The American ProTour team HTC Columbia has already taken a staggering 47 victories this season, but aims to bring that victory towards – or even past – the magical 50-win barrier in the Eneco Tour.
The eight day event begins in Steenwijk tomorrow with a 5.2 kilometre prologue, and concludes on August 24th with a 16.9 kilometre time trial. Tony Martin won the longer TT in the Tour de Suisse and netted second to Fabian Cancellara in the time trials in this year’s Tour de France. With the big Swiss rider not scheduled to take part, Martin will be prime favourite for the solo tests.
Directeur sportif Tristan Hoffman is confident that the HTC Columbia riders will shine. “We've got a really good team, almost a dream team, so we can be competitive for stage victories in the sprints and for overall victory," he said.
“This is Tony Martin's first stage race since the Tour de France but he's got a good chance of victory because he's such a good time trialist. Time bonuses are often important in the Eneco Tour, as is the weather and the wind, but it is more about not losing time before the final time trial in Ghent. That's what we aim to do."
André Greipel is another who should figure in the results. He’s already landed the most wins this season, clocking up sixteen professional victories, and was third last Sunday in the Vattenfall Cyclassics. He will be joined by another fastman Mark Renshaw, who normally works with Mark Cavendish.
"Greipel and Renshaw are both on form and so they will be a perfect combination for the sprints,” said Hoffman. “The other guys are all strong and fast and so will provide great help.”
They will be joined by Jan Ghyselinck, Bert Grabsch, Patrick Gretsch, Leigh Howard and Frantisek Rabon.
The team won the Eneco Tour last season with Edvald Boasson Hagen. He has since moved to Team Sky.
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Eneco Tour:
17 August, Prologue (ITT): Steenwijk, 5.2 km
18 August, stage 1: Steenwijk (NL) - Rhenen (NL) 178.0 km
19 August, stage 2: St. Willebrord (NL) - Ardooie (B) 198.5 km
20 August, stage3 : Ronse (B) - Ronse (B) 191.8 km
21 August, stage 4: St-Lievens-Houtem (B) - Roermond (NL) 214.4 km
22 August, stage5: Roermond (NL) - Sittard (NL) 204.0 km
23 August, stage 6: Bilzen (B) - Heers (B) 205.6 km
24. August, stage 7 (ITT): Genk (B) - Genk (B) 16.9 km