Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep) and defending champion Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) will square off at this month’s Ster ZLM Toer. The five-day race will be the last chance for the two German sprinters to hone and show off their skills prior to the Tour de France.

The race might evolve into a sprinters’ galore as another German, Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin), who took the final stage at the Giro d’Italia, will also participate in the race, as will Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling).

Kittel and Greipel have both enjoyed the luxury of a short break since their successful stints at the Giro d’Italia last month. 

Kittel abandoned the Giro on the eve of the first long time trial, while Greipel rode on for four more stages, but both will have had around a month off by the time the Ster ZLM Toer begins on June 15. This year’s race features three flat stages - on the opening two days and then again on the final day. Stage 3 is the most challenging with six classified climbs, including an ascent of the Cauberg and an uphill finish. It and stage 4 will be better suited to the Classics riders such as Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra, who will line up with Kittel in the Etixx-QuickStep team.

Other confirmed starters include BMC’s Taylor Phinney, cyclo-cross world champion Wout Van Aert – who recently took a surprise victory ahead of Tony Martin in the Belgium Tour prologue – and Filippo Pozzato (Wilier Triestina-Southeast).

The Ster ZLM Toer will take place between June 15 and 19.