There’s no doubting that Team Saxo-Tinkoff are fielding a strong team for the 100th edition of the Tour de France; a solid base balance for speed, mountain and TTT that will be aiming to deliver Alberto Contador safely to the Champs-Élysées. Amongst them though is a rider that could be their deadliest; Italy’s Matteo Tosatto has been a pro since 1997 and ‘experienced’ doesn’t even begin to describe him. An undeniably tough rider, he has no fewer than 25 Grand Tours already under his pedals – seven appearances at the Vuelta a Espana, eight at the Tour de France and 10 at the Giro d’Italia.
Approaching his ninth TdF, Tosatto describes his job in the squad as: ‘…to protect Alberto on the flat sections and in the hilly terrain where it’s important to position ourselves correctly in the field to avoid being caught behind and to prevent being involved in crashes. And there will be crashes…’ And who does he consider the ones to watch at this year’s Tour? ‘In my opinion, Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodriguz are the most dangerous opponents in this year’s mountainous Tour. But like Sky, we have a strong team for both the flat stages and in the mountains and I think it will be a close contest.’
Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s TdF squad will comprise Spaniards Alberto Contador, Jesus Hernandez and Benjamin Noval, Italy’s Matteo Tosatto and Daniele Bennati, Nicolas Roche (Ireland), Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic) and Michael Rogers of Australia.