BORA – ARGON 18 and Düsseldorf to promote the Grand Départ 2017 already at this year’s Tour de France. Ralph Denk also presents his Tour line-up and exciting news about the team’s future. With a cooperation BORA – ARGON 18 and the city of Düsseldorf decided to promote the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017 together already in this year’s Tour de France. A visual has been designed and is positioned prominently on the special Tour jersey. The team and its riders become so to say “ambassadors” of the Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017. “I am very happy about this cooperation with the German team BORA – ARGON 18. The riders become ambassadors already in this year’s Tour de France and promote the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf 2017 throughout the world with this special jersey.” – Thomas Geisel, mayor of Düsseldorf “The Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf is very important for German cycling. Therefore, we thought it is our responsibility as a German team to support this event. And this is how the idea of a special Tour de France jersey which represents our cooperation, was born. I am very pleased to promote the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf already this year.” – Ralph Denk, team manager “It is a pleasure to see how enthusiastic and determined especially the young riders ahead of the start of the Tour de France. This specially designed jersey let them become true brand ambassadors of German cycling and the Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf.” – Sven Teutenberg, sports director Grand Départ Düsseldorf 2017 The Tour de France line-up 2016 The riders who are going to wear this special jersey across France this July, are the best on their position. They are not only the strongest riders, they also represent the right mix of leaders and helpers and because of their quality on all terrains. Here’s the BORA – ARGON 18 line-up for this year’s Tour de France (in alphabetical order): • Shane Archbold (NZL) • Jan Bárta (CZE) • Cesare Benedetti (ITA) • Sam Bennett (IRL) • Emanuel Buchmann (GER) • Bartosz Huzarski (POL) • Patrick Konrad (AUT) • Andreas Schillinger (GER) • Paul Voss (GER) “Our goal is to win a stage. In the last years we came close and finished on the podium, this time we hope it’s going to happen. We will have the best chances during a transition stage between the big mountains. For the general classification Emanuel Buchmann and Patrick Konrad are free to take their chances. If everything is going fine and we get through the first week without any crashes, a top 20 result in the GC is possible.” – Ralph Denk, team manager “BORA – ARGON 18 is a good mix of sprinters, helpers and climbers. I look forward to seeing this young team present itself during the Tour. And it would be a pleasure to welcome them next year to the Grand Départ 2017 here in Düsseldorf.” – Thomas Geisel, mayor BORA – ARGON 18 to apply for UCI WorldTour level for 2017 Details cannot be mentioned for the moment, but the team from Raubling with manager Ralph Denk and title sponsor BORA are going to apply for a WorldTour license in 2017 and the team will be part of the top level. “It would be a dream come true to be at the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf as a WorldTeam. We will apply for a WorldTour license, and we are confident that we will get one. With regards to the 4 categories, that decide the awarding - sports, administration, finance and ethic - I think we have to get one. Our loyal partner BORA will remain our first title sponsor. For the moment we cannot say anything about new sponsors. But with the budgets that are at our disposal for 2017 we will be able to significantly strengthen our squad. We aim to play an important role at the WorldTour races on the one hand, on the other we still want to support young, especially German, talents and guide them to the top level of cycling.” – Ralph Denk, team manager “I am really happy for BORA, but also for Ralph and the whole team that we can take this next step together. It has always been our goal to make it to the Champions League in cycling, this is going to happen now. For us as a brand it is not only about being able to present ourselves on an international platform, it is also important to have a second German team in this elite circle in order to promote cycling in Germany. Together with the Grand Départ 2017 in Düsseldorf and the come-back of the DeutschlandTour, I see a positive future for German cycling and its talents.” – Willi Bruckbauer, CEO BORA .