Team DSM reveal stage-hunting lineup for Tour de France

Team DSM have announced last minute the absence of Soren Kragh Andersen, and today the lineup for the Tour de France has been revealed with the goal of hunting stage wins with Romain Bardet and Alberto Dainese.

"Our main goal for the three weeks is to go for stage results. We will focus day-by-day on how the race is progressing and come up with plans for where we see that our chances lie. We have a really motivated group of guys who are full of ambition, as we look to compete in the sprint stages and in the more mountainous days as well," Team DS Matt Winston said. Without the pressure to fight for the overall classification, the team will be able to focus on more specific goals with more precision.

The team's main weapon will be in Romain Bardet. The Frenchman was on a great run of form at the Giro d'Italia, after winning the Tour of the Alps, but had to abandon due to sickness in the second week whilst in the fight for the win. He will have a different goal here, specifically eyeing breakaways in the mountain stages. Recent Tour de Suisse stage winner Andreas Leknessund is also an option for the hillier stages.

Equal to Bardet, the other team leader also came from the Giro d'Italia and is Alberto Dainese. The Italian will be the team's sprinter, having won a stage at the Giro, and having the support of John Degenkolb and Nils Eekhoff - who are likely to aim at the cobbled stage five - when it comes to leadouts. Breakaways will be the priority of the team, and rounding out the squad are Chris Hamilton, Martijn Tusveld and Kevin Vermaerke who should add some firepower to the team.

Team DSM for Tour de France: Romain Bardet, Alberto Dainese, John Degenkolb, Nils Eekhoff, Chris Hamilton, Andreas Leknessund, Martijn Tusveld, Kevin Vermaerke.