Belkin will line up a very ambitious team for the Tirreno-Adriatico as the team will have both of their Tour de France leaders at the start line. Bauke Mollema and Robert Gesink will have their focus on the GC as leaders of a team that also includes Sep Vanmarcke who will use the race as the final tune-up for the classics.

The Belkin Pro Cycling Team is planning to collectively help Robert Gesink and Bauke Mollema to a top ten ranking in Tirreno-Adriatico. Sports Director Erik Dekker knows what he wants to see from his men in the Italian stage race (March 12-18).

“Robert and Bauke are our men for the GC,” said Dekker. “We want to finish the race with two men in the top ten. We have strong men with us who can support the leaders properly. They need to make sure that Robert and Bauke don’t lose unnecessary time.” 

Dekker recognizes the importance of the team time trial on the opening day.

“That is very important for the overall. Besides that, we hold team time trials in high regard as a team, because you need to do it together. That makes it a prestige battle.” 

Gesink has good memories of the team time trial.

“We won the TTT a few years ago. Later on during the week, we face some heavy mountain stages and of course the final time trial. Those are the most important days for us.” 

Gesink enjoyed a good start to 2014, with a sixth place in the Tour Down Under and a fifth in the Tour of Oman. In Tirreno-Adriatico, he wants to build on that.

“I’ve been working towards this race for a while. For me it’s a very important moment. We travel to Italy with a strong team and hopefully it will pay off. Bauke and I both want to finish as high as possible. A podium finish for one of us would be great. That’s better than finishing a little further back together. Cycling is about winning!” 

Bauke Mollema rode his first race of the year in February. In the Ruta del Sol he immediately was close to a victory. He finished second in stage two and helped Moreno Hofland win the final stage. The Dutchman hopes to race well at Tirreno-Adriatico, both individually and as a team. 

“I focus on the GC, but if the legs feel strong, I also hope to win a stage,” said Mollema, who saw a strong collective effort in the Ruta del Sol. “The tasks were clear and everyone did what he had to do. The Tirreno is a different race, but we should do well again as a team.” 
 

Robert Gesink, Marc Goos, Tom Leezer, Bauke Mollema, Bram Tankink, Maarten Tjallingii, Sep Vanmarcke and Robert Wagner.