Sam Bennett in new team kit for the coming season. His squad has welcomed the new deal between the Tour de France and German television, saying it is a special opportunity for them.
Hopeful of riding in its second Tour de France in July when Irish sprinter Sam Bennett would be central to its plans, the Bora-Argon 18 team has today said a new deal between German television and the Tour de France should have positive implications for it.
Having refused to broadcast the Tour live for several years because of repeated doping scandals, the ARD channel has confirmed it will once again show the race live this year.
Bennett’s team is the only German ProContinental team eligible for a wildcard invite to the race.
And it is widely believed the need to increase German interest in the year its TV channels return to the race will result in Bora-Argon 18 being invited to compete.
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If the team is on the start line in early July, it would be one of only two German-registered squads in the race.
Giant-Alpecin, which counts German sprint star Marcel Kittel among its ranks, is a WorldTour team and so is automatically granted a place in the Tour.
Last year Bennett’s team, riding under the NetApp-Endura branding, built its first Tour team around general classification man Leopold König who would finish 7th in Paris.
Bora-Argon 18 general manager Ralph Denk with Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme. For Sam Bennett's sake, hopefully both will still be smiling when the wildcards for this year's Tour are known in a few months.
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However, with the Czech rider now moved on and with no others in the team expected to make such a big impact on the Tour’s general standings, the squad would gear itself towards trying to win stages this year.
It means Bennett would likely be centre stage as protected rider with a lead out if the team is granted that vital wildcard invitation.
The team’s general manager Ralph Denk believes the announcement today that the race would be back on German TV screens this year – and back into a huge European market – is important for his squad.
“ARD’s decision shows that German cycling has accomplished a successful turnaround over the past few years,” he said.
“A new generation of riders is blazing a trail for a cleaner sport.
“We have contributed our small part in this and have shown that in a few years top riders can be developed out of up-and-coming talent – and in a completely clean way.
“ARD’s return will have a very special impact on our team.
“With BORA, a German company is once again the main name sponsor of a professional team after five years.
“Our goal is to take part in the 2015 Tour de France. And today we can say: now more than ever.”
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