Michele Scarponi targets the Tour de France stages
Michele Scarponi is having a dry season but the cyclist is optimistic to find his winning ways at the Tour de France 2012.
The cyclist finished fourth during the first Grand Tour race of the season, the Giro d’Italia and is optimistic to find podium during the second Grand Tour race of the season.
He finished 2 minutes and 5 seconds behind the race leader Ryder Hesjedal and occupied the fourth overall position.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha finished third while Thomas De Gendt of Team Vacansoleil-DCM occupied the fourth spot after the final general classifications.
The cyclist cited that he has already requested the team management to ride both the Giro and the Tour.
He briefed that it is not easy to recover from the fatigue after riding the Giro but he has enough appetite to ride the second Grand tour in the same year.
Michele noted that the 2012 version of the French Grand Tour has over a hundred kilometres of time trialling which requires a lot of strength.
He is more likely to target mountains classifications and the stage victories at the event instead of the General Classifications.
Michele noted on the team’s website, “There are more or less 100 kilometres of time trialling so it might be a bit stupid to say I want to go to France to ride for the GC, even if you never know,” he said”.
“The mountain stages alone aren’t always enough to come away with the polka dot jersey. But it would be a dream to wear it and I’ll look to do well”.
“I have the Giro in my legs but a lot of motivation. I’m coming in to the Tour with my feet on the ground but with the aim of pushing myself”.
The 32-year-old holds as many as 12 Grand Tour appearances to his credit including eight Giro d’Italia, one Tour de France and three Vuelta a Espana under his belt.
The 2012 edition of the French Grand Tour include four medium-mountain stages and five mountain stages which makes it a tremendous opportunity for the climbers.
The event is scheduled from June 30 to July 22 which will take the cyclists through a gruelling distance of 3,496.9 kilometres during the three-weeks of racing.
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