Lotto Soudal have confirmed its nine-rider team for the 2016 Tour de France with André Greipel leading its ambitions for stage wins.
"I think we’ve made a logical choice. Eight of the nine riders were part of the team last year as well and Jürgen Roelandts is back after one season without riding the Tour. At the Giro he noticed how valuable it is to contribute to the team’s success and with his qualities he’s cut out for that work," team manager Marc Sergeant said of the selection.
Greipel was the top sprinter of the 2015 Tour de France, winning four stages and enjoying a stint in the green jersey. The German, who three stages at the Giro d'Italia in May, has ten career Tour stage wins on his palmares and with Lotto Soudal bringing its top lead out train will look to add to his haul.
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"Our goals are clear. We aim for a stage win with André Greipel," added Sergeant. "There is a lot of competition between the sprinters, but the past twelve months André has proven to still be able to perform on the important moments. During the Tour he can rely on his sprint train. There are a few stages where Tony Gallopin can have a go, but of course riders like Adam Hansen and Thomas De Gendt can take their chance as well. They have a free role."
Lars Bak, who broke several bones and punctured a lung during the Giro, has been selected for his fifth career Tour having finished the mid-week Halle-Ingooigem race.
"Lars Bak is part of the selection after a successful test at Halle-Ingooigem yesterday and the medical staff off our team, who also consulted doctor Toon Claes, gave him the green light," said Sergeant "After his crash on the last Giro stage there was only a slim chance he would be able to ride the Tour, but right from day one he did all he could to grab that chance. In a team like ours a rider like Lars is very important to work during the flat stages."
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