The event is made up of three races in three days. There will be two points races and a team pursuit. Instead of winning as an individual, Hammer Limburg is about winning as a team. Our team is first in the overall standings of the Hammer Series, because our riders managed to win Hammer Stavanger two weeks ago. What can our riders do this weekend?

Steven Kruijswijk is the team’s leader in Criterium du Dauphiné. He and Wout van Aert have spent their time on high altitude the last few weeks to optimally prepare themselves.

Sports director Grischa Niermann: “The most important goal is a good GC with Steven. We’re riding with a young, but strong team. This race is our preparation for the Tour de France. Steven is in good shape and this race suits him. For Wout, it’s his fist World Tour mountain stage race.”

“The French stage race counts eight stages. During the last three days, the peloton has to conquer the French Alps. The first two stages are also pretty difficult because of the altitude metres. Halfway the race, there’s a 26 kilometres long time trial. It contains a 2.2 kilometre long climb with an average of 7.8 percent.