Like last year, BORA – hansgrohe goes into the Tour de France with two leaders. UCI World Champion Peter Sagan is set to go on the haunt for stage wins, while Rafal Majka aims for a top spot in the final general classification. The team is well balanced, and both will be supported form a mix of young guns and well experienced riders. For Gregor Mühlberger and Lukas Pöstlberger it will be their first Tour de France experience, while German veteran Marcus Burghardt celebrates an anniversary with his 10thparticipation in France.
“Our goals are clear since the beginning of the season: we want to win a stage, the Green Jersey and aim for a top five in the GC. These goals are ambitious, and we saw last year how fast all the hard work, all the efforts over month, can be lost within a second. But we did our homework, again we worked very hard and we are well prepared, there is nothing more that could have been done. All our guys are in shape on time. Off course it’s not easy to find a balance in your line-up with two leaders in the team, but I think we did a good job. I am optimistic about the TTT, we improved a lot there. And we have a lot of specialists for the Roubaix stage, I think we can make a difference there. Gregor and Pawel will support Rafal in the mountains, Daniel, Bodi and Marcus are our guys for the flat. Lukas is an allrounder that is strong in hilly terrain, but also fast in lead-outs for Peter.” – Ralph Denk, Team Manager
“The Tour is a complicated race. Everybody is extremely motivated; all eyes are on this race in July. My preparations went well and I feel I am ready. The stage to Roubaix will be special, for me as well, now that I have these good memories about this place and the sectors. However, the race will be different then in April, with all the GC guys fighting at the front as well. We need a little bit of luck to achieve our goals; without luck, everything can be lost in one moment. But we have a very strong team going into this Tour de France, and there will be some opportunities for us for sure.” – Peter Sagan, UCI World Champion
“My preparations went well over the last weeks and I was able to put in some decent work at high altitude in the Sierra Nevada. I crashed at the Tour of Slovenia, that was a little setback, but in the last stages a could feel my legs got better and better day by day. I think I am ready for the Tour now. Now we just need a little bit of luck to get through the first ten stages. The Roubaix stage will be special, but on that day I’ll have the strongest guys from the whole peloton next to me.” – Rafal Majka
“From California onwards, my form improved constantly. After an intense training period, the Tour de Suisse last week was a perfect opportunity to get in necessary race kilometers. After the race I recovered well, and I was almost surprised how strong I was already at the Polish national championships. My shape looks to be timed perfectly this year.” – Maciej Bodnar
“There won’t be a lot to celebrate, even it’s an anniversary for me, my tenth Tour de France. But the Tour is always hard, it pushes you to your limits, even the atmosphere is very special, you will suffer a lot. This year, the TTT, the stage to Roubaix and the two short mountain stages will be crucial. You need to be at your best on these days.” – Marcus Burghardt
“This will be a huge experience for me. I am so happy to be part of this year’s Tour team, but I don’t feel any pressure. My shape is good, and I’ll take it day by day. We have some well experienced guys in the team like Burgi (Marcus Burghardt), he can give some advice if I struggle a bit one day. But I am optimistic, and I will give my best to support Rafal in the mountains.” – Gregor Mühlberger
“The Tour is full of emotions and I am looking forward to share some special moments with my new team mates and friends. It feels like a rollercoaster, always up and down, but any time you need to stay focused, positive, be ready. BORA – Hansgrohe is very strong team and we’ll fight every day to achieve our goals.” – Daniel Oss
“My race program and preparations for the Tour was quite similar to last year. Everything went well and we spent even more days at high altitude. Now it’s time, after all those weeks of hard work, we want to tackle the Tour. The first part will be kind of survival day by day, then in the mountains I want to be ready and support Rafal in his battle for the GC.” – Pawel Poljanksi
“I am curious and nervous at the same time. Off course I am super happy, it’s a dream come true like for any cyclist who started once as a little kid. I have also a lot of respect, there are so many stories about this race, true myths. But after a spring to forget, the last weeks were really promising. I think I’ll have to take on several roles in our team, I can cope well with crosswinds and cobbles, I am a strong Roleur, but I am also punchy as everybody could see in last year’s Giro. I’ll do my best every day, on all terrains, I am sure I will never forget my first Tour de France.” – Lukas Pöstlberger
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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