The opening week of the Tour de France is 'as close to gladiatorship as it gets', says Jens Voigt

Jens Voigt says the first week of the Tour de France is comparable to «gladiatorship» and that it is «one step away from a matter of life and death». The second and third stages in Denmark and the following two day sections in northern France are vulnerable to strong crosswinds which adds to the risk that will already arise from venturing down narrow cobbled streets. Ad/> Two-time yellow jersey wearer Voigt is predicting chaos and that many in the field will fall early on.

Tour de France'My fondest memory is definitely the Tour de France in 1969' — MerckxAN HOUR AGO «It's super exciting and exciting for the spectators, but this first week of the Tour de France is as close to gladiatorship as it gets,» the multiple Tour stage winner told Eurosport. «We're just one step away from the arena being a real matter of life and death. »The first week will be extremely important and stressful.

Everyone knows that and accordingly all riders always want to be up front at that one important corner — but that's not possible, there's only room for 20 riders. «That's why I expect the first Tour week will also be marked by many falls.» 'My fondest memory is definitely the Tour de France in 1969' — Merckx Tour de France team guide: Star riders, memorable moments, which French food are they? Voigt also believes the final 20km of the second will also cause plenty of problems for the riders and could end some riders' campaigns altogether. He explained: «Almost exactly 20 kilometres from the finish line, we cross the bridge over the Great Belt — dead straight out onto the open water for 18 kilometres.