Tour de France: the drama of the Italian cyclist – withdrew because of … – Polish Radio

                             “Shark,” “Scarab”, “Gorilla”, “butterfly” … The peloton this year’s Tour de France is a veritable menagerie, if przypatrzeć to przydomkom riders.
                         

You can guess why German sprinter Andre Greipel was named “Gorilla of Rostock”. The winner of two stages of this year’s race because has a powerful thighs, such as the largest of the living great apes.

– This nickname accompanies me from a young age. Do not even know who invented it – he replied when asked about a leader of the points classification.

“scarab” Nairo Quintana was called because of the powerful forces dormant in disproportionately modest stature. The Colombian has impressed a great ride in the mountains during the 2013 Tour de France.

“Shark of Messina” is last year’s race winner Sicilian Vincenzo Nibali, so named because already in the junior races never forgave himself chosen by the purposes and was famous with a huge appetite for victory.

“Butterfly Maastricht” baptized Tom Dumoulin one of the journalists of the Dutch, who are impressed by the elegance and lightness driving his countryman, writing of him that “he could compete in the time trial in a tuxedo” . Giant team player already retired from competition after a spine-chilling crash on the third stage, like Swiss Fabian Cancellara – “Spartacus,” known titanic forces like ancient gladiator.

Easier to decipher are the two most well-known nickname British riders. “White Kenyan” is of course born in this country race leader Chris Froome, and “The Man of Man” is coming from the island in the Irish Sea Mark Cavendish.

Some players owe their nickname anecdote. Example: Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, or “Purito”. During the winter training camp the team ONCE the young Rodriguez risked his older colleagues, ahead of their uphill and gesturing smoking cigars. In the evening, after supper as punishment he had to light a real cigar, which is Spanish for “Purito”.

His compatriot Alberto Contador deserves to be called “El Pistolero” from the way in which celebrates the victory – pointing out of the hand like a gunslinger.

Less sophisticated is the nickname Polish riders. All are derived from the names. The world champion Michal Kwiatkowski is a “Kwiato”, “flower” or “Flowerman”. Michal Golas is a “naked” and Bartosz Huzarski – “hussar”. The best climber last year’s Tour de France Rafal Majka not yet lived to see his nickname.

Monday is day of rest in the Tour de France. After a rest in Pau riders will join the first mountain stage from Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint-Martin (167 km), with a 15-kilometer climb to the finish line (average elevation of 7.4 per cent.).

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