Buchmann Supports Kelderman in Tour de France

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Buchmann Supports Kelderman in Tour de France

Emmanuel Buchmann will return to the Tour de France after a crash on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia forced him to abandon the race.

Buchmann was not originally scheduled to compete in the Tour, but on Thursday, Bora-Hansgrohe allowed Buchmann to compete.

Buchmann was in sixth place overall when he was caught in a group crash just after the Giro Gruppo left Grado at the start of stage 15. Buchmann suffered a mild concussion and bruises to his face, back, and knees.

After the Giro, Buchmann attended the Bora-Hansgrohe training camp in Livigno, where it was decided to add Buchmann to the Tour team.

"The crash at the Giro was very painful. The crash in the Giro was very frustrating. First I had to deal with this setback and then I had to heal from the injuries from the crash. Motivation came right back and that's why I went to training camp last week to see where I stood," Buchmann said. [The knee pain lasted a while, but now it's fine. I'm in great shape, but I still don't know if I'll be in perfect shape for the Tour. I haven't been able to prepare for months for the Giro, which is supposed to be my highlight. So I'm not aiming for the overall."

Buchmann finished fourth overall in the 2019 Tour, but his challenge last year was hampered by injuries sustained in a major crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné that left him 38th overall in Paris.

"I want to take my chances one day at a time, without pressure, and ride as aggressively as possible. That doesn't mean I'm giving up on the overall win from the start, but with Wilco we have a leader who can prepare optimally," Buchmann said.

"He will be the clear number one and I will give him my full support if needed."

In addition to Kelderman and Buchmann, Bora-Hansgrohe's Tour team will include Peter Sagan and sprinter Pascal Ackermann.

Manager Ralf Denk downplayed Buchmann's overall prospects - "the parcours of the Tour is not ideal for him, and he was injured and fell in the Giro" - but he expressed hope that the German will be an aggressive presence in July.

"If he is in good shape, I would like to see him attack and take risks. I want to show the German fans that he has an aggressive and attractive riding style."

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