After nearly three months as a stagiaire and seven races with Tinkoff-Saxo in 2015, including the victorious Tour of Denmark, Gogl will start his professional career next season by forming part of the Tinkoff Team roster.
The young Austrian rider will bolster the ranks of Tinkoff Team in 2016, in line with the team’s long-term strategy to attract and build new talent. Tinkoff-Saxo established a year-long and thorough selection process of young riders that started in the Sicily training camp last January and included stages in Livigno and Veneto, in collaboration with its partners Livigno and JSH.
Gogl joined Tinkoff-Saxo as a stagiaire on August 1st and a week later he was part of the squad that came out victorious at the Tour of Denmark. He went on racing at the Arctic Race of Norway, Grand Prix de Wallonie, Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, Binche-Chimay-Binche, Paris-Bourges and Paris-Tours.
Born on November 4th, 1993, Michael is an all-round sportsman that switched to cycling at the age of 15 after competing in ski, football, tennis and track since a very young age. He’s a classics rider that likes hilly courses with tough climbs. He’s equally good in stage races and recent highlights of his career, prior to joining Tinkoff-Saxo as a stagiaire, include the overall victory at the GP Laguna and first place U23 at the Austrian National Road Championships.
Michael Gogl was part of the squad that won the Tour of Denmark
Gogl stated on joining Tinkoff Team next year: “I am very happy that I was able to convince the team with my qualities during my time as a stagiaire. I received a very warm welcome by everybody and as a result I am very keen to be part of the team next year”.
“The fact that I will start my professional career in one of the best teams in the world is simply amazing for me. Right now, I am just looking forward to the upcoming challenges, and I am extremely motivated for the future”, concluded Gogl.
Steven de Jongh, Head Sport Director of Tinkoff-Saxo, said: “Michael had already shown his potential in our Livigno training camp. He was one of the top performers there and was given the chance as a stagiaire to prove he was worth it”.
“I think that during the seven races he rode with the team he clearly demonstrated his strength, determination and team work. He was very hungry to race and prove himself to the team! We hope he will keep developing in the same way, now as a full member of the team and we will do our best to realize his potential”, concluded de Jongh.
