Team Argos-Shimano is on the verge of a long-anticipated Tour de France. Riders, team leaders, guidance and management have for months been working towards La Grande Boucle. Now it is up to the riders, especially Marcel Kittel, the German sprinter, who is regarded as the team’s best shot for a win.
“We have the ambition to get a stage win with Marcel through a bunch sprint,” Rudi Kemna says. Three years ago he was also in the Tour with Skil-Shimano. “That Tour our goal was to attack and show us up front. Now we have Marcel Kittel with whom we really stand a chance in a sprint.” The Team Argos-Shimano Tour squad is partly selected to help Kittel. With Albert Timmer, Roy Curvers, Koen de Kort and Tom Veelers the team has a sprint train that fully integrates with the German sprinter.
Opportunities
“In the first week we see four opportunities for Kittel”, Kemna states. “The second, fourth, fifth and sixth stage. Although in the fifth stage there’s a category 3 hill at 15k from the finish. The competition will pace to shrug off Marcel. We will have to work hard to get Marcel back at the front after the climb.”
Gretsch
This year’s Tour de France kicks off with a prologue. Team Argos-Shimano can be at the front there too. “With Patrick Gretsch we have a time trial specialist in our ranks. Of course a prologue is a bit shorter, but Patrick can do well there too. In Liège we hope he can record a top ten finish.”
Gretsch will start his prologue on Saturday at 16:56 hours. As 177th rider. Tom Veelers will be the very first at 14:00 hours.
