Tinkoff-Saxo enters Vuelta al País Vasco with the ambition of building race shape during the demanding six days of racing. With several riders, including Rafal Majka, bouncing back from a period of illness, Tinkoff-Saxo scans for possibilities to build power and animate the race.
 
Lining up at the start is Rafal Majka, Robert Kiserlovski, Edward Beltran, Evgeny Petrov, Bruno Pires, Pawel Poljanski, Chris Anker Sørensen and Oliver Zaugg. Tinkoff-Saxo sports director Sean Yates notes that the team starts with no absolute captain but expects the riders to support each other and animate the race, when the possibilities arise.
 
“Initially, our team captain was Kiserlovski, who should secure a GC result. But right now he’s in the process of getting back into shape after a tooth operation that required a break. We got Rafal, who is looking to boost his shape ahead of the Ardennes Classics, and we hope that he’ll do well during some of the harder stages in the second part of País Vasco”, says Sean Yates and adds about the race objectives:
 
“We have strong names on the roster, but right now they are a mixed bag of guys, since some of them are getting back from injuries and sickness and others are in the process of building their shape. So everyone will get their chances and they are ready to support each other. We are going into the race with the ambition of giving the guys a chance to prove themselves, but ultimately you can only do as well as the legs allow. That’s why, considering the competition of guys like Quintana, who has shown strong shape, we need to be realistic”.
 
With Tinkoff-Saxo divided into four squads during Vuelta al País Vasco all at different races and camps, Yates notes that it isn’t feasible to aim for a top GC result at all races.
 
“We have groups of riders at the Classics, Circuit de la Sarthe, Training Camp on Tenerife and here at País Vasco, so even for a team of our stature it’s necessary to tone down the race ambitions at some races. We aren’t pressuring Rafal Majka to deliver in the GC, he has goals at the Amstel, Fleche and Liége, but if he’s feeling well, then we know that he can do well in the kind of terrain that the pack will face”.
 
“Chris Anker and Pawel Poljanski were both doing well just before Criterium International but they had stomach issues during the race. However their shape is good and I know that they want to do a good performance. It’s a hard race route with an 18k TT on the final day, however we’ll probably be racing in more friendly weather conditions than what we traditionally witness at País Vasco”, finishes Sean Yates.