Cycling: Since last season, Team Giant-Alpecin has finally had a German cycling team at WorldTour level again. The goals for the 2016 season are high - despite the painful departure of top sprinter Marcel Kittel.
Team Giant-Alpecin – overview
Looking at the bare numbers, one could speak of a rather mixed season for Giant-Alpecin: Only 19 victories could be won over the entire season (in 2014 it was 41!) and secretly they certainly had a better WorldTour placement than Rank 10 desired. But once again it shows that numbers and statistics are only half the truth.
On the one hand, there is certainly John Degenkolb's performance this season. With his triumphs at the monuments in Sanremo and Roubaix the 27-year-old secured his entry in the annals of cycling and ensured a perfect classics season for his German team. Born in Thuringia, he was also in the squad for the tour and the Vuelta, was able to live up to expectations with just one day's win (in Madrid) not quite meet. As already mentioned, however, the hard facts often hide reality: Degenkolb finished in the top 10 of the day twelve times at the Tour and Vuelta, eight times in fourth place or better.
Warren Barguil and Tom Dumoulin also took extremely positive turns. While 24-year-old Barguil rode to a very respectable 14th place at the Tour, Tom Dumoulin surpassed all expectations and rode at the Vuelta for the overall victory for a very long time, but finally Fabio Aru and his Astana superiority had to admit defeat. Nevertheless, since this season at the latest, the 25-year-old Dutchman has been one of the drivers to watch out for in the grand tours.
Of course, the season was less pleasant for Marcel Kittel – although she had his Victory in the prologue of the Tour Down Under started so well. However, a persistent virus threw the top sprinter back and he had problems for a long time, to get going properly. That one at Giant-Alpecin both at the tour, as well as at the Vuelta renouncing the qualities of the Thuringian, he only grudgingly acknowledged - the relationship between Kittel and his team seemed to be permanently disturbed. So at the end of the season it didn't come as a surprise that you decided on a premature resolution of the working paper agreed and smock the competition from Etixx – Quick-Step connected.
2016 also marked a change of course for Giant-Alpecin: despite the loss of Kittel, they decided against hiring another top sprinter and instead hired riders who could help the team to strengthen the Grand Tours lineups. Here they want to develop two hopeful drivers with Barguil and Dumoulin. Degenkolb will of course continue to be the man for the classics and will also be able to celebrate one or the other day's victory at the Tour or Vuelta.
Team Giant Alpecin – Transfers
Departures: Lawson Craddock (Cannondale-Garmin), Thierry Hupond (Delko Marseille Provence), Marcel Kittel (Etixx – Quick-Step), Luka Mezgec (Orica-GreenEdge), Daan Olivier (End of Career)
Additions: Soren Kragh Andersen (Neo), Sam Oomen (Neo), Sindre Skjøstad Lunke (Joker), Laurens ten Dam (LottoNL-Jumbo), Max Walscheid (Kuota-Lotto)
Team Giant-Alpecin – team bikes and equipment
team bike: As in the previous year, the pros from Giant-Alpecin have the choice between three and four wheels. The all-round road bike Giant TCR Advanced SL will probably rack up the most kilometers over the season. Alternatively, the riders can use the aero bike Giant Propel Advanced SL - depending on the route profile, the Propel is certainly not just for the sprinters in the team. The endurance bike Giant Defy Advanced SL already carried John Degenkolb to victory in Roubaix in the previous season - we wouldn't have any objection if the Degenkolb/Defy duo triumphed there in 2016 as well. If every tenth of a second is at stake in a time trial, the bike of choice will be the Giant Trinity time trial bike.
components: Although the name Shimano has disappeared from the team's name since last season, the drive, components and wheels are again coming from the Japanese bicycle giant in 2016.
disc brakes: Thanks to component supplier Shimano, Degenkolb and Co. will be able to fall back on race-tested disc brake components in 2016 – the Asian manufacturer offers products at WorldTour level for both brakes and wheels. The only disc frame in Giant's 2016 road lineup is the Giant Defy - but as already mentioned, the endurance bike already carried John Degenkolb to his triumph in Roubaix - will he dare to go for the new braking system this year? We will see.