(Vitoria-Gasteiz) The Gran Hotel Lakua in Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of the Autonomous Community of the Spanish Basque Country, was surrounded by coaches and cars of cycling teams on Wednesday afternoon.
EF Education-EasyPost roses took up the entire back, along a major avenue in the city-start of the second stage of the Tour de France on Sunday.
Up front, the yellows of Uno-X, a Norwegian team making their Tour de France debut, shared space with the blues of Israel-Premier Tech, the team of Hugo Houle, Guillaume Boivin and Michael Woods, the Canadian trio.
While the mechanics were watching over the final derailleur adjustments on some brand new frames, another member was busy cleaning the cars with the compressor.
In the lobby, Jonathan Vaughters, EF’s top boss, was chatting with what appeared to be two young employees. A little further, in an almost deserted café, Richard Carapaz was relaxing with a loved one. The little Ecuadorian from EF is among the main candidates for third place on July 23 in Paris.
Houle was expected late in the evening from Biarritz airport, on the other side of the border.
Boivin and Woods traveled through the mountains of Andorra, where they reside, in a van driven by Canadian trainer Jon Adams, into whose arms Houle fell after his magical victory last year in Foix.
They arrived around 6:30 p.m., a little exhausted after a 6:30 a.m. drive and a final morning training ride home.
A recent winner of the Route d’Occitanie, Woods gave news of his daughter Maxine, 3 and a half, and his son Willy, 2. His parents stayed in Andorra to help his wife Elly and the niñera.
“It’s tough, but it’s made easier now,” Woods noted. Ever since my son was 2, I’ve noticed the difference. My daughter speaks Catalan perfectly and she is learning French at school. »
Boivin kissed his girlfriend, who had left for another hotel with the spouse of a teammate, before greeting everyone and taking a look at his aero racing car, which he will ride for Saturday’s first stage in Bilbao, the lung economy of the Basque Country, located an hour to the north.
Sporting director Steve Bauer took him by the shoulders to welcome him. “It won’t be like last year,” promised Boivin, who had a second Tour de France of little misery, ended prematurely with COVID-19 on the morning of the last stage.
“I’m calm,” Boivin announced after dropping his bags off in his room.
“Mike won the prep race. The check engine is checked. We can be confident, the job is done. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunities that will come our way. »
There could be one as early as Saturday, on a field tailor-made for a puncher like Woods. The Ottawa cyclist picked up his two Vuelta stage victories on the steep roads of the Basque Country.
“It’s possible,” said the 36-year-old athlete cautiously. If it’s between the favorites in the general classification, I hope to be there. »
Will the two big contenders for the final victory, the outgoing winner Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and his Slovenian runner-up Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), want to discover each other so soon?
“It’s hard to say, but we’ll see,” Woods replied. It’s a long race, it’s 21 days. Pogačar, whenever he has a chance to win, he takes it. But a guy like Vingegaard is going to be a bit calmer, in my opinion. But it’s the turn…”
“Someone will try it,” bounced Boivin.
“Yes, someone will try,” agreed his friend. [Julian] Alaphilippe…”
And why not you? it was suggested to him.
The theme returns at the start of each Round. Boivin has also warned his young New Zealand teammate Corbin Strong, who will play his first Grand Tour at 23 years old.
“I said to him, ‘You would never have seen stress like that in a peloton.’ It will depend, there may be a first selection on Saturday, but it will be hard, the descents are always technical, but it will be full of stress. »
Steve Bauer recognized the first two stages by car. “I was expecting narrower roads, but they are quite wide,” he told Woods and Boivin, emphasizing nevertheless the harshness of the Basque coasts.
“There are also more technical spots in towns and directional islands, which is typical of any race these days. But it is a very well designed course for the start of the Tour. »
Like last year, when Houle and Australian Simon Clarke raised their arms, Israel-Premier Tech is mainly aiming for stage victories on this 110th Tour, even if Woods will keep an eye on the general.
After about 30 minutes, Woods and Boivin returned to their neighborhood for a meeting with a sponsor and a team dinner.
This Thursday, they will ride between two and a half and three hours in the steep and green mountains of the Basque Country. “It almost feels like we’re in the jungle,” Boivin said.
The traditional presentation of the riders will take place this Thursday evening in front of the famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Saturday will be the time to unleash the big cats.
