Cycling: Fortuneo - Samsic will become Arkea - Samsic in the coming season. With a probably safe wildcard for the Tour de France 2019, we will see the French team again next year more often. And that's a good thing, after all, with Robert Wagner and André Greipel, two German professionals will also be driving for this team in the future.
Fortuneo – Samsic 2018: Less than expected
It was foreseeable that the Equipe Fortuneo - Samsic 2018 should receive a wild card for the Tour de France. Through the commitment of Warren Barguil After all, it wasn't just the team management that expected a lot. But the 27-year-old Frenchman couldn't really fulfill the hopes that were certainly placed in him. After winning two stages and the mountain jersey the year before, he was more of a laggard this season. In the fight for the points, he didn't stand a chance against Julian Alaphilippe - and a stage win was also out of the question. Disappointing considering this star purchase was meant to take the team to a new level. Overall, there were relatively few successes to celebrate. Through Pierre Luc Perichon and Maxim Bouet only two wins of the season were allowed to be celebrated. The total of only ten podium finishes tells more of a weak year.
Fortuneo Samsic x @GoPro 2018 📽️💯 #gopro pic.twitter.com/T0yO4ooILM
— Team Fortuneo Samsic (@Fortuneo_Samsic) 2 October 2018
Transfers: More power in the sprint thanks to André Greipel
18 French, two Germans and one Dutchman make up the Arkea – Samsic team for the coming season. Apart from the fact that the name of the team changes in part, only small changes take place within the team as a whole. With Robert Wagner and André Greipel two Germans were committed. The 21-year-old Frenchman Alan Riou is an old acquaintance. At the end of 2017 he drove as a trainee for the team. On the exit side, only the loss of weighs Pierre Luc Perichon to Team Cofidis really hard. Sindre Skjostad Lunke, Arnaud Gerard, and Armindo Fonseca and Michael Carbel Svendgaard have not progressed beyond the role of helper in the past two years.
| departures | Additions | |
|---|---|---|
| Pierre Luc Perichon (Cofidis) | André Greipel (Lotto – Soudal) |
|
| Armindo Fonseca (end of career) | Robert Wagner (LottoNL – Jumbo) |
|
| Arnaud Gerard (end of career) | Alan Riou (Elite 2) |
|
| Michael Carbel Svendgaard (waoo) | ||
| Sindre Skjostad Lunke (Riwal – Readynez) |
Arkea – Samsic 2019: André Greipel will change the team
At the age of 36,5 years André Greipel try something new again. After eight years in the Lotto - Soudal team, his contract was not renewed. Despite another good season, the Belgian team wanted to rejuvenate themselves with Caleb Ewan. Somehow understandable, but André Greipel is certainly not at the end yet. With his experience, his charisma and his speed, he will bring his new team forward. Together with Warren Barguil he can look forward to a start in the Tour de France. There – and at all other races with flat stages – he also changes the character of the team. Instead of only attacking in escape groups, Arkea - Samsic will now also rely on mass sprints. Starting there has to work, which also applies to the second German Robert Wagner comes into play. More than ten podium finishes should definitely be possible for 2019. Not only because André Greipel is still capable of a lot, but also because Warren Barguil should have a better season. Also not to be underestimated are the many young French, who will draw attention to themselves in the second-rate races.
📅 Pédaler avec nos coureurs dimanche 25 November à Bruz (35) !
Pour la 4ème année consécutive, l'équipe organise sa balade annuelle, a moment convivial avec les coureurs et le staff de la saison 2019.
Inscriptions on notre site internet ➡️ https://t.co/xFSdHJSdLS pic.twitter.com/Kqu6zlsg3N
— Team Fortuneo Samsic (@Fortuneo_Samsic) 23 October 2018