The Giant-Alpecin team was presented today in Berlin where team captains Tom Dumoulin, Warren Barguil and John Degenkolb revealed their goals for the 2016 season. Below you can read quotes from the event.

Warren Barguil

“For 2016 I want to continue progressing as a GC rider as I have been in the past seasons, taking it step-by-step. It remains a goal of mine to finish in the top ten of a Grand Tour and I will continue to push for this goal this season.”

Tom Dumoulin

“I can look back on 2015 with good feelings – it was kind of a break through season really, even if it didn’t work out exactly as planned. But this opened up new opportunities that I grabbed to make it special.

“For the coming season my main goals will be to target the Giro d’Italia and then the time trial at the Rio Olympics.”

John Degenkolb

“The season is not far off now and I’m really looking forward to it. With last season’s victories in my pocket I have a lot of motivation to once again show what I can do. I have a great team behind me supporting me in the classics and at the Tour de France, and these are again my main goals.

“I want to be in the best shape possible from San Remo to Roubaix and to get the maximum out of those races, and then to target the sprint stages at the Tour, a goal of mine for three seasons now.”

Iwan Spekenbrink

“This is a remarkable place to launch our team today, the Italian Embassy offering a setting with a strong association with the history of cycling. Italy has brought the world legendary riders and monumental races such as the Giro d’Italia and Milan–San Remo, as well as the passion of the tifosi and a commitment to extending that passion for cycling to new areas all over the world.

“Cycling is such a tough sport, not the kind of sport where you can just pick races to win each time, so from our perspective as a team we have to look at the season as a process. Key for us in this process is that the world’s best talents are always welcome to our team. From that pool we look for the riders with both the right skill set and also the right personality to fit into the group, fitting naturally with our way of working – our elite sports approach. Then with this strategy we keep on delivering new world stars, and keep growing organically.

“Last year we started with our German talent days which is an initiative that will grow in the coming year. They’re designed to inspire a young group of riders to enjoy riding their bikes. For those selected to attend it gives them the opportunity to experience the professional environment of the WorldTour. It could be an inspiration to chase the dream of being a professional athlete.

“When I stand here in this crowded room I think back to 2008 when we started with a group of people on a journey, and very gradually we grew and grew. Now when I look around this room I’m proud of what we’ve achieved – the room is packed with media, partners, people we work with and a lot of fans are also following us. This gives us a lot of motivation, and still it feels as if we’ve only just begun.”