The Team LottoNL-Jumbo seven-man line-up for the Tour Down Under, the first WorldTour race of the 2016 season, began the year with the People’s Choice Classic in Adelaide, Australia. Primoz Roglic escaped in the fast criterium, but could not prevent the eventual a bunch sprint won by Caleb Ewan (Orica-GreenEDGE).

“We’re apparently not the only team who worked hard during the winter!” the team’s captain, Maarten Tjallingii joked after the race. “It was a very fast race. Primoz Roglic tried to escape immediately at the start and showed that he is ready for the season. Because the high pace in the peloton, it wasn’t possible to stay out of the clutches of the pack.”

Team LottoNL-Jumbo didn't fly to Australia with a sprinter so it became difficult to collect in a top result. “Primoz and Maarten Tjallingii tried to out-run the bunch, but Orica-GreenEDGE was in control,” sports director Frans Maassen said. “We weren’t able to play a role in that final kick.”

Tjallingii looked at the race positively, though, in the run up to the WorldTour-ranked Tour Down Under.

"We gained a lot of speed in this race and we’re looking forward to the Tour Down Under." The stage race ranks high on team LottoNL-Jumbo’s list with all 18 WorldTour teams racing. “We’re going to take a training ride with people from Bianchi on Monday and afterwards, we’re ready for the big work.”