Geox TMC team hopes to ride race next year
Geox TMC team captains Juanjo Cobo and Denis Menchov have reacted to the route detailed today for the 2012 race, with the latter appearing satisfied with what should be a good course for him.
The Russian has won two editions of the Vuelta a España plus one in the Giro d’Italia, with these triumphs coming partly due to his strength against the clock.
“Looking at the route I can say that, as always, it’s going to be a highly demanding Tour,” said the double podium finisher in the race. “I think it will be a very balanced Tour, which will pit climbers against time trial specialists. There are lots of climbs but also plenty of timed kilometres, almost 100.
“In addition to the initial six km prologue, in fact, there are another two races against the clock, one is 38 km long and then there’s the 52 km time trial on the second-to-last day before the final finish line in Paris.”
Menchov and Cobo missed this year’s race as their Geox TMC team didn’t obtain a UCI ProTeam licence. That meant they had to rely on wildcard invitations to the race, but those passed to other teams instead. As a result the Geox TMC team only rode the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, where Cobo was the surprise winner.
The Spaniard didn’t give his thoughts on the route, but confirmed that the race is of interest to him. “It’s still too soon to talk about our plans for next season,” he said. “However in 2012 I’d like to take part in the Tour and get to this race in the best shape possible.
“The Tour has a unique appeal and it has always been the most important race. But it also means a lot to me to get back to my “home roads” for the Vuelta España, where I had a fantastic experience this year, the best in my career.”
2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre competed with the team this year but has now retired.