The Tour de France is often the cycling race which is most reputable when it comes to sprinting. Although the race does not have it's famous sprint finish at the Champs-Elysées the race still has a luxurious sprinter field and almost all of them have their best leadout men present. We take a look at the contenders for the green jersey.
Although of course not all of these riders will aim for a result in the points classification, good results in the sprints may lead to that. Jasper Philipsen won four sprints last year and the green jersey and will be looking to win it once again with the support of Mathieu van der Poel; whilst plenty fast men come in with good form and high hopes of winning in the biggest race in the world. The teams below are ordered by what is in my opinion best to more modest leadout.
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1 - Alpecin-Deceuninck
Leadout: Jasper Philipsen - Mathieu van der Poel - Robbe Ghys - Jonas Rickaert - Axel Laurance - Soren Kragh Andersen
Winner of four stages last year, Philipsen cemented himself as the best sprinter in the world. This year that can be disputed as Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier have both put on great arguments. But neither are here and the leader of Alpecin may have a clear run for another green jersey. With Mathieu van der Poel as a leadout man so much can happen for the Belgian team... But the truth is the leadout includes incredibly powerful classics specialists Soren Kragh Andersen and Axel Laurance; Jonas Rickaert and track specialist Robbe Ghys. Alpecin have the strongest leadout in my opinion.
2 - Astana Qazaqstan Team
Leadout: Mark Cavendish - Cees Bol - Michael Morkov - Davide Ballerini - Yevgeniy Fedorov
Two teams follow close behind. The first is Astana. The Kazakh team signed Mark Renshaw as a DS, Cavendish's 2021 coach from Soudal - Quick-Step and the two riders that helped him to several wins in that Tour de France: Michael Morkov and Davide Ballerini. The Dane is perhaps not at the same level as he used to, but both remain very experienced and valuable in the flat finales.
Likely, they will lead Cees Bol into the final sprint, and the Dutchman should have the speed to match other luxury leadout sprinters in order to launch Cavendish. The question here however won't be the quality of the leadout but if Cavendish can make good use of it, which certainly hasn't always been the case this year.
3 - Team Jayco AlUla
Leadout: Dylan Groenewegen - Luka Mezgec - Michael Matthews - Elmar Reinders - Luke Durbridge - Christopher Juul-Jensen
In third place Team Jayco AlUla. Dylan Groenewegen is in good form and is as fast as ever I think. Jayco have very experienced and powerful Luka Mezgec to support him and I believe Michael Matthews will also try to give a hand. Jayco is a team that has focused immensely in the sprints and this trio will have the support of another trio of rouleurs: Elmard Reinders, Luke Durbridge and Christopher Juul-Jensen.
4 - Uno-X Mobility
Leadout: Alexander Kristoff - Soren Waerenskjold - Magnus Cort Nielsen - Jonas Abrahamsen
Uno-X certainly is not too far behind. Alexander Kristoff took several wins over the past month which is a great sign ahead of the Tour... But to have the speed rivals also do at this point is difficult. But he has Baloise Belgium Tour winner Soren Waerenskjold to lead him out; whilst Magnus Cort Nielsen and Jonas Abrahamsen are also very strong riders capable of keeping them towards the front.
5 - Intermarché - Wanty
Leadout: Gerben Thijssen - Biniam Girmay - Mike Teunissen - Hugo Page - Laurenz Rex
Intermarché is another team with a very strong leadout, but Gerben Thijssen has struggled recently with form. Biniam Girmay certainly can sprint too and I think he will be the man on a few hillier days, but in the pure sprints Thijssen is better suited. It will also be interesting to see how Girmay can do as a leadout man, some riders made the transition very well. Mike Teunissen, Hugo Page and Laurenz Rex are strong riders for the flat terrain.
6 - Lidl-Trek
Leadout: Mads Pedersen - Jasper Stuyven - Ryan Gibbons
Certainly a small leadout but an experienced and successful one. Mads Pedersen doesn't usually have luxury sprinters to launch him but in Jasper Stuyven he finds an in-form, experienced and powerful classics rider who is capable of surfing the wheels and picking the right time to hit the front. Team team may have Tim Declercq and other figures supporting, but it's Ryan Gibbons who will be the other key rider in the sprints.
7 - Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL
Leadout: Fabio Jakobsen - Nils Eekhoff - Bram Welten - John Degenkolb
DSM are fully focused on stage wins. Fabio Jakobsen has had a difficult year and will seek a stage win here. Nils Eekhoff will be the key support rider in the flat sprints and the Dutchman may have freedom on some harder days. Bram Welten and John Degenkolb will be very experienced support riders as well for these.
8 - Bahrain - Victorious
Leadout: Phil Bauhaus - Nikias Arndt - Fred Wright - Matej Mohoric
As in the Giro d'Italia, Bahrain - Victorious will support Phil Bauhaus in the sprints. The German rider will have his compatriot Nikias Arndt to guide him through the dangerous finales; whilst rouleurs Fred Wright and Matej Mohoric could help keep them in position into the sprint.
9 - Lotto Dstny
Leadout: Arnaud De Lie - Cedric Beullens - Jarrad Drizners - Victor Campenaerts - Brent van Moer
Lotto Dstny have Arnaud de Lie in form and motivated after winning the Belgian national championships. He is a rider for the hilly days, but the Belgian team clearly have plans for the flat sprints. A big leadout but one without a key support rider, in my opinion. Cedric Beullens and Jarrad Drizners can navigate the sprints whilst Victor Campenaerts and Bren van Moer can keep the team in the front for large kilometers with their big engines.
10 - Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
Leadout: Sam Bennett - Dorian Godon - Oliver Naesen - Bruno Armirail
Decathlon struggled most of the year with it's main sprinter but it began to work well in May. Following the success of the 4 Jours de Dunkerque the team have decided to bring it's rouleur to support Sam Bennett in the sprints. Dorian Godon and Oliver Naesen will be the key riders; Bruno Armirail may also be able to provide good support in the final kilometers.
11 - Arkéa B&B Hotels
Leadout: Arnaud Démare - Dan McLay - Luca Mozzato - Amaury Capiot
Arnaud Démare comes into the race in search of a stage win as he's done in the past. It's not a luxurious leadout but he's got three sprinters behind him. Dan McLay is the main support rider for the flat sprints whilst in the rough days Luca Mozzato and Amaury Capiot may also have their own chances.
12 - Cofidis
Leadout: Bryan Coquard - Alexis Renard - Piet Allegaert
With UCI points at hand, Bryan Coquard may aim for the points classification. Strong for the hilly days, but in the pure sprints the Frenchman will have the support of Alexis Renard and Piet Allegaert.
13 - Israel - Premier Tech
Leadout: Pascal Ackermann - Jake Stewart
Israel - Premier Tech have decided to bring Pascal Ackermann to the Tour with this very goal. Chris Froome and Michael Woods seemed to be fighting for the last place in the lineup but that was instead given to Jake Stewart. There is hope and some focus to support the German in the sprints, but it will be hard to succeed.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike (?)
Leadout: Wout van Aert - Christophe Laporte
I do not rate Visma because I don't believe, initially, that they will aim for the sprints. Both Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte enter the race as domestiques for Jonas Vingegaard, but this may change later in the race if the Dane is either dominating or out of the fight for the win. If later in the race they do decide to do so they could be as high as team number 5/6, the duo is good enough for that on their own, but it must be said van Aert does not pack the same sprint as some of the riders in the race.
We will also have sprinters without a real leadout in the race such as Fernando Gaviria of Movistar, Marijn van den Berg of EF Education-EasyPost... Although these riders do have quality teammates that can end up being quality support in the sprints.
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