The ebb and flow of racing at the Tour de France each year means that some teams head home from Paris thrilled with everything they've achieved, while others slope off with their metaphorical heads bowed, vowing – but, ultimately, only hoping – to do better the following year.
This is part 2 of Cyclingnews' round-up of the highlights and low points of each of the 22 teams that participated in this year's Tour.
Bahrain-Merida
Highlights: Once team leader Vincenzo Nibali crashed on the way to Alpe d'Huez and had to abandon the race, the fortunes for Bahrain-Merida fell into the capable hands of the Izagirre brothers, Ion and Gorka. The Spanish duo lit up the mountains in search of stage wins, falling just short but providing plenty of highlight reels.
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Ion Izagirre was second to Julian Alaphlippe (Quick-Step Floors) on stage 10 to Le Grand-Bornand and again on stage 15 to Carcassonne behind Magnus Cort (Astana). Izagirre's older brother Gorka, meanwhile, finished second to Alaphilippe on stage 16 to Bagnères-de-Luchon.
Low points: Nibali looked fit, was well-prepared and on track to put in a serious run at a second yellow jersey when disaster struck on stage 12, on the way to Alpe d'Huez. The 2014 winner's handlebar snagged a spectator's camera strap and brought Nibali to the ground about 5km from the summit as he rode with the GC group. He remounted with the help of fans and finished the stage seventh just 13 seconds behind winner Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), but he was later diagnosed with a fractured vertebra and did not start the next day.
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
Fortuneo-Samsic
Groupama-FDJ
EF Education First-Drapac
Bora-Hansgrohe
Dimension Data
Direct Energie
Katusha-Alpecin
Wanty-Groupe Gobert
Lotto Soudal
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/analysing-the-tour-de-france-teams-part-2
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