The top 10 of the 2019 Tour de France general classification was a true mixed bag. Joining the youngest winner for more than 100 years, Egan Bernal, on the podium were two riders in their 30s, in Geraint Thomas and Steven Kruijswijk. Further down, there were the revelatory Julian Alaphilippe and Emanuel Buchmann along with all three of the famous Movistar triumvirate of Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde, who are set to break up next year.
Cyclingnews takes a look at where the 2019 Tour de France leaves its top-10 finishers, and what now lies ahead.
Egan Bernal
Team: Team Ineos
Age: 22
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Tour report: Although Bernal failed to win a stage, he imposed himself on the race when it really mattered, and had stage 19 played out to its full fruition, we could have witnessed a career-defining performance. He handled the issue over joint leadership with both care and respect and never once looked flustered.
Best non-Tour result of 2019: Winning Paris-Nice and Tour de Suisse.
Tour 2020? Even if Chris Froome comes back to his full potential and Geraint Thomas has a consistently strong start to 2020, it would be hard to see Team Ineos line up with three co-leaders next season at the Tour. The most likely scenario is that one of their three amigos – and it's unlikely to be Bernal – is persuaded to try their hand at the Giro d'Italia. This very much depends on Froome's fitness, what Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe wants, and if the next rider on this list can see the Giro as an opportunity rather than a demotion.
Geraint Thomas
Steven Kruijswijk
Emanuel Buchmann
Julian Alaphilippe
Mikel Landa
Rigoberto Urán
Nairo Quintana
Alejandro Valverde
Warren Barguil
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/what-now-for-the-tour-de-france-top-10
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