Everything you need to know about the teams and contenders in this year’s Tour de France
EVERYTHING you need to know about the teams and the contenders to look out for in this year’s Tour de France.
EVERYTHING you need to know about the teams and the contenders to look out for in this year’s Tour de France.
AG2R LA MONDIALE
From: France
Sponsor: Joint title sponsors are both French companies — Ag2R is an insurance and retirement fund group while La Mondiale specialises in pension and estate planning insurance.
One to watch: Christophe Riblon (FRA). Was the only French stage winner of last year’s race when he caught Tejay van Garderen on the descent of Alpe d’Huez to take out Stage 18. Or Romain Bardet, who was the best-placed French rider last year and is a contender for the white jersey.
Did you know: The iconic French team is the only team to have ridden every edition of Australia’s Tour Down Under since it started in 1999 and is the only team on the WorldTour to ride Focus bikes.
ASTANA
From: Kazakhstan
Sponsor: A group of state-owned companies from Kazakhstan, also known as the national welfare fund, which have named the team after the country’s capital city.
One to watch: Vincenzo Nibali (ITA, above). Two-time Grand Tour winner at the Vuelta a Espana in 2010 and Giro d’Italia in 2013. Skipped this year’s Giro to focus on the Tour and showed good lead-up form with top 10s at Romandie and the Dauphine. Next option would be Jakob Fuglsang, who was seventh last year and super strong.
Did you know: Astana won the Tour de France with Alberto Contador in 2009 and now has former rider and London Olympic gold medallist Alexander Vinokourov as its general manager.
BELKIN
From: The Netherlands
Sponsor: International consumer electronics company Belkin took over as title sponsor in 2013 of the team formerly known as Blanco and before that, Rabobank.
One to watch: Bauke Mollema (NED). Was extremely solid in last year’s Tour de France in which he finished sixth overall and his recent third place at the Tour of Switzerland shows he’s ready to have a crack at top five this year. Sep Vanmarcke would be motivated for Stage 5, which includes cobbled sectors from Paris-Roubaix.
Did you know: The Dutch team is on the hunt for a new sponsor next year after Belkin recently announced it would finish its support at season’s end.
BMC RACING
From: Switzerland
Sponsor: BMC’s title sponsor also provides the bikes the riders climb aboard every day — Swiss bicycle frame manufacturer BMC, which is owned by Andy Rihs.
One to watch: Tejay van Garderen (USA) is the chosen one to succeed Cadel Evans as BMC’s general classification rider at the Tour. The 25-year-old was fifth overall and won the young rider jersey in 2012 but this might be his big chance to confirm his potential before BMC look elsewhere.
Did you know: Cadel Evans won the Tour de France with BMC in 2011 but you won’t see him on the start line this year after he threw everything at trying to win the Giro d’Italia in May.
CANNONDALE
From: Italy
Sponsor: Formerly known as Liquigas, the team is now sponsored by American bicycle manufacturer Cannondale, which explains why the team also rides Cannondale bikes.
One to watch: Peter Sagan (SLK). Looms as a once-in-a-generation sprinter/classics rider who has owned the green jersey at the Tour de France for the past two years, and is a hot favourite to make it three in a row. He can sprint and climb, which is a scary combination and if Sagan isn’t firing there’s always former track star Elia Viviani.
Did you know: Cannondale Pro Cycling Team is home to another superstar Slovakian in the making, Matej Mohoric, who won the junior and under-23 world championships in successive years in 2012 and 2013.
FDJ.FR
From: France
Sponsor: An iconic French team, it is sponsored by the French national lottery system.
One to watch: Arnaud Demare (FRA). Winning three stages and the points jersey in this year’s Giro wasn’t enough to get Nacer Bouhanni on the team. Instead it will back 22-year-old Demare to deliver it sprint stage wins. Overall, Thibaut Pinot is a chance to crack the top 10 on general classification.
Did you know: Australian Bradley McGee won a stage of the Tour de France in 2002 and wore the yellow jersey in 2003 while riding for FDJ.
GARMIN-SHARP
From: United States
Sponsor: Joint sponsors of the team include Garmin — manufacturer of global positioning devices (GPS), which includes everything from fish finders to running watches and bike computers — and global electronic manufacturing company Sharp.
One to watch: Andrew Talansky (US). The 25-year-old is nicknamed the ‘Pit Bull’ and after winning this year’s Criterium du Dauphine he’s ready to unleash his rage on the Tour de France peloton. The team recruited Tom-Jelte Slagter in the off-season and the Dutchman is capable of stage wins.
Did you know: Garmin-Sharp has partnered with global conservation group WWF and has adopted the panda as its unofficial mascot after Irishman Dan Martin was chased by a person in a panda suit as he rode to victory in the 2013 Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
KATUSHA
From: Russia
Sponsor: The team is referred to as the Russian global cycling project and is backed by Russian businesses.
One to watch: Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP). Rodriguez was expected to challenge for the pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia in May but crashed out on Stage 6, fracturing his ribs. He won’t have big expectations at the Tour but he’s a class act and can’t be overlooked for a stage win at the very least. Also keep an eye on Simon Spilak, who has proven in recent years that he can climb with the likes of Chris Froome, and Alexander Kristoff, who can sprint. If you’re a domestique at Katusha, don’t expect too many days off during the Tour.
Did you know: Aussie sprinter Robbie McEwen called Team Katusha home between 2009-2010 and saluted on Australian soil in the Tour Down Under.
LAMPRE-MERIDA
From: Italy
Sponsor: Joint sponsors involving Italian sheet metal manufacturer Lampre and Taiwanese bike maker Merida, which also supplies the team with its bikes.
One to watch: Rui Costa (POR). Costa provided two memorable highlights of last year’s Tour de France when he produced gutsy rides to win Stages 16 and 19 before going on to win the world championship later in the year. Costa has won the Tour of Switzerland the last three years running, which is the second most important build-up to the Tour de France, so clearly he is coming good at the right time.
Did you know: The team has operated under various names but has always retained Lampre as a title sponsor since 1991. This year it has thrown a lifeline to 42-year-old Vuelta a Espana champion Chris Horner.
LOTTO-BELISOL
From: Belgium
Sponsor: Joint title sponsors provide the backing for the team and include the Belgian national lottery system and Belisol, which makes windows.
One to watch: Andre Greipel (GER). One of the fastest and most powerful sprinters in the world, Australians know Greipel well from his success at the Tour Down Under. Has won five stages of the Tour de France and with the best organised and executed lead-out trains in the race, he should add to that this year. Their GC option is Jurgen Van Den Broeck, who showed good form at the Dauphine.
Did you know: Lotto-Belisol’s Aussie hard-man Adam Hansen is set to start his ninth consecutive Grand Tour when he lines up in the Tour de France — a remarkable show of physical and mental strength.
MOVISTAR
From: Spain
Sponsor: Movistar is a Spanish mobile telephone communications provider.
One to watch: Alejandro Valverde (ESP). Valverde is one of the most calculating riders in the peloton and when he takes aim at a stage win, he usually delivers or goes very close. But this year he’ll be aiming to finish as high as possible on GC after three top 10 finishes in the past. If Valverde loses significant time after the cobbles on Stage 5 the team could look to Spaniard Benat Intxausti.
Did you know: Movistar has already produced one Grand Tour winner this season, with Colombian climber Nairo Quintana dominating the Giro d’Italia in May. Quintana, who was second overall in last year’s Tour de France, won’t be on the start line this year but will almost certainly challenge for the yellow jersey in 2015.
OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
From: Belgium
Sponsor: Powerhouse team of the peloton, Omega Pharma is a Belgian pharmaceutical company and Quickstep makes laminate flooring.
One to watch: Mark Cavendish (GBR). Who else, seriously? The record holder for the most stage wins in Tour de France history with 23, Cavendish is universally known as the fastest sprinter in the world but is being challenged like never before with the emergence of Marcel Kittel and Peter Sagan.
Did you know: Polish rider Michael Kwiatkowski was a revelation at last year’s Tour de France, finishing 11th overall and this year ran top five in all three Ardennes Classics. He will take aim at the white young rider jersey.
ORICA-GREENEDGE
From: Australia
Sponsor: Orica is an Australian-based mining company that provides commercial blasting systems, while Greenedge is the name given to the team, which is owned by Australian sports philanthropist and Cycling Australia president Gerry Ryan.
One to watch: Simon Gerrans (AUS). Gerrans is undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest ever cyclists. He has won a stage in all three Grand Tours, which included Stages 3 and 4 and a stint in the yellow jersey of last year’s Tour de France. Won Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April and when Gerrans normally takes aim at a stage, he doesn’t miss. GreenEDGE could yet pull a surprise by naming one of the Yates brothers, who would attract plenty of interest on British soil.
Did you know: This could well be the last time Orica-GreenEDGE races the Tour de France without a GC contender after director Matt White in May flagged the possibility of recruiting a Grand Tour leader for next year. But for now, the team is happy targeting stage wins as it did successfully on three occasions at the Giro d’Italia in May.
SKY PROCYCLING
From: Great Britain
Sponsor: Title sponsor of the biggest and most successful team on the WorldTour is the British Sky Broadcasting company, which specialises in satellite, broadcasting, broadband and telephone services.
One to watch: Chris Froome (GBR). The defending champion is almost unstoppable when he lights it up on the major climbs but what makes him such a formidable force is his ability to dominate time trials as well. Froome is aiming to make it three in a row for Sky at the Tour de France after Bradley Wiggins won the 2012 edition.
Did you know: Froome’s most loyal, trusted and reliable teammate is Tasmanian Richie Porte, who is showing all the hallmarks of a future Grand Tour winner himself. Porte is often the last man standing in front of Froome when the race heats up in the mountains.
GIANT-SHIMANO
From: The Netherlands
Sponsor: Not surprisingly, the team rides Giant Bikes as one of its major sponsors, along with Shimano, which is a leading bicycle component manufacturer. Shimano also happens to make fishing equipment.
One to watch: Marcel Kittel (GER). Kittel has emerged as a challenger to Mark Cavendish’s throne as the best sprinter in the world. Still only 26, Kittel is big, strong and fast and won four stages of last year’s Tour de France. Expect plenty more where that came from.
Did you know: Just as dangerous as Kittel is his German teammate John Degenkolb, who this year won Gent-Wevelgem, a stage of Paris-Nice and was second in Paris-Roubaix.
EUROPCAR
From: France
Sponsor: The well-known Paris-based rental car company Europcar operates all over the world and has been title sponsor of the cycling team since 2011.
One to watch: Pierre Rolland (FRA). Touted as France’s next Tour de France winner in waiting, Rolland is a talented climber who was eighth overall in last year’s race and finished fourth in the Giro d’Italia in May.
Did you know: Most avid cycling fans will recognise Thomas Voeckler’s face when they see him on TV. Voeckler is renowned for finding his way into a breakaway, which usually results in a solo attack in a last gasp bid for glory. He was supposed to ride the Tour Down Under in Adelaide this year but a collision with a car left him with a broken collarbone.
TINKOFF-SAXO
From: Denmark/Russia
Sponsor: Joint title sponsors are two banks — Russia’s Tinkoff Bank and Denmark’s Saxo Bank.
One to watch: Alberto Contador (ESP). No surprises here, with Contador among the favourites for this year’s Tour as he chases his third crown after the success of 2007 and 2009. Signs he’s on track arrived at the Criterium du Dauphine with a strong performance and he’ll have a handy support crew led by Australian Michael Rogers.
Did you know: Team owner and Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov is a passionate cyclist who during the Giro d’Italia would ride many of the stages in full team kit and then eat with the riders at night.
TREK FACTORY RACING
From: United States
Sponsor: Trek’s sole title sponsor is Trek bikes, whose machines power the riders during training and racing.
One to watch: Fabian Cancellara (SUI). Superstar time trialist and classics rider who showed he’s still at the top of his game by winning the Tour of Flanders and going top three in Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo this year. Is capable of anything, particularly in the first week of the race.
Did you know: Andy Schleck won the Tour de France in 2010. Remember him? Well he’s still racing and along with brother Frank (who sat out the 2013 season serving a doping ban) will be attacking in the mountains of this year’s race.
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS
From: France
Sponsor: One of the longest running sponsorships in professional cycling, French moneylending service Cofidis has backed the team since 1997.
One to watch: Daniel Navarro Garcia (ESP). A former teammate of Alberto Contador, the Spanish climber has shown he can get results of his own, including ninth overall in last year’s Tour de France and twice finishing top 10 in the Criterium du Dauphine.
Did you know: Cofidis is a second-tier UCI Pro Continental team and has been granted a wildcard to race the Tour de France.
IAM CYCLING
From: Switzerland
Sponsor: The cycling team takes its name from IAM Investment Funds, which is a global financial institution and funds management.
One to watch: Sylvain Chavanel (FRA). Chavanel was IAM Cycling’s big-name recruit in the off-season when they lured him from Quickstep. He is a very good time triallist and multiple stage winner in the Tour de France. Mathias Frank has had a great season and is a good top 10 GC chance after years of service riding for others.
Did you know: IAM Cycling is also home to Australian sprinter Heinrich Haussler, who won the opening stage of Bayern Rundfahrt in May and has good memories of his last Tour de France in which he won an epic Stage 13 with a solo attack in heavy rain.
BRETAGNE-SECHE ENVIRONMENT
From: France.
Sponsor: Seche Environment is a French waste treatment company and came on board as the main sponsor in 2013.
One to watch: Anthony Delaplace (FRA). At 24, Delaplace is one of the emerging young riders in European cycling and was the youngest rider in the Tour de France when he debuted in 2011. He was fifth overall in Circuit de la Sarthe this season.
Did you know: Another Pro Continental team granted a wildcard into the field, Bretagne-Seche Environment will make its Tour de France debut this year.
NETAPP-ENDURA
From: Germany
Sponsor: NetApp is an American computer storage and data management company while Endura is a high quality cycling clothing manufacturer that was founded in Scotland in 1992.
One to watch: Tiago Machado (POR). Machado is a talented climber who spent the previous four years on the WorldTour with RadioShack. Has ridden the Giro and Vuelta but is now set for his Tour de France debut after he finished fourth overall at the recent Tour of California. Keep an eye on Leopold Konig, who won a mountain stage in last year’s Vuelta. Irishman Sam Bennett is sprinting well (won a stage of Bayern-Rundfahrt) so don’t be surprised to see him at the pointy end on some stages.
Did you know: The team’s roster features Australian Zak Dempster, who was a junior track star and is now making a name for himself on the road.
Originally published as Everything you need to know about the teams and contenders in this year’s Tour de France
Teen cyclist dead after horror incident
The cycling community has been rocked with news of an 18-year-old dying following a horror incident at the world championships.
Stunning win won’t change Aussie star’s mind
A gold medallist in Paris and now a dual world champion still has heads shaking about why she’s headed to retirement.
Olympic champ pulls plug after historic first
Aussie Olympic cycling champion Grace Brown created history over the weekend — before confirming she’d be finishing on top.