Cycling: While the Tour de France teams of sprinters and breakaways make life difficult for each other, the teams of ranking riders usually put their feet up. They do not take part in the tracking work and concentrate fully on their captain during the three weeks. Just don't waste time, just don't fall. Eight Tour de France teams in particular have set themselves the goal of finishing in the top 10, reaching the podium or even winning the Tour de France.
Trek Segafredo (USA)
The Swiss Fabian Cancellara will contest his last Tour de France in the Trek-Segafredo jersey. Of course he would like to win a stage there, but of course his chances of winning the time trial aren't that great because of Tony Martin's participation. So it wouldn't be surprising if he chose a different stage and just before the end he's making life hell for the sprinter teams. Since no top sprinter can be identified in the nine-man squad, Trek-Segafredo will automatically have to focus on escape attempts. Jasper Struyven can take part in mass sprints, but will not normally achieve a top position. The team for the mountains is much better positioned. The experienced Haimar Zubeldia, Frank Schleck and Peter Stetina feel comfortable when the road is uphill. In the general classification one will drive for Bauke Mollema. The Dutchman has been in the top 10 for the past three years, but has never managed to get past sixth place. This is set to change this year.
The squad:
Fabian Cancellara, Markel Irizar, Bauke Mollema, Grégory Rast, Frank Schleck, Peter Stetina, Jasper Struyven, Edward Theuns, Haimar Zubeldia
Ag2r La Mondiale (France)
Ag2r belongs to the Tour de France teams like the bicycle belongs to cycling. They have been at the start every year without a break since 1997. Mostly French riders pedal in Ag2r jerseys. This year there are six. The most famous among them is certainly Romain Bardet. After finishing 15th, 6th and 9th over the past three years, the Frenchman is finally looking to set his sights on the Tour de France podium. Last year he won the red jersey for the most active rider, which speaks for his aggressiveness. This time he will be able to fall back on a strong team. Jan Bakelants, Cyril Gautier, Alexis Vuillermoz and above all Domenico Pozzovivo are at his side as assistants. All drivers will be given their freedom on certain stages. Ag2r has always been found in breakaway groups. Especially when the road climbs.
The squad:
Jan Bakelants, Romain Bardet, Mickael Cherel, Samuel Dumoulin, Ben Gastauer, Cyril Gautier, Alexis Gougeard, Domenico Pozzovivo, Alexis Vuillermoz
FDJ (France)
The French team FDJ has also been represented in the Tour de France without interruption since 1997. This year, seven French and two Swiss should ensure the desired results. The two Swiss Steve Morabito and Sébastien Reichenbach will not get beyond the role of helper. Everything will focus on captain Thibaut Pinot, who seems to have made another step forward in recent months. He won the Critérium International that year and one stage each in the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium du Dauphiné. He also finished second overall in the Tour de Romandie. Last year he was only 16th in the overall standings, which was a big disappointment after finishing third the year before. In 2016 he is set to attack the podium again. At FDJ, Anthony Roux and Arthur Vichot are particularly good for stage wins on hilly stages and Jérémy Roy on mountain stages.
The squad:
William Bonnet, Matthieu Ladagnous, Steve Morabito, Cedric Pineau, Thibaut Pinot, Sébastien Reichenbach, Anthony Roux, Jérémy Roy, Arthur Vichot
Astana Pro Team (Kazakhstan)
As with every tour, the Kazakh team Astana must be counted among the strongest. This is also the case if we look at all registered Tour de France teams. With Fabio Aru, Jakob Fuglsang and Vincenzi Nibali, there are at least three top 10 candidates in the squad. However, it is questionable whether the riders will be able to travel to the Tour de France with the appropriate form. Vincenzo Nibali not only has the Giro d'Italia in his legs, he even won the Tour of Italy in an exciting fight. It has been recognized time and again in recent years that the Double Giro & Tour is very difficult to achieve. That's probably why he'll only be aiming for stage wins and leave the field in the overall standings to his Italian compatriot Fabio Aru. Last year he finished second overall at the Giro d'Italia and won the Vuelta a Espana. Compared to the previous year, he improved from rank 3 to 2 and from 5 to 1. Now his first start in the big loop is on the program and he is definitely one of the extended circle of favourites. His biggest success this season was a stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Around the three classification riders, the squad of the Tour de France team was filled with first-class mountain riders. Tanel Kangert, Diego Rosa and Luis Leon Sanchez can blow up a field of riders in the high mountains.
The squad:
Fabio Aru, Jakob Fuglsang, Andriy Grivko, Tanel Kangert, Alexey Lutsenko, Vincenzi Nibali, Diego Rosa, Luis Leon Sanchez, Paolo Tiralongo
BMC Racing Team (USA)
With the dual leadership of Richie Porte and Tejay Van Garderen, Team BMC wants to attack the podium of the Tour de France this year. With second place at the Tour Down Under, third place at Paris-Nice and a good Critérium du Dauphiné, the Australian Richie Porte has probably played the role of captain. Rohan Dennis and Damiano Caruso should support the two ranking riders with all their strength in the mountains. The Belgian Greg Van Avermaet has also been nominated for hilly stages. He will then be able to fight for the day's victory on the corresponding sections with Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews and John Degenkolb.
The squad:
Brent Bookwalter, Marcus Burghardt, Damiano Caruso, Rohan Dennis, Amael Moinard, Richie Porte, Michael Schär, Greg Van Avermaet, Tejay Van Garderen
Tinkoff (Russia)
The Russian team Tinkoff is aiming to win two jerseys this year. Peter Sagan seems to have already subscribed to the green jersey anyway. After four wins in a row he now wants to complete the five. That would put him just one win behind Erik Zabel. However, how much support he will get from his team-mates is uncertain as Alberto Contador will claim four helpers for the yellow jersey. In any case, Roman Kreuziger, Rafal Majka and Robert Kiserlovski have been nominated for the work in the mountains, while Michael Valgren, Oscar Gatto, Maciej Bodnar and the already 42-year-old Matteo Tosatto have their strengths above all on the flat. The latter should work for Peter Sagan on the one hand and on the other hand also keep Alberto Contador out of the wind in the flat sections. If Oleg Tinkoff even aims for all three leader jerseys, then he will probably rush Roman Kreuziger or Rafal Majka to the mountain classifications. The Pole Rafal Majka already won the mountains classification in 2014. However, he already has the Giro d'Italia in his legs, which he finished in fifth place.
The squad:
Maciej Bodnar, Alberto Contador, Oscar Gatto, Robert Kiserlovski, Roman Kreuziger, Rafal Majka, Peter Sagan, Matteo Tosatto, Michael Valgren
Movistar (Spain)
The Spanish team Movistar is fully committed to the mountains. Eight good climbers are grouped around Captain Nairo Quintana, of which at least a handful are world class. Alejandro Valverde is considered an absolute noble helper and is probably the best driver of the last 20 years. Daniel Moreno, the Izagirre brothers, Winner Anacona and Jesus Herrada then join them. The Movistar team can completely tear apart a field in the mountains. That seems to be the plan as if Quintana wants to win the 2016 Tour de France he needs to buy time in the mountains from Chris Froome. It is unlikely that Quintana's helpers will be given a lot of freedom. From time to time someone will certainly be sent into a breakaway, but then he acts as a relay station for Quintana. Only Valverde could attack in his function as second spearhead and thus force the opposing Tour de France teams to follow up.
The squad:
Winner Anacona, Imanol Erviti, Jesus Herrada, Gorka Izagirre, Ion Izagirre, Daniel Moreno, Nairo Quintana, Nelson Oliveira, Alejandro Valverde
Sky (UK)
Traditionally, the British Team Sky is one of the always well-positioned Tour de France teams. The mission is clear: Chris Froome should take home the yellow jersey for the third time. A strong team was put together for him, which can keep up the pace both in the mountains and on flat terrain. Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe are real all-rounders, while Wouter Poels, Mikel Nieve and Sergio Henao make their homes in the mountains. Possible top 10 candidates would even be the helpers Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa. We will often see the Vasil Kiryienka locomotive at the head of the field. The Belarusian impresses with the quality of leading a field for a very long time and driving against wind and weather. You don't want to be part of a breakaway group on both flats and mountains when Kiryienka is in the front of the field. All in all, Team Sky has only one goal: to win the yellow jersey. Every driver will have to submit to this goal. Freedom is not to be expected as long as Chris Froome has a realistic chance of winning the title in the overall standings.
The squad:
Christopher Froome, Sergio Henao, Vasil Kiryienka, Mikel Landa, Mikel Nieve, Wouter Poels, Luke Rowe, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas
Tour de France Teams – The big preview of Velomotion
Tour de France teams #1: The stage chasers
Tour de France Teams #2: The sprinter teams
Tour de France teams #3: Focus on the general classification