EF Training-EasyPost is gearing up for an thrilling problem on the 2024 Tour de France with a robust crew and excessive ambitions for stage wins. With crew chief Richard Carapaz recovering from sickness following a crash on the Tour de Suisse, the crew is putting its give attention to aiming for stage victories.
The crew’s lineup additionally contains Alberto Bettiol, Stefan Bissegger, Rui Costa, Ben Healy, Neilson Powless, Sean Quinn and Marijn van den Berg.
His build-up to the 2024 Tour de France seemed promising, with a stage win on the Tour de Romandie on the finish of April, however he bumped into extra unhealthy luck within the Tour de Suisse with a crash on stage 4 left him with a minimize on his face that required stitches. He dropped out the following day.
“After my crash at Suisse, I obtained sick,” stated Carapaz within the crew’s press launch. “My kind will arrive late, however I’ll give my greatest for this Tour de France.”
The American crew invested closely in Carapaz as their Grand Tour contender once they signed him in 2023, however he injured his knee in a crash on stage 1 and was compelled out of the race.
Whereas the crew won’t have a rider who can compete towards Tour de France favorite Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) and rivals Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Primož Roglič (Bora-Hansgrohe) or Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep), Carapaz has confidence they’ll make an impression on the person phases as they did in 2023.
“Final yr was powerful. I needed to go residence. This yr, we’re going for it once more. Everybody round me is aware of how a lot I’ve ready for this. We’ve a robust, versatile crew. We will win on all types of terrain.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, critiques and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“The primary week shall be very laborious, however I’ll attempt to get by it as greatest as potential. Successful a stage is tremendous vital. Within the final editions, I used to be very shut, so profitable one could be crucial for me, but in addition to the crew and everybody who ready for that second.”
The 2024 Tour de France begins in Florence, Italy, reasonably than in France as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Video games. The Grand Départ occurs to be happening in Bettiol’s hometown and shall be his first race within the Italian champion’s jersey, giving him further motivation to attempt for the primary race chief’s jersey.
“It may be very, very particular,” Bettiol stated within the crew’s announcement. “I do know the roads very well. I wish to win a stage on the Tour. I have been shut earlier than and know I can do it.
“This yr is absolutely vital for me,” he added. “I am not tremendous younger anymore. I haven’t got too a few years in entrance of me. Successful the Italian championship was a purpose and one other purpose is to win a stage within the Tour de France. To win on this jersey would imply so much to me.
“It’s a must to be prepared and also you all the time should struggle, as a result of profitable within the Tour just isn’t like profitable in another races. It is doubly laborious to win a stage on the Tour, particularly for an all-rounder like me. I believe the crew is making a sensible option to go for phases. It will be enjoyable and actually thrilling.”
Healy will make his Tour de France debut after having a profitable Giro d’Italia in 2023 with a stage win. The primary stage, with a a lot more durable than regular elevation profile, is on his radar.
“I would like to attempt to win a stage,” Healy stated. “I want a reasonably laborious time out with a tough end. Stage 1 appears actually good for me, however there are just a few in direction of the top of the second week as nicely.
“Because the Ardennes, I’ve knuckled down and achieved the altitude camps and a few good races. The preparation has gone nicely for me. I am excited that we’ll get to go for our personal alternatives.”
Powless was near profitable a stage within the Tour de France in 2022 and got here inside 4 seconds of taking the maillot jaune. This yr, he is struggled with a knee damage that stored him out of competitors for 2 months.
“I believe this was in all probability the toughest yr I’ve had but with accidents and diseases, so I am simply excited that I used to be capable of overcome that and nonetheless race the Tour de France,” he stated. “Successful a stage is my initially purpose, and I believe I’ve obtained the health to do it. It is nearly getting it proper on the day, simply following the precise strikes and utilizing my vitality properly.
“I believe everybody on the crew is keen to take their shot. Each certainly one of us has one thing to show. We have not had the smoothest spring as a crew and everyone seems to be chomping on the bit to make up for that.”
After his victory within the Portuguese championships, Costa can be aiming to win a stage after a tricky spring. He crashed in February on the Volta ao Algarve and suffered a concussion together with a damaged collarbone and scapula.
“I went by so much after my crash this spring. I labored very laborious to get match for the Tour and to get chosen for it. Ultimately, it labored out and I am tremendous grateful for the choice and that the crew believes in me,” Costa stated. “I’ll do my greatest to struggle for a stage, struggle as a crew and get wins for the crew. I consider we’ll win. We are going to get an enormous one this yr.”
EF Training-EasyPost for the 2024 Tour de France
- Alberto Bettiol
- Stefan Bissegger
- Richard Carapaz
- Rui Costa
- Ben Healy
- Neilson Powless
- Sean Quinn
- Marijn van den Berg
