Bahrain - Victorious have unveiled their lineup for the 2024 Tour de France. Whilst it can't be compared to the likes of UAE Team Emirates and Team Visma | Lease a Bike; the team comes in with seven riders who can realistically take a stage win, but also options for the overall classification.
In the lead a particular name is present in the press release issued by the team: Santiago Buitrago. "Drawing confidence from his recent successes on Italian soil at the Giro d’Italia in 2022 & 2023, where he secured stage wins in his last two appearances, Buitrago is poised for a strong performance," the team wrote. This could indicate that the Colombian, winner of a Paris-Nice stage this year and a consistent climber, may aim for a Top10 finish in the overall classification. Pello Bilbao, stage winner and sixth last year, could also aim for the same, specially after winning the queen stage of the Tour of Slovenia recently.
It is a team built for stage hunting however, if they decide to focus on those ambitions specifically. Besides Bilbao the team brings in it's two riders that also won last year: Wout Poels and Matej Mohoric. Poels, alongside Jack Haig, should be riding also in support of the team's likely GC ambitions whether with Buitrago or Bilbao - or both.
Mohoric in the meantime can seek to perform in breakaways and very likely the gravel stage on the ninth day of racing - whilst the yellow jersey on the opening two days is also a possibility. If he finds his best form, Briton Fred Wright could be a threat for the same days as Mohoric.
Both riders should also support the sprinting ambitions of the team however. After also racing the Giro d'Italia, German sprinter Phil Bauhaus comes in to contest the flat stages of the race, supported also by his compatriot and leadout man Nikias Arndt who completes the lineup.
Bahrain - Victorious for Tour de France:
Nikias Arndt
Phil Bauhaus
Pello Bilbao
Santiago Buitrago
Jack Haig
Matej Mohoric
Wout Poels
Fred Wright
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