With many Continental Teams, I'll present you the 12 strongest teams with the biggest chance to get promoted after the season to the World Tour.
M&M's
No big changes for the relegated M&M's. Alexandre Geniez (Cofidis) and Martin Reimer (Rothaus) left and the team got reinforced with 3 string Dutch veterans: Karsten Kroon (BMC), Bram Tankink (Rabo) and Tom Leezer (Rabo). The team will rely on sprints (Degenkolb and Van Hummel), cobbles (Veelers) and hills (Huguet).
Promotion chance: (out of 3!)
Vacansoleil - DMC
Although getting relegated, the team of Vacansoleil almost kept the same. Polisch climber Niemiec left for Saur, and only notable new riders are Rene Mandrii (Cofidis) and Francisco Pacheco. With Romain Feillu (sprints), Johnny Hoogerland & Marco Marcato (hills) and Stijn Devolder (cobbles), the team has a decent chance to get promoted.
Promotion chance:
Landbouwkrediet
Landbouwkrediet nearly missed promotion to the World Tour last year, and invested a lot of money to strengthen the team to get the promotion this year. Kenny Dehaes (Lotto), Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma) and Kevyn Ista (Concordia) are the most important transfers. The team will be a strong contender for the sprints (Dehaes, Steegmans & Traksel), the cobbles (Ista & Traksel) and time trials (Delfosse).
Probably because of the succes of Monster Energy in road cycling, Dietrich Mateschitz thought that Red Bull should enter the road cycling world to promote his brand of Red Bull energy drink. He created a team of German, Austrian and Swiss riders with the goal of being part of the World Tour already after 1 year.
The team will aim at mass sprints (Greipel, Ciolek, Thömel), time trials (Tony Martin), hilly races (Albasini, Eiberger) and stage races (Frank, Gerdemann). Not only big names are part of the team, also talents as Klemme, Nerz and Geschke are part of the team.
No changes for the squad of AG2R. But with Nicholas Roche (stage races, hilly races), Johan Gadret & Thibaut Pinot (climbing) and Lloyd Mondory (cobbled races and sprints), the team has some good riders to collect many points.
After a strong second half of 2012, Team Type 1 is a team to keep in mind for the promotion spots. The team has stayed almost the same, with Daryl Impey and Matthew Brammeier as the strongest new signings. With Impey, Modolo and Belletti, the team has 3 strong sprinters. Kocjan, Callegarin and Efimkin are the main riders for the hilly races.
After some great results in the Italian hilly classics in 2012, Acqua et Sapone signed some big names to get promotion this year. Danilo Napolitano is accompanied by Fabio Sabatini to get results in mass sprints, and Stefano Garzelli, Danilo Di Luca and Giro dell'Emilia-winner Cayetano Sarmiento will aim for succes in the hilly races and stage races.
Promotion chance:
Colnago - CSF
Some of the most interesting transfers this winter came from Colnago. The team signed Alejandro Valverde, who couldn't find a team after his doping suspension in 2012. Together with Domenico Pozzovivo and Tejay van Garderen, he'll focus at the hilly and stage races. The team also has a lot of strong sprinters with Elia Rigotto, Paride Grillo, Marco Frapporti, Davide Vigano and Alberto Loddo.
Promotion chance:
Liquigas
It's all or nothing for Liquigas to promote to the World Tour again. To achieve this, the team signed some big names: sprinters Francesco Chicchi (Omega Pharma), Daniele Bennati (Euskaltel) and Borut Bozic (FDJ), and climbers / hilly riders / stage racers Gabriele Bosisio & Diego Ulissi (Lampre) and, especially, Denis Menchov (Sony Ericsson). The team lacks a cobbled rider, but can win races in any other options.
Welcome to beatiful Lucca in Tuscany for the team presentation of Monster Energy - Subway. Today, under beautiful sunny weather conditions, the team will show itself for the public and release or new team jersey!
To promote the Monster Energy - low carb variant, the jersey underwent a metamorphosis, and the team is proud to show ourself in this beautiful jersey: Many thanks to Maddrengen, you're fantastic!
The team hasn't changed that much. Wout Poels and Jens Keukeleire both left for Rabobank, and in return we signed their cobbles superstar Matti Breschel.
Robert Gesink
Dutch Robert Gesink won the Giro and Vuelta in 2011, and took a third place in the Tour de France in 2012. The 26-year-old Condor of Varssveld has become one of the best climbers in the world, and together with a very decent time trial, he'll be a serious GT-contender. Main goals: Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.
Andy Schleck
After many unsuccesful attempts, Luxembourg Andy Schleck finally managed to win a GT in 2012. Losing the Giro d'Italia after an heroic battle at the slopes of the Stelvio against Igor Antón, he took revenge in la Vuelta a Espana and crushed his opponents with 3 stage wins and the overall win. He managed to finish the year in the 2nd position of the World Tour-ranking. Main goals: Ardennes classics, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana, Il Lombardia.
Peter Sagan
The 22-year-old Slovakian wonder child Peter Sagan is ready to score in 2013. After 2 years of riping, his talent will burst this year, being one of the best puncheurs and sprinters in the peloton. Main goals: Milano - San Remo, Ardennes Classics, stage wins in the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana.
Edited by dienblad on 16-04-2012 22:07
Wilco Kelderman
Being one of the worlds biggest stage race talents, Wilco Kelderman gets the opportunity to score some good results himself in 2013. But he's only 21, so his stamina needs improvement. Main goals: Tirreno - Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya, Giro d'Italia, Tour de Suisse.
Edited by dienblad on 16-04-2012 22:45
Marcel Kittel
Young German Marcel Kittel had a very disappointing 2012, with just 2 wins, due to the combination of a mally functioning sprint train (hey, I'm honest) and sometimes bad luck. But Kittel will fight for it in 2013, and things can only get better!
Main goals: Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a Espana.
Pim Ligthart
Pim Ligthart will be our main sprinter for the smaller races (.hc and .1). He's fast, especially after an hilly race, and can also serve as a final lead out for Bos, Kittel or Sagan. Main goals: Volta Catalunya, Tour de Luxembourg, Ster ZLM Tour.
Edited by dienblad on 16-04-2012 22:45
Jack Bobridge
Australian Jack Bobridge is slowly reaching his full potential in his time trial abilities. Within 2 years, he can become a true contender of Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin.
Main goals: Tour Down Under, Tirreno - Adriatico, Giro d'Italia.
Lieuwe Westra
Lieuwe Westra has developed in the perfect first lead out in our sprint train, with great flat skills and a decent sprint. But when he gets his own chance, he can win time trials, and hilly or cobbled races in a sprint. Main goals: Tour de France, Eneco Tour.
Edited by dienblad on 16-04-2012 22:52
Matti Breschel
Matti Breschel, the 28-year-old Dane is our only signing for 2013. He had a decent season at Rabobank, but didn't feel happy anymore. He will be the captain of our strong cobbled squad, with the goal of beat Cancellara, Hushovd and Boonen in Belgium and the North of France. Main goals: Paris - Roubaix, Gent - Wevelgem.
Niki Terpstra
After a 3rd place in Paris - Roubaix, Niki Terpstra finally wants to feel the taste of the sweet win of a cobbled monument. Being at the almost best of his strength, he'll share the leadership with Breschel. Main goals: Ronde van Vlaanderen, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Eneco Tour.
Martijn Maaskant
Serving as a shadow leader in all the cobbled races, Martijn Maaskant will be the dark horse in 2013. Main goals: Paris - Roubaix.
Edited by dienblad on 16-04-2012 22:53
