17. Etappe: „Das war Chaos pur heute – und am Ende zu schwer für Nico“

In the current issue, Denk reports on stage 17 of the 2026 Tour de France. "It was pure chaos today. So many interests came together at once. The green jersey was at stake, and many teams still have nothing to show for it," says the 52-year-old. Red Bull BORA-hansgrohe had two riders in the breakaway. "Nico Denz had a clear run, but in the end, it was too difficult for him up front. Jai Hindley was more of a watchdog. You have to be present in these large groups and not get put on the defensive," the team manager emphasizes. Florian Lipowitz has already undergone surgery for his broken collarbone, and Denk provides an update on him as well. "He's doing very well, considering the circumstances. I spoke with him this morning. The disappointment is huge, but he seemed composed and even showed a bit of gallows humor. He's not the first rider to leave the Tour de France like this, and certainly not the last." In the background segment, Denk answers various listener questions. These include UV protection during the stages, the Deutschland Tour in August, a possible Tour de France start in Berlin in 2029, and the radio announcements on TV. The final segment focuses on the 18th stage, which takes place on Thursday. The 185-kilometer route between Voiron and Orcières-Merlette must be covered. "I don't think the riders vying for the overall classification will reveal all their cards tomorrow. We're well advised to take a cautious approach at first," Denk concludes. Photo: IMAGO / Sirotti