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The 2012 season was all about the possible 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:return of Alberto Contador to the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Saxo-Tinkoff team. His star signing, a deal sealed at the conclusion of the 2010 Tour de France, 🌠hadn'tꦕ played out how team owner Bjarne Riis intended.

Contador's se🎐emingly endless doping case reached its conclusion in early Februar🐼y 2012 and all his results back dated to the 2010 Tour were annulled. Contador was handed a six-month suspension from competition and was 'dropped' from the team immediately. There was however, little doubt he would return to Riis' side when he ban ended just in time for the start of the Eneco Tour.

With Contador inactive for the first half of the year, results were few and far between. ProTeam debutant Jonathan Cantwell lifted the mor♊ale of the squad with a couple of stage wins at Tour de Taiwan but a lack of riders capable of achieving results at the biggest races🌺 and more importantly accumulating WorldTour points meant the team's chances of remaining in the top-tier for the 2013 season were slim.

A handful of podium stage placings at the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, along with 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:☂Michael Mørkøv's valiant few days in breaks at the Tour were the highlights of the year - before Contador unsurprisingly announced he had re-signed with Saxo. The team also picked up a♈ few smaller victories but the true start of th🌱e year began when Contador re-joined the squad.

The Eneco Tour's start was the same day th🍃at Contador♔'s ban ended, he finished fourth overall and continued his preparation for the Vuelta a España. With time away from racing it was uncertain whether Contador would be able to compete for the overall victory. The team picked a line-up that was willing to support its leader and after a bunch of decent stage placings by the Spaniard anything looked possible. Contador then took a big gamble with a long range, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:all-or-nothing attack on stage 17 that rewarded his efforts with the day's wi🔯n and the lead in the race.

The Vuelta victory belonged to Contador and his team, however, the hanging cloud around his positive control for clenbuterol in 2010 has meant 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:his points do not count when the time comes for the UCI to establish the ranking and license renewals for ProTeams. For this reason Riis' team barely scrapped into the top-tier for 2013 but having a seven-time (reduced to five afᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚter his stripped results) on the squad would m🐻ake it difficult to refuse Saxo-Tinoff's place in the peloton.

What to expect in 2013

Contador has already outlined his season goal: to 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:win the Tour de France while he remains 168澳洲5最新开奖结ꦗ果:undecided on the Giro d'Italia or Vꦛuelta. It will be interesting to see what races he uses to prepare for the Tour an🔥d whether his team will be able to combat the strength of the Sky team.

Riis' focus will surely be circled around his star pupil and will use the services of Australian Michael Rogers and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Irishman Nicholas Roche to achieve whatever other goals Contador and his manager put forward. With t𓃲he exception of Rogers, there are few riders capable ꦯof winning big races.

The team has retained the services of a handy sprinter in the form of Jonathan Cantwell. One of the few Aussie's on the team managed a number o𝔉f good results in 2012 despite never having raced any of the courses he competed on.

Contꦫador should, with the correct lead-up, win the Tour while also picking up a number of smaller stage race victories whil🐬e his latest right-hand man Rogers should shine in his new role. He already stepped up at Sky as a helped to Bradley Wiggins and riding with another grand tour winner will definitely improve his own chances for success.

Best signing

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Michael Rogers was one of Sky's most powerful domestiques at the races lead by Wiggins but he's more 𒐪than able to achieve his own results. The former three-time world time trial champion will be missed at the Great Britain squad but as part🌃 of Contador's Tour squad, he'll be invaluable.

Biggest loss 

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Nick Nuyen's move to Garmin-Sharp may not seem overly significant but the Spring Classics specialist is a former winner of🧸 Tour of Flanders. His experience wilꩲl be missed during the 'hardman' one-day races.

Who to watch

With one pure leader for the grand tours all eyes will be on Contador's start to the year. ♏Riis has always been a 'Tour man' and Saxo-Tinkoff's success will be weighted on i💟ts performance at the Tour.

Neo-professional 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jay McCarthy will likely be finding his feet in 2013 but the young rider could develop into a great professional. It will be interesting to see how his devel𓃲opment is fostered at Riis' squad and ꦯhow he adapts to the increased load of racing.