The technical staff of Team LAMPRE-MERIDA have selected the 9 riders who’ll participate in the 2015 edition of the Tour de France (4-26 July).

These are the names of the 9 riders who’ll be at the start in Utrecht:
– Matteo Bono: 32 years old, Italy, 3 participationsin the Tour de France, rouleur.
– Davide Cimolai: 26 years old, Italy, 2 participations in the Tour de France, sprinter.
– Rui Costa: 28 years old, Portugal, 6 participations in the Tour de France, 3 stage victories in the Tour de France, Portuguese champion, climber and rouleur.
– Kristijan Durasek: 27 years old, Croatia, 1 participations in the Tour de France, climber.
– Nelson Oliveira: 26 years old, Portugal, 1 participations in the Tour de France, Portuguese TT champion, rouleur.
– Rubèn Plaza Molina: 35 years old, Spain, 4 participations in the Tour de France, rouleur.
– Filippo Pozzato: 33 years old, Italy, 5 participations in the Tour de France, 2 stage victories in the Tour de France, fast rouleur.
– Josè Serpa Perez: 36 years old, Colombia, 2 participations in the Tour de France, climber.
– Rafael Valls Ferri: 28 years old, Spain, 3 participations in the Tour de France, climber.

Then riders from Team LAMPRE-MERIDA will represent 5 different Nations (Colombia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Spain) and 2 Continents (Europe and South America). The average age is 30 years.

The 2015 Tour will be Costa's second chance to do the race as a team leader after he fell ill in last year's race. He recently showed good form by winning a stage in the Dauphiné and his national road race title.

Rafael Valls will provide the team with a second option after his breakthrough season that saw him finish in the top 10 in both Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya and winning Tour of Oman. The two leaders will be supported by Jose Serpa and Kristijan Durasek who recently won a stage in the Tour de Suisse, in the mountains.

Ruben Plaza, Matteo Bono and Nelson Oliveira will have the task of taking care of the captains in the medium mountains while Filippo pozzato and Davide Cimolai will be in charge in the flat stages. The latter is likely to try his hand in the sprint finishes after he won a stage in Paris-Nice earlier this year.

The team will be directed by Philippe Mauduit and Simone Pedrazzini, who’ll receive the assistance from Marco Marzano.