Colbrelli and Brajkovič headline Bahrain-Merida's Criterium du Dauphine line up
Bahrain-Merida head to the key Tour de France warm up race, Criterium Du Dauphine, this week with the dual ambitions of targeting sprint wins and the general classification. Italian Sonny Colbrelli will aim to add to his Paris-Nice stage win and De Brabantse Pijl-La Flèche Brabançonne. It will be the first race since April's Tour de Romandie for the 27-year-old and his first time racing the Dauphine.
Janez Brajkovič also makes his return to racing after a break following the Tour de Romandie with the 2010 overall winner aiming for his best GC result yet in 2017. Brajkovič started his season with 47th overall at the Tour Down Under and Abu Dhabi Tour before more lowly results at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Vuelta al Pais Vasco, and Tour de Romandie. Brajkovič last raced the Dauphine in 2012 when he placed seventh overall.
"Dauphiné is a small Tour de France with hard climbs. Every year Tour de France contenders come here for the last preparation race, to test themselves and define final team strategies and precise roster for Tour de France," sports director Philippe Mauduit said. "This year, as usually, the first three stages will be suitable for a reduced bunch sprint, due to the difficult terrain, then a TT for specialists and GC contenders.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The 5th stage will be the last chance for sprinters to jump on the podium before the mountains, where the GC riders will be in the game. We have a strong team going to Dauphiné, with riders that are here after a longer break, but with altitude training camp in their legs, and riders that are coming directly from races. Sonny Colbrelli will be our key rider for sprints and Jani Brajkovič will target the GC. Franco Pellizotti is coming directly from Giro d'Italia and will try to surf on the great views that he started there."
Ramunas Navardauskas has recovered from the illness which saw him miss the Giro d'Italia and has been named in the squad. Borut Božič, Yukiya Arashiro, Grega Bole are also selected. While brother Vincenzo Nibali is enjoying a break from his third place at the Giro d'Italia, Antonio returned from a rest period and completed the squad for Bahrain-Merida.
Ion Izagirre, who will lead Bahrain-Merida at the Tour de France has opted to race the Tour de Suisse over the Dauphine as he continues his preparation for the French Grand Tour.
Van Avermaet and Drucker go close for BMC in Tour de Luxembourg prologue
Tour de Beauce route and teams for 2017
Recon Ride: Criterium du Dauphine - Podcast
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/2qKoOh3
No comments:
Post a Comment