Kangert and Taaramäe selected for Tour de France
Estonian pro cyclists Tanel Kangert and Rein Taaramäe have both been confirmed as chaperons to Astana's Vincenzo Nibali, who hopes to defend his Tour de France title in July.
The riders will depart for the 102nd edition of Le Tour, the most prestigious event in the cycling calendar, on July 4 in Utrecht, Netherlands. The 21-stage race will conclude on the Champs-Élysées, Paris, on Sunday July 26.
This year's tour will feature nine flat stages, seven mountain stages with five altitude finishes, three hill stages, one individual time-trial and one team time-trial.
Both Kangert and Taaramäe prefer mountains to sprint finishes.
Kangert played a central role in helping Nibali secure his first yellow jersey in 2014. He and Taaramäe, who joined Astana this year, hope to do the same for the Italian champion again this year.
Taaramäe also holds Estonia's best result from the Tour, having finished 11th in 2011.
Editor: M. Oll