CyclingQuotes.com Greipel supported by entire sprint train in World Ports Classic

For the first time in 2014, André Greipel will be supported by his entire sprint train of Greg Henderson, Jurgen Roelandts and Marcel Sieberg when he lines up as the favourite at the World Ports Classic. Having finished 2nd in three out of the four stages in the history of the race, he hopes to finally take a win to boost his confidence for the Tour de France.

This weekend, the Word Ports Classic is scheduled on the Europe Tour calendar. The first two editions of this two day stage race started the last Friday in August, but since this year the race has moved to the weekend before the Belgium Tour.

The World Ports Classic visits the port cities of Antwerp and Rotterdam. This year Rotterdam is the hosting city for the start. The first stage goes from Rotterdam to Antwerp. The day after, it's the other way around, but the route changes. Each year the stages are switched.

The first stage goes along the Oosterschelde, with an intermediate sprint on Neeltje Jans. About 40 kilometers from the finish the peloton passes the cobblestones of the Hogerwaardweg (2,300 m). The peloton enters Belgium via Zandvliet, with 25 kilometers to go.

One day later it goes via Brecht to Baarle-Hertog, where the first of three cobblestone sections is located. Via Breda the peloton goes to the Hollands Diep where the riders cross the water towards the province of Zuid-Holland. From then there's only 30 kilometers left to the finish.

In the Lotto Belisol team two riders make their comeback after an injury. Jürgen Roelandts rides his first race after his crash during the Tour of Flanders, which made an end to his participation in the spring races. Frederik Willems returns after a double fractured collarbone which he incurred in the Three days of De Panne-Koksijde.

The captain of the team is André Greipel. He can count on the support of his sprint train. Stig Broeckx, winner of the youth classification last year, is also part of the selection.

"Our goal is to win at least one of the two stages," sports director Herman Frison said. "Of course we'd like to win both. We start with a very strong team, which should give a good result.

"The fact that the race is now organized in May is an advantage. This way the sprint train can be tested in preparation for the Tour de France.

"After the classic season many riders had a rest period and some of them had to recover from injuries. For most of the riders it was a period without race kilometers. Jürgen Roelandts and Jens Debusschere for example had a training camp in Sierra Nevada."

"The development of the race will depend on the wind. The race has a flat and open route, on narrow roads with a few cobblestone sectors.

"It's been a while since our last victory, although the Giro selection isn't doing too badly. A win in the World Ports Classic would be nice and would give a boost to the team, certainly with the Tour in mind.

"We have a team with riders of equal value, consisting of many fast riders. In case the race would not end in a bunch sprint we still have riders like Roelandts and Debusschere who can strive for the victory."

Selection Lotto Belisol: Kris Boeckmans, Stig Broeckx, Jens Debusschere, André Greipel, Greg Henderson, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Frederik Willems.

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