"Florian Lipowitz stands firm on his racing approach, unwilling to alter it following his début podium finish at the Tour de France"
In a thrilling turn of events at the Tour de France, 24-year-old Florian Lipowitz has made a name for himself, securing the white jersey for the best young rider and a podium finish in third place. This remarkable achievement marks Lipowitz's first major success in UCI races, having only started racing five-and-a-half years ago.
Lipowitz, who switched from biathlon to cycling at the age of 18, has been hailed as a rising star in the cycling world. His racing style, described as scattergun, has been a key factor in his performances, but he plans to refine it to potentially win the Tour de France in the future.
The young German cyclist's improved Tour de France performance can be attributed to a combination of factors. He adapted his goals mid-race, collaborated effectively with teammate Primož Roglič, managed his energy meticulously despite suffering on tough climbs, and focused day-by-day, particularly during the challenging third week.
Lipowitz's historic third place finish has been met with widespread acclaim. Despite concerted pressure, his position on the podium is considered deserved. However, he acknowledges that Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are currently on a different level, and dislodging them to win the Tour de France will be a significant challenge.
Lipowitz's future with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe could be impacted by the potential arrival of Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian cycling sensation is set to join the team from Soudal Quick-Step, which could affect Lipowitz's leadership opportunities.
Despite this, Lipowitz remains focused on enjoying the moment rather than thinking about future goals or the next few years. He is the first German to finish on the podium of the Tour de France since Andreas Klöden in 2006, and his achievements have sparked a new wave of excitement in Germany, with "Lipo Fever" now a common term.
Enrico Gasparotto, the sports director of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, admitted that Lipowitz's valley attack on stage 18 of the Tour de France was unplanned and led to significant time loss. However, Lipowitz's sports directors have expressed their belief in his potential for improvement, making him a tantalizing proposition for the team.
Lipowitz himself is happy about the potential transfer of Remco Evenepoel to his team, but he acknowledges that he needs time to realize the significance of his third place finish in the Tour de France. He is also aware that he can still improve his racing style and strategy to further his success in the sport.
Despite not yet being widely recognized in city streets, Lipowitz is overjoyed about being on the podium of the Tour de France, considering it a dream that he thought might never happen. As he continues to learn and grow, it's clear that we can expect great things from this promising young cyclist.
Sports director Enrico Gasparotto admits that Lipowitz's valley attack on stage 18 of the Tour de France was unplanned, leading to significant time loss, but believes in his potential for improvement, making him a tantalizing proposition for Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe. Lipowitz remains focused on enjoying his historic third place finish in the Tour de France, aware that he can still improve his racing style and strategy to further his success in sports.
