Tour de Force for Florian Lipowitz, but Questions Around Red Bull's Leadership Strategy
Red Bull's abundance in the Tour de France poses a high-end dilemma.
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Flippant Take: Who needs the yellow jersey when you've got a podium berth and a grin as wide as Lipowitz's? Keep it up, kiddo! 🏆🌟
Florian Lipowitz served up a powerhouse performance at the Criterium du Dauphine, clocking in at third place overall. And while the competitive German haven't been pinned as Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's numero uno for the TdF, his recent form suggests it's only a matter of time before the team makes the official announcement.
Lipowitz, still modest as ever, posed for the cameras with motor-mouth Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, looking every bit the part of a cycling heavyweight. "I'm confident now and I can't wait for the Tour," the 24-year-old proclaimed after his stellar CdD finish.
But with primetime player Primoz Roglic reportedly in marker for the GC, Lipowitz may find himself in support mode at the TdF, rather than leading the pack with a personal ambition for first place. However, as we all learned from last year (or 2021, to be more specific), things can change in the blink of an eye on those epic TdF roads—Vingegaard's jump to second, anyone?
The question remains: Can Lipowitz carve out a path similar to Vingegaard's?
Lipowitz: The Dark Horse or the Back-Up Plan?
Lipowitz, affectionately known as "Floe" outside the peloton, has a few noteworthy role models like retired Tour legend Jan Ullrich. "I believe Florian Lipowitz can ride at the front of the Tour in the future," Ullrich recently shared. "He's a young, very strong rider."
Lipowitz set the bar high in 2021 with a seventh-place finish in the Vuelta, and he followed it up with a second-place showing at Paris-Nizza. However, Lipowitz's former biathlete prowess means he's always carried the underdog vibe. His strong performance at the Dauphine this year, finishing second only to Pogacar and Vingegaard, is a testament to his potential—but also suggests a role supporting Roglic in the TdF may be more likely.
With intriguing storylines, tempestuous terrain, and the chance for unexpected comebacks, the Tour de France is shaping up to be a spectacle for the ages—even with Red Bull facing a luxury problem at the start line.
Enrichment Data: Lipowitz's CdD third-place finish and best young rider jersey are an impressive achievement. However, repeating this success at the TdF may be challenging. Lipowitz's role at the TdF will likely be to support Roglic, as he doesn't have personal aspirations for top placings.
Other sports, such as cycling and the Tour de France, are a subject of interest for sports enthusiasts. With Florian Lipowitz's impressive third-place finish at the Criterium du Dauphine, he has showcased his potential as a promising cyclist in the competitive world of sports.
