Lotto Belisol will soon start their Middle-East programme. First they will attend Tour of Qatar and then Tour of Oman, both are a part of the UCI Asia Tour. Sport Director Bart Leysen has reviewed the first of the two races to the team webpage. The 13th edition of the race takes place from Sunday 9th till Friday 14th.

Andre Greipel will after a successful Tour Down Under continue his season in Qatar. Greipel won two stages in Australia. He will receive help from the two newcomers Kris Boeckmans and Pim Lighart. 

Bart Leysen was in Qatar four years ago and expects that a lot have changed.

"It is four years ago I was in Qatar for the last time, I expect it to have changed a lot. In Doha they are always constructing new buildings. When you haven't been there for a few years, you don't recognize certain parts anymore. There are hardly any people along the route, most of them are Belgians or other Europeans that work in Qatar. Between the start and finish there are only a few towns, the rest is sand. The temperature in this period is hardly ever above 30°C, so that's alright." 

The team will be protecting Andre Greipel from the heavy wind and they have to be concentrated. Every little mistake can ruin a whole stage for a team.

"The Tour of Qatar is a race with echelons; the wind plays an important role each day. It's a tough race. Someone who isn't good will definitely get dropped. It's definitely the type of race for Jürgen Roelandts. Lars Bak, Pim Ligthart and Marcel Sieberg are also used to riding in echelons and André Greipel perfectly knows where he has to be placed. When the field is broken up, a small group will battle for the stage win. You have to be represented with as much riders as possible. When there are echelons you shouldn't doubt, a small hesitation can be enough to miss out." 

Lotto Belisol roster for Tour of Qatar: 

Lars Bak, Kris Boeckmans, Gert Dockx, André Greipel, Pim Ligthart, Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Jonas Van Genechten.