Team RadioShack-Nissan positive to defend Fabian Cancellara’s overall lead at the Tour de France
Despite a disastrous start to its 2012 season, Team RadioShack-Nissan managed to get its guts together for the most important cycling race of the season, the Tour de France 2012.
Fabian Cancellara helped the team by claiming the yellow jersey during the opening prologue of the race and boosted the confidence for the whole side.
He completed the 6.4 kilometre race in a quickest time of 7 minutes and 13 seconds and occupied the top podium position.
Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky Procycling finished seven seconds behind at the second spot with Sylvain Chavanel, Tejay van Garderen and Edvald Boasson Hagen securing the third, the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
The Luxembourg based team is one of the most expensive sides currently riding the 2012 season but it has failed to justify its performance during the first half of the year.
The team was looking ahead at the three time podium finisher, Andy Schleck at the Tour but his disqualification from the race shattered the team plans.
Andy finished second during the 2009 and the 2011 versions of the French race and occupied the top podium position during the Tour de France 2010.
Team Manager Johan Bruyneel was not present to celebrate the stage win as the Belgian decided stay away from the Tour de France after his name came up at the USADA doping allegations.
Dirk Demol noted, “I heard from Johan on the phone yesterday. He is really happy. He said that it wasn’t a secret that he’ll miss the Tour”.
“Will he come back on his decision? For now he’s not thinking about that, If there was a phone call from Lance? No”.
He also briefed that the stage victory has really boosted the team’s confidence and is now all set to defend Cancellara’s yellow jersey at the coming stages.
“We’re starting today with the intention to defend the jersey; we’re not giving it away. It’s a stage made for Sagan”.
“He didn’t hide his ambitions to get the green jersey and he can do a good job in that battle today”.
Only time will tell, if Team RadioShack-Nissan manages to restrict Peter during the 198 kilometre, stage 1 of the Tour de France.
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