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Record number of Team Entries for 2008 London-Paris Cycle Tour
London,UK. 27 May 2008
The London-Paris Cycle Tour which will roll away from Hampton Court Palace on 26th of June will boast a record line up of teams ready to take on the challenge of the 3 day, 600km run to the Eiffel Tower.
One familiar name to cycling fans the world over will be entering the event for the first time. CSC will field a strong team drawn from their corporate organisation and sporting the famous Team CSC colours. The company, which currently sponsors the world’s number 1 professional squad will for the 1st time, be extending their links with cycling into the sportive arena. Thankfully for the other teams riding the 2008 L2P, they will not be recruiting any of their star professionals such as Milan San-Remo and Eroica winner Fabian Cancellara!
However, the team to watch out for in 2008 will be Team Altio-SIS. The team’s rider roster is a veritable ‘who’s who’ of former champions and Olympic medallists. Double National Champion and TV pundit Brian Smith will be riding alongside Olympic bronze medallist Max Sciandri and both will be showing team mate and guest rider Geoff Thomas the way across the cobbles.
Defending Overall Jersey holder Jerone Walters of Australia has already stated that he’s; ‘coming back, not make up numbers’ and super-climber Michael Blann will be there to help him in the Sigma Sports team, backed by the well known south west London shop.
Anthony Burnett-Scott, twice a recipient of the Fundraiser’s Jersey, returns with the strong Team Ashurst hoping to show once again that the ‘Professional Event for Amateurs’ can do so much for charities around the world as well as provide the ultimate ‘grand tour’ sportive feel.
Lend Lease return to the fray with a new line up led by battling Phil Ransom, who has already distinguished himself in 2008 by breaking a collar bone in hard riding fashion during early season training. His toughness will be well known to the riders around him.
Disney is for the first time fielding a team in the London-Paris Cycle, riding L2P with the aim of animating the peloton on the road to Paris.
2007 Green Sprints jersey holder Anthony Shippard is back with a new and highly motivated team in Valad-Sportique. Road captain David Kirkby will be marshalling his riders in a bid to take ‘Shippy’ one rung higher that the green jersey and into the yellow of overall leader as the bunch rolls into Paris after 3 hard days in the saddle.
Making the final ‘conversion’ to cycling is multiple Olympic medallist James Cracknell. The former rower has the strength and commitment as well as the excellent Team Trainsmart around him to guide him through the rough and tumble of a fast moving peloton.
Last but by no means least, Team Glasshouse-La Fuga will make a welcome entry to the London-Paris Cycle Tour. Andrew ‘Gilly’ Gill has the prior experience of the L2P peloton and as part of last year’s 2nd placed Lend Lease team he will be out to make a mark for his new outfit.