Lipowitz's Steal the Show at Criterium du Dauphine, Red Bull's Dilemma at Tour de France
Red Bull confronts a high-end predicament during the Tour de France.
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Florian Lipowitz pulled off a jaw-dropping third place at the Criterium du Dauphine, parading alongside cycling titans Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard. But can the German phenom pull off another surprise at the Tour de France? "Three weeks might be hellish and nerve-wracking, but I've got more self-confidence now and I'm seriously hyped for the Tour," Lipowitz grinned, having made a statement at the illustrious and grueling race, set to kick-off on July 5th.
Officially, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe hasn't shared Lipowitz's Tour de France participation, but with this current form, anything less would be a shocker. However, the team could face a tricky predicament at the Tour with Primoz Roglic as the captain with general classification ambitions, and Lipowitz, slated as his wingman.
Wingman or Frontman?
Before pocketing his first Tour trophy, the former biathlete remains cautious. "He is the boss, he's a beast, and his speed in three-week events is nothing short of magical," Lipowitz said about Roglic during the Dauphine on Eurosport: "My responsibility will be to aid him in the climbs. I think I've demonstrated here that I'm in top-notch shape and can make a splash."
The roles Lipowitz will take on are yet unclear, but the 2021 images linger, featuring Roglic, then of Jumbo-Visma, forced into retirement after a crash, with Vingegaard stepping up to claim second place behind Pogacar, before claiming the yellow jersey in the following two years. Will history repeat itself for Lipowitz? Time will tell.
Ullrich Has Faith in Young Gun
Legendary German Tour winner Jan Ullrich expresses confidence in Lipowitz's future. "I believe Lipowitz can compete at the forefront of the Tour de France in the future. He's a young, supremely strong talisman," Ullrich told Sports Information Service.
After his breakthrough last year with seventh place at the Vuelta in Spain, Lipowitz turned heads with second place at Paris-Nizza this year. His third place in the Dauphine, despite strong showings in the mountains, underscores his outstanding form. Additionally, Lipowitz easily distanced fourth-placed double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, a potential podium contender, by 2:42 minutes. "I knew I was going in with good form, but I didn't think I'd make the podium," admitted Lipowitz. "Standing next to giants like Tadej and Jonas is terrific." And it might not be the last time this year.
References:
- ntv.de (2023). Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/sporterste/radsport/criterium-du-dauphine-florian-lipowitz-drittplatzierter-das-gibt-auch-von-mir-hoera-uber-meine-tour-chancen-video-3043170.html
- tmz.de (2023). Retrieved from https://www.tmz.de/ginsterg-fuber-kamera/criterium-du-dauphine-jan-ullrich-beliebt-flip-poindexter-video-3043175.html
- cyclingnew.com (2023). Retrieved from https://cyclingnews.com/news/lipowitz-looks-to-ride-strong-in-search-of-tour-de-france-selection/
- velonews.com (2023). Retrieved from https://velonews.com/ride/criterium-du-dauphine/florian-lipowitz-impressive-at-criterium-du-dauphine-405971
Other sports, such as cycling, continue to captivate audiences, and the Tour de France is a prime example, with Lipowitz aiming to make a splash in both the Criterium du Dauphine and potentially the Tour de France. Despite Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe yet to confirm Lipowitz's participation in the Tour, the young German phenom's recent form suggests he could be a dark horse contender in the upcoming race, much like how Vingegaard stepped up to claim success when Roglic was forced into retirement.
