Star trio to aim for GT tripple

As anticipated, top trio Mikel Nieve, Samuel Sánchez and Igor Antón will divide the Grand Tours of 2012 between them: the former will aim for the Giro, Samu will of course do the Tour and Antón will focus on the Vuelta. None of the three will double up and do two GTs next year, DS Gorka Gerrikagoitia has revealed.

"Obviously our biggest objective will be the Tour", Gerrikagoitia, who'll take over from de Galdeano almost by default, told BiciCiclismo earlier today. "There's no doubt about that. Samu will do his utmost in France, but the Giro also holds significance to us. Nieve was originally slated for the Tour this year, but he'll instead return to Italy. The Vuelta is for Antón."

"Nieve has got a big engine: he's done three GT's and finished 10th, 11th and 12th. He did well this year, winning a stage, so we hope he'll finish top 10 and maybe be in the fight for a stage win as well. Antón will do a similar calendar to what he did two years ago. He was not at his bets this year - that was obvious from day one. We believe he's capable of a podium place. As for Samu's chances, I think he can be right up there if he shows the same kind of form in the time trials as he did in Grenoble this summer. He did his best Tour this year: if he hadn't cracked at the Galibier, who knows where he might have ended up!"