Monthly Archives: June 2012

Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: FDJ-BigMat

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

FDJ-BigMat possesses one of the best young rosters in the sport—certainly in France. But while some teams might be tempted to rush young talent to the Tour de France, FDJ is resisting the temptation and leaving men like Arnaud Demare and Nacer Bohanni (the new French road race champion) at home. Instead, the team is … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Cofidis

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

Cofidis created a bit of a stir Monday when it was announced that team manager Eric Boyer had been fired after months of rumors. (Why they waited until the week before the Tour is anyone’s guess.) Fair or not, the decision to fire Boyer sends a powerful message to the nine riders chosen to represent … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: BMC

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

Team BMC comes to the 2012 Tour de France with a simple goal: win the race. With defending champion Cadel Evans healthy, confident, and fit, the team has a very good chance to do so. Few changes have been made from last year’s squad. Tejay Van Garderen has been signed to help Evans in the … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Astana

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

Astana has recorded some rather unexpected results so far this season—for better and for worse. On the bright side, Enrico Gasparotto and Maxim Iglinsky won the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, respectively. On the other hand, Roman Kreuziger underwhelmed at the Giro d’Italia, failing to contend for the overall and instead having to settle for … Continue reading →

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First Look: Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s 2012 National Champions

Posted on June 27, 2012 by

Belgium ♥’s Tom If there’s one (two) thing(s) I took away from my visit to Belgium this past April, it’s that Belgium loves Tom Boonen and Omega Pharma-Quick Step. A visit to the Vermarc factory hammered it home – while the bins of Lotto-Belisol apparel overflowed, Omega Pharma-Quick Step kit was nearly on backorder it … Continue reading →

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Argos-Shimano

Posted on June 26, 2012 by

Argos-Shimano (formerly Skil-Shimano) returns to the Tour de France this year after a two-year absence following its abysmal debut in 2009. That said, while the guts of the team remain more or less unchanged, the Dutch team has good reason to believe it won’t walk away empty-handed. After all, Germany’s Marcel Kittel has proven over … Continue reading →

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