Sixth overall in last year’s race, Robert Gesink will have a solid eight riders backing him as he aims for a podium finish in the 2011 edition. The Rabobank team management have today confirmed the team for the Tour de France, announcing the names and also saying that Gesink will be the clear leader in the race.
He will be backed by fellow Dutchmen Bauke Mollema and Laurens ten Dam in the mountains, as well as the Spanish trio of Luis Leon Sanchez, Carlos Barredo and Juanma Garate. On the flat, the German Grischa Niermann and the Dutch riders Lars Boom and Maaerten Tjallingii will give their support.
Gesink competed in the recent Critérium du Dauphiné and while he finished back in 20th place, he was pleased with the days when he tested his legs. He was second on the stage to Le Collet d’Allevard and third to La Toussuire, both times finishing behind stage winner Joaquim Rodriguez. He’d like to have taken a win, but says that Rodriguez’ Giro d’Italia participation gave him an advantage in terms of sharpness.
“The Dauphine has gone completely as we hoped. Riding the same time trial as in the Tour was very useful and gave me confidence,” he said, referring to his 23rd place in that test. “The mountain stages gave me a lot of confidence too.”
Since then he has continued to work hard. In fact, he was on Alpe d’Huez the day after the Dauphine finished. He concedes that people may find this surprising. “Maybe it is crazy to do that the day immediately after the Dauphiné, but it was very useful. We don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
The climb is one which has been very successful in the past for Dutch riders, and he will do his utmost to continue that tradition. However he is equally open to winning another of the big mountain stages. “Frankly, I don’t care if I win on top of Alpe d’Huez or the Galiber, but I’m looking forward to it [Alpe d’Huez] quite a bit. It is a Dutch mountain.”
Last year he shared leadership with Denis Menchov, who went on to take third overall behind Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck. Rabobank decided to put its full weight behind the Dutchman and Menchov moved to Geox-TMC. The team technical director Erik Breukink has a lot of faith in the rider, and said that he knows he can perform strongly. “We are deal with an absolute leader on the Tour…we have put a balanced team together for Robert. With him, we will try to get near the podium, despite fierce competition.”
One notable omission from the team outlined today is the Danish rider Matti Breschel. He had injury issues earlier this year and while he rode in the Tour de Suisse, he knows that his form is not good enough to ride well in the Tour.
“I think I will be home this time,” the Dane told Ritzau in recent days. The team announcement has confirmed that is indeed the case. Breschel will instead target the Tour of Denmark, then head to the Vuelta to build his form for the world championship road race in Copenhagen.
In the meantime, Gesink will seek to bring the team glory in the Tour. The 25 year old won the Tour of Oman earlier this year, has shown good form in other races and, fully backed by Rabobank’s riders and management, appears ready to push for a podium place in cycling’s biggest event.