Marcel Kittel hopeful for Team Argos-Shimano World Tour Status
Thanks to the terrific sprinting performances from Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb in the 2012 season, Team Argos-Shimano looks on track to receive its UCI World Tour licence for the season ahead.
Kittel is hopeful that the team will be able to secure its World Tour status as he eyes the Tour de France as the biggest goal of his 2012 season.
The cyclist marked his Tour de France debut in the current season but was unfortunate as he had to abandon the race because of sickness during the stage 5.
While commenting on his plans for the season ahead, Kittel told Cyclingnews, "The big goal will be the Tour again because I think there are number of chances for the sprinters. I'll have a similar build up to the Tour as I did this year too".
"If we get a WorldTour licence then I should be at the Tour Down Under. I'd like to go there because there are stages for the sprinter but nothing has been confirmed yet with the licence”.
“If that's not the case we'll look it again with maybe Qatar and Oman, but I would like to concentrate on the sprints right from the start of the season," he concluded.
The Dutch team will have to fight with Team Lotto Belisol, Team FDJ-Bigmat, Team Europcar and Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank as only 3 out of the 6 teams will be allowed to ride at the top level of the sport.
UCI has already finalised the top fifteen teams that will continue riding at the World Tour level including, Team AG2R La Mondiale, Team Astana Pro Team, Team BMC Racing Team, Team Cannondale, Team Euskaltel – Euskadi, Team Former Rabobank and Team Garmin
Sharp.
Team Katusha, Team Lampre – Merida, Team Movistar Team, Team Omega Pharma – Quick-Step, Team Orica GreenEdge, Team RadioShack Nissan, Sky Procycling and Team Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team will enjoy the World Tour status, which means an automatic invitation
to all the World Tour races across the season.
Shimano is the main sponsor behind Team Argos-Shimano and its decision to extend with the team for a period of two-years will certainly help the side in securing the World Tour status for the 2013 season.
Tags: