Alexander Kristoff arrives at the Tour de France as the man to beat, with 18 wins in 2015 already. From the cobbles of Flanders to the hills of Switzerland via the flats of Qatar, the Norwegian has won on all territories and is looking to win more stages in the Tour and the Green Jersey to go with his two wins last year.
"I haven't really looked into it so much (the changes to the Green Jersey competition) but I'm going to focus on the stages from the start, but I won't try and make it for sprints at the intermediates. If the others want to then I have to sprint with them but the main objective is to win stages," Kristoff said at the team presentation.
"With the new system, the more stage wins you have the more chances you have for the green."
The Katusha man may lead the way in wins this year, but he recognizes he has a battle on his hands in France, and not just with Green Jersey rival Peter Sagan.
"I think it's quite open but Cavendish will be there and he's motivated and had a good year. You also have Degenkob, Matthews and Greipel, and the French sprinters; Bouhanni and Démare."
20.03: Classic Brugge-De Panne |
21.03: Classic Brugge-De Panne |
21.03: GP Goriska & Vipava Valley |
22.03: E3 Saxo Classic |
19.03 - 23.03: Settimana Coppi e Bartali |
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23.03 - 24.03: Tour du Bocage et de l'Ernée 5... |
24.03: Gent-Wevelgem |
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