Mountain stages at the Tour de France push riders to the limit. The exertions of the climbs even branded young German talent Emanuel Buchmann. He tells DW what this year's Tour has taught him.
Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe team): I'm pretty exhausted. That, along with the ninth stage, was the toughest day on the Tour for me. The stretches at altitude were really brutal. There were a couple of truly tough mountains we had to clear today. And we rode them very quickly.
About 10 kilometers (six miles) before the summit of the Col du Galibier you dropped away from the group of favorites around Chris Froome. What was going through your mind then?
It's not pleasant when you fall back just 10 kilometers before the mountain's peak. Because we were fighting headwinds up there and if you're by yourself, it's tough. But there weren't many left in the leading group by that stage.
Buchmann was expecting to play second fiddle at the Tour this year, until his team leader retired from the race earlyImage: imago/Eibner
Nevertheless you're still a respectable 15th in the overall standings - are you proud of your performance so far?
Yes, I think it's been ok. After the Criterium du Dauphine [editor's note: an important preparatory race before the Tour, in which Buchmann finished seventh overall] I was actually thinking to myself that I could mix it even further forward. But my form's not quite as good now as it was then, so my current position is definitely decent.
It does indeed seem like your form's dipped just a little - did you peak too soon for the Tour?
That was actually the plan all along. I wanted to hit top form at the Criterium du Dauphine and then do my bit here as a helper for Rafal Majka [editor's note: Majka, Bora-Hansgrohe's main hope for the yellow jersey this year, had to retire early]. But once he dropped out, it fell to me to lead the charge here as well.
The Tour's entering its closing stages. What's still attainable for you?
The stage on the Col d'Izoard will be another really tough one. Let's see if a breakaway group emerges there, or whether Team Sky can control everything again. Perhaps there's still a chance to do something.
Pawel Poljanski provided his Instagram followers with some insight to the physical strains riders subject themselves to covering thousands of kilometers in less than a monthImage: Instagram/P. Poljanski
What will you take away from this Tour de France?
I have learned a great deal. I was riding with an eye on the overall classifications last year, too, but this time has been different. It's a big challenge to keep delivering over three weeks. The most important thing I've noticed: At the Tour de France you have to be on top form at the starting line. If you're not at 100 percent there, then the whole thing is not much fun and you often suffer.
Emmanuel Buchmann, 24, has been a pro cyclist since 2015. In that very first professional campaign he became German champion and completed the Tour de France. Since then he's been marked as Germany's next big hope in the overall classifications at big races. Alongside many other top riders at this year's Criterium du Dauphine, Buchmann won the best young rider award - and he's on course for a top-20 finish in the Tour.
The interview was conducted by Joscha Weber at the conclusion of stage 17 in Serre-Chevalier.
Dreaming of the Tour de France in the Land of a Thousand Hills
Cycling in Rwanda is fast becoming the most popular sport. Rwandan riders now train in European teams. The ultimate goal is to participate in the Tour de France. One of them is the 16-year-old Jean-Eric Habimana.
Image: Eva de Vries
A good training session starts with freshening up
Jean-Eric grew up in a small village called Karago, in the mountainous northern part of Rwanda, not far from the Congolese border. Together with his parents, brothers and sisters, he lives in a small clay house, on top of a mountain overlooking a beautiful lake and green fields full of maize, beans and potatoes. Early in the morning, he washes himself outside his house.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Humble beginnings for a future 'Contador'
"When I was a young boy, I loved watching cyclists. It felt like I was on the road with them", Jean-Eric says. He convinced his parents to buy an ordinary bike, so he could help them to bring the chicken to the market. "I finally succeeded and they bought a bike." From that moment onwards, Jean-Eric transported the chicken in the morning and rode the bike for hours and hours after school.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Winning the yellow jersey is every cyclist's dream
His training paid off. Last year he won a local championship for amateur riders with normal bikes and he was recruited into a real club. "They gave me my first road bike. At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes; I had never even touched a road bike before!" Jean-Eric is now part of Fly Team and just made it into the junior selection of Team Rwanda.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Jean-Eric leaves his home for training
After breakfast, Jean-Eric leaves his house for his training session. Every time he carefully cycles down the sandy wobbly path from his house towards the main tarmac road, villagers stop to look at him in his fancy clothes with his shiny bike. Children follow him and cheer. Here, in northern Rwanda, he already is a star.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Carrying his bike on a steep stretch close to his home
Jean-Eric carries his bike the last steep bit to his house, with the magnificent Lake Karago in the background. Rwanda, also known as 'the Land of a Thousand Hills', is a great country of cycling. Cycling is also part of our culture and many Rwandans, especially in the countryside, use bikes to bring their produce to the market.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Bike workshop at the Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC)
A few times a month, Jean-Eric goes to a training camp at the ARCC, in the shadow of the magnificent Virunga volcanoes. On the big terrain are houses for the riders, a canteen, a kitchen, test room and a fully equipped bike workshop ("The best in Africa"). Former American cyclist Jock Boyer set up the centre ten years ago and a lot has improved since then in terms of cycling in Rwanda.
Image: DW/E. de Vries
Yoga lesson in the evening
At the ARCC, the boys follow a strict training schedule. After breakfast, they go for a 4 to 5-hour long ride. Once they are come back, they take a hot shower, have lunch and rest. They finish their physically tough day with a yoga lesson in the evening. All these efforts contribute to achieving that one collective goal: riding the Tour de France
Image: Eva de Vries
Cycling with team Rwanda
Many people still think of Rwanda as 'the country of the genocide' but the popularity of cycling is changing that image, says assistant coach Nathan Byukusenge: "Our riders now travel and win medals. They are wearing our flag and team jersey. They make the country proud and it changes Rwanda’s dark image." Jean-Eric thinks being part of a team also helps.
