In five previous Tour de France appearances, BMC had claimed just one stage victory, Cadel Evans’ stage 4 victory when he went on to win the race overall. Utrecht would prove to be a second coming for the American team with another Australian, Rohan Dennis, securing victory in the time trial and with it, the yellow jersey to set the scene of success in the 102nd edition of the race.
BMC’s race would unravel on stage 17 to Pra Loup as Tejay van Garderen was forced to withdraw whilst sitting third overall. On the rest day, 24 hours previously, the best young rider from 2012 was confidently espousing his ambition of arriving in Paris with his podium position intact.
“The perfect scenario is that I’m wearing yellow in Paris. But I’m three minutes down so I don’t know if that’s a realistic goal. From now to Paris, if we can get another stage victory and remain on podium, that’d be good,” van Garderen said in his team’s press conference.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the team was obviously hit hard from van Garderen’s withdrawal, BMC’s general manager Jim Ochowicz explained the team can take some pleasure from its three stage wins and a day in yellow.
“As far as pride is concerned, I am proud of the whole crew here," Ochowicz said. "The staff and the riders did a tremendous job. 'Impeccable' is how I would describe this team's efforts during this Tour de France. It was a great three weeks of racing and a lot of camaraderie in the group.
“A lot of teamwork. A lot of good feelings. A lot of highs and a lot of lows. But that is the Tour de France. We are happy this one is over and really looking forward to getting into it again next year."
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/1JKEi71
No comments:
Post a Comment