyguard. The last German stage winner (Nimes 2021) was the perfect team player, Pogacar and team management praised him excessively. "Nils does an excellent job. And he gets better every day," said the Slovenian. Politt (contract until 2026) should be set for the Tour 2025.
Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech)
The former Giro and Vuelta stage winner fulfilled a lifelong dream with his Tour debut and finished with three third places in mass sprints despite difficult preparation after a broken collarbone in the spring. If Ackermann is injury-free for the Tour 2025, he has the potential for a stage win at the most important race of the year.
Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious)
The sprinter struggled for a long time, finished with four top ten placings in the first two weeks (maximum place four), but couldn't reach his form from the previous year (once second, twice third) - Bauhaus lacked the punch. In the last mass sprint in Nimes, he managed to finish second and achieve the best German placement, the day after he dropped out. A stage win in 2025? That would require everything to go well for him.
Nikias Arndt (Bahrain-Victorious)
The teammate of Bauhaus took on a lot of responsibility as team captain in Bauhaus' team. Despite the team's lack of a stage win, the veteran couldn't be blamed. He attempted to join the sprint once, finishing fifth in Pau as his best result. The experience and versatility of the 32-year-old will be needed in the future.
Nico Denz (Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe)
The 30-year-old was the man for the grunt work, filling a similar role in the German team as Politt at UAE Emirates. At his Tour debut, Denz supported captain Primoz Roglic. When Roglic had to retire from the race after a crash, there was little left of the two-time Giro stage winner. The roster at Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe is expected to change, notable reinforcements are anticipated. At which races Denz can then perform the grunt work remains to be seen.
Simon Geschke (Cofidis)
The farewell from the Tour stage was quiet. Geschke arrived at the Tour with tired legs after a strong Giro (14th place), the form from the spring he no longer had. Unlike in the past, Geschke failed to join the breakaways, and at his last participation, he went unnoticed. What remains are the memories of his stage win in 2015 and several days in the mountains at the 2022 Tour.
Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Wanty)
The farewell from the Tour stage was subdued. Geschke arrived at the Tour with tired legs after a strong Giro (14th place), the form from the spring he no longer had. Unlike in the past, Geschke failed to join the breakaways, and at his last participation, he went unnoticed. What remains are the memories of his stage win in 2015 and several days in the mountains at the 2022 Tour.
It was a successful tour for John Degenkolb (DSM-Firmenich PostNL). However, his dream of a stage win remained unfulfilled. Zimmermann contributed to three stage wins of his teammate Biniam Girmay, who also became the first African rider to wear the Green Jersey. On the day of the breakaway on the 18th stage, Zimmermann rode on his own, showed strength but ultimately had to give way to others. In the coming year, Zimmermann has new chances.
John Degenkolb (DSM-Firmenich PostNL)
His team celebrated a double victory and the Yellow Jersey for Romain Bardet, marking a dream start. After that, it became quieter around Degenkolb. The gravel stage around Troyes was disappointing for the former Classics rider. Once, "Dege" sprinted for the win, finishing seventh on the tenth stage. However, his personal ambitions were not the main goal. All in all, his tenth Tour participation was solid.
Despite not achieving a personal victory, John Degenkolb (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) played a significant role in his team's success at the Tour de France, contributing to two stage wins and Romain Bardet's Yellow Jersey. On the other hand, Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates), the last German stage winner at the Tour de France (Nimes 2021), excelled as a team player during the 2022 Tour de France, significantly contributing to Tadej Pogacar's overall victory.
