Cycling: Every beginning is difficult? This saying does not seem to apply to the men from Bora-hansgrohe. Because the German professional team has successfully completed its first year in the WorldTour. Successes were achieved in almost all areas. But in 2018 everything should get a little better. The chances are good.
departures
Shane Archbold (Aqua Blue Sports)
Jan Bárta (Elkov Author)
José Mendes (Burgos bra)
Silvio Herklotz (Burgos BH)
Additions
Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac)
Felix Grossschartner (CCC Sprandi Polkowice)
Peter Kennaugh (Sky)
Daniel Oss (BMC)
Team 2018
ACKERMAN Pascal
BASKA Eric
BENEDETTI Cesare
BENNET Sam
BODNAR Maciej
Buchmann Emmanuel
BURGHARDT Marcus
FORMOLO Davide
GROSSSCHARTNER Felix
KENNAUGH Peter
KOLAR Michael
KONRAD Patrick
KING Leopold
MAJKA Rafal
MCCARTHY Jay
MUHLBERGER Gregor
OSS Daniel
PELUCCHI Matteo
PENTECOST Christopher
POLYANSKI Pavel
PÖSTLBERGER Lukas
SAGAN Peter
SAGAN Juraj
SARAMOTINS Alekseys
SCHILLINGER Andreas
BLACKMAN Michael
BLESSED Rüdiger
Bora-hansgrohe has a strong debut year in the WorldTour
Bora-hansgrohe has had a successful first year in the WorldTour. At the end of the year, the German team was in eighth place in the UCI team ranking – well ahead of competitors such as Katusha-Alpecin and Astana. The first placement on the podium of a WorldTour race was not long in coming. Because right on the first stage of the Tour Down Under, Sam Bennett managed to sprint to third place. In Australia, the Irishman was able to fall back on what is probably the strongest driver: Peter Sagan. It was the world champion himself with his Triumph at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne the team's first win of the season. At the beginning of March, Sam Bennett won stage #3 of the Paris-Nice long-distance journey, thus securing the team's first success in a WorldTour race. The knot had burst - and then it happened in quick succession. By the end of the year, Bora-hansgrohe had not less than 34 wins, 29 second places and 22 third places.
Ups & Downs at the Giro and the Tour
Bora-hansgrohe finally arrived in the world class of cycling right at the start of the Giro d'Italia. As the world expected a mass sprint, Lukas Pöstlberger took advantage of a gap between himself and his teammate. The Austrian pulled through to the finish line and won Start of the Tour of Italy. Bora-hansgrohe took over the Maglia Rosa. There were also successes in the Tour de France. Bora-hansgrohe won two stages in the person of Peter Sagan and Maciej Bodnar. Unfortunately, things didn't go so well in the overall standings because Rafal Majka had to retire. Peter Sagan was also wrongly disqualified. It was again above all Sagan and Bennett who ensured numerous successes in the second half of the year. The men from Bora-hansgrohe were able to celebrate at the Tour de Pologne, the BinckBank Tour, the GP de Québec and the Presidential Tour of Turkey.
That's Sagan
Since Rafal Majka die 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana Bora-hansgrohe can proudly claim to have won at least one stage in all three major state tours in the opening year. But things didn't go well in the overall standings in Spain either. Majka had to give up her ambitions early on and was only 39 in the end. But the big highlight was yet to come, because Bora-hansgrohe will also be the world champion in 2018. In a tense race, Peter Sagan was able - almost without the help of compatriots - in Bergen World Champion for the third time in a row. Record! In the cycling world, it's not - despite the sometimes similar drama "this is Sparta", rather "that's Bora" or "that's sagan".
Bora-hansgrohe 2018 greatly improved
With many teams it is difficult to say whether they have improved or worsened with the transfers for the coming season. At Bora-hansgrohe, however, the answer is obvious. Four drivers left, four new ones came. With all due respect, at best four good helpers have left the squad in Shane Archbold, Jan Bárta, José Mendes and Silvio Herklotz. In return, four talented professionals were committed, who could also ensure victories themselves. Davide Formolo is still considered a great tour driver talent in Italy. As a climber, he will be particularly important for Rafal Majka on three-week tours. The same applies to Daniel Oss in relation to Peter Sagan, because the Italian has distinguished himself as a reliable helper to Greg Van Avermaet in recent years, especially in one-day classics. Pacemaker Peter Kennaugh has turned his back on Sky and will now break away on flat terrain for Bora-hansgrohe or close the gaps for Sagan and Bennett. And then there is Felix Grossschartner. The Austrian has his strengths when the stages get hilly. So four new drivers who can shine on four different profiles. The Bora-hansgrohe team has clearly improved for 2018.
Some #highlights of ours #team #presentation where we presented our new kit 👕🚴🏼♂️ @BORAGmbH @Hansgrohe_PR
Photo: @veloimages pic.twitter.com/5Ud7lJFBnM
- BORA - hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) 8 December 2017
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