Thuringer Energie team for Rás return

TONY MARTIN, one of the favourites for this year’s Tour de France, won the FBD Insurance Rás three years ago and the team he led back in 2007, Thuringer Energie, is set for a return for this year’s edition of Irish cycling’s showpiece which gets under way on May 23.

Thuringer Energie plan to launch another exciting team of young prospects on Rás with Marcel Kittel, John Degenkolb, Jakob Steigmiller, Philipp Klein and Bastian Bürgel targeting the final yellow jersey, as well as the best young rider classification.

“Our objective is the overall standings and results on the several stages,” said directeur sportif, Mario Kummer, himself a former Olympian who has worked with the T-Mobile and Astana pro-tour teams.