Team Argos-Shimano has announced its final selection for the Tour de France. The following nine riders will appear at the start of the prologue in Liege in Belgium on June 30:
Johannes Fröhlinger (GER), Patrick Gretsch (GER), Marcel Kittel (GER), Yann Huguet (FRA), Matthieu Sprick (FRA), Tom Veelers (NED), Koen de Kort (NED), Albert Timmer (NED) en Roy Curvers (NED.
Team Argos-Shimano plans to win a stage in this year’s Tour de France by a sprint or an attack. The outside world looks forward to the duel between world champion Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel. “Our team has a world-class sprint train and with Marcel Kittel we have a young sprinter who in the Tour will explore his possibilities at the highest level”, co-manager Sissy van Alebeek states.
Kittel is looking forward to La Grande Boucle. “I go to France to challenge Cavendish”, the sprinter says. “I look forward to fight him. He is currently the best sprinter of the world.”
Riders, accompanying staff, team management and sponsors are grateful to the Tour de France management for the invitation. Team Argos-Shimano is proud to receive the confidence of Tour director Christian Prudhomme in the first year under the new name. Iwan Spekenbrink: “This is a recognition of this ambitious new cycling project with a vision based on the top sport principles of 1t4i: team spirit, inspiration, integrity, innovation and improvement.”
The team is proud that a large part of its Tour de France selection consists of self-trained riders that have become strong and respected professional riders. It sees this as a nice derivative of its sports policy.
The riders and accompanying staff have worked hard towards the month of July. Everyone is ready and the team looks forward to the Grand Depart in Liege.
The team can also announce that the contract with sprinter Marcel Kittel has been extended until 2014. Both parties are pleased with the agreement and have confidence in a great future. “There is a special atmosphere within this team,” Kittel says. “It feels like I work with friends. I need such an atmosphere to do well on the bike. At Team Argos-Shimano I feel supported by everyone. Not only by the riders, but also by the accompanying staff and the management. In addition, I support the values and the plans of the team.”
