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Liggett high on Team Barloworld

4 June 2008

The 2008 Tour de France gets under way on Saturday, with the South African-sponsored Team Barloworld - the most successful wildcard team in the history of the race after last year's exciting showing - trying to improve on a fantastic performance in their first Tour de France.

On Thursday, at the official team presentation ceremony held in Brest, Team Barloworld presented their nine-man 2008 Tour de France team. Meanwhile, star sprinter Robert Hunter was allowed to make a quick dash to Switzerland after his wife Claudia gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Mandy.

Three Africans

In a first for the Tour de France, there will be three Africans in Barloworld's line-up - South Africans Robert Hunter and John-Lee Augustyn, and Kenyan Christopher Froome.

Before the team presentation took place, Phil Liggett – "The Voice of Cycling" and a passionate supporter of South Africa and South African cycling – offered his predictions for the Tour de France and Team Barloworld.

"This year's race is looking to be a very interesting one indeed," he said. "For the Yellow Jersey, I think we will see either Cadel Evans, Alejandro Valverde or Kim Kirchen take it home.

King of the Mountains

"Points jersey Robbie McEwen, while Team Barloworld's climber Mauricio Soler can successfully defend his King of the Mountains title and maybe make a top-six finish," he added.

When asked about the 2007 wildcard champions, Team Barloworld, Leggitt said: "Obviously, Team Barloworld are no longer a surprise entry and will therefore find the race a lot harder, but providing Robert Hunter can reproduce his great sprinting form of last year - and there are indications he will - then he could win the Green Jersey, which would be terrific for South Africa.

"His chances are increased by the recent withdrawals of sprinters Tom Boonen and Daniele Bennati

Intriguing

"It will be intriguing to watch the progress of John-Lee (Augustyn) after missing selection last year and he must be very excited by the prospect of riding, marking the continual progress of the South African cyclist.

"Baden Cooke has won the green jersey before and he will be a great ally for Hunter," Liggett reckoned.

"The Tour this year has a very interesting route and there will be plenty of opportunity to surprise, so I expect Barloworld to have an even better race than last year when they made their debut that most can only dream of.

"Chris Froome becomes the first Kenyan to ride the Tour and he is a very talented youngster. It is a complete team in every way."

2007

In the 2007 race, Mauricio Soler won the King of the Mountains’ Polka Dot Jersey, while Robert Hunter finished in the battle for the Green Jersey for the top sprinter.

Soler scored a thrilling victory on stage nine, while Hunter took the honours on stage 11.

In addition, "the Reds" also recorded a second, two thirds, three fourths, two fifths, and a sixth.

Management confident

Team Barloworld's management is confident of good performances. "We're ready," directeur sportifs Alberto Volpi and Valerio Tebaldi said.

"Last year we had a great Tour de France, but we shouldn't let that put pressure on us," Volpi opined. "We have to know that we're ready mentally and physically to do it all over again."

Tebaldi weighed in with a crucial Tour de France factor - courage. "The Tour has always favoured the brave. When I was a rider, and I wasn't a great rider, I managed to win two stages at the Tour de France because I showed courage and attacked.

Belief

"I want our riders to know that they've got to believe in themselves and that they can do it if they know how to take their chance and try. That's especially true in this year's Tour where there isn't a strong team that can control the race or a big favorite for overall victory."

Tebaldi is convinced Mauricio Soler can shine again. "Watch out for the second week, it's very tough and difficult to control; that means its full of opportunities for Mauricio," he warned.

Sprinting

Assessing the team's sprinting strength, Volpi said: "They both know each other really well and so there is no rivalry. Baden knows that Rob is faster in sprints and so will help him. Cooke can use his experience to get into breaks and so play his own cards."

"We've got a well-balanced team of riders," Volpi added. "I'm curious to see what Froome and Augustyn can do and their help in the mountains will be important."

SAinfo reporter and Team Barloworld