Tinkoff-Saxo has announced the eight riders that will support Alberto Contador’s quest to win the 2015 Tour de France and do the Giro/Tour double
![]() |
TdF News: Tinkoff Saxo team announced
Tinkoff-Saxo has selected the nine riders that will represent the team at the 2015 Tour de France. Team captain Alberto Contador leads a star-studded squad of proven riders in an attempt to win the sports biggest race and complete the daunting Giro-Tour double.
Tinkoff-Saxo’s selection for Tour de France 2015 consists of
Alberto Contador
Peter Sagan
Rafal Majka
Roman Kreuziger
Michael Rogers
Ivan Basso
Daniele Bennati
Michael Valgren
Matteo Tosatto
Elaborating on the composition of the squad, Steven de Jongh, Head Sports Director of Tinkoff-Saxo, tells that the team will field a strong squad capable of supporting Alberto Contador in the difficult attempt to fight for the overall win.
“It’s pretty obvious that our chief goal is to win the Tour with Alberto. We have our full attention on pulling on the yellow jersey in Paris and we are well aware of the fact that it will be a formidable challenge against many strong rivals. Additionally, we will support Peter Sagan to win stages, whenever it’s possible and that depends on the situation on each stageâ€, says Steven de Jongh and adds:
“Looking at the list of riders that will represent our team, I reckon that we will field a very strong squad and most importantly versatile, as the Tour will present us all with an array of different challenges. Alberto is our captain and Rafal Majka will be his key support in the high mountains, while Kreuziger, Rogers and Basso will offer experience and strong backing in the medium mountains. Then we have a lot of horsepower in Bennati, Tosatto and Valgren for the flatter stages and they will also be able to help Peter in the search for stage winsâ€.
Rafal Majka, last year’s winner of the polka dotted jersey, is expected to play a key role in supporting the team ambitions. “Here, just before the Tour de France, I feel very good. I`m now well rested after the Tour de Suisse and ready to begin. The Grand Boucle is the most important race for Tinkoff-Saxo in the entire season and my main goal will be to help Alberto Contador in achieving the overall win. I believe we can do it and Alberto can win two Grand Tours in one year”, says Rafal Majka.
Peter Sagan, green jersey winner of the last three editions, equally declares himself ready for the Tour after a great build-up that culminated with yet another national championship title.
“The Slovak Champion title makes me happy and confirms that I am in great form. I am ready for the Tour where we have a very strong squad. I will contribute to the effort with the highest commitment and I really look forward to Saturday’s start.”
Despite fielding seven-time grand tour winner Alberto Contador, Steven de Jongh notes that Tinkoff-Saxo will not be favorites to take the win. “After Alberto conquered the Giro, he spent time in Livigno resting and training and he showed good signs at Route du Sud followed by some days of concentrated training and then a short period of rest before the start in Utrecht. We know how much class Alberto has, but we don’t enter the Tour as the main favorites”.
“His form will, despite a very meticulous effort, be a question mark compared to the form of Froome, Nibali and Quintanaâ€, comments de Jongh, who remains assured that not only the mountains will prove decisive: “We’ve been studying the parcours closely and there are many stages, where you can’t win the Tour but you can lose it. The flat stages of the first week with possible crosswinds, steep finishes such as Mur du Huy and cobbles will make for a tough start to the race”.
“So we took the decision to bring one more guy for the flat stages in exchange for a climber. In the end, what matters the most is that we send a committed squad that comes fully prepared to support Albertoâ€, finishes Steven de Jongh.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 4
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
Other News on VeloUK
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)