Team LottoNL-Jumbo will use the Volta ao Algarve as an important preparation race for the coming season. Robert Gesink will be the GC rider on the team that will try to set up Tom Van Asbroeck for a sprint win.

Team LottoNL-Jumbo aims to get their first season under the new name off to a great start and the Volta ao Algarve will be one of their first tests. The team has selected a powerful team for the Portuguese race which offer two sprint stages, two hilly stages and a time trial.

The GC rider will be Robert Gesink who will use the race to prepare for the WorldTour races in March while also targeting a good result. He can count on support from new signing Kevin De Weert in the mountains.

For the sprint finishes, the team is likely to focus on new signing Tom Van Asbroeck who won the UCI Europe Tour in 2014. He will be supported by fast riders Robert Wagner and Paul Martens.

For Sepv Vanmarcke, the race will be the only race before the classics and will mainly serve as preparation. The team is completed by domestiques Bram Tankink and Maarten Wynants who will also use the race to gear up for the classics.