Mitchelton-Scott has named its eight-man squad for the upcoming Tour de France, calling on a mix of climbing specialists and ‘big’ men to support leader Adam Yates.
The 26-year-old finished just shy of the podium to take fourth and the white jersey in 2016 but his reappearance in 2018 didn’t go as planned. This year he will return again with three wins already to his name this season, plus overall podiums at Tirreno-Adriatico and Volta Catalunya.
Yates will be supported in the mountains by twin Simon Yates, who will return the favour to his brother after he successfully guided him to his first Grand Tour victory at the Vuelta a Espana last year.
Joining them will be Tour de France debutant Jack Haig. Fellow Australian duo Luke Durbridge, Michael Hepburn and Dane Chris Juul-Jensen will guide Yates through the flat stages and bolster the second stage TTT, whilst puncheurs Daryl Impey and Matteo Trentin will prove crucial in hectic finishes.
“After Dauphine I’ve managed to come back around pretty quick, back into full training and feeling good so hopefully it was just a minor bump”, said Yates.
“The Tour this year is a tough one, especially towards the end of the race. I checked out stages 18, 19, 20 just before Dauphine and three stages like that back-to-back at the very end of the race will be sure to have some fireworks. Not only that, but there’s some real tricky stages like stage six to Planche des Belles Filles, which I know quite well from when I raced for CC Etupes and lived in France. So overall a very tough route with some challenging terrain.
“A couple years ago I was fourth and not far from the podium, I don’t really want to put a marker on what I want to achieve, I just know I’ll like to go better than previously and with the condition and consistency I’ve had this year I don’t see why not.
Mitchelton-Scott for the Tour de France: Luke Durbridge, Jack Haig, Michael Hepburn, Daryl Impey, Chris Juul Jensen, Matteo Trentin, Adam Yates, Simon Yates.
