Barloworld dreams of Tour de France

Team Barloworld has moved up to number one in the UCI's Europe Tour rankings and now leads the other Professional Continental teams. Team manager Claudo Corti is very proud of that and optimistic for the future, even casting his eyes to the Tour de France.

"We've done really well in the first part of the season and the UCI rankings are proof of that," Corti said. "We've had three riders out of action with serious injuries to (Kanstantin) Siutsou, (Diego) Caccia and (Mauricio) Soler, but first place in the UCI Europe Tour standings awards the efforts of the whole team: both that of the quality riders in the Barloworld team this year, and the professional work of the staff and management."

"We hope the fact that we are the best 'Professional' team in the Europe Tour will increase our chances of being invited to the Tour de France. For us it would be recognition of the impressive ability of the whole team."

The team also announced its line-up for Rund um den Henninger Turm next Tuesday. Alex Efimkin will lead the team, while Giosue Bonomi and Robert Hunter will be prepared for a sprint finish.

Barloworld for Henninger Turm: Alex Efimkin, Giosue Bonomi, Robert Hunter, Fabrizio Guidi, Paolo Longo Borghini, Mauricio Soler and Geraint Thomas.