Team LottoNL-Jumbo will race the Criterium du Dauphiné next week in France with a young team. Their goal is to gain experience, get stronger and ride aggressively. Moreno Hofland will lead the sprints.

“I think that Moreno Hofland might have a chance to sprint in two of the stages,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “Besides that, we are taking two aggressive riders Mike Teunissen and Martijn Keizer. We will analyse their chances each day. The organiser programmed hard final days, when the big guns should show off.”

In those Dauphiné stages, Team LottoNL-Jumbo will experience something new.

“The race passes very tough climbs, which are new to some of the riders,” Zeeman continued. “They have to make sure that they survive them. The TV-spectators won’t see that fight, but in those moments, young professionals take important steps in their careers. Our riders will have their chances.

“They must ride aggressively to become stronger. They can do that by being part of the breakaway or by working well in the final part of a stage.”

Line-up:

George Bennett, Victor Campenaerts, Moreno Hofland, Martijn Keizer, Alexey Vermeulen, Steven Lammertink, Mike Teunissen and Dennis van Winden.