Stage 7: "Everyone loves each other and we are focusing on racing"

In the current edition, Denk reports on the seventh stage of the 2026 Tour de France. "We saw a mass sprint in Bordeaux, which became apparent relatively early on. To be honest, I am a bit surprised by the passivity of some teams. In my opinion, those who don't have a general classification contender or an absolute top sprinter in their ranks should be risking much more," says the 52-year-old. "When we were starting with a wildcard in our early years, Tour director Christian Prudhomme told me clearly that he wanted to see something from us. He didn't expect victories, but he made it clear that we should help shape the race," Denk reports. Meanwhile, the drama surrounding Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz is water under the bridge. "That's no longer an issue for us. Everyone loves each other and we are focusing on racing," the team manager emphasizes. The final section is about the eighth stage, which will be ridden on Saturday. A distance of 180 kilometers must be covered between Périgueux and Bergerac. "I’m not sure if we’ll see another mass sprint. I would put the chances at 60 to 40," Denk concludes. Photo: IMAGO / Photo News