Thor Hushovd would like to build a Norwegian WorldTour team for 2017 season. The former rider knows that it is a long way to go, but he is confident that he can attract some sponsors in order to launch a squad in 2017.

"I liked the Cervelo TestTeam a lot, and I’d like to go into that direction", he explained during the pre-race conference in Norway according to Cyclingnews. "I want a simple structure with good people. I don’t want many distractions, just people who do their work. That’s what we had at Cervelo, where we signed some riders who weren’t the best when they joined but who did great things together as a group. I’m still working on it and having a lot of meetings. I’m optimistic that in 2017 Norway will have its first-ever big team. Hopefully a WorldTour team."

To create a World Tour team, we need financial guarantee. Hushovd explained that it is his main goal for next months. "I need a lot of good people around me. One to take care of business and then on the sporting side I have some people who know what need to be done. But first of all you need the money," he added. "I know it’s hard but I also know that there are companies in Norway who can afford it and we have a good product. I need to show them that they can get a lot back. I think there are one or more who want to get into cycling. We love sport and we love when Norwegians do well. I want people to think of us as team Norway when we race."

Hushovd, who was turning professional in 1998, is known for sprinting and time trailing. He is a three-time Norwegian national road race champion (2004, 2010, 2013) and was the winner of the 2010 World Road Race Championships. He was the first Norwegian to lead the Tour de France and first Scandinavian to win the road race in cycling world road championship. He is also the Scandinavian with the most stage wins in Grand Tours. He is widely considered the greatest Norwegian cyclist of all time. He retired in September 2014.