Geschke slams evenepoel-lipowitz duo as tour de france title remains pogacar’s”,n

Simon Geschke, a former Tour de France pro and now respected commentator, has delivered a blunt assessment of the chances for Florian Lipowitz and Remco Evenepoel in this year’s race, effectively dismissing the potential for a challenge to Tadej Pogacar’s dominance.

Lipowitz’s path to podium remains remote, says geschke

Speaking to SWR Sport, Geschke stated that while Lipowitz could realistically contend for second place, achieving the podium is a significantly steeper climb. He attributed Pogacar’s continued supremacy to his resilience, citing the Slovenian’s ability to overcome crashes and illness – factors that consistently derail other top contenders. “Vingegaard isn’t showing the same level of firepower,” Geschke added, expressing skepticism about the Dane’s ability to realistically challenge for the top two spots.

However, Geschke highlighted the potential complications arising from the team dynamics surrounding Lipowitz’s Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe outfit. He voiced concerns about the reported lack of cohesion between Evenepoel and Lipowitz, characterizing it as a “significant risk” that could hinder the Belgian’s ambitions. “Last year with Roglic was similar,” Geschke noted, referencing a situation where internal friction hampered a potential podium challenge.

The former racer pointed to a pattern of self-doubt emerging within the team, with each rider seemingly focused on their individual aspirations rather than collaborative success. While acknowledging that both riders have previously finished third, Geschke believes the current atmosphere is unsustainable. “It’s okay that they both want to be third,” he conceded, “but if Remco starts looking at Florian and vice versa, that’s a problem.”

Ultimately, Geschke concluded that Florian Lipowitz’s success hinges on a flawless performance – a near-impossible ask considering the formidable competition and the potential for internal discord. The race, he suggests, will determine if the duo can overcome these challenges and capitalize on any slip-ups from Pogacar. The proof, as always, will be in the mountains.”n