Published December 10, 2013 12:23PM
Henao aiming for Tour debut alongside Froome in 2014
Young Colombian is hoping to assist Chris Froome into a second consecutive Tour de France title come July
Sergio Henao burst onto the radar in 2013 and targeted his first grand tour as a team leader at the Vuelta a España. Photo: Graham Watson | <a id="www.grahamwatson.com" href="http://grahamwatson.com">www.grahamwatson.com</a>
Sergio Henao, the “other” Colombian sensation behind his more famous compatriots, hopes to make his Tour de France debut in 2014 to help defending champion Chris Froome.
The Sky climber told MARCA that he expects to step up in 2014 and hopes to make the Tour team. First, he will have chances to race for his own results in such races as the Ardennes classics and the Vuelta al País Vasco (Tour of the Basque Country).
“The aim is to be at the Tour. First, I will debut at (Trofeo) Mallorca, (Tour of) Oman, followed by a similar calendar as last year, with [Tirreno-Adriatico], Basque Country, and the Ardennes,” Henao told MARCA. “After, I will rest, then meet with a group of riders on Tenerife before the (Critérium du) Dauphiné and the Tour.”
Henao has already raced four grand tours — two Giros and two Vueltas — and now believes it’s time to race the Tour.
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“I hope to be at a high level for Froome,” he said. “On this team, there is always pressure, even more after winning the past two Tours. The objective is to go back and win it again, because at the same time, all the other teams want to be us.”
Henao said it’s obvious what his role will be: “to be close to Froome.”
With the departure of former teammate and compatriot Rigoberto Urán to Omega Pharma-Quick Step for 2014, Henao will see even more opportunities with Sky this season.