LottoNL-Jumbo rider Floris De Tier finished 24th in the Strade Bianche today in Siena, Italy. The young Belgian crossed the line in the first big peloton 10 minutes behind winner Michal Kwiatkowski in company of his team-mate Primoz Roglic. Kwiatkowski won the race solo for Greg Van Avermaet and Tim Wellens.

The 11th edition of the Strade Bianche will remain in the memory of the riders. The 175-kilometre race was held in the rain so the dirt roads were dangerously slippery. 

"We did not have high expectations for this race," said Sports Director Addy Engels at the finish in Siena. "I think Floris and Primoz did a good race for where they are now in terms of condition. Certainly Floris, who is still a young rider and rode for the first time on the dirt roads. Primoz perhaps could have been better but he has its sights on Tirreno-Adriatico, which starts next week.”

The bad roads put an early end to Bert-Jan Lindeman’s day. He punctured at a bad time and could not re-join the peloton.

Engels added, "What was positive today is that a young rider like Tolhoek finished. That's good for his development. Personally, I expected more of Battaglin. Today, he was below his normal level."

Team LottoNL-Jumbo will spend the next few days in Italy ahead of Tirreno-Adriatico, the next WorldTour race starting on March 8.