Jonathan Vaughters eyeing the podium at the Tour of California 2012
Team Garmin-Barracuda has never achieved an overall victory at the Amgen Tour of California but the team is determined make it through to the top during the current edition of the race.
The American team has strengthened its squad and Team Manager Jonathan Vaughters has noted that the inclusion of Andrew Talansky and Tom Danielson will definitely help the side.
The team had a good start to the race with the Australian cyclist Heinrich Haussler helping the side with his second place finish.
He rode brilliantly during the 186.5 kilometre race and was looking good for the stage victory.
The cyclist however could not match the likes of Team Liquigas-Cannondale cyclist Peter Sagan and had to settle for the second spot.
Fred Rodriguez of Team Exergy finished at the third position with Leigh Howard of Team Orica GreenEdge and Greg Van Avermaet of Team BMC finishing at the fourth and the fifth positions.
Talansky is currently representing Team Garmin for the second consecutive season.
The 23-year-old rode brilliantly at the Tour de Romandie and achieved the second overall spot at the event.
He currently holds the 28th overall spot after the stage 1 classifications and is a strong contender for the overall classifications.
On the other hand, Thomas Danielson is holding the 37th overall spot and Vaughters is certain that the current Team Liquigas-Cannondale squad is very much capable of securing the top podium position after the final general classifications.
He told Cyclingnews, "I think our odds are better to win the race this year than ever before.
"In previous years our focus has been diverse; try to get a stage or in the race lead for a day”.
“Our focus is more compact this year and we're really going to focus on the general classification".
While commenting on his current form Danielson briefed, "I'm definitely coming to this race having given it my all in training leading up to it,”
“If I'm not as good as the best guys, then I have more work to do before July”.
It will be interesting to see, if the duo of Andrew Talansky and Tom Danielson can help Team Garmin-Barracuda with an overall victory at the Tour of California 2012.
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