Defending champion Tom Dumoulin will lead the Team Sunweb line-up for the Giro d’Italia which starts in Jerusalem on 4 May.
The team announced their line-up today and the squad includes a mix of talented youth and experienced riders with an ages ranging from 22 years-old to 38. Chris Hamilton, Lennard Hofstede, Sam Oomen and Louis Vervaeke will all play key supporting roles whilst capitalising on the experience of Chad Haga, Laurens ten Dam and road captain Roy Curvers, who between them have a combined 28 Grand Tour starts.
“We go into the 101st Giro with similar targets to last year; looking for a GC result with Tom,” explained Team Sunweb coach Marc Reef. “Lining up as defending champions will bring special dynamics into both the team and the race, and we will be prepared for that. Fighting for a GC result is entirely different in comparison to a stage success focus – everybody in the team needs to be completely focused for three weeks in-a-row, which is very demanding for all. We learned a lot from last year and we will bring this experience into the mix for this edition.
“Tom, Sam and Louis have been on a team altitude camp at Sierra Nevada to put in final training efforts and once again, video recons and analyses of data from the key stages will beneficial in preparing our guys for what’s coming. On paper the course is even tougher than last year, with more climbing and fewer time trial kilometres, and we are expecting a really challenging three weeks. Our Giro squad selection is made based on the characteristics of the course with the right balance between talented climbers and our experienced captains. We head to Israel with a strong and confident squad and we look forward to getting the Giro started.”
Team Sunweb Line-up
Roy Curvers (NED)
Laurens ten Dam (NED)
Tom Dumoulin (NED)
Chad Haga (USA)
Chris Hamilton (AUS)
Lennard Hofstede (NED)
Sam Oomen (NED)
Louis Vervaeke (BEL)
