Introducing the Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O Tour de France squad!
Author: admin24 Jun
Three of only four Americans at the Tour riding for Garmin-Chipotle
Boulder, CO – June 24, 2008 – Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30 today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster, which features three of only four Americans in the entire Tour peloton. The riders that will represent Team Garmin-Chipotle in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are:
191 Christian Vande Velde (USA)
192 Magnus Backstedt (SUE)
193 Julian Dean (NZ)
194 William Frischkorn (USA)
195 Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)
196 Trent Lowe (AUS)*
197 Martijn Maaskant (HOL)*
198 David Millar (GBR)
199 Danny Pate (USA)
*Young Riders
“Bringing a team to the Tour de France has always been our vision,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports LLC and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O. “The riders on and off this list have worked incredibly hard for this. As a team, we are dedicated to giving our fans – and the world – something to cheer for at the Tour.”
The newly-named Team Garmin-Chipotle tour squad will unveil the team kit and other visuals at 1pm July 3 in the press room at Penfeld Parc des Expositions de Brest, in Brest, France. All media is invited to attend this presentation.
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79 Responses for "Introducing the Team Garmin-Chipotle H3O Tour de France squad!"
Congrats to the entire squad (manager, DSs, Dr.s, drivers, soigneurs. mechanics and riders) What a great reward for your efforts… especially for the guys who are getting the opportunity to ride the race for the first time…Good luck out there!
Ride fast and safe, guys! Bon chance!
Wow, no Tom D? Bummer. Is that guy ever going to get a shot at the Tour?
And the alternate is . . . ?
Great job fellas, have fun & do your best…you’ve already made us proud!
No Tom Danielson…congrats to everyone else though
I will miss watching David Zabriskie ride in the tour this year. Get well soon DZ.
That’s a strong lineup. Dave Z still hurt? I would love to have seen Cozza and/or Farrar make the TdF squad. When will the alternates be named?
ditto on the Tom D comment… disappointing not to see him in the lineup
That team is B A!! I am pumped! Good luck guys!!! I am anxiously awaiting the T-shirt to come out!! Good luck with the last few days of training!!
Congratulations Ryder! Now climb like a Mountain Goat, pull like a Clydesdale, TT like Cheetah and help the Argyle get a new wardrobe of yellow jerseys!
Why not Tom D. Is he not your best climber?
I see a majority of us are wondering why no Tommy D. Maybe the question should be what happened to Tommy D. He’s been like the invisible man this year. I’ve been a fan of his for a few years now and I thought last year was a bad luck year. I just hope he can get it together for the remainder of the year and go out and get some results!
I too am surprised not to see Tommy D on the list…the next great white hope as Lance once referred to him as.
I agree with Owen above…I think Tom D is one of the team’s best climbers although Trent Lowe is no slouch.
Tom had an Ok spring and his result at the recent Route de Sud was disappointing. Not sure if that was by design or not (rest him for the tour, support Martin, etc.)
Maybe JV wants to see Tom place high at the Tour of Spain in Sept. Anyway, like most people, I’m disappointed for Tom but wish the rest of the team great success at the TdF.
This Tour is not focused on mts (or TTs) like other ones, so that would be my guess why Tom D didn’t make the cut. Weird that he was at the Swiss training camp tho, and his Web site lists the Tour as one of his scheduled races, so obviously the change was a late call…
Has Danielson even finished a week long race this year? I am glad you saw through all of the hype and picked the best tour team possible. Congratulations guys!
The AA is preparing to support the team for the Tour. We just purchased our classic kits since new ones are coming out. Good Luck to all. Wish Tom D. could race but it appears he has some physical and personal stuff he needs to take caee of first. Meanwhile we will support the current team riders.
Everybody asking about Tom Danielson must not have been looking at his results this year. He isn’t the team’s best climber anymore.
Can’t wait for the fun to begin.
Looks like one hell of a line up. Sorry Tom D. didn’t make it.
What happened to Christophe Laurent? Is he hurt? I would have thought an experienced Frenchman would be included.
Huge congrats to the guys that made the Tour Team. Mega Kudo’s to Will for making it! So great to see all that hard work and solid efforts building up to this become a Tour reality! Way to go Will!!! Good Luck!
I guess Tommy D said “boss” one too many times to JV and he got as tired of it as LA did. Would have liked to seen what he could do.
As much as I liked to see Tommy D in the Tour, it didn’t look like his form was as good as some others. You have to earn your place that’s for sure. Good luck to the team as it’s the only reason I’m watching this year since Astana was banned.
Venga!!
I’m bummed about TD also…I thought it would finally happen….but looking in the past couple of months, he hasn’t had many very strong showings. I would have loved to see TD and Trent go balls out in the mountains.
I think leaving Tom D off the list was the smart thing to do. No results and too fragile. Too much a gamble
I want an argyle T -shirt too! Go Slipstream Go! God speed.
I will miss watching Christophe Laurent ride in the tour this year !!
Tommy Gun or no Tommy Gun the Argyle Armada will animate!
Rip it up boys, Congrats to Home Town Boy PATE! WOOT!
from Chaos Cycling Club!
Go team go. Why all the talk about Danielson? He can’t hang…Period…get over it and, behind the lineup that exists.
Best of luck at the tour! Cheers to the new face of cycling: Argyle!!!
congrats to all and ride well!
sorry to see za-man sitting it out. hope he is recovering, enjoying the time with waylon and… maybe looking toward beijing? an update would be coolio…
go team!
I’m a big fan of Tom D. but I knew he didn’t have it this year. He still has the best Grand Tour GC finishes on the squad, and many good years ahead of him, and we’re all hoping that he’ll get that long-awaited TdF start someday. Not to make a direct comparison but remember that Cadel Evans had some dry years with no TdF starts when his team thought he was too fragile. Tom D. does indeed have the potential to be the best climber in argyle. In the meantime, Tom, come back to Colorado and kickstart your fall racing season by conquering Mt. Evans again.
Hard to believe you guys flicked T. Farrar. Easily one of the hardest working SOBs you have and fast as hell in the finish even without a decent lead out.
Danielson is also unable to contest the event for medical reasons. The much-loved rider has had a quiet season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his shoulder and two ruptured discs in his back, something Vaughters says he has only 80 percent recovered from.
“He’s up and down,” Vaughters told the Denver Post. “He’s certainly not ready for the Tour yet. We’ve got to give him a little more time. We’ll put him in some hard races.”
Go Ryder! There are at least a million Canadians cheering for you!
Congratulations and best of luck to all involved. Hopefully the planets align and everything goes well - it’s a massive undertaking.
Allez, vitesse and kia kaha to everyone in argyle!
This looks like a great squad. Of course I’m bummed that some of my favorites didn’t make it, Tom D and Tyler Farrar, but you got to go with the guys who can get it done. I’m just glad I wasn’t the one having to make the decision.
Great lineup, I’m equally excited for the vets and the newbies! Can’t wait to see y’all in the new kits in the big show!
DZ will be very sorely missed, on the road and in the interviews, but getting him healthy is most important.
As I said elsewhere, best wishes to Tommy D, I hope he finds his way, whatever that may be.
Congrats to T Lowe - Billanook College Pride Baby!
Cooper & Nightingale
go dudes go all the best
The Tour team is disappointing–with 52d and 60th being the highest placing in the Giro d’Italia now the same basic cast goes to an even bigger, tougher show. No one will break the top 30 for GC–so stage victories must be the focus. America has embraced Garmin-Chipolte–but America also loves a winner–clean riding mediocrity will not keep the fan base, so next year will be key–some of the young talent has got to start standing up ’cause the “big names” haven’t!
Picking the nine guys must have been difficult. Amidst this sea of second-guessing, I would just like to say that I support JV’s decisions 100% as he surely knows what’s going on with his riders better than we do!
We’re looking forward to the new Garmin-Chipotle kits animating this years TdF.
Allez!
More thoughts….I second Walt’s view…Maggie hasn’t even finished a race this year. Talk about hype. He can’t rest on his Paris Roubaix laurels forever but it apparently got him into the TdF. True, TF can’t climb more than a few kilometers with the front but at least he has delivered more than half the guys on the squad. What’s done is done. Hope the boyz can rise to the occasion. We’ll be watching.
There are days cycling that I feel like I could climb a wall and that nobody could follow me and days even well prepared that I blow-up in the least expected moment. It’s all a matter of self pride and believing in yourself. At the TDF level the difference should be the mental factor. Like Christian had said “we have no other intention than to kick butt” all of you have to believe it! I hope you don’t miss TD. So from Urús… go kick some butt!!!!
Hopefully this squad lasts more than the first week like in the Giro. A lot of the talk in the Giro seemed to be about saving for the TDF, well it’s here. CVV is listed as the GC rider. Lets hope for some strong riding from him. We all know he’s capable of great things. Trent vs. Ricco for the white jersey!
Rip it up boys!!
Congratulations Team Slipstream!
Boulder, CO wishes you all great luck in the tour de France.
Ride like the wind!
What, no props for Maaskant? Congrats to him and all the argyle. Ride, boys, ride!
Great team! Good Luck guys we really are rooting for you.
Congratulations to Will Frischkorn. I watched him as junior and then young pro race in Virginia. He was always very helpful to the juniors. Even after kicking the butts of local 1s and 2s, he was gracious and thanked the other racers for their help. I’m happy your dream come true. My son and I will be cheering for you, and the rest of the team too.
guys I will be cheering until my face turns argyle for you during the Tour this year! get out and make us proud! ( I expect nothing less then 3 suicidally long breaks from each of you ;D )
I’m a trifle disappointed with my fellow fans who have taken the armchair DS game so far as to spend space here second-guessing the difficult choices JV and the team had to make regarding the selections for the Tour squad. While we all have our favorite riders, and might wonder at certain inclusions or exclusions (what, no Meatball? –kidding!), I think reasonable folks could and should recognize a few important points:
–First and most importantly, this selection wouldn’t even be an issue without the commitment that this team, JV, Mr. Ellis, and the team’s corporate sponsors made, long ago, to the principles of ethical competitive sport that form the bedrock and guide for this team’s evolution and development. Without that commitment, there would be no Tour invite this year, and no selection to discuss. I would go further: without that pioneering vision and commitment, there could have been serious jeopardy for *any* Tour selections this year. The fact that these nine riders have the privilege to compete in the sport’s most prestigious event is a culmination of those efforts. It is the ultimate team win.
–The Tour is not an All-Star game. It is a highly competitive, and grueling, professional event. DS’s throughout the sport understand that their team’s invitation to next year’s event is not a given. Every team, but particularly wildcard invites like Garmin-Chipotle, have to justify their inclusion through their performance. And, so, painful decisions get made throughout the peloton. CSC-Saxo Bank has left former third-place overall Bobby Julich home. Rabobank has excluded their home country favorite, Thomas Dekker. The story is the same every year, but particularly this year. Every team has to choose a team of not just those who ‘ought’ to go, but the best team for the Tour of July 2008. With many more than nine riders to choose from, those decisions have to be tough, for the DS and for the team alike. I don’t envy those decisions, and I can only imagine the discussions with team doctors and management about some of the decisions that had to be made this year–it couldn’t have been easy.
–I am just thrilled to be a fan of a team that started clean and strives to stay that way and can still compete at the highest levels, and, I think–in a backward kind of way–all the armchair-DS’s above are saying the same thing implicitly. Perhaps it’s a sign of success for the team’s philosophy–adopting a new model of what constitutes success by focusing on process rather than just results–that many seem to take that process as a given, and have started to think about those tantalizing results once more. And, who wouldn’t? Isn’t that the dream–that we can stop worrying about whether the spectacle is ‘real,’ and start behaving like all other griping, moaning fans of other sports once more?
Maggie, Julian, Will, Ryder, Trent, Martyn, DM, Dan, Christian–bon chance. Make us proud.
Rock the Tour, you Sexy Beasts! Ride safe, travel safe, and have a great time! I’ll be rooting for you from Maryland!
Congrats to the team on TdF!! I am very disappointed to not see Tyler Farrar in the line-up though. We are so proud of him back here in little ol’ Wenatchee, Washington, USA. I will still watch on cheer on his team though because I know that he has had a hand in getting this team to the “Big Show” of cycling.
We love you here in Wenatchee Tyler and have a great time with your brother!!
Disapointed that Tyler Farrar did not malke the squad. I am sure that he would have given us sone firewoeks in the first week. Keep up the hard word Tyler.
Ride hard Julz! Looking forward to the late nights in July. Us Kiwi’s will be right behind you as always.
I’m disappointed, too, that Danielson didn’t make the team… notice I said, “didn’t MAKE the team.” You have to EARN a Tour start.
I really like Danielson, as it is obvious he’s focused, trains like hell, and is driven to win… And indeed, he has GT experience and even two decent Top 10 finishes in the Tour of Spain, but the bottom line is he has not been a factor in a race for nearly a year and but especially the past few months.
He gives his version of the decision on his website (check it out, http://www.tomdanielson.com), and in typical Danielson fashion he is, naturally, disappointed but ready to soldier on with the schedule he’s been given.
Was glad to read this because I was following the Route du Sud last week and wondering why he was finishing way down on mtn. stages and especially the mtn. time trial. He knew he had to show results in that race to make the Tour and he got off to a great start in the TT, but blew in the final 4K.
He just doesn’t have the form right now… perhaps he would get an uptick by the time of the mountains, but his weak form, coupled with his sheer sh– luck of not being able to finish races for a number of reasons rules him out.
He should be good to go by the Tour of Spain, and he’ll get his Tour shot next year.
I don’t think there are any plans for Garmin-Chipolte to race the Tour of Spain (Vuelta a espana). It is not listed on their website and I think JV wanted to limit the team to two GTs this year (Giro and Tour).
I wish Tom good luck, but I think he will have to wait until next year to ride a GT. Hopefully, he can post some good results in the near future.
Good luck to the Garmin-Chipolte team at the tour!
Pate. Don’t Hesitate!
I’m sorry Danielson isn’t going too, but for those of you upset about that think for a moment how we Pate fans feel. Danny has had the talent to compete on the world stage for years!
We’ve had to suffer watching riders who Danny annihilated domestically find success here. (see his feature on Versus for an explanation)
But like Frankie said, You did it your way Danny.
Can’t wait to see you there.
Congratulations to Will Frischkorn for being selected to the Tour team. Will, Tyler, and his team mates are some of the nicest guys you will ever meet at the races. Will, thanks for making my trip to La Route du Sud such a special experience - we will be cheering for you in July.
ditto to many Tommie D comments-big fan, disappointed, looking ahead, behind him all the way.
That being said, WELL DONE JV. I like the all-around look of this squad. I love the Argyle talent in the TT with Miller, Pate, Ryder, CVV (that’s strong!). I also like the fellas’ leadout abilities for Dean and Maggie. I expect Maaskant, Will, and Trent will surprise in all conditions. The names might not be Euro popular, but they will be by the end of July!
looking forward to congratulating you all in Vail at the end of August! You guys are the reason we’re watching to the Tour so have a blast!
Wish you all the best at the TDF. Stage win(s) I hope?
Good luck.
Go Argyle! in LE Tour de France!
Joyce Duggan Autrey
congrates julz i know you will give it your best, us kiwis are in for long nites, but we are known to be hard bastards.
Happy to see who is riding. I wish Tyler was there too but I respect the team that is riding. Go team argyle!
Congrats to all on the TDF sqaud. The V V crew from St Louis Mo will be cheering the team on. Hey C.J. win one for Egg. Best of luck to all !
DUDE! Danny Pate was supposed to come to the Cascade Cycling Classic… I really wanted to see you ride Danny but congrats on the Tour and have fun. I’ll be watching on TV.
Dang, too bad about Dave Z. We still lookin’ at a stage win at least, though. Go!
Haven’t read all comments so hope I’m not repeatuing something already said.
Not everyone can make the Tour team and to my mind JV had to make his selection on form and experience (obvious I know) and not ‘favourites’
I am really looking forward to this TdF like no other. In the words of D Millar, I really hope the guys race with ‘panache’ and fully justify their inclusion. This team can animate this race - and that’s what I want to see.
Go get’em guys! Hopefully the team commitment to “clean” will be a meaningfull turnaround point for our sport.
No Tom Danielson, why
As a CTS athlete visiting Colorado Springs to work with my coach, I got to meet Danny Pate and his wife at their home. After talking with them about their faith and attitude toward life - I was an instant fan.
This is a guy who has a great attitude toward his craft, works his butt off for his employer, and has the integrity necessary to stay clean in an era of cheaters.
Danny - ever since your Velonews cover from the U23 championships you’ve waiting patiently for your shot at the TdF so enjoy and soak it in as France flies by at 50km/h.
From Iraq, Go kick some butt guys and don’t look back. Keep America in the forefront and always keep Old Glory flying in your heart. I wish you all the best and be safe.
PB
US Army, Iraq
Martijn Maaskant in the line-up of this team! A big ‘hoera’ from his homecountry. Show them what you’re capable of. I’m sure you’ll surprise everyone. Veel succes!
JULIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ride hard guys, all the best!
I’m predicting a stage victory for Mr dean.
Just remember what one of the indian guys i work with always say ” i can do it!”. And he’s a car courier in Auckland.
The guy I’m going to be watching for on this squad is Christian Vande Velde. He’s got the experience and has been steadily improving over the last few years. Like his old teammate, Jens Voigt, always does, I think he’ll animate things for Garmin and be a lot of fun to watch.
Best wishes for a safe and speedy Tour.
God Speed and Good Luck to you all out there, guys!
Looking good Vande Velde!
As an American living in England, I have been following the Tour since the days of Eddie Merckx. Remember, the US has two teams, including Columbia. Too bad somebody couldn’t have picked up Levi Leipheimer if only for his great name.
I just watched the finish today. Some guy on a bicycle won.
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