Team LottoNL-Jumbo hasn’t taken any risks in the team time trial of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Due to the bad weather conditions, the stage didn’t count for the general classification. So Primoz Roglic will also start as the number nine of the general classification in tomorrow’s queen stage.

Team LottoNL-Jumbo knew on forehand that the team time trial would be risky. “We explored the course of the team time trial during our training camp and we noticed that it was very technical”, sports director Grischa Niermann said.

Above all, the weather conditions were bad. “Fortunately, the team time trial didn’t count for the general classification. The organization took the right decision because the course wasn’t suitable for this kind of race. So we decided as a team to take no risks.”

Nevertheless, it was a missed opportunity for Team LottoNL-Jumbo. “The team time trial is very important to us. We pay a lot of attention to it. We tested for example our riders’ positions during team time trials in the wind tunnel of the Eindhoven University.”

Nevertheless, Niermann sees enough opportunities. “We already seized a stage victory, but there are two more important days to come. Neilson Powless and Primoz Roglic are in good shape. They are our main contenders in tomorrow’s queen stage. Subsequently, Danny van Poppel can show himself again on Sunday.”