Orica-GreenEDGE (OGE) have announced their team for the 2013 (and 100th edition) of the Tour De France (TDF).
The roster includes:
Brett Lancaster
Cameron Meyer
Daryl Impey
Matt Goss
Michael Albasini
Simon Clarke
Simon Gerrans
Stuart O’Grady (Team Captain)
Svein Tuft
Matt White has advised that the goal is ‘to win a Stage at the TDF’.
That’s our main goal. We are bringing a more diverse team this year to give us a few more options for intermediate stages and days in the middle mountains. The sprint stages remain a big focus, and we bring a dedicated sprint train to support Matt Goss on the flatter days.”
Lancaster and Clarke will be the two riders to watch in the medium mountain stages.
Clarke took out the King of the Mountain at the 2012 Tour of Spain so he is certainly a rider to keep an eye on. He and Gerrans will likely push for a break in a medium mountain stage.
Goss will be well supported by Lancaster and Svein Tuft. Both are strong riders and Tuft has shown in previous 1 week races that he can sit on the front of a bunch and drill it all day long. So much so that just about every rider in the bunch tweeted about his feat afterwards.
Michael Albasini is probably the form rider in the team and has picked up a few wins here and there this year. He is a good all round rider and both he and Cam Meyer (in his first TDF) will look to push themselves into breaks.
Meyer took out 10th at the Tour de suisse and showed some pretty strong form in the mountain stages. He won the TT and spent 2 days in yellow. He has finsihed in the top 10 overall at Turkey, California and Switerland and has been building nicely into the TDF. Meyer has 4 grand tour starts and 2 finishes to his name so whilst this is his first TDF he is no stranger to a Grand Tour of the World stage.
The team has a good balance and I believe they are better balanced to try and cover a variety of scenarios in relation to looking for their first TDF stage win. Goss went close last year on a couple of stages but with Omega and Lotto bringing fully dedicated sprint trains and Sagan also in the mix Goss will be really pushed to nab a win.
Clarke is a real threat in the medium mountain stages and as he is not considered an overall GC threat he may well be able to sneak away with a group. the same applies to Albasini and Meyer.
If they do manage to get into a break that sticks Meyer has the ability to jump away and stay away as his engine is built for it sighting his dominance on the track which despite what many think has a very strong translation onto the road.
Until next time – Clip in!
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