Before the first distinctive jerseys being awarded at Fontenay-le-Comte, an unprecedented stage finish location at the Tour de France, six riders will stand out because of their national champion jersey: Yves Lampaert (Belgium, Quick Step Floors), Gorka Izagirre (Spain, Bahrain-Merida), Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland, Sky), Lukas Pöstlberger (Austria, Bora-Hansgrohe), Daryl Impey (South Africa, Mitchelton-Scott) and Bob Jungels (Luxemburg, Quick Step Floors). The Slovakian national champion is also part of the peloton but Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) wears the rainbow jersey of the world champion for the third consecutive year, at least until the end of September. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) holds the European champion jersey. He’ll defend his title on August 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. This decade, the French champion is absent for the third time. Newly crowned Anthony Roux was a reserve for the Tour in the Groupama-FDJ roster. The same team didn’t select Nacer Bouhanni back in 2012. In 2015, Steven Tronet was a member of continental squad Auber 93 that wasn’t eligible for the Tour de France. There will be many more national champions in action on July 28 from Saint-Pé-sur-Nivelle to Espelette, shall the sixteen national champions for time trialing still be in contention.
