Lotto Belisol: Preview Ster ZLM Toer

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the five days Ster ZLM Toer starts with a prologue of 8 kilometers in the streets of Goes. The third stage of this Dutch race from the Europe Tour takes place in Belgium. The start will be given in Verviers and the finish is in Jalhay. In this feisty stage Le Rosier and La Redoute are two of the hills that will be waiting for the riders. The day before they have to cover some famous Dutch hills like the Cauberg and Bemelerberg, these are all in the first half of the race. That’s why there are possibly three chances for a bunch sprint.

For the sprints Lotto Belisol can rely on André Greipel. His train will lead him to the finishes. The Tour de France is coming closer, so this will be the last big test. Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel start as well; we’ll have a battle between the top sprinters. No doubt that also the Dutchmen Theo Bos and Kenny van Hummel will join in.

Bart Leysen, sports director: “We go to the Ster ZLM Toer with our complete sprint train. The goal is to win a stage with André Greipel. That will be good for the confidence in the run-up to the Tour. The automatisms can be tested here. It’s important to execute all steps in a race. Cavendish and Kittel will be there as well, so if Greipel wins that will be good for his morale.”

“There is only one real tough stage, that is on Saturday. Jürgen Roelandts might take his chance there. But at the moment Greipel is that good, that he can play a role as well. Friday there are several hills in the beginning and middle of the stage, but the end is easy. It isn’t sure if it will end with a group sprint.”

Selection Lotto Belisol: Lars Bak, Gert Dockx, André Greipel, Adam Hansen, Greg Henderson, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Frederik Willems.

Sports directors: Bart Leysen and Kurt Van de Wouwer.

Stages:

Prologue: Wednesday 12th of June: Goes – Goes (8 km)

Stage 1: Thursday 13th of June: Breda – Breda (175,7 km)

Stage 2: Friday 14th of June: Buchten – Buchten (188,3 km)

Stage 3: Saturday 15th of June: Hotel Verviers – La Gileppe (Jalhay) (186 km)

Stage 4: Sunday 16th of June: Gerwen – Boxtel (176,2 km)

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