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Professional cycling teams are ranked into three tiers. The top level is UCI Pro Team and the 18 teams here have automatic and obligatory access to the big races on the UCI’s World Tour calendar. In addition, there is a range of rules governing these teams that aim to ensure sporting and financial stability.
You’ll find the top-18 teams below, their sponsors explained plus riders and staff listed.
Click on the links to jump to the team.
Ag2r La Mondiale
Country |
France |
Sponsor |
Mutual healthcare plans and savings |
Bikes |
Kuota, SRAM, Reynolds |
Manager |
Vincent Lavenu |
Sports Directors |
Laurent Biondi, Julien Jurdie, Arturas Kasputis, Gilles Mas, Didier Jannel |
|
Manuel Belletti |
ITA |
26 |
Julien Berard |
FRA |
24 |
Guillaume Bonnafond |
FRA |
24 |
Maxime Bouet |
FRA |
25 |
Jimmy Casper |
FRA |
33 |
Mikael Cherel |
FRA |
25 |
Hubert Dupont |
FRA |
31 |
Martin Elmiger |
SUI |
33 |
John Gadret |
FRA |
32 |
Ben Gastauer |
LUX |
24 |
Gregor Gazvoda |
SLO |
30 |
Sylvain Georges |
FRA |
27 |
Kristof Goddaert |
BEL |
25 |
Sébastien Hinault |
FRA |
37 |
Steve Houanard |
FRA |
25 |
Blel Kadri |
FRA |
25 |
Romain Lemarchand |
FRA |
24 |
Sébastien Minard |
FRA |
29 |
Lloyd Mondory |
FRA |
29 |
Matteo Montaguti |
ITA |
28 |
Rinaldo Nocentini |
ITA |
34 |
Jean-Christophe Peraud |
FRA |
34 |
Mathieu Perget |
FRA |
27 |
Anthony Ravard |
FRA |
28 |
Christophe Riblon |
FRA |
30 |
Nicolas Roche |
IRL |
27 |
Boris Shpilevsky |
RUS |
29 |
Amir Zargari |
IRI |
31 |
Romain Bardet |
FRA |
21 |
Comment: first in the alphabet but last in terms of wins for 2011. The French squad searched far and wide to get riders with enough points to stay in the top flight for 2012. Nevertheless the team is capable of winning more but often needs to do this via breakaways. But it has some sprinters who should win a stack of smaller races. Watch out for Manuel Belleti, the new Italian signing is fast. Team leaders Peraud and Roche will aim to be visible in the big races and crack the top-10 in the big stage races but if they were part of a squad like Sky or Radioshack-Nissan they’d probably be lieutenants not leaders.
Astana
Country |
Kazakhstan |
Sponsor |
Kazakhstan national government |
Bikes |
Specialized, SRAM |
Manager |
Giuseppe Martinelli |
Sports Directors |
Guido Bontempi, Dmitri Sedoun, Alexander Shefer |
Assan Bazayev |
KAZ |
30 |
Borut Bozic |
SLO |
31 |
Janez Brajkovič |
SLO |
28 |
Alexsandr Dyachenko |
KAZ |
28 |
Dmitriy Fofonov |
KAZ |
35 |
Enrico Gasparotto |
ITA |
29 |
Francesco Gavazzi |
ITA |
27 |
Andriy Grivko |
UKR |
28 |
Dimitriy Gruzdev |
KAZ |
29 |
Jacopo Guarnieri |
ITA |
24 |
Maxim Iglinskiy |
KAZ |
30 |
Valentin Iglinskiy |
KAZ |
27 |
Tanel Kangert |
EST |
24 |
Andrey Kashechkin |
KAZ |
31 |
Fredrik Kessiakoff |
SWE |
31 |
Robert Kiserlovski |
CRO |
25 |
Roman Kreuziger |
CZE |
25 |
Francesco Masciarelli |
ITA |
25 |
Dmitriy Muravyev |
KAZ |
32 |
Yevgeny Nepomnyachsniy |
KAZ |
24 |
Evgeny Petrov |
RUS |
33 |
Simone Ponzi |
ITA |
24 |
Sergey Renev |
KAZ |
27 |
Kevin Seeldraeyers |
BEL |
25 |
Egor Silin |
RUS |
23 |
Paolo Tiralongo |
ITA |
34 |
Alexandr Vinokourov |
KAZ |
38 |
Andrey Zeits |
KAZ |
25 |
Comment: the team exists to provide glory to the oil-rich totalitarian dictatorship of Kazakhstan and the vehicle for Vinokourov. He also retired last year but Vino has continued, largely to lend his haul of points to the team in order to keep them in the top flight. But the team has been busy hiring new riders. Look no further than Janez Brajkovič but watch Jacopo Guarnieri too, he is a fast-finisher. 2012 should be a big year for Roman Kreuziger, the Czech has been a force since his days in junior ranks but has yet to land the big result to go from talented prospect to champion. There are other strong individuals, the team can win on almost any terrain.
BMC Racing
Country |
USA |
Sponsor |
BMC bicycles |
Bikes |
BMC, Shimano |
Managers |
Gavin Chilcott and Jim Ochowicz |
Sports Directors |
John Lelangue, Rik Verbrugghe, Fabio Baldato, Mike Sayers, Maximilian Sciandri, Noel Dejonckheere |
Alessandro Ballan |
ITA |
32 |
Adam Blythe |
GBR |
22 |
Brent Bookwalter |
USA |
27 |
Marcus Burghardt |
GER |
28 |
Stephen Cummings |
GBR |
30 |
Cadel Evans |
AUS |
34 |
Mathias Frank |
SUI |
25 |
Philippe Gilbert |
BEL |
29 |
George Hincapie |
USA |
38 |
Thor Hushovd |
NOR |
33 |
Martin Kohler |
SUI |
26 |
Klaas Lodewyck |
BEL |
23 |
Amaël Moinard |
FRA |
29 |
Steve Morabito |
SUI |
28 |
Marco Pinotti |
ITA |
35 |
Manuel Quinziato |
ITA |
32 |
Mauro Santambrogio |
ITA |
27 |
Ivan Santaromita |
ITA |
27 |
Michael Schär |
SUI |
25 |
Johann Tschopp |
SUI |
29 |
Greg Van Avermaet |
BEL |
26 |
Tejay Van Garderen |
USA |
23 |
Danilo Wyss |
SUI |
26 |
Yannick Eijssen |
BEL |
22 |
Taylor Phinney |
USA |
21 |
Thimothy Roe |
AUS |
22 |
Comment: A very different team to last year with the arrival of Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd for the classics thanks to the big spending of team owner Andy Rihs. Greg Van Avermaet was proving an able winner last year, we’ll see how he is deployed alongside the big signings. Cadel Evans now has more help for the Tour de France thanks to the arrival of Tejay Van Garderen and Marco Pinotti, indeed the squad is much stronger compared to 2011.
Euskaltel – Euskadi
Country |
Spain |
Sponsor |
Basque regional government, local telecoms provider |
Bikes |
Orbea, Shimano |
Manager |
Miguel Madariaga Barinaga |
Sports Directors |
Gorka Gerrikagoitia Arrien, Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano, Inaki Isasi Flores |
Igor Anton Hernandez |
ESP |
28 |
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau |
ESP |
32 |
Jorge Azanza Soto |
ESP |
29 |
Victor Cabedo |
ESP |
22 |
Pierre Cazaux |
FRA |
27 |
Ricardo Garcia Ambroa |
ESP |
23 |
Gorka Izagirre Insausti |
ESP |
24 |
Egoi Martinez De Esteban |
ESP |
33 |
Miguel Minguez Ayala |
ESP |
23 |
Mikel Nieve Ituralde |
ESP |
27 |
Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde |
ESP |
31 |
Alan Perez Lezaun |
ESP |
29 |
Ruben Perez Moreno |
ESP |
30 |
Adrian Saez |
ESP |
25 |
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez |
ESP |
33 |
Romain Sicard |
FRA |
24 |
Amets Txurruka |
ESP |
29 |
Pablo Urtasun Perez |
ESP |
31 |
Ivan Velasco Murillo |
ESP |
31 |
Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui |
ESP |
33 |
Peio Bilbao |
ESP |
21 |
Jon Izaguirre Insausti |
ESP |
22 |
Mikel Landa Meana |
ESP |
22 |
Comment: This could be the team’s last year in the top flight as budget troubles appear. It has the minimum roster allowed under the rules and its best riders are being poached by rival Spanish squad Movistar. The proud regional identity of the team shines through but their best rider, Samuel Sanchez isn’t fully from the Basque region. Expect to see them active in early breakaways, livening up the race.
FDJ – BigMat
Country |
France |
Sponsor |
French state lottery, building materials retailer |
Bikes |
Lapierre, Shimano |
Manager |
Marc Madiot |
Sports Directors |
Thierry Bricaud, Martial Gayant, Yvon Madiot, Frank Pineau |
William Bonnet |
FRA |
29 |
David Boucher |
FRA |
31 |
Sandy Casar |
FRA |
32 |
Steve Chainel |
FRA |
28 |
Mickael Delage |
FRA |
26 |
Pierrick Fedrigo |
FRA |
33 |
Arnaud Gerard |
FRA |
27 |
Anthony Geslin |
FRA |
31 |
Frédéric Guesdon |
FRA |
40 |
Yauheni Hutarovich |
BLR |
28 |
Arnold Jeannesson |
FRA |
25 |
Matthieu Ladagnous |
FRA |
27 |
Francis Mourey |
FRA |
31 |
Yoann Offredo |
FRA |
25 |
Rémi Pauriol |
FRA |
29 |
Cédric Pineau |
FRA |
26 |
Thibaut Pinot |
FRA |
21 |
Gabriel Rasch |
NOR |
35 |
Dominique Rollin |
CAN |
29 |
Anthony Roux |
FRA |
24 |
Jérémy Roy |
FRA |
28 |
Geoffrey Soupe |
FRA |
23 |
Benoît Vaugrenard |
FRA |
30 |
Jussi Veikkanen |
FIN |
30 |
Arthur Vichot |
FRA |
23 |
Nacer Bouhanni |
FRA |
21 |
Arnaud Courteille |
FRA |
22 |
Arnaud Demare |
FRA |
20 |
Kenny Elissonde |
FRA |
20 |
Comment: a return to the Pro Team for 2012, the squad has recruited some more riders. Fedrigo has a world-class engine but misfired last year after a parasite infection bugged him. There’s a lot of promise on the squad but going from contenders to actual race-winners is the team’s biggest challenge. Jérémy Roy is an interesting rider with an engineering degree, a column in L’Equipe and social-media mastery on top of his breakaway speciality. Watch Thibaut Pinot, a talented climber with some impressive wins to his name already and don’t forget Arnold Jeannesson, white jersey in the Tour de France for a while last year.
Garmin – Barracuda
Country |
USA |
Sponsor |
Satellite navigation and cycle computers; IT security, networking and storage |
Bikes |
Cervélo, Shimano, Rotor, Mavic |
Manager |
Jonathan Vaughters |
Sports Directors |
Alan Peiper, Eric Van Lancker, Chann McRae, Bingen Fernandez, Geert Van Bondt, Charles Wegelius |
Jack Bauer |
NZL |
26 |
Tom Danielson |
USA |
33 |
Thomas Dekker |
NED |
27 |
Tyler Farrar |
USA |
27 |
Koldo Fernandez |
ESP |
30 |
Murilo Fischer |
BRA |
32 |
Nathan Haas |
AUS |
22 |
Heinrich Haussler |
AUS |
27 |
Ryder Hesjedal |
CAN |
31 |
Alex Howes |
USA |
24 |
Robbie Hunter |
RSA |
34 |
Andreas Klier |
GER |
35 |
Michel Kreder |
NED |
24 |
Raymond Kreder |
NED |
22 |
Christophe Le Mevel |
FRA |
31 |
Martijn Maaskant |
NED |
28 |
Dan Martin |
IRL |
25 |
David Millar |
GBR |
35 |
Ramunas Navardauskas |
LTU |
23 |
Tom Peterson |
USA |
25 |
Jacob Rathe |
USA |
20 |
Alex Rasmussen |
DEN |
27 |
Sebastien Rosseler |
BEL |
30 |
Peter Stetina |
USA |
24 |
Andrew Talansky |
USA |
23 |
Christian Vande Velde |
USA |
35 |
Johan Vansummeren |
BEL |
30 |
Fabian Wegmann |
GER |
31 |
David Zabriskie |
USA |
32 |
Sep Vanmarcke |
BEL |
23 |
Comment: a team but a collection of individuals too, the squad had a great time last year with wins in the classics and Tour de France although a lot of this was connected to Thor Hushovd who’s gone to BMC. But there are plenty of others, Farrar remains one of the biggest rivals to Mark Cavendish in the sprint and Dan Martin sits in the top-10 of the UCI rankings. Watch Navardauskas for his hard work, a neo-pro who can pull the peloton along. A key signing isn’t a rider but a manager in Allan Peiper, the DS brings a lot of experience.
Greenedge
Country |
Australia |
Sponsor |
None for now, funded by Ryan family |
Bikes |
Scott, Shimano |
Manager |
Shayne Bannan |
Sports Directors |
Matthew White, Laurenzo Lapage, Lionel Marie, Neil Stephens, Daniele Nardello, Vittorio Algeri |
Michael Albasini |
SUI |
31 |
Fumiyuki Beppu |
JPN |
28 |
Jack Bobridge |
AUS |
22 |
Simon Clarke |
AUS |
25 |
Baden Cooke |
AUS |
33 |
Allan Davis |
AUS |
31 |
Julian Dean |
NZL |
36 |
Mitchell Docker |
AUS |
25 |
Simon Gerrans |
AUS |
31 |
Matthew Goss |
AUS |
25 |
Leigh Howard |
AUS |
22 |
Daryl Impey |
RSA |
27 |
Jens Keukeleire |
BEL |
23 |
Aidis Kruopis |
LTU |
25 |
Brett Lancaster |
AUS |
32 |
Sebastian Langeveld |
NED |
26 |
Robbie Mcewen |
AUS |
39 |
Christian Meier |
CAN |
26 |
Cameron Meyer |
AUS |
24 |
Travis Meyer |
AUS |
22 |
Jens Mouris |
NED |
31 |
Stuart O’Grady |
AUS |
38 |
Wesley Sulzberger |
AUS |
25 |
Daniel Teklehaymanot |
ERI |
23 |
Svein Tuft |
CAN |
34 |
Tomas Vaitkus |
LTU |
29 |
Pieter Weening |
NED |
30 |
Matthew Wilson |
AUS |
34 |
Luke Durbridge |
AUS |
20 |
Michael Hepburn |
AUS |
20 |
Comment: the new kid in town, Greenedge is the Australian team. Arguably Britain copied the Australian model of lavish funding and talent-spotting for the track to bring Olympic medals, this programme has spin-offs with the endurance events (pursuit, points etc) providing enough riders to fill a team. Now the Australians have mimicked the British and Team Sky with this squad. We’ll see how they gel for 2012, the team is packed with sprinters and those of a track pedigree so expect some wins in the sprints. As well as hunting for wins they’re looking for a sponsor and there could be good news here soon.
Katusha
Country |
Russia |
Sponsor |
Various Russian companies linked to the Kremlin |
Bikes |
Canyon, Shimano, Mavic |
Managers |
Hans-Michael Holzer, Theo Maucher |
Sports Directors |
Christian Henn, Valerio Piva, Mario Chiesa, Claudio Cozzi, Dmitri Konychev |
Maxim Belkov |
RUS |
27 |
Pavel Brutt |
RUS |
29 |
Giampaolo Caruso |
ITA |
31 |
Xavier Florencio |
ESP |
32 |
Oscar Freire |
ESP |
35 |
Denis Galimzyanov |
RUS |
24 |
Vladimir Gusev |
RUS |
29 |
Juan Horrach |
ESP |
37 |
Petr Ignatenko |
RUS |
24 |
Mikhail Ignatiev |
RUS |
26 |
Vladimir Isaichev |
RUS |
25 |
Alexander Kristoff |
NOR |
24 |
Timofey Kritskiy |
RUS |
24 |
Aliaksandr Kuschynski |
BLR |
32 |
Alberto Losada |
ESP |
29 |
Denis Menchov |
RUS |
33 |
Daniel Moreno |
ESP |
30 |
Luca Paolini |
ITA |
34 |
Alexander Porsev |
RUS |
25 |
Joaquin Rodriguez |
ESP |
32 |
Rudiger Selig |
GER |
22 |
Gatis Smukulis |
LAT |
24 |
Simon Spilak |
SLO |
25 |
Yury Trofimov |
RUS |
27 |
Alexey Tsatevitch |
RUS |
22 |
Maxime Vantomme |
BEL |
25 |
Angel Vicioso |
ESP |
34 |
Eduard Vorganov |
RUS |
29 |
Marco Haller |
AUT |
20 |
Comment: Team Kremlin had a reorganisation over the winter with, out went some Italian and Russian managers, in came the Germans Hans-Michael Holzcer and Theo Maucher. Menchov arrives after the Geox team, we will see if he can regain his ability to be a contender for the grand tours. Rodriguez is a versatile rider and the battle with Alejandro Valverde for uphill finishes could be a duel worth watching in 2012. Galimzyanov is the sprinter, a powerful rider who is expected to improve and Freire lurks as usual. I’m more interested in the sponsors and management but make no mistake this is one of the biggest-budget teams in the sport and they’ve got ambitions to match.
Lampre – ISD
Country |
Italy |
Sponsor |
Italian pre-coated steel, Ukrainian steel mills |
Bikes |
Willier Triestina, Campagnolo |
Manager |
Antonio Sarroni |
Sports Directors |
Roberto Damiani, Bruno Vicino |
Winner Anacona |
COL |
23 |
Leonardo Bertagnolli |
ITA |
34 |
Grega Bole |
SLO |
26 |
Matteo Bono |
ITA |
28 |
Vitaliy Buts |
UKR |
25 |
Davide Cimolai |
ITA |
22 |
Damiano Cunego |
ITA |
30 |
Massimo Graziato |
ITA |
23 |
Danilo Hondo |
GER |
38 |
Matthew Lloyd |
AUS |
28 |
Adriano Malori |
ITA |
23 |
Marco Marzano |
ITA |
31 |
Manuele Mori |
ITA |
31 |
Przemyslaw Niemiec |
POL |
31 |
Oleksandr Kvachuk |
UKR |
28 |
Alessandro Petacchi |
ITA |
38 |
Daniele Pietropolli |
ITA |
31 |
Morris Possoni |
ITA |
27 |
Daniele Righi |
ITA |
35 |
Michele Scarponi |
ITA |
32 |
Alessandro Spezialetti |
ITA |
36 |
Simone Stortoni |
ITA |
26 |
Diego Ulissi |
ITA |
22 |
Davide Vigano |
ITA |
27 |
Comment: the Italian team with a Ukrainian flavour, the pink and blue jersey has been a fixture in the sport since 1993, indeed some riders on the team are old enough, just, to have been able to sign for the team back then and the team has the oldest average age. Cunego, Scarponi and Petacchi remain the leaders but watch the progress of Ulissi; Polish rider Niemiec is a strong finisher uphill and could get a chance. And Winner Anacona has to be the best name in the peloton.
Liquigas – Cannondale
Country |
Italy |
Sponsor |
Dutch-owned domestic bottled gas distributor, Canadian-owned bicycle brand |
Bikes |
Cannondale, SRAM |
Manager |
Roberto Amadio |
Sports Directors |
Dario Mariuzzo, Mario Scirea, Alberto Volpi, Stefano Zanatta, Paolo Slongo, Biagio Conte |
Valerio Agnoli |
ITA |
27 |
Ivan Basso |
ITA |
34 |
Maciej Bodnar |
POL |
26 |
Federico Canuti |
ITA |
26 |
Eros Capecchi |
ITA |
25 |
Damiano Caruso |
ITA |
24 |
Tiziano Dalto Da |
ITA |
30 |
Mauro Dall’antonia |
ITA |
28 |
Timothy Duggan |
USA |
29 |
Edward King |
USA |
28 |
Kristijan Koren |
SLO |
25 |
Paolo Longo Borghini |
ITA |
31 |
Alan Marangoni |
ITA |
27 |
Dominik Nerz |
GER |
22 |
Vincenzo Nibali |
ITA |
27 |
Daniel Oss |
ITA |
24 |
Maciej Paterski |
POL |
25 |
Daniele Ratto |
ITA |
22 |
Fabio Sabatini |
ITA |
26 |
Peter Sagan |
SVK |
21 |
Juraj Sagan |
SVK |
23 |
Cristiano Salerno |
ITA |
26 |
José Sarmiento |
COL |
24 |
Sylvester Szmyd |
POL |
33 |
Alessandro Vanotti |
ITA |
31 |
Elia Viviani |
ITA |
22 |
Stefano Agostini |
ITA |
23 |
Moreno Moser |
ITA |
21 |
Comment: the youngest team, the squad is about three riders: Basso, Nibali and Sagan and many others in the team are there solely to support their leaders. But Capecchi is a prospect and Elia Viviani is a very fast sprinter who is aiming for a gold in the omnium competition on the track in the Olympics. And we’ll see if Daniel Oss can win for himself or becomes a deluxe bodyguard for Sagan. Note Moreno Moser has joined the squad, he is the nephew of Franceso Moser, one of the sport’s all time great riders.
Lotto – Belisol
Country |
Belgium |
Sponsor |
Belgian state lottery, Aluminium windows and doors |
Bikes |
Ridley, Campagnolo |
Manager |
Bill Olivier |
Sports Directors |
Marc Sergeant, Herman Frison, Jean Pierre Heynderickx, Marc Wauters, Bart Leysen, Michiel Elijzen, Mario Aerts |
Lars Ytting Bak |
DEN |
31 |
Gaetan Bille |
BEL |
23 |
Brian Bulgac |
NED |
23 |
Sander Cordeel |
BEL |
24 |
Bart Clercq |
BEL |
25 |
Francis De Greef |
BEL |
26 |
Kenny De Haes |
BEL |
27 |
Gert Dockx |
BEL |
23 |
André Greipel |
GER |
29 |
Adam Hansen |
AUS |
30 |
Greg Henderson |
NZL |
35 |
Olivier Kaisen |
BEL |
28 |
Maarten Neyens |
BEL |
26 |
Gianni Meersman |
BEL |
26 |
Vicente Mimo Reynes |
ESP |
30 |
Jurgen Roelandts |
BEL |
26 |
Fréderique Robert |
BEL |
22 |
Marcel Sieberg |
GER |
29 |
Mehdi Sohrabi |
IRI |
30 |
Jurgen Van De Walle |
BEL |
34 |
Jurgen Van Den Broeck |
BEL |
28 |
Joost Van Leijen |
NED |
27 |
Jelle Vanendert |
BEL |
26 |
Dennis Vanendert |
BEL |
23 |
Jonas Vangenechten |
BEL |
25 |
Frederik Willems |
BEL |
32 |
Jens Debusschere |
BEL |
22 |
Tosh Van Der Sande |
BEL |
21 |
Comment: over the winter the Omega Pharma-Lotto squad has split with the Lotto rump remaining here. André Greipel gets more help for the sprints with Henderson. Vandendert is becoming a strong climber. It’s a big year for Van Den Broeck, the Belgian crashed out of the Tour de France and needs a good result to justify his status as team leader.
Movistar
Country |
Spain |
Sponsor |
Spanish mobile telecoms provider |
Bikes |
Pinarello, Campagnolo |
Manager |
Eusebio Unzue |
Sports Directors |
José Luis Jaimerena, Yvon Ledanois, José Luis Arrieta, Alfonso Galilea |
Andrey Amador Bakkazakova |
CRC |
25 |
David Arroyo Duran |
ESP |
32 |
Marzio Bruseghin |
ITA |
37 |
Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas |
ESP |
24 |
Juan José Cobo |
ESP |
30 |
Imanol Erviti Ollo |
ESP |
28 |
Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa |
POR |
25 |
José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios |
ESP |
33 |
José Herrada Lopez |
ESP |
26 |
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga |
ESP |
25 |
Javier Iriarte |
ESP |
25 |
Vladimir Karpets |
RUS |
31 |
Vasili Kiryienka |
BLR |
30 |
Ignatas Konovalovas |
LTU |
26 |
Pablo Lastras Garcia |
ESP |
35 |
David Lopez Garcia |
ESP |
30 |
Angel Madrazo Ruiz |
ESP |
23 |
Javier Moreno Bazan |
ESP |
27 |
Sergio Pardilla Bellon |
ESP |
27 |
Ruben Plaza Molina |
ESP |
31 |
Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil |
ESP |
26 |
Branislau Samoilau |
BLR |
26 |
Alejandro Valverde |
ESP |
31 |
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi |
ESP |
29 |
Giovanni Visconti |
ITA |
28 |
Jesus Herrada Lopez |
ESP |
21 |
Nairo Quintana Rojas |
COL |
21 |
Enrique Sanz |
ESP |
22 |
Comment: one of the strongest squads going. If some teams have sprint trains, Movistar can deploy the same method in the mountains with a range of riders to excel uphill, whether in shorter climbs with new recruit Visconti or with the likes of Valverde or Cobo. Castroviejo is a prologue specialist, Madrazo is a puncheur and others like Samoilau, Rui Costa, Intxausti and Kiriyenka are capable of winning week-long stage races, the staple of Spanish racing.
Omega Pharma – Quickstep
Country |
Belgium |
Sponsor |
Consumer healthcare products, US-owned flooring materials company |
Bikes |
Specialized, SRAM |
Managers |
Marc Coucke, Patrick Lefevere |
Sports Directors |
Davide Bramati, Brian Holm, Wilfried Peeters, Jan Schaffrath, Tom Steels, Rik Van Slycke |
Marco Bandiera |
ITA |
27 |
Tom Boonen |
BEL |
31 |
Matt Brammeier |
IRL |
26 |
Dario Cataldo |
ITA |
26 |
Sylvain Chavanel |
FRA |
32 |
Francesco Chicchi |
ITA |
31 |
Gerald Ciolek |
GER |
25 |
Kevin De Weert |
BEL |
29 |
Dries Devenyns |
BEL |
28 |
Michał Gołaś |
POL |
27 |
Bert Grabsch |
GER |
36 |
Michał Kwiatkowski |
POL |
21 |
Levi Leipheimer |
USA |
38 |
Nikolas Maes |
BEL |
25 |
Tony Martin |
GER |
26 |
Serge Pauwels |
BEL |
28 |
Jérôme Pineau |
FRA |
32 |
František Raboň |
CZE |
28 |
Gert Steegmans |
BEL |
31 |
Zdenek Stybar |
CZE |
26 |
Niki Terpstra |
NED |
27 |
Stijn Vandenbergh |
BEL |
27 |
Kristof Vandewalle |
BEL |
26 |
Martin Velits |
SVK |
26 |
Peter Velits |
SVK |
26 |
Andrew Fenn |
GBR |
21 |
Michal Kwiatkowski |
POL |
21 |
Matteo Trentin |
ITA |
22 |
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck |
BEL |
20 |
Julien Vermote |
BEL |
22 |
Comment: once Team Boonen, the squad has branched out to ensure it doesn’t rely on the man from Balen. Boonen himself remains a contender for the classics, who knows what would have happened if his chain didn’t jam in the Arenberg forest during Paris-Roubaix? But that’s the point, the team is planning for these things now. Martin is the big signing, the time trial champion is strong on all but the most mountainous of roads. Chavanel is capable of winning the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. Note the East European flavour with the Velits twins, Stybar and the Poles. All good riders but means to sell Quickstep flooring into growing economies too. Van Keirsbulck looked very useful in his first year as a pro, watch him.
Rabobank
Country |
Netherlands |
Sponsor |
Retail banking |
Bikes |
Giant, Shimano |
Manager |
Harold Knebel |
Sports Directors |
Frans Maassen, Nico Verhoeven, Erik Dekker, Jan Boven, Adri Van Houwelingen |
Carlos Barredo |
ESP |
30 |
Jetse Bol |
NED |
22 |
Lars Boom |
NED |
26 |
Theo Bos |
NED |
28 |
Matti Breschel |
DEN |
27 |
Graeme Brown |
AUS |
32 |
Stef Clement |
NED |
29 |
Rick Flens |
NED |
28 |
Juan Manuel Garate |
ESP |
35 |
Robert Gesink |
NED |
25 |
Steven Kruijswijk |
NED |
24 |
Thomas Leezer |
NED |
26 |
Paul Martens |
GER |
28 |
Bauke Mollema |
NED |
25 |
Grischa Niermann |
GER |
36 |
Mark Renshaw |
AUS |
29 |
Luis Leon Sanchez |
ESP |
28 |
Bram Tankink |
NED |
33 |
Laurens Ten Dam |
NED |
31 |
Maarten Tjallingii |
NED |
34 |
Jos Vam Emden |
NED |
26 |
Dennis Van Winden |
NED |
24 |
Coen Vermeltfoort |
NED |
23 |
Maarten Wynants |
BEL |
29 |
Wilco Kelderman |
NED |
20 |
Michael Matthews |
AUS |
21 |
Tom Jelte Slagter |
NED |
22 |
Comment: any bank wanting to project an image of security and dependability doesn’t have to look further than Rabobank. The pro team is the top tier of the company’s investment in Dutch cycling and the squad is a fixture of pro cycling. An all round team they can count of Gesink and Mollema for stage races, Breschel and Boom for the classics and there’s several contenders for the sprints, with Renshaw joining. Watch Kelderman and Matthews too. Sanchez was invisible for much of last year but came good for the Tour de France.
Radioshack – Nissan
Country |
Luxembourg |
Sponsor |
US consumer electronics retail / Japanese auto manufacturer |
Bikes |
Trek, Shimano |
Managers |
Ricardo Scheidecker, Johan Bruyneel |
Sports Directors |
Luca Guercilena, Kim Andersen, Lars Michaelsen, José Azevedo, Dirk Demol |
Jan Bakelants |
BEL |
25 |
Daniele Bennati |
ITA |
31 |
George Bennett |
NZL |
21 |
Matthew Busche |
USA |
26 |
Fabian Cancellara |
SUI |
30 |
Laurent Didier |
LUX |
27 |
Jakob Fuglsang |
DEN |
26 |
Tony Gallopin |
FRA |
23 |
Linus Gerdemann |
GER |
29 |
Ben Hermans |
BEL |
25 |
Christopher Horner |
USA |
40 |
Markel Irizar |
ESP |
31 |
Benjamin King |
USA |
22 |
Andreas Klöden |
GER |
36 |
Tiago Machado |
POR |
26 |
Maxime Monfort |
BEL |
28 |
Nelson Oliveira |
POR |
22 |
Yaroslav Popovych |
UKR |
32 |
Joost Posthuma |
NED |
30 |
Grégory Rast |
SUI |
31 |
Thomas Rohregger |
AUT |
29 |
Hayden Roulston |
NZL |
31 |
Andy Schleck |
LUX |
26 |
Frank Schleck |
LUX |
31 |
Jesse Sergent |
NZL |
23 |
Jens Voigt |
GER |
40 |
Robert Wagner |
GER |
28 |
Oliver Zaugg |
SUI |
30 |
Haimar Zubeldia |
ESP |
34 |
Giacomo Nizzolo |
ITA |
22 |
Comment: the result of a merger between Radioshack and Leopard, the deal was done to keep both teams on the road but has resulted in a powerful team. It goes without saying Andy Schleck needs a win, arguably the best climber in the world he should find team management obliging him to improve weaknesses in descending and time trialling. Cancellara lost out to Tony Martin last year but the duel should be fascinating this year and he’ll find support for the classics, something lacking last year.Voigt soldiers on and the team has riders who could be leaders if they left for a small squad, like Klöden or Fuglsang . Watch Sergent, a top time triallist and Gallopin.
Sky Pro Cycling
Country |
Great Britain |
Sponsor |
Television broadcaster |
Bikes |
Pinarello, Shimano |
Manager |
David Brailsford |
Sports Directors |
Sean Yates, Steven De Jongh, Marcus Ljungqvist, Servais Knaven, Nicolas Portal |
Davide Appollonio |
ITA |
22 |
Michael Barry |
CAN |
36 |
Edvald Boasson Hagen |
NOR |
24 |
Mark Cavendish |
GBR |
26 |
Alex Dowsett |
GBR |
23 |
Bernhard Eisel |
AUT |
30 |
Juan Antonio Flecha |
ESP |
34 |
Chris Froome |
GBR |
26 |
Mathew Hayman |
AUS |
33 |
Sergio Henao |
COL |
24 |
Jeremy Hunt |
GBR |
37 |
Peter Kennaugh |
GBR |
22 |
Christian Knees |
GER |
30 |
Thomas Löfkvist |
SWE |
27 |
Lars Petter Nordhaug |
NOR |
27 |
Danny Pate |
USA |
32 |
Richie Porte |
AUS |
26 |
Salvatore Puccio |
ITA |
22 |
Michael Rogers |
AUS |
32 |
Luke Rowe |
GBR |
21 |
Kanstantin Siutsou |
BLR |
29 |
Ian Stannard |
GBR |
24 |
Christopher Sutton |
AUS |
27 |
Ben Swift |
GBR |
24 |
Geraint Thomas |
GBR |
25 |
Rigoberto Uran |
COL |
24 |
Bradley Wiggins |
GBR |
31 |
Xabier Zandio |
ESP |
34 |
Comment: arguably the most complete team for 2012. They can win sprints, classics and are even close to landing a grand tour win. Team management have a problem most other managers would love to grapple with: how to fit so many riders together. For example can you give Thomas and Boasson Hagen leadership roles when they might also be on lead out duty for Cavendish? Will Sutton and Swift be locomotives in the sprint train. Can Uran and Porte win or will they pull for Wiggins? All these questions will be settled in time and you can be sure the methodic managers have it all worked out… on paper at least. The Tour de France is looking good for Wiggins and the surprise of Froome in the Vuelta gives the team even more options. Watch Henao and Kennaugh for suprises.
Team Saxo Bank
Country |
Denmark |
Sponsor |
Foreign currency broker |
Bikes |
Specialized, SRAM |
Manager |
Bjarne Riis |
Sports Directors |
Dan Frost, Nicolas Gates, Fabrizio Guidi, Tristan Hoffman, Philippe Mauduit, Bradley McGee |
Manuele Boaro |
ITA |
24 |
Jonathan Cantwell |
AUS |
30 |
Mads Christensen |
DEN |
27 |
Alberto Contador |
ESP |
29 |
Volodymir Gustov |
UKR |
34 |
Juan José Haedo |
ARG |
30 |
Lucas Sebastian Haedo |
ARG |
28 |
Jesus Hernandez |
ESP |
30 |
Jonas Jörgensen |
DEN |
25 |
Christopher Juul Jensen |
DEN |
22 |
Kasper Klostergaard |
DEN |
28 |
Karsten Kroon |
NED |
35 |
Anders Lund |
DEN |
26 |
Ran Margaliot |
ISR |
23 |
Jaroslaw Marycz |
POL |
24 |
Takashi Miyazawa |
JPN |
33 |
Michael Morkov |
DEN |
26 |
Daniel Navarro |
ESP |
28 |
Benjamin Noval |
ESP |
32 |
Nick Nuyens |
BEL |
31 |
Sergio Paulinho |
POR |
31 |
Bruno Pires |
POR |
30 |
Luke Roberts |
AUS |
34 |
Nicki Sörensen |
DEN |
36 |
Chris Anker Sörensen |
DEN |
27 |
David Tanner |
AUS |
27 |
Matteo Tosatto |
ITA |
37 |
Troels Ronning Vinther |
DEN |
24 |
Rafal Majka |
POL |
22 |
Comment: the team’s fate is largely dependent on a Swiss arbitration court and Contador’s future sets the tone for the whole squad. Capable of winning two grand tours in a season, Contador will find a squad at his service if he is able to continue riding. But team manager Bjarne Riis is able to get out of the tightest corners and bring out the best in his riders, for example don’t be surprise to see Kroon or Nuyens win a classic. Note the sponsor has signed on for one year and the team will need some success to continue.
Vacansoleil – DCM
Country |
Netherlands |
Sponsor |
Holiday campsites, Gardenening products |
Bikes |
Bianchi, Shimano, FFWD |
Manager |
Daan Luijkx |
Sports Directors |
Hilaire Van Der Schueren, Michel Cornelisse, Charles Palmans, Jean-Paul Van Poppel |
Kris Boeckmans |
BEL |
24 |
Matteo Carrara |
ITA |
32 |
Thomas De Gendt |
BEL |
25 |
Stefan Denifl |
AUT |
24 |
Stijn Devolder |
BEL |
32 |
Romain Feillu |
FRA |
27 |
Johnny Hoogerland |
NED |
28 |
Martijn Keizer |
NED |
23 |
Sergey Lagutin |
UZB |
30 |
Gustav Larsson |
SWE |
31 |
Björn Leukemans |
BEL |
34 |
Pim Ligthart |
NED |
23 |
Bertjan Lindeman |
NED |
22 |
Marco Marcato |
ITA |
27 |
Tomasz Marczynski |
POL |
27 |
Wouter Mol |
NED |
29 |
Jacek Morajko |
POL |
30 |
Martin Mortensen |
DEN |
27 |
Nikita Novikov |
RUS |
22 |
Marcello Pavarin |
ITA |
25 |
Wouter Poels |
NED |
24 |
Rob Ruijgh |
NED |
25 |
Mirko Selvaggi |
ITA |
26 |
Rafael Valls |
ESP |
24 |
Kenny Van Hummel |
NED |
29 |
Kevin Van Impe |
BEL |
30 |
Frederik Veuchelen |
BEL |
33 |
Lieuwe Westra |
NED |
29 |
Barry Markus |
NED |
20 |
Comment: an attacking team who liven up many a race, I sometimes feel this comes at the expense of actual wins. Hoogerland’s antics are popular but he is surely capable of winning and barring any rogue drivers, he should do something. Feillu is a useful sprinter, wild to watch yet intelligent too. The likes of Poels and Westra are strong rouleurs. The main sponsor provides camping holidays around Europe and team management focus on hiring value for money talent across Europe. Happy campers include Valls, poached from the collapse of Geox and signing Novikov was a coup, the Russian neo pro was pulled away from Katusha.
UCI Pro Continental and Continental status
The next level down is UCI Pro Continental and, pending confirmation, there are 22 teams. These squads have a lighter regulatory regime but nevertheless must comply with many rules. Finally there is the UCI Continental level which offers professional status and at the time of writing there are 80 teams around the world with this label.
Great stuff, and I’m relieved that for now there are still a few pro’s older than me!
I’m curious to know what’s happened to riders in the pro tour last year who for various reasons aren’t this year, I see that Brice Feillu has joined Saur-Sojasun, but I’m intrigued to find out what’s happened to rider’s like Roger Hammond and Dan Lloyd?
Phew, after the mind warping of the Contador case something clear and straightforward that I’ll be referring to throughout the season, thanks. I’ve been wondering do people tend to follow a team, individual riders or both ?
there’s a typo in the Katusha Team list, Denis Menchov is not ESP, and Daniel Moreno is not RUS. their ages might also be switched-up too?
quercus: yes, a Japanese reader spotted that and told me via twitter, it’s fixed. Thanks for pointing this out all the same.
great stuff!!! i’m starting to get excited now
I keep reading that the “new” Quickstep will target more GC spots with the likes of Leipheimer and Martin on board. I know, for example, that Leipheimer will make Tour of California a big priority. Inner Ring, does this seem like a real possibility or just marketing from Lefevere?
@Ian Because teams dont stay around for too long, I believe most people follow a rider or a nationality. Personally, my favourite rider is Cadel, but I like to see Vaconsoleil do well for a team. But ill always support Dutch or Australian riders due to my ethnicity.
Patrick: Lloyd and Hammond appear to be out of contract for 2012.
Pave: Leipheimer has won the Tour of California several times and new bike sponsor Specialized will be keen for the coverage. As for Tony Martin, he’s easily capable of winning one week stage races as he can time trial so well but is strong in all but the highest mountains. So I’d say a possibility… but no certainty.
It’s disappointing that someone like Thomas Voeckler who spent so many days in the maillot jaune last year won’t be riding the TdF this year.
roshgosh: yes he will! 18 teams get automatic invites but ASO get to pick four more teams to make up the 22 teams and you can bet big Europcar will ride.
Thank you, and as they say, and so it begins!
@vL – thanks, that tallies with me and what I was expecting. I’ve loved watching the HTC train so had a soft spot for them and also Garmin-Cervelo for reasons I can’t quite work out, then Euskaltel and Rabobank but then nationality comes in to play as you say so the Brit riders and team Sky have raised a lot of interest in the sport from those who have only previously had a passing interest. As a Welshman however it’s Geraint Thomas all the way for me.
Concerning Roger Hammond, I think Pave’s British Cyclocross National Championships Preview called out Roger at 47 years old, and and cyclingnews.com’s coverage of the results inclued a picture with a caption that it was his last cyclocross race. Maybe that means he has retired completely. I always liked riders like Roger who could ride a full road season then ride even part of a competitive cyclocross season. Hopefully we’ll see his name as a DS or maintaning some other connection to cycling.
IR, if you are sitting on a rumour about the potential GE sponsor, please share! It will be super news for Australian cycling and I’ll support whatever company backs us.
Guido Bontempi, Rik Verbrugghe, Fabio Baldato, Maximilian Sciandri, Daniele Nardello, Mario Aerts, Nico Verhoeven, Servais Knaven, Tristan Hoffman… all DS’s. God, I’m old!
you are ‘getting’ old @ theSkullKrusher but not there yet. by the way what’s the deal? badges? et?
I try not to overdo it for Aussies, as a major part of cycling’s appeal to me is it’s internationalism. For example I am more impressed with Cadel’s win at his age than the accident of his birth in Australia. However (and this will have me thrown out of Australia) I cheer the Kiwi’s bigtime. (In truth I cheer all riders who come from countries where cycling is small beer through population size, cultural reasons or whatever.) With Julian Dean (NZL), Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN) and Daniel Teklehaymanot (ERI) on GreenEdge I get the best of both worlds.
These “staff”(s) can be very large when they are all totaled, example: Lampre has 32 for a 30 rider team:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2011/11/team-behind-team.html
Dear Inner ring,
Well, finally (thanx to you), after adding the calender, and now the teams,
I’m ready for the upcoming season – what a useful information! .
Many tanx
Gadi
“the team exists to provide glory to the oil-rich totalitarian dictatorship of Kazakhstan ” – are you joking? Strange to hear opinions like that from persons who never was in Kazakhstan.
Starlights: sorry if any offence was caused, perhaps I typed too quick. The team does exist to promote the country, no? On democracy, it is still a one-sided story as the recent results show but as many reports suggest, it is becoming more open and prosperous. The country is also rich in gas and minerals too.
Hi Inrng, with respect to you, but, are you agree that “not complete democracy” and “totalitarian dictatorship” is very different? )) I agree with you that my country only on the way to build democratic socium, but I can’t hear that Kazakhstan is totalitarian and I can’t see there dictatorship. Thank you!