EF Professional Cycling will commence the Tour de France this weekend with “general classification ambitions” though also showcasing a line-up that can “look at phases opportunistically, presented race circumstances.”
In a push launch despatched out Tuesday European time, the American staff confirmed its 8-strong squad for the world’s biggest bike race a squad headlined by an imposing trio of Colombian GC contenders.
Rigoberto Uran concluded second at the 2017 Tour, Colombian winner Sergio Higuita gained a phase in his debut Grand Tour last 12 months, and Dani Martinez gained the Criterium du Dauphine a little over a week in the past. All three will start off the Tour in Awesome this Saturday, and all will be among the riders to view when the race heads into the mountains.
“This is likely to be my 1st Tour de France and I can honestly say I’ve in no way been so excited to be racing,” mentioned Higuita. “To be likely to the Tour is a large target for numerous cyclists and for me it’s remarkable to feel that in a couple times I’ll be there reaching 1 of my biggest lifestyle goals, to line up on that startline. Also to be undertaking it sporting the Colombian national winner jersey tends to make it all the more particular.”
Higuita isn’t the only EF rider building his Tour debut — so as well are British rider Hugh Carthy and American Neilson Powless.
“I couldn’t be more thankful to the staff for this amazing option, that I lastly get the likelihood to realise my dream and race the Tour de France, and racing the Tour de France on an American workforce is a super special sensation,” Powless claimed. “I believe that we’re also bringing a genuinely powerful group and that as well is actually motivating.
“With Dani just coming off of the Dauphiné earn which is unbelievably motivating for me and the rest of the team. I imagine that every person is definitely prepared to race for 21 times and I’m certainly ready to do what ever I can to aid the team.”
Also on the line-up is American veteran Tejay van Garderen in what will be his ninth Tour de France. Whilst Van Garderen has managed two fifth-location finishes at the Tour in his career, he’ll be in more of a assistance function in 2020.
“Hopefully I can give a little bit of my practical experience and assistance these men together and just do whichever I can to assist the team,” the 32-calendar year-aged explained. “Hopefully we can make this 2020 Tour a huge accomplishment.”
Completing the roster are past year’s Tour of Flanders winner Alberto Bettiol and Jens Keukeleire.
The 2020 Tour de France starts off this Saturday August 29 in Awesome and finishes in Paris on Sunday September 20.