As a new recruit of the LottoNL-Jumbo team, Juan José Lobato will be the second sprinter of the Dutch team behind Dylan Groenewegen. The Spaniard announced his schedule for the beginning of the season yesterday after the team presentation in an interview with Biciciclismo. 

Lobato will not travel to Australia this season and will start at the Dubai Tour where he won the Queen stage last year, finishing third in the overall standings. With his love for the races in the Middle East, he will do Abu Dhabi Tour before continuing his WorldTour calendar in Italy at Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo. 

"It's a race I like,” he said. “This year I will concentrate on classics of this kind where I hope to arrive in optimal conditions. My new team gave me a lot of confidence and I think I can be a good option for this type of race. I would like to be regular in all races.”

He will then go to Spain for the Tour of the Basque Country before returning to the classics at Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race. He will finish his first part of the season at the Tour de Romandie. 

The Spaniard also has goals at the Grand Tours since he wants to do both the Tour de France and Vuelta. If he wants to do both events, he will have to win his place at the Grande Boucle where the number one sprinter Dylan Groenewegen has already been announced as the team leader.