I like Lotto, or Lotto-Soudal as we'll have to call them now, but I'm trying to remember their most significant result last year and I'm scratching my head. I think I'll go with Tim Wellens at the Eneco Tour... they'll be hoping for better this season.
In:
Tiesj Benoot (young classics)
Jasper De Buyst (young classics)
Thomas De Gendt (attacker, stage races)
Out:
Jonas Van Genechten (sprinter)
Frederik Willems (old cobbles-man)
Olivier Kaisen (domestique)
Stars:
Tony Gallopin (classics)
Andre Greipel (sprinter)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (stage races)
Jelle Vannendert (stage races, classics)
Tim Wellens (classics, stage races)
Strengths:
Have a number of hilly classics types, enough that they will be able to be competitve across the entire season in those races.
Greipel can be relied upon to consistently convert his team's work on flat stages into victories.
Could suprise in stage races, as they have some dangerous riders, who can't be given much space by the favourites.
Good crop of youngsters showing potential for big things.
Weaknesses:
(Nitpicking here) An inconsistent presence in Grand Tours, with Greipel being a bit overshadowed by Kittel in the big races, and no real GC contender. That said they do normally manage to fashion up something, Gallopin's stage win and yellow jersey an obvious season highlight, whilst Adam Hansen is beloved of commentators for his attacks.
Tiesj Benoot (young classics)
Jasper De Buyst (young classics)
Thomas De Gendt (attacker, stage races)
Out:
Jonas Van Genechten (sprinter)
Frederik Willems (old cobbles-man)
Olivier Kaisen (domestique)
Stars:
Tony Gallopin (classics)
Andre Greipel (sprinter)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (stage races)
Jelle Vannendert (stage races, classics)
Tim Wellens (classics, stage races)
Strengths:
Have a number of hilly classics types, enough that they will be able to be competitve across the entire season in those races.
Greipel can be relied upon to consistently convert his team's work on flat stages into victories.
Could suprise in stage races, as they have some dangerous riders, who can't be given much space by the favourites.
Good crop of youngsters showing potential for big things.
Weaknesses:
(Nitpicking here) An inconsistent presence in Grand Tours, with Greipel being a bit overshadowed by Kittel in the big races, and no real GC contender. That said they do normally manage to fashion up something, Gallopin's stage win and yellow jersey an obvious season highlight, whilst Adam Hansen is beloved of commentators for his attacks.