After barely surviving the 2013 ProTour season after some inconvenient circumstances surrounding the team in the Tour de France, Team B&O is looking forward to a new season. And it's a season of news.
The jersey has been reinvented, the bikes are new, the team is stronger and the aspirations are high as ever. Alex Pluchkin will again lead the team at Le Tour, while Rasmus Guldhammer again gets a shot at La Vuelta captaincy. Only difference from last season is that he is much stronger this year.
The team is also looking to do well in the TTTs throughout the year with the purchase of Zakkari Dempster - the team's new tempo monster. Also the mountains department has been further strengthened. Guldhammer and Pluchkin need no further mention, but Arndt and Kwiatkowski have also improved greatly, while the team has brought in a strong trio of climbers in Borislav Ivanov, Fredrik Wilman and loanee Marc Christian Garby.
The team is excited to get underway and hopefully relegation will be but a mirage this season.
2012 ended up with mixed emotions for Team B&O. Team Captain Alex Pluchkin dominated the stage races winning Tour of Oman, Tour of Catalonia, Tour de Suisse and finished third in the Tour de France.
The other team captain who throughout team history has been iconic for his importance did not fare as well. Edvald Boasson Hagen only claimed a single win, a stage win in the Tour of Ireland and had an overall dissapointing season with crashes and unfocused riding.
In the team that is always developing the stars of tomorrow showed glimpses. Nico Keinath and Rasmus Guldhammer, two aspiring stage racers look set to step it up a notch in 2013. Also back from loan are the two climbers Michal Kwiatkowski and Nikias Arndt.
B&O has been the sponsor for four season by now, but are demanding that the team does better in the Pro Tour Standings, as their contract are running out by the end of 2013. This could mean some re-structuring of the team as they again will be going in to the season with their absolute biggest goal being winning Le Grande Boucle. Of course Le Tour de France.
Read 2012 Presentation
Spoiler
Team B&O is continuing on its long-term contract with the Danish high-end electronics manufacturer for the team's third consecutive season on the Pro Tour.
2011 saw the team improving in the overall standings and the team has announced it will bring in an established rider to the mix in order to aid all the young riders with some guidance and experience. The rider is expected to be a complete cyclist who can compete for the top spots in the big stage races.
Other than the team has no intention to let any of the current members go to keep continuality within the team. One rider has already joined and that's the Danish super talent Rasmus Guldhammer, after he did the entire 2011 season at Team Telenor-SAS.
With improvement among the young riders the manager is expecting the team to break into the Top 5 of the team standings by the end of the 2012 Season and win one Grand Tour, which would potentiality be a first in the history of the team. This year Alex Pluchkin will be expected to lead the charge on that part with Rasmus Guldhammer up and coming within the next couple of years.
On this site we will announce the team's 2012 Goals, riders and the results from the coming season as they start ticking in. Also as a new feature we will have some interviews with the riders.
The Danish National Champions Jersey is within the ranks of Team B&O once more - this time on the shoulders of Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg.
The cobbled specialist founded his victory as he took off a day-long raid alongside Christopher Juul-Jensen and Kim Marius Nielsen. Meanwhile the rest of the team was sitting back giving Riber-Sellebjerg a chance to complete what would be the biggest result of his career.
At the end of the day he did show there is some difference between the Pro Tour and the Continental Tour as he crossed the line alone having left his two companions in his wake.
Morten Reckweg and Michael Færk Christensen finished respectively 6th and 8th.
In the Time Trial the team came really close aswell with Færk Christensen and Steensen sitting in 1st and 2nd until Brian Vandborg came along and took the jersey.
Riber-Sellebjerg will wear the Danish colours in the 2012 Season.
In a press release Team B&O has revealed that they will not be renewing the contracts of Chris Sørensen and last season stagiaire Eric Pidun.
- Sørensen hasn't lived up to standards or delivered the results we were hoping from him since he won the Danish Championships two years back. It's regretable we feel we have to see him off, but that's the kind of decisions you have to make, says the team's Chief of Press.
Also Eric Pidun leaves the team after as a stagiaire being unable to show he has the strenght to make it as a domestique on the Pro Tour.
- Besides Sørensen and Pidun we will be looking to offer contracts to all of our current riders, to whom we have great expectations for the coming season.
After some good showings in stages races like Tour of Turkey, Tour de Beauce and Ringerike GP, Danish supertalent Rasmus Guldhammer has returned to Team B&O after a one-year loan at Team Telenor-SAS. There has been doubts as to what kind of races Guldhammer wants to focus on. In the following interview the Dane makes it crystal clear. He wants to be the second Dane atop the Tour de France Podium.
Q:Many people think that your best chances of a winning a big race would be to put your devotion into developing as a hilly specialist, you've chosen to take a different path, for which reasons?
RG: My manager and my trainer are the two top reasons for that. I know I have to train a lot especially my time trial skills, but my manager has given me word, that I will be the main focus on the team regarding training, maybe already after the 2012 Season. Added to that I had a really good showing in Tour de l'Avenir, which gave me the last confidence I needed to devote my training to allow me to progress as a stage racer.
Q:What is the time frame for you breaking into the podium at Le Tour?
RG: Well this year it's all about Pluchkin no doubt. I believe he can still conquer the Tour de France, and it's gonna be great for me as I have already been given assurance that I will be one of his main helper in the 2012 Tour de France. 2013 might be too early, but I'm hoping come 2014 I will be fighting for a spot on the podium.
Q:You mentioned Pluchkin yourself. Is there a potential rivalry here in the years to come?
RG: Definitely not. Alex will still be the captain of the team I'm well aware of that. Even in 2 years he will still be leading our Tour de France team, hopefully at that time with me as the dark horse in the team. Also I know Alex wants to try and win La Vuelta at some point, and if he is going to have a dig at that in say three years, there will be a captaincy role waiting for me. I have patience because I know need to with a class rider like Alex.
Q:So Tour de France is the big goal of your career. Anything else?
RG: Initially I wanted to win the Ardennes and I might still line up for a few of those races to help out Hagen who's our undisputed leader on that part. Should he have some bad luck I will be there with riders like Klemme and Grivko to assist the team. But that's still far up the road of course. Also at some point I'll have a go at Tour of Spain and Italy and I might even try to lead the team in La Vuelta already in 2013, to see what is gonna be asked of me in a race like the Tour.
Q:Finally, what are your expectations for the coming season?
RG: Well I think we have a really solid team that improves season by season, you can easily see that when you look at the amount of wins we had this year compared to the team's first year on the Pro Tour. If you're looking for something exact I think as of now we have the quality to finished in the Top 5 and with a little bit extra added to the team I don't see why a Top 3 is out of the question. I know I'm looking forward with confidence and so is the entire team.
Guldhammer had a good Tour de l'Avenir finishing in overall 5th.
Nikias Arndt
2nd, World U23 RR Championships
4th, Tour de l'Avenir - Stage 3
7th, Tour de l'Avenir - Stage 7
8th, German National RR Championships
10th, Tour de Romandie - Stage 2
Michael Færk Christensen
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
2nd, Danish National ITT Championships
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
6th, Tour of Northern Europe - Stage 5
8th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
10th, København-Malmö TTT
22nd, Tour of Qatar
Jempy Drucker
12th, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
17th, Ronde van Vlaanderen
17th, East Midlands Cicle Classic
18th, Gent-Wevelgem
18th, Strade Appia Antica
30th, Paris-Roubaix
Andriy Grivko
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
7th, Ukrainian National ITT Championships
8th, Tour of California
8th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 6
10th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 1
16th, Vuelta al PaÃs Vasco
18th, Tour de Suisse
18th, Tour of Norway
19th, Giro di Lombardia
22nd, Flèche Wallonne
27th, Tour de Romandie
32nd, Tour de France
Rasmus Guldhammer
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
3rd, Vuelta a España - Stage 9
3rd, Vuelta a España - U25
4th, Vuelta a España - Stage 3
7th, Tour de France - Stage 5
9th, Vuelta a España - Stage 15
9th, Vuelta a España - Stage 21
19th, Vuelta a España
20th, Tour de France
24th, Tour of Norway
25th, Tirreno-Adriatico
27th, Tour of Northern Europe
27th, Giro di Lombardia
Steven Kruijswijk
9th, Gent-Wevelgem
10th, København-Malmö TTT
11th, Tour of Northern Europe
18th, Praha-Karlovy Vary-Praha
20th, Rund um Köln
21st, Milan-San Remo
23rd, Ronde van Vlaanderen
24th, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
26th, Paris-Roubaix
Michał Kwiatkowski
1st, Tour of Tasmnia - KoM
2nd, Vuelta a España - Stage 20
6th, Tour of Norway - Stage 8
7th, Polish National ITT Championships
28th, Vuelta al PaÃs Vasco
Michael Mørkøv
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
6th, Danish National ITT Championships
10th, København-Malmö TTT
Kristoffer Nielsen
7th, Paris-Nice - Stage 8
Aleksandr Pluchkin
1st, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 3
1st, Tour de Suisse - Stage 4
1st, Tour de France - Stage 8
1st, Moldovan National ITT Championships
2nd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
2nd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 5
2nd, Tour de Romandie - Stage 1
2nd, Tour de Romandie - Stage 4
2nd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 5
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 19
3rd, GP Liechtenstein
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
3rd, Tour de France - Stage 17
3rd, Tour de France - Stage 18
4th, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 6
4th, Tour de Romandie - Stage 3
4th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 1
4th, Tour de France - Stage 5
4th, Tour de France - Stage 9
5th, Tour de Romandie
5th, Tour de Suisse
7th, Tour de France - Stage 14
7th, Tour de France - Stage 20
8th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 2
9th, Tour de France
9th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 6
9th, Tour de France - Stage 7
10th, Tour de France - Stage 12
12th, World ITT Championships
20th, Flèche Wallonne
Rasmus Quaade
10th, København-Malmö TTT
Morten Reckweg
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
8th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
10th, København-Malmö TTT
10th, Danish National ITT Championships
Juraj Sagan
3rd, Slovakian National ITT Championships
10th, København-Malmö TTT
Kristian Sobota
8th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 6
23rd, Great Ocean Road Classic
Sten Stenersen
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
5th, Tour de France - Stage 15
8th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
21st, Chronos des Herbiers
22nd, Lisbon Classic
Brian Vandborg
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 1
3rd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
4th, Danish National ITT Championships
5th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 18
6th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 14
8th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
10th, København-Malmö TTT
13th, Tour of Northern Europe
29th, World ITT Championships
2012 Results
Spoiler
Kobe Vanoverschelde
2nd, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 2
3rd, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 1
4th, Tour of Qatar - Stage 3
5th, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 3
6th, National Belgian Road Race Championships
7th, Tour of Northern Europe - Stage 2
8th, Vuelta a la Region de Murcia - Stage 1
Aleksandr Pluchkin
1st, Tour of Oman
1st, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
1st, Tour de Suisse
1st, Tour de Suisse - Stage 2
1st, Tour de Suisse - Stage 6
1st, National Moldovan Road Race Championships
1st, National Moldovan Time Trial Championships
1st, Tour of Oman - Young Rider
1st, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Points
1st, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Young Rider
1st, Tour de Suisse - Points
1st, Tour de Suisse - Young Rider
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 7
2nd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 7
2nd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 9
2nd, Tour of Oman - Stage 5
2nd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 4
2nd, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 5
2nd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 9
3rd, Tour de France
3rd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 3
3rd, Tour de France - Stage 11
3rd, Tour de France - Stage 16
4th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 4
4th, Tour de France - Stage 18
4th, Tour de France - Stage 20
4th, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 3
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 6
5th, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 1
5th, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya - Stage 6
6th, Tour de France - Stage 3
6th, Tour de France - Stage 10
6th, Tour de France - Stage 15
6th, Tour de France - Stage 17
8th, Tour of Oman - Stage 7
8th, Tour de Romandie - Stage 2
8th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 1
Andriy Grivko
2nd, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 15
2nd, National Ukrainian Road Race Championships
3rd, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 19
4th, National Ukrainian Time Trial Championships
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
7th, Tour de Romandie - Stage 2
9th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 21
22nd, Fleche Wallone
29th, Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
30th, Tour de Suisse
40th, Tour de France
Steven Kruijswijk
2nd, Giro d'Italia - Stage 8
2nd, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 14
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
7th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 2
10th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 3
10th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 10
17th, Paris-Roubaix
21st, Tour of Northern Europe
Michael F�rk Christensen
1st, National Danish Time Trial Championships
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
6th, Tour of Northern Europe - Stage 7
9th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 3
15th, Chronos des Herbiers
Andr� Steensen
2nd, National Danish Time Trial Championships
3rd, Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Stage 3
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
5th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 11
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
7th, Tour of Northern Europe - Stage 7
9th, Tour of Norther Europe - Stage 3
10th, Paris-Nice - Stage 4
Alex Rasmussen
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
Casper J�rgensen
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
Sten Stenersen
1st, National Norwegian Time Trial Championships
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 12
5th, Tour of Oman - Stage 3
Domenik Klemme
9th, Tour of California - Stage 5
10th, National German Time Trial Championships
12th, GP Mendrisio
16th, Tour of California
19th, Amstel Gold Race
21st, Fleche Wallone
23rd, Tirreno-Adriatico
27th, Criterium du Dauphine Libere
28th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
30th, Giro di Lombardia
Nico Keinath
1st, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 13
1st, Paris-Nice - Young Rider
2nd, Vuelta a Colombia - Stage 12
2nd, National German Time Trial Championships
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
6th, Paris-Nice
8th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 21
8th, Paris-Nice - Stage 6
8th, Paris-Nice - Stage 7
8th, Vuelta a Colombia - Stage 6
9th, Paris-Nice - Stage 5
10th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 17
13th, Vuelta a la Region de Murcia
19th, Giro d'Italia
19th, Vuelta a Colombia
21st, Vuelta a Espa�a
Edvald Boasson Hagen
1st, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 6
1st, National Norwegian Road Race Championships
1st, FBD Eire Tour - KoM
3rd, Rund um K�ln
3rd, Criterium du Dauphine Libere - Stage 1
3rd, Criterium du Dauphine Libere - Stage 2
4th, Fleche Wallone
5th, Amstel Gold Race
5th, Vattenfall CyClassics
6th, Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Stage 6
7th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
7th, Classique du Grand Duche
7th, Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Stage 2
8th, Seine-Marne-Seine
9th, Giro di Lombardia
9th, Vuelta a la Region de Murcia - Stage 2
10th, Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Stage 5
11th, GP de Fourmies
14th, GP Mendrisio
15th, Milan-San Remo
19th, Vuelta a la Region de Murcia
20th, FBD Eire Tour
24th, Criterium du Dauphine Libere
Jempy Drucker
2nd, East Midlands Cicle Classic
19th, Omloop Het Volk
Morten Reckweg
4th, Giro d'Italia - Stage 1
4th, National Danish Time Trial Championships
Rasmus Guldhammer
1st, Vuelta a Colombia - Stage 8
2nd, Vuelta al Pais Vasco - Stage 5
3rd, Criterium du Dauphine Libere - Stage 7
18th, Tour of California
19th, Tour de Romandie
28th, Criterium du Dauphine Libere
24th, Fleche Wallone
Martin Haceck�
6th, National Czech Road Race Championships
8th, National Czech Time Trial Championships
17th, Vuelta a Colombia
29th, Tour de Suisse
32nd, Tour de France
Kristian Sobota
10th, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 1
23rd, GP de Fourmies
Juraj Sagan
3rd, National Slovakian Road Race Championships
4th, National Slovakian Time Trial Championships
7th, FBD Eire Tour - Stage 8
Rasmus Quaade
10th, National Danish Time Trial Championships
2011 Results
Spoiler
Edvald Boasson Hagen
1st, Amstel Gold Race
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 6
1st, Deutschland Tour - Points Competition
2nd, GP Yekaritinburg
3rd, Deutschland Tour - Stage 7
4th, Rund um K�ln
4th, Giro di Lombardia
4th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 1
5th, Classique du Grand-Duche
6th, Badaling International
6th, FBD �ire Tour - Stage 5
7th, Liege-Bastogne-Liege
8th, Tirreno-Adriatico
9th, Fleche Wallonne
14th, Vuelta al Pais Vasco
Aleksandr Pluchkin
1st, Tour de Romandie - Stage 3
1st, Tour de France - Stage 10
1st, Tour de France - Stage 18
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 5
2nd, Tour de Romandie
2nd, Deutschland Tour
2nd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 3
3rd, Tour de Suisse - Stage 1
3rd, Tour de France - Stage 13
4th, Tour de France
4th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 4
6th, Tour de Suisse - Stage 9
6th, Tour de France - Stage 15
6th, Tour de France - Stage 20
7th, Paris-Nice
8th, Tour de France - Stage 1
8th, Tour de France - Stage 9
14th, Tour de Suisse
Andriy Grivko
1st, Giro d'Italia - Stage 4
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
10th, Fleche Wallonne
13th, Seine-Marne-Seine
19th, Tour de Suisse
20th, Classique du Grand-Duche
Roman Kreuziger
1st, Giro d'Italia - Stage 4
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
10th, Criterium du Dauphine Libere - Stage 4
Tom Veelers
3rd, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 5
7th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 21
Jonas Aaen J�rgensen
6th, Tour of Qatar - Stage 2
Steven Kruijswijk
9th, FBD �ire Tour - Stage 7
Sten Stenersen
1st, Giro d'Italia - Stage 4
Martin Haceck�
5th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 19
6th, Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 2
8th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 11
8th, Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 5
10th, Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 6
17th, Tour de Suisse
22nd, Vuelta a Espa�a
22nd, Vuelta a Asturias
Andr� Steensen
1st, Giro d'Italia - Stage 4
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
2nd, Tour de France - Stage 12
3rd, Danish Championships - Time Trial
Nico Keinath
1st, Giro d'Italia - Stage 4
1st, Deutschland Tour - Stage 2
7th, Deutschland Tour - Stage 4
19th, Badaling International
20th, Giro d'Italia
Kobe Vanoverschelde
1st, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 5
1st, Tour of Qatar - Stage 3
2nd, Tour of Qatar - Stage 2
2nd, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 3
6th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 4
7th, Tour of Qatar - Stage 5
9th, Tour of Qatar - Stage 4
10th, Vuelta a Espa�a - Stage 17
10th, Tour de France - Stage 7
16th, Tour of Qatar
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
1st, Danish Championships - Road Race
Introduced into the Hall of Fame as the first rider in team history in 2011. Morten Hegreberg was the first rider in team history to ever record a stage win, which happened in the 2008 Tour du Langkawi winning from a 10-man breakaway group in stage 6. To this date he is also the only rider in team history to be more than 30 years of age and hence being a great asset of experience in the four seasons he served for the team.
The National Championships saw B&O claim back the Danish RR Jersey when Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg proved the surprise package in the race for the red and white colours.
Elsewhere Boasson Hagen fell just short of taking the Norwegian TT title with teammate Stenersen in 3rd place, both held short by Thor Hushovd.
In Ukraine, Andriy Grivko but in a big dig in an attempt to win the road race and came gut-wrenchingly close in doing so as he was beaten on the line by Jaroslav Popovych in a two-man showdown for the yellow and blue. Same rider took the TT title making it a double as Grivko secured a place on the podium being held off silver by Grabovskiy.
In the same part of Europe, namely the Czech Republic, B&O fielded to strong favourites for the road race in Hacecky and Kreuziger. Despite a good performance from the two they had to settle for 5th and 3rd as Rabon proved the strongest man on the day Stybar in the final dash for gold. In the TT though, Roman Kreuziger proved he is still by some way the strongest tempo specialist in his country as he again retained his title comfortably ahead of Danacik with Martin Hacecky taking a solid 5th place.
Alex Pluchkin took the double in Moldova winnning both the RR and the TT for double gold and a new set of colourful jerseys for his team.
In Portugal Ricardo Mestre, who hasn't recorded a win since his two stage wins at the 2009 Tour du Langkawi showed he is still a very solid rider indeed, took 3rd place on the road and a 4th place in the time trial. Good performance in such a strong field of riders.
End of the day Team B&O possess two road race jerseys and two time trial ones when the 2012 Season kicks off. Definitely a solid close to a very good season the Danish outfit.
With the transfer season not far away Team B&O has let it be known what they will be looking for when the window pops open.
The team is hoping to push for the Top 5 the coming season and with that goal in mind there will be spent money on enabling the team to compete for a Top GC placing in more than one of the Grand Tours.
So far Alex Pluchkin has been lifting the team with great performances in the Tour de France and though still lacking that elusive podium finish and for that matter the overall win that the Moldovan is so keen to get, his performances has always made for solid mid-season push in the team standings.
Although not known for signing already established riders. The team will now look to latch onto a cyclist who has the abilities race solidly over three weeks in the mountains and with decent tempo abilities for the race against the clock.
One a more specific note the team manager has expressed his interest in riders like Markus Fothen, Jaroslav Popovych and Janez Brajkovic. All riders capable of helping the team improving on its 7th place in the 2011 Season.
None of the above will be in any way easy to come by for the team, but should they fail there will be other riders on the market that draw the attention of team.
Also with Radioshack disbanding it could very well look like that Matti Breschel will be on his way back to Denmark as he helped the team to promotion in the 2009 Season.
The lastest rumors said the Domenik Klemme wants to join a German Team. Team Trilux - Falke is very interested in this rider and now wishes some information about this topic from the Team B&O.
In response to the latest news claiming Domenik Klemme's unwillingness to stay at the Danish Cycling team, Team B&O, the German has completely dismissed the rumours of him leaving the team calling this statement 'untruthful'.
The German figures as an important member of his team being the number one domestique for team captain Edvald Boasson Hagen in the Ardennes Classics. Therefor the team manager has following these questionable sayings also talked down the possibility of selling his German prodigy.
"Offers will be considered, but Klemme is not going anywhere, unless a big offer lands on my desk", has been the managers reaction according to Reuters.
Four years ago he was one of the riders ever to sign for youth developing Team B&O and after four years of serving for the Danish team taking four personal victories and working hard especially during stage races for team captain Pluchkin, the multiple Czech TT Champ has left in pursuit of new challenges.
Kreuziger today signed with ProTour outfit Milka - Vittel on a disclosed 450.000 euros deal which makes him just the fourth rider in Team B&O History to be bought out of his contract with the team.
"We recieved a very good offer from Milka - Vittel today. He's a very competent member of our cycling team but what his own personal ambitions concern he had achieved all he could here. We wish him the best of luck with Milka - Vittel", says the team manager.
With the transfer season in full swing and with two riders out the backdoor and a few young talents on the way in, the team manager has spoken to the press about the future perspectives of Team B&O on the ProTour. The first two seasons in the top flight of cycling the team has without much effort managed to avoid relegation and in 2011 finishing comfortable within the Top 10.
Before the transfer season the team publicly expressed its interest in bringing in an experience rider to compete for at least two Grand Tours during the season, but those plans have been revised by the team directors and the road towards the future is now clear.
"We want to be the first team to win the ProTour with a team consisting solely of riders we brought into the squad for them to develop over the course of the seasons and when matured fight against the big guns of cycling in the biggest events on the road", the team manager said at press meeting earlier today.
"It's a hard road to take but that has been the philosophy of this team since we took part in our first Continental Tour Race just less than four years ago and that philosophy we are going to stick with. The upcoming season is again based around Hagen and Pluchkin, but even with strong, strong guys like Nico Keinath, Domenik Klemme, Steven Kruijswijk, Kobe Vanoverschelde and so on we have a great corps of strong riders who can lead the team and gain solid results in smaller races."
"Add to this that we have a very talented young man in Rasmus Guldhammer, who in 2013 will lead our Vuelta Aspirations and hopefully even push for a podium finish, I reckon we will be strong contenders for the overall ProTour win already in 2013. It's a long road towards success but we want to prove it's very much possible."
"With an already established GT Star in Pluchkin and with Guldhammer coming along we will from now on put our outmost focus on stage races. Therefor the riders we bring in, will be brought in for the great abilities in the mountains or in time trials", was the final statement from the manager before leaving the team's conference room in their Copenhagen Headquarter.
Team B&O has a three-headed monster in Hagen, Pluchkin and Guldhammer ready for the future.
Although not part of the 2012 Tour de France Route, the two B&O climbers Martin Hacecký and Rasmus Guldhammer were spotted on a training run up the HC Category climb.
The two riders are thought of as Tour Captain Alex Pluchkin's two main helpers in the mountains and while honing their mountain legs for the coming season a photographer managed to get a few shots of the new colour theme of the team jersey in action.
The Tour de France is the biggest event on the calendar for the Danish team and it seems their preparations for this years edition are thorough indeed.
With one week still remaining of the transfer period, Team B&O has succesfully put pen to paper with two young guys who are going to fulfil the team's ambitions of being at the front whenever the roads start rising.
The team based on North and Eastern European riders has after the first week of transfer madness secured two very bright mountaineers for years to come. The first signing is out of the East block, Poland to be exact and is of the name Michal Kwiatkowski. The young Pole is known for his strenght in steep terrain and according to the team manager he is going to be a very useful asset for the team in the big Tours.
"Michal is our first signing for the new season and we are very excited about watching him progress over the next couple of years. He has the ability to support our tour leader in the steepest of terrain. He is a pure climber but he also possesses a great deal of punch and acceleration on short steep climbs. We are very happy to have him signing with us."
Earlier today the team then welcomed its second signing, this time out of Germany as the very talented Nikias Arndt made a trio of strong Germans in the squad joining Nico Keinath and Domenik Klemme.
"Just like Michal, Nikias was on a very prominent shortlist that we had put together on the greatest climbing talent around and this guy has impressed us a lot. He comes from the track so possesses raw power together with great climbing talent making him a future super domestique for this team. He's going to be of great importance in the Tour de France in a few years and given his young age (turns 21 by the end of the 2012 season) there's a relevant chance that he can take our second victory at the Tour de l'Avenir in a few years."
With these two signings it seems that Team B&O's ambitions of being among the strongest climbing teams on the ProTour is not far from being a real possibility.
With just about four days still to go before the transfer window shuts close the team seems to be ready for the 2012 season. The team has brought in two talented climbers in Michal Kwiatkowski and Nikias Arndt while letting five riders go out the backdoor.
The five are Roman Kreuziger, Jonas Aaen Jørgensen, Tom Veelers, Ricardo Mestre and Morten Hegreberg, who now in the twilight of his career has been let go, but also introduced into the team's Hall of Fame for recording the team's first ever stage win and being a mentor for the young riders throughout the first four seasons.
The team has also signed young hopeful Rasmus Quaade as a stagiare, who will be able to show his worth from August on. With Kwiatkowski and Arndt both going out on loan at Aprillia - Vespa - De Rosa, the team is more or less completely identical to that of last year with the exception of Rasmus Guldhammer, who has returned from loan at Team Telenor-SAS, which is now riding under a new sponsor. With the loss of two significant riders in Veelers and Kreuziger one could question whether the team is strong enough. The team manager is confident though.
"We still have a strong team which with the rider potential we already possess will become even better next year. Veelers and Kreuziger has left but we still have some unique quality within our ranks, especially with Guldhammer returning. Add to that Pluchkin gets strong by the year through training which also Nico Keinath will profit from this season making him a solid stage racer able to lead the team on various occasions. This team is every bit as strong as the one of 2011 and we are very much looking forward to 2012 which I think is going to be a great year for us", has been the managers outings on this issue according to multiple news agencies.
The team of up-and-comers is hoping Guldhammer and Arndt will be the new big things.
Aleksandr Pluchkin [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/Pluchkin.jpg[/img-r]
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O 2012: Team B&O 2013: Team B&O
Age: 26 Date of Birth: 13/1-1987
Number of Victories: 26 Major Achievements: 3rd Place 2012 Tour de France, Winner of 4 stages at the Tour de France
Starting his seventh season for the team, the goal is clear: Win the Tour de France. Pluchkin has tried several times. And then he has tried some more. Last season he came so close only to see a puncture make him lose out in the stage fittingly numbered 13. He's hungry, he's stronger than ever and this could very well be the year.
2011: Team Telenor-SAS (Loan) 2012: Team B&O 2013: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 9/3-1989
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: 2012 Vuelta a Colombia - Stage 8 Winner, 5th Overall at the 2011 Tour de l'Avenir
Rasmus Guldhammer has been under way for a long time, but he is finally arrived. He didn't win anything in 2013 but had a great Tour de France being Pluchkin's most important helper throughout the race and sitting in the Top 10 for some time aswell. This year it's only about himself though. He is going to race for himself and his biggest goal is the Vuelta a España. So watch out, Denmark is back in the Grand Tour GCs.
2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O 2012: Team B&O 2013: Team B&O
Age: 26 Date of Birth: 14/1-1987
Number of Victories: 3 Major Achievements: 2012 Vuelta a España - Stage 13 Winner, Maglia Rosa Wearer for 2 days at the 2011 Giro d'Italia
In 2010 Keinath finished 32nd in the Giro and he went away with a plan: To crack the Top 10. That he did, in 2013 finishing overall 10th in a very tough Giro. He's got a bit of it all. He's a resilient climber, he can time trial well and he also has great punch which he showed by finishing 4th in last season's Vuelta al Pais Vasco. This year Nico Keinath's objective is a good result in the Paris-Nice, where he finished 6th in 2012.
The Captains 2012
Spoiler
Aleksandr Pluchkin [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/Stage11Screen8.png[/img-r]
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 13/1-1987
Number of Victories: 15 Major Achievements: 2010 Tour de Romandie Winner, Winner of 3 stages at the Tour de France
Aleksandr Pluchkin has been the team's anchorman from the get go in 2008. He is among the absolute finest stage racers in the profession, which he has shown on a number of occasions. Last season he finished 4th Overall at the Tour de France and with just a small improvement in the consistency of his performances he will be the man to beat in this season's edition of the biggest race in the world of cycling.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 17/5-1987
Number of Victories: 13 Major Achievements: 2011 Amstel Gold Race Winner, 2010 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Runner-Up
The strong Norwegian is just as prolific as Aleksandr Pluchkin, just in another terrain. Hagen favours the shorter but steeper climbs as he is a through and through puncheur. One of the strongest riders in the professional field. At just 24 years of age he has been on the podium in several classic races such as Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. This year will hopefully be no different as he targets the hilly one-day races with the ambitions of winning in every single one of them.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O 2012: Team B&O 2013: Team B&O
Age: 30 Date of Birth: 8/7-1983
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 8th Place in 2013 Tour of California, 3rd Place in 2009 Giro dell'Emilia
Andriy "B&O" Grivko! The heart and soul of this team. Le capitan du route. Lieutenant First Class Grivko. You can say many things about the quiet ukrainian. Having been here from day one just as Pluchkin he's been a mentor for the entire team but especially the Moldovan captain. He doesn't thrive on personal succes, which his two TTT participating wins in 2011 display. He support the captains and he does a hell of a job.
Michal Kwiatkowski [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/BangOlufsen.jpg[/img-r]
2012: Vespa - Aprilla - Racing (On Loan) 2013: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 2/6-1990
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: Winner of the KOM Competition at 2013 Tour of Tasmania, 2nd Place in Stage 20 of 2013 Vuelta a España
Rising quickly up the ranks is Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland. He joined the team after the 2011 season and went out on loan at Italian team Vespa with his compatriot Nikias Arndt. Strong in the mountains and the hills he's a versatile rider who possesses a strong kick aswell. This season will mainly see him in supporting roles but he could be a rider for the hilly one-day races in years to come. And make sure to look his way in the mountains aswell. Michal is relishing the day Tour of Poland returns to the ProTour.
Martin Hacecký [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/martinhacecky.png[/img-r]
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O 2012: Team B&O 2013: Team B&O
Age: 25 Date of Birth: 24/7-1988
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: 2009 Qinghai Lake - Stage 8 Winner, 14th Overall in 2013 Vuelta a España
Hacecký is one of the few to have been at the team since the Maxbo Bianchi days, and he is only 25 years old. Being primarily a helper in the mountains, Martin bagged a huge result in La Vuelta in 2013 finishing in 14th Place and almost winning stage 19 finishing runner-up. Hacecký will support Pluchkin at Le Tour this season, but will also get to race his own chances on a few occasions.
2008: SouthAustralia.com 2009: IrnBru - RBS 2010: IrnBru - RBS 2011: Quiksilver-Kraft 2012: Hollister Pro Cycling 2013: Hollister Pro Cycling
Age: 26 Date of Birth: 27/9-1987
Number of Victories: N/A (Research Needed) Major Achievements: N/A
Zakkari Dempster will be probably be the addition of 2014 with the most impact. He's incredibly strong in time trials which has already landed him a place at the 2014 Tour de France with the purpose of him helping Pluchkin to a good GC position after the TTT. He will also lead the team in Chronos des Herbiers, Tour of Qatar and the Malmø-København TTT.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 28 Date of Birth: 8/7-1983
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: Part of the line-ups that won the Team Time Trials of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and Deutschland Rundfahrt, 3rd Place in 2009 Giro dell'Emilia
It's hard to believe but at age 28, Andriy Grivko is actually the oldest and therefor most experienced member of the Team B&O set-up. Having not thrived on personal achievements throughout his career he might just be the most important rider in the team. Possessing great skills in climbing terrain his ability to notch up a good time trial performance makes him the road captain and the most reliable part of Team B&O roster.
Number of Victories: 2 Major Achievements: Part of the line-ups that won the Team Time Trials of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and Deutschland Rundfahrt, Maglia Rosa Wearer for 2 days at the 2011 Giro d'Italia
Nico Keinath has been at Team B&O for his entire professional career and still being a young rider his future at the team looks bright indeed. Nico Keinath has especially excelled in the Giro d'Italia while riding at ProTour Level. In 2010 he finished overall 32nd and last season he just squeezed into the Top 20. As an accomplished climber and timetrialist he is a dangerous weapon in the mountainous stage races and will this year again be gunning for the Giro d'Italia.
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: Part of the line-up that won the Team Time Trial of the 2011 Deutschland Rundfahrt, 2010 Giro d'Italia - Stage 14 Runner-Up
Another great rider in undulating terrain is German starlet Domenik Klemme who is now commencing his third season at Team B&O. In the Ardennes Classics and other hilly one-day races he is the team's strongest domestique for Team Captain Hagen when the road rises towards the short and punchy summits. Klemme has yet to take an individual victory, but has come close on some occasions. We feel confident that 2012 will end the waiting for the young puncheur.
Number of Victories: 2 Major Achievements: 2011 Vuelta a España - Stage 5 Winner
Kobe is the only true sprinter in the team and after last season where he finally opened his win account with a stage win in Tour of Qatar and La Vuelta, the Belgian is hungry after more. This season is all about winning bike races as he hopes to become the Kobe Bryant of the mass sprint finishes in 2012.
Martin Hacecký [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/martinhacecky.png[/img-r]
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 23 Date of Birth: 24/7-1988
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: 2009 Qinghai Lake - Stage 8 Winner, 22nd Overall in the 2011 Vuelta a España
There's one terrain Martin Hacecký cares about when he is on his bike. That is mountains. The really high ones. Martin is the strongest climber in the team apart from Aleksandr Pluchkin and he was one of the most important factors for Pluchkin when he finished overall 4th in the 2011 Edition of Le Tour. Hacecký has been honing his time trial skills this off-season and he hopes he can break into the Top 20 of the Vuelta a España come 2012.
Steven Kruijswijk [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/stevenkruijswijk.png[/img-r]
2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 7/6-1987
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 5th Place at the 2009 Vattenfall CyClassics, Part of the line-up that won the 2011 Tour de France Best Team Competition
Solid as a rock, are four words that describes the raw power of which Dutch cyclist Steven Kruijswijk possesses. He can do a little bit of everything and he is a one a few riders in the team who has some ability on cobbled roads. Kruijswijk still hasn't one a bike race, but a rider with his skillset and versatility is bound not to be far away. He is the guy the team captain looks to when wanting shelter from the wind, but Steven will be looking to show that he can lead aswell as he is targeting this year's Tour of Northern Europe.
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 5th Overall at the 2011 Tour de l'Avenir
Rasmus Guldhammer has a lot of weight on his shoulders. Not only because his team expects him to be their second rider after Pluchkin to break into a Grand Tour Top 10. But maybe even mostly because his homecountry Denmark is looking at him to be the next Bjarne Riis. Strong in the mountains and accomplished in the time trials he has the makings of a Tour Champion. This season is about learning though and Guldhammer will be joining Hacecký to lead Captain Pluchkin's Climbing Corpse in his ambitions to win the 2012 Tour de France.
Michael Færk Christensen [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/michaelchristensen.png[/img-r]
2009: Team IKEA - Bianchi 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 25 Date of Birth: 14/2-1986
Number of Victories: 3 Major Achievements: 2010 Deutschland Rundfahrt - Stage 6 Winner, Part of the line-ups that won the Team Time Trials of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and Deutschland Rundfahrt
While mostly being one of the guys to protect the team leader on the flat, Michael Færk Christensen has one ability that makes him quite the remarkable rider. That is his strenght in the Time Trials. An ability that ultimately secured him two days in la maglia rosa in the 2011 Giro d'Italia. Look out for Michael whenever the team is taking part in a Team Time Trial, because chances are he will be there, guiding his team on its way towards the win.
2009: Team IKEA - Bianchi 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 12/10-1987
Number of Victories: 3 Major Achievements: 2010 Vuelta a Asturias - Stage 5 Winner, Part of the line-ups that won the Team Time Trials of the 2011 Giro d'Italia and Deutschland Rundfahrt
Alex Rasmussen [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/alexrasmussen.png[/img-r]
2008: Virgin Media 2009: Virgin Media 2010: Virgin Media 2011: Team B&O
Age: 27 Date of Birth: 9/6-1984
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 4th Place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Sprint, 5th Place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Keirin
Having joined the team just last year Alex was an important figure in the Team B&O Sprint train and will be once again as the 2012 Season kicks off. The terrain in Tour of Qatar suits the Dane perfectly and he will be the final lead-out man for Kobe Vanoverschelde in that race. The Dane possesses enough speed though that he could potentially grab himself a win or two throughout the racing.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 23 Date of Birth: 3/10-1988
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: Part of the line-up that won the Team Time Trial of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, 7th Place in the 2009 Giro del Lazio
Very strong on the flat, fast in the Time Trials and enough speed to win from a decimated field. This guy has the allround abilities of a strong domestique. When not protecting his team leader, watch out for this guy in the early breakaways.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 23 Date of Birth: 15/8-1988
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: Part of the line-up that won the Team Time Trial of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, 7th Place in the 2009 Giro del Lazio, Bronze Medalist at the 2011 Norwegian Time Trial Championships
Similar to build so to say of Morten Reckweg, only the Norwegian lacks the same top speed. He has come close to grabbing that elusive stage win though and with a nose for picking the right moment to get in the break a victory is not all impossible for him. Mostly he is a true teammate though and one of the best out there.
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: Helping Team B&O to promotion from the Continental Tour in 2009
The personification of team spirit is this guy. Not much of an opportunist his finest task is to help and assist his captain, wind shelter, grabbing water bottles and chasing breakaway riders, yes, Troels Vinter is one of those very important team members. On top of that aswell, this guy has some speed and even enough to win stages in a field without that infamous star sprinter. Should he make it in a break that goes all the way, he will most likely win.
Kristian Sobota [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/kristiansobota.png[/img-r]
2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 23 Date of Birth: 1/6-1988
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: Helping Team B&O to promotion from the Continental Tour in 2009
23 years old and still developing. His weapon is his sprint and his strenght on the flat. A real Danish fighter. Kristian has won anything major yet as he often bound to helper obligations in the stage races he attend, but just as with Troels Vinter. Should he hit the right break he's going to win. Another important man in the sprint train.
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/thomasriber-sellebjerg.png[/img-r]
2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 24 Date of Birth: 29/3-1987
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: 2011 Danish Road Race Champion, 4th Place in the 2009 Tour du Faso
2008: Accumalux 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 25 Date of Birth: 3/9-1986
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 3rd Place in the 2009 Omloop Het Volk, 7th Place in the 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Although finishing on the podium in the race now known as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2009, most people remember Jempy from his performance in the same race two years later. Having attacked early in that race he left his fellow escapees behind to go on a quest for a glory. After a long stubborn fight on the Belgian cobbles he had to give in though ultimately finishing 7th. The best result in cobbled race in Team B&O's ProTour History. This alone proves just how strong a rider he is.
2008: Maxbo Bianchi (Team B&O) 2009: Team B&O 2010: Team B&O 2011: Team B&O
Age: 26 Date of Birth: 20/5-1985
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 15th Place in the 2009 Omloop Het Volk
Kristoffer Nielsen is another one of those real guys. Having been with the team ever since its establishment he has been very loyal and was instrumental in Team B&O's reign in the 2009 Continental Tour Cobbled one-day races. Strong in the flat and on the merciless stones he is always ready to do the 'dirty work'.
Number of Victories: 1 Major Achievements: Part of the line-up that won the Team Time Trial of the 2011 Giro d'Italia
If he sees mountain he starts yelling 'grupetto', but if the sport director is worried about a breakaway Casper Jørgensen will storm to the front and use his sheer strenght in the flat terrain to help his team captain out of any trouble. Also very strong in Time Trials with a history on the track he is there if a stage categorized with the triple T.
Juraj Sagan [img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/jurajsagan.png[/img-r]
2011: Team B&O
Age: 23 Date of Birth: 23/12-1988
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 2011 ProTour Debutant
Juraj joined the team last season but did not race a whole lot as the team wanted to nurse him into the professional ProTour Field. Although not as prominent a name as his younger brother Peter, Juraj still has the potential to become a strong timetrialist and we should see at the front of the peloton on numerous occasions reeling in early breakaways. Time will tell, but chances are he is going to be a great asset to the team.
Number of Victories: 0 Major Achievements: 2012 ProTour Debutant
Rasmus Quaade has been signed as a stagiare allowing him to race for the team come August and he will be looking to convince some people that he should be a regular on the roster in 2013. Rasmus' strenght is his Time Trial abilities. Something he will be hoping to improve when Autumn racing starts.
