Three young riders, all aged 21, will join the ranks of Tinkoff-Saxo as stagiaires, starting on August 1st. Michael Gogl and Felix Grossschartner from Austria, together with Antwan Tolhoek from the Netherlands will gain invaluable experience as they will form part of one of the world's top pro cycling teams for the remaining of the 2015 season.

Steven de Jongh, Head Sport Director of Tinkoff-Saxo, commented: "In line with the long-term strategy we have at Tinkoff-Saxo, I am happy to see these three promising young riders join our squad as stagiaires for the remaining of the 2015 season. Their selection is the result of a long and thorough program we have established, as we are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent from all over the world.

They all took part in our Livigno training camp together with several other potential stagiaires and these three young talents were the top performers. They showed they have the potential and they integrated well into the team - now it is up to them to deliver in this important part of their career."

Michael Gogl - Austria
Born on November 4th, 1993, Gogl is an all-round sportsman that switched to cycling at the age of 15 after competing in ski, football, tennis and track since a very young age. He's a classics rider that likes hilly courses with tough climbs. He's equally good in stage races and recent highlights of his career include the overall victory at the GP Laguna and first place U23 at the Austrian National Road Championships. Currently he races for Tirol Cycling Team.

Gogl considers that the opportunity given to him by Tinkoff-Saxo is what he had dreamed since the first time he took part in a bike race. "During this internship, I will give my best and fully commit myself in order to improve my performance and help the team as much as I can," said Gogl.

Felix Grossschartner - Austria
Born on December 23rd, 1993, Grossschartner, just like the majority of Austrian children, started skiing at a very young age. He took part in his first bike race at the age of 14, when what was then a simple summer training turned into his passion. He's a climber and stage race rider and his good speed allows him to defend himself in small bunch sprints. He has always raced with Team Felbermayr Simplon and recent successes include the polka dot mountain jersey and second place in youth classification at the Tour of Austria as well as the overall victory at Torfeo Piva.

Upon joining Tinkoff-Saxo for his internship, he stated that "being chosen by a high-caliber team such as Tinkoff-Saxo is like leaving a dream. I will do my best to show that I deserved this spot."

Antwan Tolhoek - The Netherlands
Born on April 29th, 1994, Tolhoek started his sports career as a speed skater, the most popular sport in The Netherlands, and switched to cycling in 2012. The 2015 season is his third one as an espoir rider and the first one with the Rabobank Development Team. Last April he won the polka dot mountain jersey at the Tour de Bretagne. He is one of the best riders in his age group, in hilly races, such as the Belgian Ardennes. His father, Patrick Tolhoek, was a well-known Dutch professional rider from 1985 to 1998.

Tolhoek commented on his selection as a Tinkoff-Saxo stagiaire: “I can hardly believe Tinkoff-Saxo is giving me this chance. I am proud this world-class team chose me as a stagiaire for the upcoming months. Riding at my age for the best team in the world is a dream come true. I am motivated to do what I can for Tinkoff-Saxo and I hope to learn a lot during the internship. I am sure this will be the best experience for me in my career so far.”