Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal co-lead Team Ineos in Tour de France
Jun 29 2019 02:41 am CET
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Team Ineos has announced the roster for the Tour de France. The winner of the 2018 edition of the race Geraint Thomas will share the leadership of the formation with Egan Bernal.
In the absence of Chris Froome due to the injuries that were caused at the Criterium du Dauphine crash, Ineos is ready to face the French grand tour. Thomas -who is the first Welshman to win La Grande Boucle- will co-lead the formation with the Colombian Egan Bernal, the winner of the 2019 Tour de Suisse.
"Winning the Tour de France last year was the highlight of my professional cycling career and racing with the number one on my back is going to be special this year," said Thomas. "The memories of 2018 will remain with me forever, but now I'm ready to create more with the Team this year.
"It's no secret my build-up has been affected by the crash at Tour de Suisse, but I've had a good block of training since and I feel ready. Discussing with the Team, we believe it makes sense to go into the race with joint leaders as it gives us more options. Egan and I will work hard for each other and the Team over the three weeks of the race.
"We've got a really exciting blend of youth and experience in the Team – and it's a group of riders who I know will be with me every step of the way and know what it takes to win Grand Tours. I can't wait to pull on the Team Ineos jersey for the first time at the Tour de France in what is the biggest race of the year.
Bernal is excited about facing his second Tour de France and in such a role. "I have really good memories from the Tour last year," he said. "It was my first Tour de France and also my first Grand Tour, so it was special. We enjoyed a great victory with G and it was something really special to be a part of. Of course, our ambition is to win the race again this year.
"Last year's experience taught me a lot. As a bike rider, whatever you might think about the Tour from the outside you don't really know it until you have raced it. Now I know what to expect, I can be more relaxed about what lies ahead and even more focused on the racing. The most important thing for my development is to enjoy racing over the next three weeks, give my best, and be happy with my performance. I am looking forward to sharing leadership responsibilities with G and doing everything we can together to help Team INEOS win its first Tour.
Team Ineos' roster for the Tour de France (6th to 8th of July):
Geraint Thomas
Egan Bernal
Jonathan Castroviejo
Michal Kwiatkowski
Gianni Moscon
Wout Poels
Luke Rowe
Dylan van Baarle
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