Jussi Veikkanen to ride in Tour de France

Jussi Veikkanen

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Jussi Veikkanen, 28, will become the third Finnish cyclist to take part in the Tour de France, when he dons the jersey of the Française des Jeux team for the event that begins on July 4th and lasts a gruelling three weeks before the traditional finish in Paris.
      Française des Jeux announced their list of riders for this year's Tour on Monday.
     
Veikkanen is at his best in the mountains and on time trials, and will be employed in the team to assist captain Sandy Casar.
      Since Casar (14th in 2008) is not really a serious candidate for overall victory in the event, but the team is rather more concerned with winning a stage or two, there is perhaps a greater opportunity for a brave rider from the Française des Jeux adjutants to make a break on an individual stage.
     
Two other Finnish riders, Joona Laukka (1997, 1998) and Kjell Carlström (2005, 2006, 2007) have previously taken part in the race. Carlström has come closest to Tour glory; he finished second in a stage in 2006.


Links:
  Française des Jeux
  Jussi Veikkanen (Wikipedia)

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