ProTeam Lotto Soudal to Volta Limburg Classic and GP Indurain
On Saturday 2 April, Lotto Soudal will be racing on two fronts. In the Netherlands, the Belgian WorldTeam will be at the start of the 47th Volta Limburg Classic (1.1), while the 31st Gran Premio Miguel Indurain (1.Pro) is scheduled in the Spanish region of Navarra.
After two years of absence, the Volta Limburg Classic is back, and how… With no less than 38 hills, the 195 kilometres long race really is a tough one. Between start and finish in Eijsden, the riders will take on plenty of elevation gain on twisty and narrow roads, which will undoubtedly make for an exciting race. Lotto Soudal is heading to Limburg with a strong selection: Thomas De Gendt, Arnaud De Lie, Philippe Gilbert, Roger Kluge, Andreas Kron, Michael Schwarzmann and Rüdiger Selig.
“We will start with two clear leaders at the Volta Limburg Classic: Andreas Kron and Arnaud De Lie”, says sports director Maxime Monfort. “Andreas has had a long training period after Strade Bianche to prepare for the Ardennes Classics. Arnaud has shown some nice things in recent weeks. Philippe resumes racing after illness and will act as a road captain on roads he knows like the back of his hand. We are one of the four WorldTour teams at the start, which means we have to take control of the race. We are of course aiming for a top result. With a difficult course full of short climbs, it is also a good rehearsal for the Walloon Classics.”
Also in the Spanish region of Navarra, the peloton will take on a race full of altitude metres: GP Indurain. In and around Estella-Lizarra it’s up to the punchers of the bunch. The short and sharp Alto de Ibarra has to be climbed four times, with the final time at just over one kilometre from the finish, which can serve as an ultimate springboard to victory. Lotto Soudal sends a young climbing team to Spain with Filippo Conca, Steff Cras, Matthew Holmes, Sylvain Moniquet, Harry Sweeny, Maxim Van Gils and Viktor Verschaeve.
“We are at the start with a young but talented team of climbers”, says sports director Allan Davis. “Everyone is motivated to race but we also have to be realistic with the strong field of contenders at the start. So we need to race offensively in order to get a good result. Besides, the GP Indurain is quite special to me. The Spanish Basque Country has been my home for 20 years and as an Australian, it’s nice to race so close to my ‘home away from home’.
