Published August 19, 2016 11:50AM
LottoNL bolsters grand tour squad with top climber
Dutch WorldTour team LottoNL – Jumbo signs Jurgen van den Broeck for two seasons, starting in 2017. The Belgian has twice finished top-five at the Tour de France.
Jurgen van den Broeck is leaving Katusha to join the LottoNL – Jumbo team for 2017. Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a>
Dutch WorldTour team LottoNL – Jumbo is making moves to become a player in the grand tours, hiring Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck for two seasons, starting in 2017.
The team in yellow enjoyed a breakthrough performance at the Giro d’Italia this May with Steven Kruijswijk coming about one crash away from winning the pink jersey, or at least standing on the final podium in Milan. Van den Broeck, 33, brings 13 seasons of professional experience, and along the way, he has finished top-five twice at the Tour de France, in 2010 and 2012.
“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,” van den Broeck said. “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.”
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Van den Broeck was forced to abandon the 2016 Tour due to a fractured scapula suffered in stage 11.