The Team Lotto NL-Jumbo seven man roster for the 2018 Santos Tour Down Under has been confirmed and the Australian UCI WorldTour season opening race will be Dutchman Robert Gesink’s first race since fracturing vertebra at last year’s Tour de France.
Race Director, Mike Turtur is happy to see Gesink back racing and of course at the Santos Tour Down Under.
“Gesink has had two top ten general classification results at the TDU, eighth in 2017 and sixth in 2014 so it will be interesting to see what his return to racing will deliver in terms of GC aspirations and results,” said Mike Turtur.
Gesink has taken numerous top 10 finishes at UCI WorldTour events including seventh at Giro di Lombardia (2016), sixth overall at Tour de France and fifth at the Tour of California (both in 2015). He has previously won the overall at both the Tour of California (2012) and Tour of Oman (2011).
New Zealander George Bennett is also set to race after he was forced out of the TDU race in 2017 due to glandular fever and the team will be led by Directeur Sportif Addy Engels.
Team Lotto NL-Jumbo for 2018 Santos Tour Down Under:
Maarten Wynants (Belgium)
Robert Wagner (Germany)
Enrico Battaglin (Italy)
Daan Oliver (Netherlands)
George Bennett (New Zealand)
Tom Leezer (Netherlands)
Robert Gesink (Netherlands)
