Cees Bol looking forward to help Mark Cavendish in the sprints: "It's also super exciting just to race with Cav and trying to go for any win"
Cycling
Mark Cavendish and Cees Bol were set to headline B&B Hotels-KTM for this season, but as faith would have it they ended up finding themselves at the helm of the Astana Qazaqstan Team where they will be looking to thrive.
"It was frustrating, but I always knew that I would find a good team in the end, so I wasn't really stressed about that," Bol told CyclingWeekly. "You want to know where your future is, and know who you will be working with in the next years. I was feeling like I hadn't started yet."
Having witnessed the collapse of the French team, Bol was lucky to have found an opening in the Kazakh team after the termination of Miguel Ángel López' contract. Mark Cavendish was the only rider on the market available at that sort of salary and he was brought in to the Kazakh team, and Bol was brought alongside him to provide support and more focus in the sprints.
Together they will aim at the Tour de France: "I think it's one of the most unique goals in cycling, to try and break a record like that. Of course, that's the big goal, but it's also super exciting just to race with Cav and trying to go for any win in any race.
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"I don't know if Mark chose me, in the end [Alexander] Vino chose me, but I think we can be a good match in races, I'm quite tall, so he'll have some slipstream to follow," the Dutchman added.
Bol is making his debut at this week's Saudi Tour, whilst Cavendish will ride the Tour of Oman next week. Then, both will team up at the UAE Tour where the flat stages will suit the duo and they will be looking for their first World Tour win in the team.
Bol has had a difficult few seasons at DSM but is motivated entering 2023, alongside the sprinting legend which he will be helping throughout the season on occasions, if all goes right at the Tour de France included.
"We had a training camp in the last few weeks, but apart from that I've only met him a few times, apart from racing against him of course. It has been good to see in the training camp how motivating he is for the whole team, and how he's working like a professional. We still have to get to know each other a bit more, but we have time for that," he said.
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The Astana team was used to performing in the mountains but without López and Vincenzo Nibali, the team has found a new focus in the sprints with it's late signings.
"It's something new for the team, but that's why it's super good why Cav brings 17 years of experience in pro cycling, and winning bunch sprints. It's about giving his experience to other riders. It's not completely new, but this is the first race where we really try to work with the train," Bol says of the UAE Tour.
He will have opportunities to lead the team, as is the case this week, but the priority - as has been the case for many years for the Manxman - is the Tour de France and a record-breaking 35th win.
"He's the rider with the most wins in the peloton, so he knows a thing or two about sprints. In training he knows what to do, and he gives confidence to the whole team."
"I also like to sprint myself still, I have some opportunities for myself, but in the Tour de France and some other races I'll do leadout. We've seen sprints changing a little bit, it's not necessarily like the full train, it's more about positioning one or two guys. I think we can make it work, and it will be an exciting challenge," he concluded.
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