Team Jumbo-Visma aims for sprint victory in Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
Team Jumbo-Visma takes part in the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana from 5 to 9 February. The Spanish stage race is the first race for Tobias Foss and Christoph Pfingsten in the Team Jumbo-Visma jersey. Tom Dumoulin has to postpone his start of the season at the last moment due to illness.
Last season, Dylan Groenewegen won the final stage. It meant the first victory of what would become a succesful season for his Dutch team. The rider with the most victories of 2019 will again be present in Valencia this year.
Sports director Grischa Niermann indicated that his team is not going to Spain with GC ambitions. “This is the first race for our team with Tobias and Christoph. The purpose of this stage race is to ride as a team and to teach the new guys how Team Jumbo-Visma works. The general classification is not a goal. For Tobias it is important to gain race rhythm. Day by day we’ll take a look at how he feels.”
Nevertheless, Team Jumbo-Visma wants to achieve the first victory of the season in Valencia again this year. “We want to be successful in the sprint stages. With Dylan we go for stage victories”, Niermann said.
Tom Dumoulin would initially make his debut for Team Jumbo-Visma in Valencia, but will not start the race due to illness. "I got sick last night and I will return to home to recover. This is not the way I wanted to start the season, but we have to be wise. When you don't feel well, you'd better not race. I came to Spain to build up my condition, not to break it down. I hope to be back soon!"
Paul Martens will replace Dumoulin in the selection of Team Jumbo-Visma.
