Simon Yates leads Jayco-Alula at Tour de France after totally different method
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Simon Yates and Dylan Groenewegen will lead Jayco-Alula on the Tour de France, which will get underway in Bilbao on Saturday July 1.
The Australian group introduced their line-up on Friday morning, confirming the omission of a number of Tour stage winner Michael Matthews, with the aim to focus on dash and mountain levels in addition to a superb GC efficiency.
Yates has made the Tour centrepiece of his 2023 season, skipping the Giro d’Italia for the primary time in 5 years. The Briton started the 12 months by putting second general on the Tour Down Beneath and fourth at Paris-Good, however he has not raced since he withdrew from the Tour de Romandie with abdomen issues in late April.
Yates can have the assist Australia’s Chris Harper and the USA’s Lawson Craddock. Australian highway captain Luke Durbridge and Dane Chris Juul-Jensen will present expertise and assist on flatter levels.
“Now we have a well-built group and clear aims, for me after all the objectives are within the mountains,” Yates stated.
“I had a unique construct as much as the Tour this 12 months with much less racing and extra coaching and I’ve good sensations, so we’ll see.”
Yates’ finest end on the Tour got here in 2017, when he positioned seventh general, and he additionally claimed two stage wins in 2019. His final Tour look got here in 2021, when he deserted after a crash on stage 13.
“On paper it appears actually good and a course that fits me fairly nicely, so I’m actually trying ahead to this 12 months’s version,” stated Yates.
Groenewegen claimed one of many few bunch sprints finally 12 months’s Tour, however the 2023 version seems to supply extra alternatives for the quick males.
He warmed up for the Tour with two victories on the Tour of Slovenia, and he’s once more paired with lead-out man Luka Mezgec in July, with fellow Dutchman Elmar Reinders additionally forming a part of the dash prepare and making his Tour de France debut.
“I’ve been working very well and creating extra with Luka Mezgec and the remainder of the lead-out prepare and we’re assured heading into the race,” stated Groenewegen.
Luke Durbridge traces up for his ninth Tour, whereas Lawson Craddock, Chris Juul-Jensen and debutant Chris Harper full the Jayco-Alula choice. Harper, who arrived from Jumbo-Visma within the low season, will play a key function in guiding Yates within the mountains.
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