Thuꦍmbs up for Riccardo Riccò (Vacansoleil) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
The Vacansoleil team has been assur🧔ed that it will ride this year's Tour de France after talks with race organizer ASO, but the team has yet to decided if Riccardo Riccò will be part of the nine-rider line-up fo൩r the race.
“The uncertainty is finally gone,” team manger Daan Luijkx told Algemeen Dagblad. “According to the ASO, the 18 teams with a ProTe🌼am licence will start the three Grand Tours. It is now one hundred percent sure that we can start. It is very nice that it h🌺appened. Now everything is already planned."
It will be the Dutch team's first appearance at the Tour de France. Vacansoleil rode the Vuelta a España in 2009 but did not receive an invitation to the 2010 Tour de France, even though the race started in the Netherlands. After two years as a Professional Continental team, Vacansoleil🐻 has obtained ProTeam status for 2011.
Decision on Riccò in May
"We'll almost certa♉inly have a team of adventurers in the team for the Tour, without a designated leader, Luijkx said. “That suits us๊ best and gives me the best feeling.”
Stijn Devolder and Björ🧸n Leukemans are expected to be on the Tour squad. Devolder, who rode for Team Quick Step the last three years and has ridden the Tour twice, abandoning in 2008 and finishing 82nd in 2009.
A de💯cision on whether Riccardo Riccò will ride the Tour has not yet been made. The Italian tested positive for EPO-CERA at the 2008 Tour.
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"He rides the Walloon clas𓆏sics and the Amstel Gold Race and then goes entirely for the final classification in the Giro. Whether he will also ride the Tour, we will see the end of May," Luijkx said.
If he does ride the Tour, Riccò would a🅘im for a stage wins and not for the overall standings. “That seems imposs൩ible,” Luijkx said.
