Bahrain - Victorious have revealed their
Tour de France lineup. With a block completely separate from it's Giro d'Italia, the team comes in with a team capable of fighting for stages in all terrains and also the overall classification.
The team will be led by
Santiago Buitrago, 10th last year at the Tour and winner of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana. The 25-year old will continue to seek improving his GC results in the Grand Tours, but his explosive capabilities also make him a possibility to chase stage wins in the hilly days - even in the first week.
Lenny Martínez is also present, although the press release seems to indicate that the Frenchman may not aim for the overall classification. Whilst this would be a logical option and instead have the youngster chase stage wins, his climbing performances this year leave a lot of hopes for the home nation that he may also be contesting a place in the Top10.
In the sprints the team will be led by German
Phil Bauhaus, who will have
Robert Stannard and
Fred Wright as leadout men. Wright and
Matej Mohoric will, as always, be threats for the hilly days and breakaways throughout the Tour. The team is completed by
Kamil Gradek who will be a key support rider in the flat days and
Jack Haig who will be a domestique in the mountains.
Santiago Buitrago: “I would like to improve on my top 10 position from last year. I’m hoping for the chance to fight for a stage, but the principal objective is to get move higher on GC. We have worked so hard as a team to try to get in the top 5, or even on the podium.”
DS Roman Kreuziger: "I think our motto should be, ‘Let’s be racers and enjoy the race with ambition. Of course, with realistic goals, with our feet on the ground to protect Santi, to do a good GC, be fighters. I’m pretty sure there are going to be some chances on the road and we have to try to take them.”
Bahrain - Victorious for Tour de France:
Santiago Buitrago
Phil Bauhaus
Kamil Gradek
Jack Haig
Lenny Martínez
Matej Mohoric
Robert Stannard
Fred Wright