HTC Highroad heads into this year’s Tour de France with three recognised stage race classification riders. Tony Martin won Paris-Nice and the Volta ao Algarve this year, and is aiming for a place in the top ten overall. Peter Velits was third overall in last year’s Vuelta a España and could also be up there with the other GC riders, while the exciting young American talent Tejay Van Garderen is making his debut.
Each has a different approach to the race. Martin is the rider who is likely to be the most protected of the three, and will seek to preserve energy where possible. He might help the sprinters out on some of the stages, but most of the time he will most likely ride conservatively, using that energy where it most counts.
“The plan is to ride well in the overall,” he said at today’s pre-race press conference. “Training [after the Dauphine] was really good, everything went as it was planned, and now I hope the Tour de France that I was thinking about comes.”
Although he didn’t show prominently in the mountains, Martin had a boost to his morale in the Dauphiné when he won the time trial there. He’ll be one of the lynchpins in Sunday’s race against the clock, but he accepts that he’ll have to use his strength tactically.
“It is easier to do an individual time trial; in the team time trial, you also have to think of your weakest team-mate,” he explained. “It is really important not to go too fast. You have to think about the guys who are suffering in the back. Maybe it is better to make a longer turn, not [going through] too fast.”
Most of the HTC Highroad team appeared to believe that tomorrow’s opening stage could potentially be won by one of its two sprinters. Mark Cavendish might find the uphill gallop to Mont des Alouettes a little steep; because of this, Matt Goss is being spoken about by some as a better bet.
Martin doesn’t appear fully convinced that either sprinter could win, though; indeed, he believes the finish is tough enough to cause gaps amongst the contenders. “I think the first stage is really important not to lose time. The final climb is not so easy, and I don’t think there will be a really big sprint from the real sprinters,” he said. “I expect more the Classic riders like Gilbert [to be there], and I have to be close to the guys.
“The whole first week is really important. Not only because of the results [for the team sprinters], but also I have to stay in front, not crash, not lose time because of the crosswinds.”
Velits, Van Garderen thinking of team:
Both Velits and Van Garderen stressed the fact that they will be playing team roles in the opening week and a half. HTC Highroad has long been regarded as the pre-eminent sprinting squad in the Tour and they know that with riders like Cavendish and Goss on board, that many stage wins could be on the cards. Although both will play support for Martin in the mountains, they are willing to contribute to the sprinters too. Velits is prepared to put his own interests aside, even if the Tour of Spain showed that he has a big future ahead.
“Last year the Vuelta was really good. It was kind a surprise for everyone, also for me, to be honest, but here the Tour de France is a bit different,” he said. “Also the team which is here..it is super strong. The guys say that the first one and a half weeks are going to be really important for us…there are the most opportunities where we can win. So I think that is the main goal for the whole team, to get as many victories as possible in that time. Then in the climbs, we will see how it is going to end up.”
He admitted that giving his energy to the sprinters makes thing complicated as regards riding strongly in the mountains later on, but said that he is psyched by the thoughts of team success.
“It is a little bit difficult, but on the other hand it is a big motivation. You have a great motivation help these guys, because you know that they have a good chance to win. It means you are really motivated to pull in the last ten kilometres.”
Van Garderen says the same. “I am excited to help out Mark Cavendish and Tony Martin and Peter Velits on GC…even Goss for some of the sprints,” he explained. “I am here just to be the team guy, and I am excited about this role.”
Third overall in last year’s Criterium du Dauphiné, he’s regarded as a likely winner of some very big races in the future. This first Tour de France is a learning experience for him, and he’s happy to treat it that way. Being part of the overall HTC Highroad success is the biggest consideration for now.
“This is my second year with the team and I love all the guys,” he said. “This is the most important race of the year, so to be able to just contribute a little bit in the most important race is going to be pretty special for me.”