American team fields sprint muscle and will also support Vande Velde
The American Garmin-Transitions team has announced a Tour de France roster set to challenge for both green and yellow during the three week race. Representing the team’s best chance for success is sprinter Tyler Farrar, who’s fresh off his second consecutive Delta Tour Zeeland and has continued an upward surge since last year’s Vuela a España. For the overall, the team will support American Christian Vande Velde, who will again be going into the race having to recover for early season injury.
“We are bringing a strong, versatile squad to the 2010 Tour de France,” explained Garmin-Transitions boss Jonathan Vaughters. “We’re happy with our season so far and we believe we will be able to give our fans many more reasons to cheer. The team is motivated and ready and will be sure to animate what will be an incredibly competitive Tour de France.”
Notably missing from the list are Irishman Daniel Martin and American Tom Danielson. Both riders are now likely to represent the team’s overall challenge in the Spanish Grand Tour, but with the likes of Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, Belgian Tour hop Johan Vansummeren, and the new and improved climbing skills of David Zabriskie, their chances for a high placing in the overall remain solid.
Briton David Millar again tried the shoes of an overall contender on at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, and following his ride there will now likely hunt down stage opportunities and provide strong support for the team. For the past two seasons Garmin-Transitions has given birth to the revelation of the Tour de France with respect to the overall competition, so it will be curious to see what they have in store in that department for this year’s edition.
With the major strides Farrar has taken since last year coinciding with the lack of recent sprint domination by HTC-Columbia’s Mark Cavendish, the 26 year old is poised join teammate Zabriskie as the second American to win a stage in all three Grand Tours. Farrar will have veterans Robbie Hunter and Julian Dean to pilot him into the final 200 meters on a Tour route that, at least on paper, could give the team nine opportunities at a bunch sprint.
Farrar spoke to VeloNation in April following his first semi-Classic win in the Scheldeprijs saying, “Well, it seems like once you get the ball rolling, it is easier…you get the confidence and it is easier to keep winning, once you get started.”
Since that time he’s picked up two stages in the Giro d’Italia and won in Holland, so his confidence, along with his form, look like they will be peaking at just the right time.
“With so many riders going so well all season, selecting the Tour team was difficult,” said sports director Matt White. “But we knew we needed a squad that could support Christian for the overall, Tyler in the sprint stages, and also be on the lookout for other opportunities. We’ve certainly found the right mix in this group and I have a lot of faith in these athletes.”
Garmin-Transitions for the 2010 Tour de France:
Julian Dean, Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Robert Hunter, Martijn Maaskant, David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Johan Vansummeren and David Zabriskie.