Team Lotto-Belisol optimistic for the Tour de France 2012
Team Lotto-Belisol is not having the best of the seasons and is now eyeing the Tour de France to make it up for the lost time.
The management has sent a powerful team for the French race under the strong leadership of Van den Broeck, while Andre Greipel and Jelle Vanendert riding for the stage victories.
The Belgian team has not been able to perform in the first half of the season and its poor performance is evident through its position at the UCI World Tour ranking.
It currently holds the 15th overall position at the category with 278 UCI points throughout the season.
Major contributions came through the legs of Van Den Broeck (123 UCI points), Jelle Vanendert (104 UCI points), Andre Greipel (22 UCI points), Lars Bak (16 UCI points) and Gianni Meersman (13 UCI points).
Team Sky is leading the category with a total number of 803 points while Team Katusha, Team Liquigas-Cannondale and Tea Omega Pharma-Quick Step occupy the second, the third and the fourth positions respectively.
Andre Greipel has almost 14 victories in the season including first place finishes at the Cancer Council Helpline Classic, ProRace Berlin.
He also bagged stages at the Tour of Belgium, the Santos Down Under, the Tour of Luxembourg and the Tour of Oman to mark a perfect season.
Team Manager Marc Sergeant has noted that his side is really pumped-up for the Tour and all the riders are very comfortable with the selection.
He cited, "These guys are going through a fire for each other”.
“With Jurgen we have one true leader for the general classification but if there's the opportunity to win a stage then we'll go for it”.
“With Jelle we have a man for the stage on Sunday [the uphill finish in Seraing]. He showed in the Amstel Gold Race that he can do it”.
“Normally you win if you beat Peter Sagan, if it wasn't for Enrico Gasparotto. On Monday it's a stage that's destined to finish in a bunch sprint”.
“We have a good team and a good lead-out to support André Greipel".
The final squad to represent the team at the Tour de France includes Lars Ytting Bak (Den), Francis De Greef (Bel), André Greipel (Ger) and Adam Hansen (Aus).
Gregory Henderson (NZl), Jurgen Roelandts (Bel), Marcel Sieberg (Ger), Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) and Jelle Vanendert (Bel) have also been chosen for the Tour de France 2012.
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