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"I made some good training before coming here and my legs are very good right now. I feel on top of my game and I know with such a good team I can get to the bottom of the final climb in the top 10 riders on the road. Then we shall see...

Photo: Belkin Pro Cycling Team

MORENO HOFLAND

RIDER PROFILE
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NEWS

PARIS - NICE

RACE PROFILE
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NEWS

TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE

TEAM PROFILE
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NEWS

WILCO KELDERMAN

RIDER PROFILE
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NEWS
12.03.2014 @ 11:16 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

With a stage win for Moreno Hofland, Belkin have had a successful Paris-Nice so far but now it is time for the team to change strategy. After three days of supporting their sprinter, the team will now change focus to their GC rider Wilco Kelderman who claims to be feeling really great.

 

Moreno Hofland finished 10th on stage 3 of Paris-Nice in Magny-Cours to remain in the hunt for the Best Young Rider jersey after another hectic day.

A busy last 5km With a finish at the world famous motor racing circuit of Magny-Cours almost certain to end in a bunch sprint, the Belkin Pro Cycling Team did their best to control the race over the very tricky and technical last 7 km, but, as Sports Director Jan Boven explained it was always going to be tricky on the wide, smooth curves of the Autodrome.

"It was a really hectic day again. In the last 5km we rode really hard to make sure that Moreno was in a good spot near the front just behind Jos van Emden, but it's so hard to control a race on such a twisting and wide surface," said Boven. "Everyone just stayed behind us and then came hard over the top in the final but it's good that Moreno made a good sprint and remains 3rd in the General classification and the same in the Young Riders."

 

After such a strong team effort in the sprints over the first three stages, the nature of the race will change dramatically on stage 4 with a trio of 3rd category climbs towards the end and a stage finish on a steep 2nd category climb to Belleville. Today it will be the Belkin team riding for GC contender Wilco Kelderman as Boven explained;

"The plan for tomorrow is totally different. So far we have been a strong team for Moreno but now we will make sure that we protect Wilco with the same strength until the last climb of the day so he arrives at the foot in good shape. So far Maarten Wynants has done an excellent job looking after Wilco and I think it will allow him to ride well tomorrow."

 

Kelderman has slowly been growing in stature as a rider over the last few years and Belkin know that he has what it takes to be a contender for the overall in this year’s race. Wilco himself said the team has been perfect so far and that today he has as good a chance as any rider;

"Maarten has been great all week. It's really good to have a team-mate close to you every day, it really helps. I made some good training before coming here and my legs are very good right now. I feel on top of my game and I know with such a good team I can get to the bottom of the final climb in the top 10 riders on the road. Then we shall see what happens."

Today's stage 4 of just a shade over 201km runs from Nevers into the Beaujolais region, finishing in the historic townscape of Belleville.

 

You can read our preview of today's stage here and follow our live coverage at 14.25 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.

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