Team LottoNL-Jumbo will start Wednesday’s Belgian one-day race Dwars door Vlaanderen with eight riders who all have their chance to shine.
“We have a team full of daring riders who know how to read a race,” Sports Director Jan Boven said. “They can anticipate moves during the race and know how to adjust a plan along the way. They have proven their abilities during the opening classics weekend in Belgium.
“In recent years, there have been surprising winners in Dwars door Vlaanderen. Maybe this time we will profit.”
Boven said that every one of his men are strong and capable.
“Jos van Emden and Rick Flens are riding well at the moment. Maarten Tjallingii and Maarten Wynants are always strong in spring classics. Bert-Jan Lindeman and Moreno Hofland have improved lately.
“Mike Teunissen is a talent who has the ability to do well in classics like this in the future. He lacks experience here, but Nico and I will prepare him properly. With Tom Van Asbroeck, we have to wait and see how he’s recovering. He’s doing fine, but it remains to be seen how fine exactly.”
Jos van Emden feels motivated to assist Sep Vanmarcke in the upcoming classics. In Dwars door Vlaanderen, his free role should give him extra morale for the upcoming races.
“My good legs came in Paris-Nice and during this weekend’s training camp with Sep and Maarten Wynants, they were still feeling strong,” said Van Emden.
“These kinds of opportunities keep me motivated. I want to seize this moment. After that, I’ll shift my focus completely to assisting Sep.”
The Dutchman was close to a good result in Dwars door Vlaanderen last year. He managed to get in a breakaway and attacked again in the final.
“But the cooperation in the group was not good enough to stay free. I like Dwars door Vlaanderen because it is a great Flemish race, which can go in any direction.”
Team line-up:
Tom van Asbroeck, Jos van Emden, Rick Flens, Moreno Hofland, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Mike Teunissen, Maarten Tjallingii & Maarten Wynants.
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