Whilst a part of the Lotto Belisol team is riding the Tour of Turkey, other riders will strive in the Tour de Romandie. The Swiss six days stage race starts on Tuesday 29th of April and ends Sunday 4th of May with an individual time trial.

 

A prologue in Ascona will kick off the 68th Tour de Romandie. The first stage, which is also the longest, ends with a climb of first category in Sion. The day after the sprinters get their chance in Montreux. The third stage to Aigle, where the UCI headquarter is located, is going to be crucial with four climbs of first category. In the fourth stage start and finish both are in Fribourg. Just like the second stage, the fourth will presumably be contended by sprinters. The last stage is a an individual time trial of 18.5 kilometers in Neuchâtel.

 

Last test before Giro
The podium of last year is also participating this year in Switzerland. Chris Froome defends his title and also Spilak and Rui Costa will strive with him for the victory. In the bunch sprints Kenny Dehaes and Tosh Van der Sande will have to face Marcel Kittel.

 

“We’re starting in the Tour de Romandie with several guys who will also ride the Giro. Monfort and others can gain some more race kilometers to complete their preparation”, says sports director Mario Aerts. “Maxime Monfort rides in Romandie as preparation for the Giro. That race is his main goal. But with Monfort we certainly have the possibility to strive for the top ten. Bart De Clercq will get the task to help Maxime as much as possible and maybe to ride for a good GC himself.”

 

“In Romandie it’s never flat. But there are a couple of stages with a chance for the sprinters. Normally Kenny Dehaes will be our sprinter. However it depends on his form after all the Flemish races. If Kenny isn’t in the front in the final, then we can still count on Tosh Van der Sande, who made progress in climbing.”

 

Selection Lotto Belisol: Sander Armée, Sean De Bie, Bart De Clercq, Kenny Dehaes, Maxime Monfort, Boris Vallée, Tosh Van der Sande, and Dennis Vanendert.