Dan Martin will line up in the five-day Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana this Wednesday, marking his debut with the Etixx – Quick Step team.

The race which returns to the calendar following a 8-year absence starts with a 16.3 km-long individual time trial which is on a hilly course. The race then heads to the mountains the following day, when the peloton will hit Alto de Fredes, an arduous first category ascent, with gradients ranging from 9% to 12%.

The sprinters will have opportunities on Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, it will be another day for the climbers when the riders will have to contend with the very steep Xorret de Cati which is 4 km long with a 22% maximum gradient.

The race will also see another two Etixx riders make their season debut – Luxembourg champion Bob Jungels and Tom Boonen who returns to the peloton after his bad crash in the Abu Dhabi Tour, last October.

“We have a balanced and well-structured team for Valenciana,” said the team’s Directeur Sportif Wilfried Peeters on the team’s website.

“The first races of the year are a bit unpredictable and always different from the ones that come later in the season. The first day will schedule an individual time trial, and we are curious to see what Bob can do.”

“For Dan it will be a good opportunity to gain confidence with his new team and test his condition following the winter training.”

“As for Tom, we want to take it day by day, especially as he is coming back to competition after a significant amount of time. We will see how he feels without rushing things in any way” said Peeters.

Also riding the 67th edition of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana for Etixx – Quick-Step will be Yves Lampaert, Gianni Meersman, Niki Terpstra, Stijn Vandenbergh and Carlos Verona.

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