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HTC-Columbia Send Strong Team to The Tour

Story posted August 19, 2010; Event Press Release

Top sprinters André Greipel and Mark Renshaw to tackle The Tour of Britain
André Greipel and Mark Renshaw headline a strong provisional Team HTC – Columbia line-up ahead of this September’s Tour of Britain. In addition to the two sprinters, a pair of former World Time Trial Champions in Michael Rogers and Bert Grabsch will head to Britain, alongside current Italian Time Trial Champion Marco Pinotti and his German equivalent Tony Martin.

Having won four stages and the overall 2009 Tour of Britain with the now departed Edvald Boasson Hagen, Team HTC – Columbia will be battling to defend their title against 16 other determined teams over eight challenging stages come September. “We are delighted that Team HTC – Columbia are sending such a strong team to the race, which clearly speaks volumes about how importantly they regard The Tour of Britain,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.

“Obviously the team have had tremendous success in Britain in the past, so I am sure they will want to continue that, which means spectators will be in for a treat. I am excited about seeing the likes of André and Mark sprinting for the line in Blackpool come Saturday 11th September, so I encourage people to come down to one of our eight finish venues themselves to see them in action at firsthand.”

Greipel, who has won stages in both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España, recently took victory in two stages of the Tour of Poland. So far in 2010, the 27-year-old German has won races in Australia, Portugal, Turkey, Austria and Poland, with Britain next on his hit list! In addition to individual stage wins, Greipel has also won the Tour Down Under overall on two occasions, in 2008 and 2010.

Fellow fastman Renshaw is better known as Mark Cavendish’s leadout man, but the Australian is also a fine sprinter in his own right, as shown by his stage win at the Tour of Denmark in early August. Rogers, who won the Tour of California earlier this season in addition to finishing on the podium at the Tour de Romandie and Criterium International, will be riding his third Tour of Britain, having finished 7th and 5th in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Grabsch and Pinotti will make their Tour of Britain debuts come September, while Martin has worn the white jersey for Best Young Rider in the Tour de France, and was a key domestique for Boasson Hagen in 2009. In reserve HTC – Columbia boast Michael Albasini, Marcel Sieberg and Australian youngster Leigh Howard, with The Tour of Britain squad set to be managed by Brian Holm.

More Team Line-ups
Joining HTC – Columbia at The Tour will be Dutch outfit Skil – Shimano and Belgian squad Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator. The famous Skil – Shimano name returns to The Tour of Britain for the first time since 2007 and will also field a pair of fast finishers in Kenny Van Hummel and Robert Wagner. Jin Long, Bert De Backer and Dutch duo Roy Curvers and Koen De Kort complete the provisional line-up, with Australian sprinter Mitchell Docker, Steve Houanard and Tom Veelers all named in reserve.

Lining up for Topsport Vlaanderen will be recent Tour of Denmark stage winner Michael Van Staeyen, Tour of Qatar stage winner and second overall Gert Steurs and up-and-coming Belgians Pieter Jacobs, Stijn Joseph and Pieter Vanspeybrouck. Also included in the preliminary line-up is Kristof Vandewalle, who recently came fourth behind winner and fellow Tour of Britain rider Dan Martin at the prestigious Tre Valli Varesine race in Italy.

Team HTC – Columbia provisional line-up for The Tour of Britain:
Bert Grabsch; André Greipel; Tony Martin; Marco Pinotti; Mark Renshaw; Michael Rogers
Reserves: Michael Albasini; Leigh Howard; Marcel Sieberg

Skil – Shimano provisional line-up for The Tour of Britain:
Roy Curvers; Bert De Backer; Koen De Kort; Jin Long; Kenny Van Hummel; Robert Wagner
Reserves: Mitchell Docker; Steve Houanard; Tom Veelers

Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator provisional line-up for The Tour of Britain:
Pieter Jacobs; Stijn Joseph; Gert Steurs; Michael Van Staeyen; Kristof Vandewalle; Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Reserves: Kenny De Ketele; Stijn Neirynck; Maarten Neyens

Twelve teams have now announced their provisional rider line-ups for The Tour of Britain. These are AN Post Sean Kelly Cycling Team, Endura Racing, Garmin – Transitions Pro Cycling Team, Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta, Rapha – Condor – Sharp, Sigma Sport – Specialized, Skil – Shimano, Sky Professional Cycling Team, Team HTC – Columbia Team Raleigh, Team Saxo Bank and Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator.

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