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Orica-GreenEdge's Simon Gerrans identifies target stages

One of the peloton's wiliest riders, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Orica-GreenEdge's 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Simon Gerrans has identified target stages at this year's 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Tour de France but stopped short of naming them.

Speaking at the team's pr❀e-race press conf🅘erence, the Milan-San Remo champion said he anticipated assisting Matt Goss's green jersey campaign until the GC settled down and the baroudeurs rose to prominence.

"I'll be doing what I can to help the sprinters out in the first part of the race," said the 30-year-old, "but I think myself and [team-mate] Michael ꦚAlbasini's days will come once the GC settlꩲes down a bit and like there's a bit more opportunistic riding."

Gerrans's Tour highlight came on stage 15 in 2008 when he spent a day in the breakaway and then outsprinted two companions to take victory in a cross-border stage into Prato Nevoso𝓡, Italy.

Gerrans add𒀰ed that the team had reconnoitred several stages finishes.

"There's a good bunch of guys in this team who are more than capable of winning a stage at the Tour de France but will continue helping Matt with sprint stages while he chasing the green je🍎rsey."

Asked which stages he was target🌄ing, Gerrans said: "Most people will be able to work out which ar༒e the medium mountain stages and those which suit the objectives of the team."

Therefore likely stages for Gerrans to shine include the jagged road between Belfort and Porrentruy – another cross-border foray, this time into Switzerland – on stage 8, and stage 14 between Limoux and Foix in the foothills of the Pyrenees. SD

Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank go gourmet

Bjarne Riis says that 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank won't be the "strongest team in the world" but at least w♕e know that they're eating well.

Team Chef Hannah Grant updated her with what the team fuelled themselves with on the eve of the 2012 Tour and well, Cyclingnews started to feel a little hungry.

Breakfast consisted of a soaked muesli with fresh berries. Lunch was spectacular - 🌳thinly sliced cold veal with parmesan and rucola; quinoa, with lemon chicken and tomato; green leafs with carrot ribbons, cucumber and sprouts, served with chicken in coriander dressing, sourdough bread and fresh fruit. Dinner was baked cod fish with dill; chicken with fresh corn and spring onions; salad of avocado, cherry tomato and mozzarella; caramelized fennel and balsamic raddichio; tomato sauce and whole grain pasta; fresh fruit and sourdough bread. Sounds delicious!

Grant explained that the team had a meeting t🎃o discuss some of the foods they would like once the racing gets underway and was very happy with the result.

"This is a great group, everyone likes♎ every🐠 thing – the joy of a chef!" she wrote.

Team Sky continue with Pinarello

Italian manufacturer Pinarello has extended its current agreement with Team Sky for anoth🃏er year, taking their arrangement through until the end of 2013.

The sponsorship extension was anno♒unced on the eve of this year's Tour with the team set 🅷to ride Dogma 2 road bikes and the Graal time trial machine.

"Pinarello and Team Sky have worked closely together to develop our bikes and we're proud to have played a part in Team Sky becoming the best team in the world. 2012 has been a ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚgreat season so far but there is so much more to come in the near and long-term future," said President of Cicli Pinarello Fausto Pinareꦑllo in a Team Sky press release.

"We're already working hard to ensure Team Sky will again have the 🌼best bikes in t♕he peloton in 2013."

Guercilena replaces Bruyneel

RadioShack-Nissan team director Luca Guercilena was not expecting to be at this year's Tour de France, instead concentrating on preparing his riders for the Olympic Games. He was a late call up following the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:absence of Johan Bruyneel who decided to stay away from the race after being embroile✤d in a possible doping case with the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA).

"I am happy to be here because now I can follow even better our riders who are going to London," explained the Italian on the team website. "It is a nice experience. I've already done five Tours, so I know what to expꦡect. On the other hand I still have a long and hard second part of the year, but that's part of the job. After the Olympics I will do the Vuelta, the World Championships and the final races in Italy but I enjoy my job a lot. We have a nice group of people with whom I enjoy working."

While 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:꧑Frank Sౠchleck has warned not to expect too much from his own performance at the Tour, Guercilena believes that th🙈e team still has something to offer for the general classificati🥀on.

"The overall classification could be something for us as we have three, four guys ready to be there every day in the mountains," he said. "We are not ꦏthe biggest ☂in terms of favorites but in cycling surprises are allowed. So not being in the spotlight can help us to arrive more relaxed in the mountains. Our climbers can be capable of surprising then. Watch us!"