After taking a short break following his fourth win – an all-time record – in Scheldeprijs, Marcel Kittel returns to competition next week, at the Tour de Romandie, an event he’s done only once before, in 2014, when he notched a podium in the prologue. The 27-year-old German, leader among World Tour riders in the 2016 victories standings with seven successes to his name, will look to tune-up his condition in the Swiss race, which celebrates its 70th edition and puts on the table a course that includes two uphill finishes and 19 kilometers of individual time trial.
Led from the car by sport directors Davide Bramati and Rik van Slycke, Etixx – Quick-Step will come to the start in La Chaux-de-Fonds with a solid squad, which will give the team several cards to play during the six-day stage race: Maxime Bouet (who rode Liège–Bastogne–Liège on Sunday), Luxembourg champion Bob Jungels – third in Tirreno-Adriatico earlier this year – neo-pro Davide Martinelli, Fabio Sabatini, Martin Velits, Carlos Verona and Lukasz Wisniowski.
“Many of our riders are coming here after a break, so we want to see what their level is and how they’ll cope with things now that they are returning to competition. It’s a tough race, with many climbs, and the weather could make it even more complicated. Of course, we will try to win a stage this week, but we’ll take each thing at a time and see how the race unfolds”, said sport director Davide Bramati.
23.04 - 27.04: CAC Nile Tour |
27.04: Liberazione Juniores |
27.04: E3 Saxo Classic |
27.04: Leiedal Koerse |
27.04: Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs |
21.04 - 28.04: Presidential Cycling Tour of T... |
23.04 - 28.04: Tour de Romandie |
24.04 - 28.04: Tour of the Gila |
24.04 - 28.04: Tour of the Gila Women |
25.04 - 28.04: Gracia |
Vladimir TSOY 27 years | today |
Herminio CORTEZ 48 years | today |
Sebastian CASTILLO 33 years | today |
Emke DE KEYSER 21 years | today |
Lukasz KRZYZEWSKI 39 years | today |
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