The LottoNL-Jumbo team (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Pierre Rolland (Europcar) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Simon Gerrans looks happy to be back at the Tour (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Europcar's Thomas Voeckler and Bryan Coquard at the team presentation
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Vincenzo Nibali looking relaxed
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Chris Froome is looking for his second Tour de France title in 2015
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Thibaut Pinot is leading FDJ's GC ambitions
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Lars Boom and Vincenzo Nibali chat on stage
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Romain Bardet and Jean-Christophe Péraud lead Ag2r at the Tour
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Michał Kwiatkowski looking dapper
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Mark Cavendish high fives the fans
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Chris Froome is all smiles
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The race director and Utrecht mayor arrive via boat for the team presentaton
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Alexander Krisoff (Katusha) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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John Degenkolb and Warren Barguil lead Giant-Alpecin to the team presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mark Cavendish ready for the ream presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tim Wellens make his Tour de France debut this year (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Katusha arrive by boat (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Wilco Kelderman rides to the team presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Robert Gesink riding to the team presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Ag2r-La Mondiale ready to roll (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tony Martin will start the time trial as a favourtire (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Chris Froome and Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Steve Cummings and Edvald Boasson Hagan (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tejay van Garderen shows off his new haircut (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Nairo Quintana ready to lead Movistar at the Tour (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Thibaut Pinot and FDJ ready for the presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mark Cavendish is seen on the big screen above the stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Etixx-QuickStep on stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Etixx-QuickStep on stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michal Kwiatkowski is interviewed during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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On stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The crowd watches the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The crowd watches the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tinkoff-Saxo on the stages at the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Signs of the Tour are everywhere in Utrecht. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tour de France Christian Prudhomme is interviewed on stage. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tony Martin is seen on the big screen above the stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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on stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Etixx-QuickStep on stage during the 2015 Tour de France team presentation in Utrecht. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tinkoff-Saxo arrive for the team presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Cannondale-Garmin sail in to the presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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More than just a jet-ski. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The crowd's view of Vincenzo Nibali (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Astana at the grand depart presentation (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale) is interviewed (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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A hairless Tejay van Garderen (BMC) is interviewed (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The 2015 Tour de France mascot was in attendance. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tour de France fans flock to the Lepelenburg Park to see the team presentation
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LottoNl Jumbo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tinkoff-Saxo (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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MTN-Qhubeka (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lotto Soudal (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Team Sky (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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World champ Michal Kwiatkowski and the Etixx-Quickstep team (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Movistar rides in on a canal boat (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Tinkoff-Saxo presented on stage at the Lepelenburg Park
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Lampre-Merida on stage at the Lepelenburg Park
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IAM Cycling floating along the Oudegracht canal
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Cofidis riders in the boat along the Oudegracht canal
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Crowds sit along the side of the Oudegracht canal to see the teams
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Tinkoff-Saxo enjoying the boat ride along the Oudegracht canal
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Etixx-QuickStep's Mark Cavendish rides on stage
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André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) rides onto the presentation stage
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André Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
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World champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep)
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Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha)
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IAM Cycling presented on stage at the Tour de France team presentation
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Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) on stage at the Tour de France team presentation
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Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) rides on stage at the Tour de France team presentation
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Tour de France fans at the team presentation
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Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) waves to the crowd
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Trek Factory Racing's Fabian Cancellara
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France's Bretagne-Seche Environnement
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France's Bretagne-Seche Environnement cycling team arrive on a canal boat to attend the team presentation
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Cannondale-Garmin arrive to the team presentation
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Germany's Bora-Argon 18 cycling team arrive on a canal boat to attend the team presentation
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Dutch rider Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing) takes photos of the crowd in Utrecht
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France's Sylvain Chavanel rides towards the stage for the team presentation ceremony at Lepelenburg Park in Utrecht
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US time trial champion Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Garmin)
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Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) arrives at the Tour de France team presentation
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Germany's Emanuel Buchmann (L) rides towards the stage for the team presentation ceremony at Lepelenburg Park
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Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) arrives to the Tour de France team presentation
Twenty-two teams and 198 riders were presented at the 2015 Tour de France in the start city of Utrecht in the Netherlands on Thursday in summery weather, which pleased the Spaniards but wilted the cool-weather fans. The unusually warm weather will heat up even more for the opening stage on Saturday, where temperatures will be near record-highs, topping out at 95F/35C.
The team presentation was a part of an outdoor festival where fans of the sport flocked to see their favourite riders and teams, along with live bands playing at the Lepelenburg Park.
Teams prepared for the presentation earlier in the afternoon at the Railway Museum before embarking on individual team boat rides along the Oudegracht canal through the centre of Utrecht, which took them to the park where they were presented to the public.
Each team arrived one boat at a time and the riders were handed their bikes to ride through the crowd toward the staging area.
Alberto Contador, a favourite to win the overall title and take the Giro-Tour double, lined up on stage with his Tinkoff-Saxo team.
“I am here and I will try,” Contador said about his chances of winning both Grand Tours in one year. “I know that it is very difficult and I have worked very, very hard in the last six months.”
Team Sky’s Chris Froome spoke about his ambitions for this year’s Tour and his hopes of winning a second overall title. He won the yellow jersey in 2013 but he was forced to pull out of last year's race during stage 5 after crashing multiple times in the first week.
“Especially given how it went last year, and the disappointment from last year, I think it has given us a lot of added motivation for this year’s Tour de France," Froome said. "I am surrounded by the strongest team in the race - I can say that with confidence. Every one of these guys has worked extremely hard to be here today. We are looking forward to riding in front of the amazing crowds in Utrecht.”
With the Grand Départ held in the Netherlands, it's not surprising that there are 20 Dutch riders participating at the Tour de France this year. Fans at the team presentation were pleased to hear Trek Factory Racing’s GC rider Bauke Mollema say a few words on stage.
“This is really special,” Mollema said. “The Tour is the biggest event in cycling and to start in your own country is very special.”
Orica-GreenEdge’s Simon Gerrans, who wore the early leader’s jersey in 2013, said it will be hard to replicate that performance this time around. “I think the yellow jersey will be very difficult this year but I think with the line-up of guys that we have here, a stage win is very possible.”
IAM Cycing’s Mathias Frank noted that the first nine stages would be the most difficult, “there are some tricky stages and I should get some good support, and when we get to the mountains, you just need to have the legs.”
The Tour de France will start on Saturday with a 13.8km time trial through Utrecht. Cannondale-Garmin’s US time trial champion Andrew Talansky told the crowds that he is looking forward to wearing his new stars-and-stripes jersey in the opener.
“I think it is going to be a great start,” Talansky said. “It's always special to start the Tour with a time trial and being the US national champion, starting with the stars-and-stripes jersey on the fourth of July will be a great experience.”
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