On the program for this weekend is the 4th World Ports Classic. The race that traces its origin to the Tour de France start of 2010 in Rotterdam is once again connected with the French Grand Tour, as the race crosses the same route as the second stage of this year’s Tour de France. 

The Dutch two-day race begins this Saturday and will feature two stages. The first starts in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and finishes in Antwerp, Belgium, and the second starts in Antwerp and returns to Rotterdam.

In last year’s edition of the race, Team Giant-Alpecin  won the second stage and took second place overall, both with Ramon Sinkeldam (NED).

Sinkeldam is included in the Team Giant-Alpecin lineup again this year, and he will be supported by a strong team with lead-out and echelon capabilities. The roster will include Zico Waeytens (BEL), after his strong performance with three top-10s in the Amgen Tour of California, which ended yesterday, and Tom Veelers (NED), who made a successful comeback to competition at the Bayern Rundfahrt. Marcel Kittel (GER) returns to racing in the World Ports Classic and will focus on gaining race rhythm before departing to the team’s altitude training camp in Sierra Nevada (ESP).

Also in the lineup will be Lars van der Haar (NED) and Albert Timmer (NED), who played an important role for the team in the two stage wins in the Bayern Rundfahrt. The roster is completed by Roy Curvers (NED) and Thierry Hupond (FRA), who come fit out of the Tour of California.

“I am looking forward to race again after spending some time at home. I have done some good training after the Tour de Yorkshire and I am feeling good and can’t wait to race again," Kittel said.

“I am looking forward to coming back to the World Ports Classic after the good results that I achieved here in the past. I think the race really suits me well," Sinkeldam said.

“For this year I hope to see a great race again, including echelons and two bunch sprints. We have the team to go for good results in both stages again, but we have to sit down with the team to discuss our tactics.”

“We will aim to achieve a stage win through strong teamwork, and winning a stage also means that a good GC result is within reach," coach Rudi Kemna said.

“This World Ports Classic is an ideal opportunity to check out the course for this years Tour de France. We recently did a recon already, and now it is good to ride the same roads again while racing.”