Dekker aiming for the white jersey

By Susan Westemeyer

At the tender age of 23, Thomas Dekker is one of the captains of Team Rabobank, and is looking forward to the challenge. "I have high expectations and this year want to establish myself in the top rang. At the Tour [de France] I will want a good classification and a try at the white jersey [of best young rider]," said the Dutchman on HLN.be.

Speaking at the team's presentation earlier this week, Dekker said that he will have a quiet spring building up to the spring classics and the Tour. He is especially looking at Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. First, though, he will start with the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco, and this year he will skip Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice.

His team-mate and co-captain, Denis Menchov, announced he will ride the Giro d'Italia as preparation for the Tour, which Dekker will not do. "Everyone has different methods of preparation," said the young rider. "I think I will someday ride the combination of Giro and Tour."