Leader Mike Woods and six partners will tackle the grueling eight-stage Swiss affair.
Let’s make it clear:
This is not going to be a piece of (Swiss) cake.
Although cut down to “only” 8 stages (last season, the biggest race in Switzerland was canceled outright due to the coronavirus crisis), it’s not going to be any easier than past editions. “On the contrary,” said ISN head sports director Dirk Demol. “We got everything squeezed into those eight days: two time trials, sprint days that will be hilly and selective, and then the big mountain days in the Alps in the last few days including the queen 👸 stage to decide it all.”
The team is prepared to tackle all those challenges. André Greipel and Hugo Hofstetter will be ready to take the two chances to sprint, but we have no doubt that our Canadian Mike Woods will be the central ISN figure.
“Mike is our leader here, and the team is motivated and ready to support him,” stated Demol. The idea is to protect him, with fellow Canadian climber James Piccoli as his first lieutenant and the rest of the team to help. One of them will be Sep Vanmarcke, who is coming back to action after prolonged rest.
“I needed a long break after the classics,” Vanmarcke explained. “So, this tour will be a chance to build up my shape again by trying to do the utmost for the team leader.”
Mike Woods has been, no doubt, our brightest star since the start of the season and, as always, will take the pressure as our GC contender – head-on.
I’m really excited to be racing here. I think this is going to be an important piece of preparation for what are my two biggest goals of the season, the Tour de France and the Olympic games.
It’s the final preparation piece. I think this is going to be a tricky race for me to do exceptionally well in, but I think it’s also a possibility for me to do well and also gain experience in the time trials.
With two time trials, I really want to work on my position and just getting some more time on the TT bike prior to the Tour de France.
Finally – opening up the legs one last time before the big one.
ISN chosen seven to the #TourDeSuisse 🇨🇭 :
Mike Woods 🇨🇦
Sep VanMarcke 🇧🇪
Andre Greipel 🇩🇪
Rick Zabel 🇩🇪
James Piccoli 🇨🇦
Hugo Hofstetter 🇫🇷
G Boivin Canada 🇨🇦
