LottoNL-Jumbo takes a team with several options to the Tour de Pologne on August 2. Sports Director Jan Boven sees chances for Tom Van Asbroeck, Robert Gesink, Martijn Keizer and Bert-Jan Lindeman in the first stage race after the Tour de France.

“It’s the first WorldTour race after the Tour de France,” Boven said. “That makes it difficult to predict the outcome.

“Bram Tankink and Robert Gesink came out of the Tour de France team, and the other six trained in other ways. Bert-Jan Lindeman, Martijn Keizer, George Bennett and Dennis van Winden have been at altitude, while Rick Flens and Tom Van Asbroeck competed in small Belgian races.

“What’s possible? We’ll have to see it day by day in Poland.”

Offensive
“The first three stages are quite flat,” Boven continued. “We have to be alert in those days. We have a fast man with Tom Van Asbroeck. He might be able to show off in the first stages. Dennis van Winden will be able to help him with his experience.

“Afterwards, there are some tough days. Bert-Jan Lindeman likes to race offensively and he will get enough space to do that. The general classification will be decided in those days, too. Robert Gesink is an important contender for the overall. The closing stage of the race is an individual time trial of 25 kilometres, a possible stage for Martijn Keizer.”

“That time trial is my main target,” Keizer said. “The distance is perfect for me and the profile of the stage isn’t very difficult. I already proved to be strong in individual time trials this season. It always depends on the day’s situation, but I delivered a good result in all of the time trials this season. I want to finish in the top fifteen.”

Line-up:
Tom van Asbroeck, George Bennett, Rick Flens, Robert Gesink, Martijn Keizer, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Bram Tankink and Dennis van Winden.

Sports directors:
Jan Boven and Mathieu Heijboer.