RACE PREVIEW: APRIL 25 – MAY 8

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE (2.1)

Team Giant-Alpecin heads to the United Kingdom this week to compete in the Tour de Yorkshire. The second edition of the three-day race will be held on hilly roads with the first two stages expected to end in a reduced bunch sprint. Stage three is where the race will be decided with six ascents and a final climb less than 10km from the finish.

Coach Luke Roberts (AUS) said: “The Tour de Yorkshire was a very successful and well-receivedevent last year, boasting huge crowds similar to those seen at the Tour de France depart in Yorkshire. We are very much looking forward to competing in the race. The course can be quite brutal, with small roads and some very steep climbs throughout the stages.

“We are heading there with Warren Barguil, who is showing some good form at the moment after his 6th place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and will be looking to test his legs on the harder stages. Also, Nikias Arndt is in his final preparation phase leading up to the Giro and will be a real contender for a stage win in the sprints. The general classification is not a specific focus for us in Yorkshire.”

LINE-UP

Nikias Arndt (GER)
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Bert De Backer (NED)
Koen de Kort (NED)
Carter Jones (USA)
Lars van der Haar (NED)

 

THE WOMEN’S TOUR DE YORKSHIRE RACE (1.2)

Team Liv-Plantur will be in action this weekend with the Women’s Tour de Yorkshire Race. The women’s race will be held on the same course as the men with a parcours of 136km long that is expected to end in a bunch sprint but with tricky weather conditions it could end up being a really hard race with a reduced group of riders making it to the finish.

“It is the first time we are competing in Yorkshire and we are really looking forward to taking part in this edition,” explained coach Rudi Kemna (NED). “Leah is going to be our leader and she will have strong support from the team. We will aim to put Leah in a good position before the key moments of the race but we have to aware of the weather conditions, which can be tough in Yorkshire.

“The parcours contains a lot of hills and narrow roads making it a difficult finale. If the race comes back together for a sprint we will go for Leah who is in good shape at the moment and can aim for a podium finish.”

LINE-UP

Leah Kirchmann(CAN)
Floortje Mackaij(NED)
Sara Mustonen (SWE)
Riejanne Markus (NED)
Carlee Taylor (AUS)
Molly Weaver (GBR)

 

RUND UM DEN FINANZPLATZ ESCHBORN-FRANKFURT (1.HC)

The 55th edition of Germany’s one-day race is 206km long and features a steep climb, the Mammolshainer Berg with a 26% ramp in sections. The peloton has to climb it four times before hitting the finishing circuit in Frankfurt, which will make it a lot harder compared to previous editions.

The one-day race will see the return of John Degenkolb (GER) to his home race for the first time since the accident and the team is extremely pleased to have him back in the line-up.

Coach Mattias Reck (SWE) said: “It has been a challenging few months but we saw in the Ardennes classics that the results started to get better and I hope we will continue in the same direction. It’s great to have John back in the team since the training accident. It ‘s been a long period of recovery and working hard on his comeback. For Sunday, it’s just about regaining the feeling of racing again with no immediate pressure on him for results.

“I expect it to be a tough race and the weather can be a factor throughout the day so we will have to be vigilant. The last time the riders tackle the Mammolshainer Berg will be a key moment so we need to be in a good position before it begins. If the race becomes really hard and uncontrolled, we have Simon and Sam who are able to follow the attacks. If the riders are still all together then we will prepare the sprint for Ramon and we can aim for a top 10 result.”

LINE-UP

John Degenkolb (GER)
Caleb Fairly (USA)
Simon Geschke (GER)
Sindre Skjøstad Lunke (NOR)
Sam Oomen (NED)
Ramon Sinkeldam (NED)
Zico Waeytens (BEL)

 

Press Office Team Giant-Alpecin