Team LottoNL-Jumbo will start on 1, 2 and 4 October with an experienced and fresh team in the Italian autumn classics Milano-Turino, Gran Piemonte and Il Lombardia. The tricky classics are a great challenge for an even highly motivated team.

"I notice that the riders are looking forward to end the year with a good race," said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman. "Robert Gesink finished in the past, twice in the top ten in Il Lombardia. Also Wilco Kelderman and Steven Kruijswijk achieved very good results in Italy. These races suites them well. "

The Italian autumn classics have very tough finals. Milano-Turino will finish on top of the Superga a climb of 4.9 kilometers. Gran Piemonte is back on the calendar with a very difficult local circulation and Il Lombardia finishes again in Como. In short, three hard races.

Focus
"I want to see a team that is eager, and that wants to fight for each other," added Zeeman. "Our focus will be mainly on the WorldTour-race Il Lombardia. In the form Robert Gesink currently is he can significant play a role in the final. Kelderman and Kruijswijk moreover have the qualities to play also an important role in these races.”

Steven Kruijswijk
“My last race was the Tour of Britain so I have to wait and see how it goes in Italy,” says Steven Kruijswijk. “I still feel good and I want to end the season well and not just finish it with an Italian ride. Then you head into the winter with a good feeling. The races are beautiful and I’m excited to race there."

With the participation of Robert Gesink at the world championship in Richmond, he does not race in Milano-Turino and Gran Piemonte and joins the team later for Il Lombardia. Koen Bouwman is the man who will be replaced for Il Lombardie. The team continues to be unchanged.

Team line-up:
George Bennett, Koen Bouwman, Robert Gesink (only Il Lombardia), Wilco Kelderman, Steven Kruijswijk, Bert-Jan Lindeman, Timo Roosen, Bram Tankink and Dennis van Winden

Sports Directors:
Merijn Zeeman, Louis Delahaije