Team HTC Highroad

2011 will be HTC’s final Tour of Britain appearance, as the team close their doors at the season’s end, after four successful seasons in the professional peloton. Forming from the equally successful T-Mobile squad and tracing their origins right back to 1988, the men’s and women’s team of Bob Stapleton are approaching 500 wins since the change of ownership, with that figure due to be surpassed at some stage in late 2011, potentially even at The Tour of Britain.

The team have enjoyed several excellent visits to the UK, with Edvald Boasson Hagen and Michael Albasini winning the last two editions of The Tour of Britain for the team.

In particular HTC boast a number of top sprinters, even excluding Tour de France Green Jersey winner Cavendish from the mix, whose Tour of Britain participation was complicated by his withdrawal from the first week of the Vuelta a Espana. Matt Goss, John Degenkolb, Leigh Howard, Bernhard Eisel and Mark Renshaw are all capable of taking sprint wins, so look for the latter duo to be at the forefront on The Tour of Britain’s flatter stages. Both are capable of winning for themselves, but could be reunited with Cavendish as key components of his sprint train should the Manxman ride.

The TfL London Stage Individual Time Trial should also be a big aim for the team as they seek to go out with a bang. Peter Velits, Marco Pinotti, Lars Bak and Alex Rasmussen are all strong time trialists who could feature in Britain.

Main Sponsor: Mobile phone manufacturer
Bike: Specialized
Equipment: Groupset – Shimano, Wheels – HED

Team Manager: Bob Stapleton
Current Stars: Mark Cavendish, Matt Goss, Tony Martin, Michael Albasini

For more information please visit: www.highroadsports.com