With Alberto Contador out of the race, Tinkoff-Saxo have to focus on new goals in the Tour de France. The team will now attack in an attempt to win a stage.

Today is the first day without Alberto Contador at Tour de France. After stage 10 and on the rest day, the entire team was naturally affected by a sense of despair, sadness and sympathy for Alberto. But as the riders prepared for the start of stage 11 to Oyonnax, the focus on the team changed towards the remainder of Tour de France and the many stages ahead of us.

Outside the team bus, journalists and TV-crews gathered to ask the obvious question: what now? Tinkoff-Saxo’s experienced capitaine de route Michael Rogers was among the first to give an answer.

“It’s the first stage without Alberto, and the sadness is not just something we can leave at the rest day hotel. But we have a strong team and we’re all in a good condition. So we’ll be setting new goals and ambitions and shift our focus to taking home stage wins”, said Michael Rogers.

The entire team was set to support Alberto Contador, but with his exit all the remaining seven riders can potentially aim for a stage win depending on the stage profile. Danish rider Michael Mørkøv reports himself ready for duty in the breakaways.

“Well, today is perhaps not the ideal day for me. I’m climbing really well right now but the Tour is full of natural climbers. I would have preferred to protect Alberto until Paris, but I will do my outmost to create results for the team”, explains Michael Mørkøv and continues:

“There are definitely some stages that suit me. But the most important thing is that we have a strong setup on the team with experienced riders and a very solid foundation in our sporting management. Bjarne, Steven, Philippe and Fabrizio keep us focused and they have a plan for the next 11 stages”, concludes Michael Mørkøv.