Dutch WorldTour team LottoNL-Jumbo is beefing up its team for the 2017 season with Jurgen van den Broeck. The Belgian classification rider inked a deal for 2017 and 2018.

“Jurgen van den Broeck, firstly, comes to support our overall riders Robert Gesink and Steven Kruijswijk in the grand tours,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven explained. “His first target will be the Giro d’Italia with Steven Kruijswijk.

“Jurgen has a strong record and proved to be able to deliver superbly in grand tours. He rode many of them in the past and that makes him an absolute value for our team in our grand tour planning towards 2017 and 2018. With Katusha, he was the lieutenant of the team’s leader and that makes him an interesting rider for us. He has the drive to come to our team in that role. Besides that, he will get his chance in the smaller stage races and the Ardennes Classics.”

Every detail

“I’m glad to sign this two-year contract with team LottoNL-Jumbo,” Van den Broeck added. “The framework of the team gives me a great feeling. It’s a beautiful environment to work in. That motivates me. I noticed that they’re working on every detail, from the training camps to the material and the nutrition.

“My specific target will be to support Steven Kruijswijk in the Giro d’Italia. Besides that, I want to deliver the team some beautiful results in the smaller stage races and the Ardennes classics.”